Nikon AF-S 200-500 f5.6G ED VR
s/n: 6056659
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| Second try, 100% digital zoom, July 8, 2026 ~ Nikon D780 - AF-S Nikkor 200-500 f5.6 G ED VR |
I didn’t buy this lens for astrophotography but I love it when you get more than you bargained for. This is a picture, hand held, four in the morning tracking the International Space Station. I did it! I’m going to use a 1.4 Teleconverter and bring out some detail, probably on a tripod.
My copy finally arrived and I’m so happy. I’ve wanted a proper lens for really reaching out and my previous rental of this lens impressed me enough to know that I will be satisfied. I spent more money on this lens than I ever have on any lens and I’ve bought quite a few. First of all it is big, heavy and the hood is huge! The lens takes 95mm filters and they are expensive too. It did not come with a bag so I’m going to purchase a padded Lowepro lens case for it. The tripod mount will stay on as doubles as a handle as I move from spot to spot. The 200-500mm will primarily be used hand held but I will use it on a tripod as well.
I have a AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 ED VR N G FX and use it to photograph petroglyphs that I cant get close to. I also use it as a sort of spotting scope. I’ll take pictures of distant rocks then at home, expand the photos on my iPad looking for evidence of rock art. The 80-400 D is a nice but old lens, it’s heavy, slow focus and first generation VR or vibration reduction.
I knew I wanted to upgrade my primary long lens and I knew the 200-500mm just might be a contender. I called the local photo equipment rental shop and reserved the 200-500mm. I picked it up and brought it to the car, mounting it to my D780. I had always wanted a picture of Tovrea Castle and I knew of a place but I was going to have to shoot from the 202 freeway. I stopped, hazards on, frame and press the shutter release and got the shot. Phew! Back in the car, back on the freeway and thought, “wow” easy to use.
On the way home, an airliner passed a few hundred feet overhead on final at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. I always wanted a series of an airliner landing, the tires smoking as they touch the runway. I knew where to go and in short order, I was watching a line of planes approaching. I got the airliner on approach but as it dropped below the level of the chain link, the auto focus went to the fence, damn it. Thinking, just flip to manual focus. I flipped the switch on the camera body, switched the lens to manual and started tracking the next plane in. I grabbed the approach, as the plane dropped below the fence, my little finger keeping focus, taking pictures. The zoom takes three twists to actuate the full 200 to 500mm. I had got my shots however, it wasn’t framed well but close. This lens is big, the zoom range actuation is big and the weight of the lens is heavy too.
My first impressions are that the lens is intuitive and user friendly.
The next morning I used the lens for shooting petroglyphs on a small boulder pile hill. I am unable to climb on the rocks so my lens will have to do the work.
The lens was very useful for the distant petroglyphs. I was not able to climb to get closer so my long lens did the work. I was able to zoom in on small petroglyphs up high and with the close focus, I was able to picture rock art at eye level. Again, the zoom takes three twists or two big twists and one smaller, it’s a bit of a work out if changing the zoom but this is the story of this lens, it’s big.
I ended up purchasing the upgraded 80-400, the AF-S VR Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 FX ED G N but at the same time, I went through my lens kit and culled the overlap and traded in the D610 and purchased a mint copy of the 200-500mm f5.6. I am slightly excited and nervous as this lens will open up a whole new chapter for my photography. It’s definitely BEASTMODE hand holding this one but it is totally manageable.
For now, the 200-500 will sit on the shelf. I have photographs in my mind that I’ve already taken with it. One series is from our new wave pool, the other is Newspaper Rock in the Petrified Forest. I want to take it to the Phoenix Zoo, the desert, the mountains…
Neil van Niekirk: Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 VR Review
photographylife: Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR Review
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