Is the Nikon 200-500mm sharp enough?

[@Audimann]

This lens is brutal sharp. Period!

[@andreiiasi]

I like how you leave your other camera exposed to the elements without a lens in it. You must love your gear. LOL

[@scuttle585]

I came to the comments to see if anyone else noticed and this was the first comment I saw haha

[@DB-sd3cw]

He's probably just not a goober and knows how to clean his gear.

[@hotflashfoto]

Even if he knows how to clean his gear, it makes more sense to put a $2 body cap on it and save having to clean it. I agree with his assessment of the lens. It's really sharp, focuses plenty fast, and is affordable. I shot an osprey that was communicating with me that it didn't like be beneath its nest that was 70 feet up in the air. It captured sharp eyes as the bird flew directly above me.

[@stephenparkin2701]

What a load of crap..mines super sharp?

[@scttg5697]

Terrible sharpness on mine! Took a photo of a bear and it came out looking like a banana!

[@davidnelson3757]

See above AF tuning

[@rockapejv]

Wow, not great in sharpness!? get another copy, mine is razor sharp. I have heard that they can vary a bit from copy to copy... not good, but for the price....? See the Steve Perry review.

[@eduardofreitas8336]

thats the main thing keeping me from getting this lens. I am torn between it and the more expensive SIGMA S

[@davidnelson3757]

Most will need AF Tuning

[@denispaquette5855]

I’have watched a few review about that lenses, the thing that bugs me a little is telling me that a $ 1 400.00 dollars lenses is not gonna give you as good as a $ 14 000.00 dollars lenses well really? Not that I don’t agree maybe just say to remember that in life manufacturers will give you for what you pays. And that is is a great value for the price !!

[@FuckPedophileBiden]

A 400.00 Tokina 100mm f/2.8 is just as sharp if not sharper than a $14,000.00 lens.

[@2wheelnutt]

I assume when you acquire your lenses you perform the auto focus fine tuning in your camera. With this lens on a D750 I made an adjustment to -3 and the sharpness changed from pretty good to really good. Texture and detail improved very noticeably.

[@rasecroel2366]

Did you do - 3 on sharpenes? Thanks

[@2wheelnutt]

@ Cesar, that’s right but to be sure it’s right for you it’s best to mount your camera and lens on a tripod and find a target such as a ruler with very fine increments and shoot a photo looking downward at approximately a 45 degree angle at one of the numbers, say 6 inches for example. Make sure the aperture is wide open and you are close to your target leaving a little room for adjustment in either direction. If you find your image looks sharper beyond the 6 inch mark go to your menu to auto focus fine tune and adjust in the negative direction. You may already know this but there are a couple of KZbin bemos that will help. Seriously, this small adjustment brought the texture of bird feathers razor sharp. Good luck. ✌️

[@rasecroel2366]

Lee.. Literally I was just doing that in my garage lol.. I found a video from Steve perry that explains that procedure.... I'll test it Friday since I'm flying tomorrow...... Thanks Lee..

[@Viper3870750]

@@2wheelnutt Thanks for this. I have a D810 and wasn't aware of this being a thing. I'm still fairly new and have been shooting for about 2yrs now. I'll check out some videos on this procedure with my current lenses!

[@2wheelnutt]

@@Viper3870750 I was wondering if you got around to doing the autofocus fine tune on your lens and if you found a noticeable improvement as I did?

[@TaipeiGeek]

I think your images look unsharp because you use too slow shutter speed.

[@dance2jam]

Hey Mike. I've used the lens for a 1 1/2 years and agree with your comments based on what and how I shoot. AF speed in good conditions has been the main issue I have faced both in initial acquisition and requiring focus once lost. This won't come as a surprise as there are other KZbin videos on this subject that all agree. Other drawbacks in an otherwise good lens were lack of weather sealing (for dusty, wet, or sandy conditions). As you know, the extension and retraction of the lens also make the lens prone to getting grit in the joints of the lens. I have not experienced this yet, but was curious about your experience. I was also not happy using this lens with the 1.4X TC III. This lens should appeal to anyone needing flexibility, portability, and who has stable shooting conditions in reasonable light. Shooting BIF in low light is certainly possible (and I have many images to prove it) but at times frustrating. I am curious about what you think as "possible alternatives in the Nikon lineup" such as 300mm f/4 with possible use of 1.4X TC. I believe Steve Perry did such a review, but it's been a while. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort.

