Nikkor 200-500?

micloi said:
There you go:

Nikon 500mm f4 mk2 at 500mm f4
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 200-500mm/3 way comparison/500mm f4 500mm.jpg

Nikon 200-500mm at 500mm f5.6
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 200-500mm/3 way comparison/Nikon 200-500m f5.6.jpg

Sigma 150-600mm C at 600mm f6.3
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 200-500mm/3 way comparison/Sigma 150-600mm C 600mm f6.3.jpg

Nikon 500mm f4 mk2 at 700mm f5.6 (with Nikon TC-14e III)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 200-500mm/3 way comparison/500mm f4 700mm f5.6.jpg

Nikon 200-500mm at 700mm f8 (with Nikon TC-14e III)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 200-500mm/3 way comparison/Nikon 200-500m 700mm f8.jpg
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Thanks Micloi I will be interested to see how you get on in the field with the 200-500. Can I ask is your 500mm f4 the latest vr version? I'm just trying to get an idea of what you are comparing it to as I think your current kit will be a good indication of my decision with the 200-400, Cheers Rob
 
micloi said:
Hi Rob, the 500mm f4 mk2 belongs to a good friend I am afraid. Wish it was mine :)
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It would be good wouldn't it ;) I'm hoping the 200-500 is going to be an ideal amateur wildlife lens, I don't expect it to be as good as an (very) expensive prime lens, just good enough for amateur use. If nikon have got this right they could be on to a winner that would keep a few wildlife photographers with nikon. I still can't see how the 80-400 can command such a high price above the 200-500, surely it will hit the sales of that lens.
 
Micloi, can I ask how the 200-500 extends, does the extending part turn as it extends? I'm just thinking how it would work with a rain cover or WWW zoom cover. I haven't had a lens that extends like this and I gather some twist as they extend.
 
rob-nikon said:
I think Kens 'reviews' are just to drive traffic to his site, I learnt long ago not to trust any of them. I think he try's to get beginners/novices to his site so not to question what he says or be a bit 'out there' to increase site traffic, what ever it is it clearly works well for him.
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And that's the problem with Rockwell. If you know enough to sort his BS from what good stuff might be buried in there, you don't need his "advice".
 
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rob-nikon said:
Micloi, can I ask how the 200-500 extends, does the extending part turn as it extends? I'm just thinking how it would work with a rain cover or WWW zoom cover. I haven't had a lens that extends like this and I gather some twist as they extend.
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Yes, it extends in the same way as most zooms (except the push pull ones such as the canon 100-400 mk1)
 
I was just keeping an eye on the two white marks, one dot on the barrel and one line next to the zoom ring......they both seemed to stay lined up.....its much easier to see from around the 1:20 mark in the video.
 
I do mean the filter thread/front element. The zoom ring will twist like modern lenses do rather than the old push pull type. I was wondering it the front element turns as it extends as if it did it would twist a rain cover as it extends, probably not being very easy to use with a rain cover if that was the case.
 
rob-nikon said:
I do mean the filter thread/front element. The zoom ring will twist like modern lenses do rather than the old push pull type. I was wondering it the front element turns as it extends as if it did it would twist a rain cover as it extends, probably not being very easy to use with a rain cover if that was the case.
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Looks like you would be okay judging from the 1:20 mark on :)
 
gramps said:
Looks like you would be okay judging from the 1:20 mark on :)
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The front element definitely doesn't twist, at 3:20 they fit the hood and extend from 200 to 500. They have a sticker on the hood that doesn't move as they zoom the lens.

I just noticed the tripod foot has only one screw thread, why do nikon make tripod feet that are quite poor. Two threads would have been better for connecting an scars Swiss plate (unless this is one of the things they think is a 'pro' lens feature).
 
