Photography can be fun!

tirediron · Mar 31, 2016

For the last couple of years I've made a concerted effort to keep my GAS* under control and haven't bought anything that I couldn't justify from a business perspective. In addition, while I really enjoy portraiture, I'm not sure that I would call it "fun". After reading reviews and seeing some of the results posted here from Nikon's new-ish 200-500, I relaiized I'd missed having some long reach for personal shooting. The lens was advertised at one of my local stores, and I decided to take a chance.

I have to say, I'm very pleased, and overall, for the price, I think this lens is a real gem. The VR is excellent, and I had no problem hand-holding 1/125 at 500mm. At 500mm it's a little unweildly, but it's not terribly heavy, and hand-held shooting is not difficult.

It's more than acceptably sharp across the range, and even the corners at 500mm and f5.6 are acceptable. It's no 400mm f2.8 prime, but it's also no $7500 either! There are a couple of negatives: The bokeh is not exatly pleasing, and while overall the build quality is very good for a lens of this range, the tripod foot, specifically the threads for the tripod mount are a concern. Instead of being threaded metal, the foot is polycarbonate with a helicoil style insert pressed into it. I see this as a real weak point, and would be VERY careful about how much torque is applied when attaching a QR plate and definitely do NOT recommend using a BlackRapid style strap.

That said, the proof is in the pudding, so here are a couple of examples (all with a D800):

1.

ISO 400, 500mm, f9; subject about 150 yards away

2.

ISO 400, 500mm, f25, subject about 100 yards away

3.

Rather "nervous" bokeh, but decent detail & sharpness

4.

ISO 640, 500mm, f16 - This is the full frame of #3 posted for reference.

*Gear Acquisition Syndrome

oldhippy · Mar 31, 2016

Nice shots, congrats on the new toy. Ed

goooner · Apr 1, 2016

Very nice, I will have to decide between that lens and one of the Siggy's in about a year from now.

KenC · Apr 1, 2016

Enjoy! I'm glad you gave in to the fun.

table1349 · Apr 1, 2016

Nice shots there. I especially like the first one.

I was concerned about the thread title though, I thought you were going to tell everyone how you have fun dressing up in clown face and a rainbow striped speedo and take photos of scantily clad women playing in a ball pit. When you confided in me a while back about this I promised I would never reveal this and I have kept my promise.

Oops, did I miss the conversation button? Sorry. :Clown:

tirediron · Apr 1, 2016

oldhippy said:
Nice shots, congrats on the new toy. Ed

Thanks Ed!

goooner said:
Very nice, I will have to decide between that lens and one of the Siggy's in about a year from now.

I would definitely give this one a long, hard look. For the price, I really can't see any negatives, other than the tripod foot.

KenC said:
Enjoy! I'm glad you gave in to the fun.

Me too!

gryphonslair99 said:
Nice shots there. I especially like the first one.

I was concerned about the thread title though, I thought you were going to tell every how you have fun dressing up in clown face and a rainbow striped speedo ant take photos of scantily clad women playing in a ball pit. When you confided in me a while back about this I promised I would never reveal this and I have kept my promise.

Oops, did I miss the conversation button? Sorry.

Blabbermouth! :irked:

Watchful · Apr 1, 2016

Can be? I have always thought it to be very fun. Some of the best fun is building / modding your gear.

table1349 · Apr 1, 2016

JacaRanda · Apr 1, 2016

Have lots of fun Tirediron. Were you practicing mostly to see how slow of a ss you could get hand holding? I'm wondering what larger apertures with much faster ss would look like.

spiralout462 · Apr 1, 2016

Cool lens! It definitely has "unique" bokeh. I remember commenting on that when I saw the first shots with it. Kind of "wavy". Enjoy the new opportunities. Birds are a challenge! I can't seem to get enough.

baturn · Apr 1, 2016

Congrats on the new lens. Birds can be very addictive.

tirediron · Apr 1, 2016

Watchful said:
Can be? I have always thought it to be very fun. Some of the best fun is building / modding your gear.

Agreed, but not having done much work for me recently, I was losing track of that fact.

JacaRanda said:
Have lots of fun Tirediron. Were you practicing mostly to see how slow of a ss you could get hand holding? I'm wondering what larger apertures with much faster ss would look like.

I did some playing around, and actually, I think I could get away with 1/60th if I was stable. I plan to do a more thorough review in the near future.

baturn said:
Congrats on the new lens. Birds can be very addictive.

Thanks!
Indeed, especially with a little Shake-n-Bake!

tirediron · Apr 1, 2016

spiralout462 said:
Cool lens! It definitely has "unique" bokeh. I remember commenting on that when I saw the first shots with it. Kind of "wavy". Enjoy the new opportunities. Birds are a challenge! I can't seem to get enough.

Unique, unfortunately does NOT equate to attractive, but again, given the price... I can live with that!