[@MikeHagen]

Hi Dance2jam - I've taken this lens multiple times to Africa, Iceland and the Galapagos. While I don't abuse the lens in those situations, it has held up nicely. I almost always travel with a towel so I can wipe down the lens if it gets dusty or wet. Other Nikon lenses I would suggest are the 300mm f/4 with 1.4x TC (very sharp and very lightweight), Nikon 80-400mm (excellent lens), Nikon 500mm f/5.6 (one of the sharpest). Also, if you are shooting DX, then you might consider the Nikon 70-300mm. On a DX, that's equivalent to 105-450mm.

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

I will save you 5 minutes. I use one of these and I am generally very particular about sharpness. The answer - is this lens sharp enough? Yes, it is. For the price and size it is very sharp if you get a good one. Mine seemed a tad soft at 500mm on arrival, and needed micro adjusting. Once done it's the sharpest tele-zoom I've used and one of the sharpest in my collection, beating some primes.

[@MMKARAOK]

Great review..👍 Is it compatible with kenko DGX 1.4 tele converter ?

[@theeclecticphotographerajr5372]

Please but a cap on that d500 😀

[@kushvasa6105]

Hello, I'm using this lens paired with d850 for 3 years and i should say this is one of the sharpest zooms out there... There were two lots of lenses (in India, don't know about other countries) where the first lot of lenses would not produce sharp images.. But the second lot or present ones have been improved and sharp. Also the autofocusing is fast, also I've found that its sweet spot is f/7.1..

[@RawDog82]

hey there... have you used this lens for landscape?

[@AmateurPhotographer12]

⁠@@RawDog82Nope

[@ketanmahida]

Thanks sir, I'm confused which lens should i buy. Now I decided that Nikon 200-500 is best for me

[@64BBernard]

Hi Mike. I have that lens and have gotten great images with it. BTW, is that a RRS l-bracket on your D850 and grip?

[@MikeHagen]

Hi @64BBernard - This is a 3rd party grip and a 3rd party bracket. Here's a video I put together on these items - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH-7c6iHf7aDl5I

[@destinyangel5]

The 45.7 mp D850 can be used in DX mode at 20mp so no need for a D500 . You can get to 300mm up to 750mm as well in DX at 20MP on the better D850 . D500 has one frame faster burst rate over a gripped D850 thats it.

[@MehdiRF]

I highly recommend to use Nikon DF-M1 dot sight with 200-500mm for birding.

[@wildfreak1439]

What do you mean? Can you please explain

[@MehdiRF]

@@wildfreak1439 The laser on DF-M1 helps you significantly finding erratically moving subjects. You will find birds and airplanes much much faster with this laser dot sight rather than looking from viewfinder. You have to try it to see results..

[@naturewithgitesh]

Hi Sir,.... Can you please advise that At 500mm, who has the better image sharpness, Tamron G2 or Nikon 200 to 500 mm F5.6

[@thomassiegers3007]

Tamron

[@tommynikon2283]

9/7/2023: I've had my (used) copy for 9 days; out on shoots 3x. I paid $560; that didn't include the foot/collar, a front filter, hood (another $150 I dropped)= $710 I'm getting what I paid for....a HALF-ass telephoto that more often than not DOESN'T critically focus on moving objects. I NEVER would've paid full price. Lots of blown shots (sports type). I'll be buying a D500 body within a few months and hoping the high FPS rate will rescue this lens. I used it on a DX body...making the minimum focal distance 300mm. This is a hard lens to use if birds aren't your thing (not mine)....because it forces you to re-think everything...like almost 20ft. in front of you....isn't. WHEN it works, it's fine; not great! My copy is under-whelming for AF ("hunts"), nuts to hike with (I have) at 5#, hand holding is possible yet impractical for long periods, and...a more practical lens + tele-converter MAY be of more use/higher quality. Lastly, the zoom rotation collar is TOO long a motion for the full range. Nikon should shorten this throw. One last note- and this is another experiment....use the latest/greatest software available, such as Topaz AI or LuminarNEO to MAXIMIZE image quality...ie critical sharpening/focus.

[@thomaseriksson6256]

Thank you for a good review I just got it to my D850 to use until I can afford a 2nd 400mmF2.8 E FL or G VR lens

[@mickey-q6d]

Very helpful for a guy that just bought the lens. And it's gonna try and figure out if you made a mistake. Thank you for your video.

