Nikon 500mm f5.6 PF; Game Changer?

[NorthernFocus]

Shortly after Nikon announced this lens I decided I'd give it a try. Largely based on my experience with its predecessor the 300mm f4 PF. I received it last week and though I've only tested it on our dog, Grace, at this point, my initial impressions are .... well I'm amazed.

The lens is so small and light that there is nothing to compare it with other than maybe a tele lens for m4/3. I didn't get the same impression when first handling the 300mm PF. Maybe because there are so many versions of xx-300mm zooms that are pretty small so the 300 PF didn't feel that much different.

Reading about new kit is lot different than actually getting it in hand. The 500mm PF is almost like a scale model or toy version of a "real" 500mm prime. It has all the same function switches including the AF/AF-L buttons and more or less the same profile of the 500E but it literally feels like a toy in the hands. So much so that it's going to take some getting used to.

As I said I only have a couple of images of the dog to share so far.

D850, 500mm PF, all handheld, wide open at f5.6, auto ISO, matrix metering +1EV

1) Found a spot with more or less ideal conditions. Bright, low sunlight with a distant BG. Bokeh in this situation looked pretty sweet. This first one at 1/500s, ISO180, VR on.



2) Opposite situation. Horrible light, busy BG though no spectral highlights. 1/640s, ISO6400, no VR. I cut the poor girls feet off.



3) And in between. Brighter lighting with a clean BG. This maybe a 50 percent crop. 1/800s, ISO1250, no VR.

[purplehaze]

Those are pretty impressive, Dan. I look forward to seeing more. You have a gorgeous dog, by the way. Give her a hug for me. I do so miss my Stella.

[pnodrog]

Nice test pictures. I take it you will be using the lens a lot.

[billtils]

These look superb Dan. How do you see it fitting in to your existing range of lenses? Is there a niche? What about adding a TC?

[Manfred M]

Looks like a wonderful addition to your kit. I'm looking forward to seeing how this lens works on one of your wildlife outings.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, folks.

...How do you see it fitting in to your existing range of lenses? Is there a niche? What about adding a TC?

It will more or less replace the 200-500mm. One thing that I looked at prior to ordering this lens was historical data for how I use the 200-500. I found that based on several thousand images in my LR catalog I shoot at 500mm 90 percent of the time. I also looked at how I have historically used the 500mm f4 and discovered that I only shoot it wider than f5.6 20 percent of the time. So I figure this lens should see plenty of use.

How it pairs with a TC isn't really a consideration for me as I very rarely use them. But no doubt I'll give it a test at some point.