A comparison I'll be waiting for is with the non-vr 300mm afs f/4 + 1.4 tc. The upgrade is 80mm and vr with the same aperture plus, it seems, the ability to go to 700mm or even 850mm usably (with the benefit of micloi's really excellent input). But it's a zoom vs a prime on the weakness side, while in terms of strengths vr allows a drop in shutter speeds (subject allowing), which really matters in my experience over ISO 400 on a D7100. That extra focal length looks incredibly tempting but how will it all stack up?
 
guess&press said:
A comparison I'll be waiting for is with the non-vr 300mm afs f/4 + 1.4 tc. The upgrade is 80mm and vr with the same aperture plus, it seems, the ability to go to 700mm or even 850mm usably (with the benefit of micloi's really excellent input). But it's a zoom vs a prime on the weakness side, while in terms of strengths vr allows a drop in shutter speeds (subject allowing), which really matters in my experience over ISO 400 on a D7100. That extra focal length looks incredibly tempting but how will it all stack up?
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The 300 f4 non vr AFS lens is a cracking lens but it was designed 15 years, technology has moved on so it will be interesting to see how it compares. I would hope a low ratio modern zoom lens would at least be on par with a 15 year old prime design plus TC. I used to have the 300 f4, I really liked it but having a zoom can be really useful to frame an image.
 
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guess&press said:
A comparison I'll be waiting for is with the non-vr 300mm afs f/4 + 1.4 tc. The upgrade is 80mm and vr with the same aperture plus, it seems, the ability to go to 700mm or even 850mm usably (with the benefit of micloi's really excellent input). But it's a zoom vs a prime on the weakness side, while in terms of strengths vr allows a drop in shutter speeds (subject allowing), which really matters in my experience over ISO 400 on a D7100. That extra focal length looks incredibly tempting but how will it all stack up?
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I'm in the exact same predicament as you, same 300mm f4 with 1.4 TC on a D7100, really itching to get my hands on a longer lens now we are approaching Rutting Season with my local Red Deer, the extra reach sure would come in handy

But then i think, is it really worth all the hassle to swap if i'm only gaining around 80mm, and would i be better going for the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary and possibly keeping hold of the 300mm........ arghhh, decisions, decisions
 
micloi said:
The barrel twists so it will affect you if you use a cover for the barrel. The front element does not twist
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Hey Michael,

The rain covers I've been looking at all hook up to the end of the 'hood' so should be ok as this doesn't seem to rotate.

Simon
 
There is an additional extensible part you can purchase for the barrel which twists around when the barrel rotates, making it difficult to use. I am helping a UK company create a cover for it and this is one of the first things they asked. What they will offer instead is a part you can add and remove on the barrel using velcro, making it easy to use. I will have the first samples this week.
 
micloi said:
There is an additional extensible part you can purchase for the barrel which twists around when the barrel rotates, making it difficult to use. I am helping a UK company create a cover for it and this is one of the first things they asked. What they will offer instead is a part you can add and remove on the barrel using velcro, making it easy to use. I will have the first samples this week.
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SAuchterlonie said:
Hey Michael,

The rain covers I've been looking at all hook up to the end of the 'hood' so should be ok as this doesn't seem to rotate.

Simon
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I'm a bit confused by this and I will be interested to see the final product. As the hood doesn't rotate as it extends from 200-500 i too would think you secure the rain cover to the front and then over the lens and camera. The rain cover will of course bunch up as it goes from 500 to 200 but that's to be expected. Wildlife Watching Supplies do a camo zoom cover for the likes of sigma and tamron 150-600 lenses to go with their camo lens cover sets. Lens coat already do a rain cover that has arms to allow you to operate the zoom ring, it would bunch up on an extending zoom lens like this. It will be interesting to see how your rain cover differs from these products.
 
It is not my rain cover :) I just gave a company the exact dimensions to make one. And it is not a rain cover, it is a camo cover.
 
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micloi said:
It is not my rain cover :) I just gave a company the exact dimensions to make one. And it is not a rain cover, it is a camo cover.
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Sorry I misunderstood after you talked about seeing samples soon. Sounds like we were talking about slightly different things in rain covers and camo covers. It will be interesting to see the new camo cover design as there are a few on the market for these extending zoom lenses already. rain covers sound like they should work ok with some bunching up as the lens goes from 500 to 200.
 