[@rinku533]

Mine is razor sharp 🙂

[@kidsandmaternityphotograph206]

Hi Please tell us if Tamron G2 150-600 is better than Nikon 200-500

[@thomassiegers3007]

Tamron is better

[@EgoundderRest]

@@thomassiegers3007 ich habe mein Tamron G 150-600 kürzlich verkauft und bin glücklich, dass ich es noch verhökern konnte. Parallel habe ich ich seit 2 Jahren mit dem 200 - 500mm Nikkor fotografiert. Dagegen ist das Tamron ein Hohn! 2x zu Service geschickt und die Aussage bekommen: Es erfüllt die Vorgaben. Da stimmen dann wohl die Vorgaben nicht! Das Tamron ist eigentlich sehr wertig gearbeitet, es fehlt aber erheblich an den "inneren" Werten. Ich würde diesen Scherben nie empfehlen. Entweder Nikkor oder Sigma für den Nikon - User.

[@jimmycanuck5340]

Hanging a digital camera around your neck with no lens on it outdoors is just asking for trouble. You must own a good sensor cleaning device.

[@jimmycanuck5340]

Make sure that your lens is positioned over a tripod leg, not between legs. Tipping over should not be a problem then.

[@ashwinmistry9464]

Hi Mike Very good explanation thanks I am using 18-200 for learning bird photography and watching all you tubers are taking nice picture with 200-500 do think I can achieve the best results with this lense ? I found 18-200 will giving kind of soft results not that sharp ! Or can I go for Nikon Pf lense 300 f4 ? Please advise thanks

[@ashwinmistry9464]

@Man in Dandism thank you for you reply will you please inform exect description of the lense so it's easy to purchase .

[@sumangalarajapakse]

Dear Mike Hagen..a very nice presentation about the super telephoto zoom lens. I am following your videos on the you tube and learning a lot. I am using this Nikon 200-500 mm. Super Telephoto lens with my Nikon D 7100. I am highly interested in Wildlife Photography and due to that deep interest I purchased this Lens in Year 2016. I am using the Neutral Color NC Filter NC 95 mm with this Lens. In the fields I am using a Tripod and using the Nikon Remote Code MC-DC 2 with the Nikon D 7100. I am very happy about this WILDLIFE LENS and at the moment has a good collection of Wild Images. Just for my personal awareness I would like to know - when I mount the Neutral Color NC Filter NC 95 mm will there be any good effect..? Next matter what about this super telephoto lens with Nature and Landscape Photography works ?

[@MikeHagen]

Hi Sumangala - I usually don't add filters to my lenses. I haven't used NC or haze filters for over 20 years. As long as your filter is a high quality brand, you shouldn't see significant degradation in image quality. Regarding using the lens for nature and landscape, it will work great. I love this lens!

[@sumangalarajapakse]

@@MikeHagen My Dear Mike Hagen Thank you very much for the Reply. I am highly interested about your you tube channel and I am Learning a Lot. Your way of presentation is crystal clear. Easily understood. In my computer I have a collection of videos related to Nikon Cameras - ISO settings and Back Button Auto Focus presented by Your good self. I will use this Lens in Nature and Landscape once I am in the WILDS. Once again Thank you so much and Warm Regards. Blessings to you to do more fruitful works in the Future..

[@sujitnewase1081]

Is it good with Nikon 5600

[@sergheirilschi6552]

It should be.I am using it with D7500, and tested with my son's D5600. Works perfectly.

[@northofbrandon]

Still trying to get my 200-500 onto the Gimbal

[@MrGixxer51450]

How's Nikon 200-500mm vs Sigma's 150-600mm Contemporary?

[@paganphil100]

MrGixxer51450: I watched a video earlier today which compared these two lenses......the Nikon won easily.

[@DanielRodriguez-fg5ll]

This is an old video but being a beginner with a d850 myself I found this useful. In the d500, I never get why people switch between the two as as I understand it, in the d850 I can go to settings and select DX area and it becomes de facto like a d500, no?

[@xavierg8985]

Exactly but you have slightly less pixels in your d850 in DX mode, the area on your viewfinder is smaller with grey/dark area, with liveview you have the dx zoom effect but you lose the AF-C and autofocus is slow. D500 is faster and lighter. I ended to just shoot in FX with the d850 and crop after unstead using dx mode

[@dipankarchatterjee8809]

A very honest opinion. Thank you.

[@eviltango]

Weather sealing?

[@corrbox2]

Thank you Mike, thanks for your frank and honest review. You hit all the major points, both positive and negative. You where very honest about the quality of the lens as compared to the Nikkor "pro" level lenses. I appreciate the review very much. 🙏 👏 😌 👍 😊📸

[@aussie8114]

Cheap and Cheerful from China 😂