Hey Rob, I've been looking at some of the rain covers from Wildlife Watching Supplies too, they look really good. Think I'll get a bean bag for ground and hide use too.
 
Ah, yeah, I've got them marked on Ebay. :-) I love the LensCoat version as it has the nice sleeve in for controlling your camera, but don't know if I'd pay the price! :-P

bh1211-1.jpg
 
SAuchterlonie said:
Hey Rob, I've been looking at some of the rain covers from Wildlife Watching Supplies too, they look really good. Think I'll get a bean bag for ground and hide use too.
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I have a small WWS rain cover I use on a 70-200. It's nice but difficult to use with a zoom lens, they are much better with a prime lens. I also have a lenscoat rain cover for my 200-400 due to those access sleeves, it makes zooming the lens easier. The only problem with the WWS and lenscoat rain covered is the open back. I have thought of using an optech rain sleeve over the camera only to protect the back of the camera but haven't yet done it.

If I know I'm going out in the rain or on a sandy beach I usually use an optech rain sleeve to fully cover the camera/lens and sometimes seal the ends using electrical tape to ensure no water gets on the camera/lens. The only problem I find with the optech rain sleeve is if you put a warm hand inside the rain sleeve it causes condensation on the inside and it onto the camera. Optech rain sleeves make it difficult to turn dials and it's very difficult to put on in a rush (I need to put them on before going out due to the viewfinder and tripod plate, the WWS and lenscoat covers are much easier to put on in a rush due to velco bottom opening). I should trust the lenscoat and WWS rain covers in more than a light shower, I just can't get my head around the open back not protecting the camera well enough. I have tried closing the back around the viewfinder but I then I cant view the LCD, although that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
 
SAuchterlonie said:
Ah, yeah, I've got them marked on Ebay. :) I love the LensCoat version as it has the nice sleeve in for controlling your camera, but don't know if I'd pay the price! :p

bh1211-1.jpg
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It's like everything, it depends what it's worth to you. If you are protecting a few hundred pound lens it's probably a low priority, a few thousand pound lens on the other hand it's probably worth paying a bit more. The good thing is once you have purchased one it's likely to last a long time and not need replacing. They can also fit a range of lenses and are not lens specific like the neoprene covers which is a good thing.
 
rob-nikon said:
I have a small WWS rain cover I use on a 70-200. It's nice but difficult to use with a zoom lens, they are much better with a prime lens. I also have a lenscoat rain cover for my 200-400 due to those access sleeves, it makes zooming the lens easier. The only problem with the WWS and lenscoat rain covered is the open back. I have thought of using an optech rain sleeve over the camera only to protect the back of the camera but haven't yet done it.

If I know I'm going out in the rain or on a sandy beach I usually use an optech rain sleeve to fully cover the camera/lens and sometimes seal the ends using electrical tape to ensure no water gets on the camera/lens. The only problem I find with the optech rain sleeve is if you put a warm hand inside the rain sleeve it causes condensation on the inside and it onto the camera. Optech rain sleeves make it difficult to turn dials and it's very difficult to put on in a rush (I need to put them on before going out due to the viewfinder and tripod plate, the WWS and lenscoat covers are much easier to put on in a rush due to velco bottom opening). I should trust the lenscoat and WWS rain covers in more than a light shower, I just can't get my head around the open back not protecting the camera well enough. I have tried closing the back around the viewfinder but I then I cant view the LCD, although that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
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Just been reading some reviews of the LensCoat Rain covers and starting to like them even more, due to the fact they are made from a breathable material, just like my hardshell walking coat as this helps a lot with condensation. Just priced up a WWS for a Sigma Sport 150-600, which should be around the same size as the 200-500, and its about £65, so I might just add the little extra and get the LensCoat as it looks more versatile too.

Simon
 
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