Nikon ED 500mm f4 P Lens (2 Viewers)

[BillN]

To date I have been useing a Nikon 70 300mm VR zoom with my D300
It is good, I really like the lens, weight is not a problem and I use it hand held most of the time.
It is great when the light is good and I can then use f8 plus a low ISO and high shutter speeds.

I am getting more and more interested in photographing birds and have been considering a Nikon Manual Focus 500mm f4 ED lens - at this stage the latest VR AF 500mm is not within my budget

I realised that it is much heavier than what I am used to and I am moving to tripod based photography with this lens.
I have read some good reviews and most seem to really "rate" the lens.

I expect to use my 70 300mm most of the time and would see the 500mm as being used for more "serious" work taking more time and effort.

I am sure that some of you guys use this lens so I would be grateful of your comments, particularly on usability and weight

Also I would be interested to know what you feel is a reasonable price range for such lens if bought privately, i.e. not from a dealer .... would minimum £1,000 and maximum £2,000 be the price range depending on condition?

Thanks

 

[RJM]

I played around with the idea of this lens a few years ago, going to several shops here to find a good one. Definitly the lightest of all the 500 F4's. But you must realize this lens is pushing 30yrs old now and any used one you find has changed hands many times and being "outdoor" superteles have been exposed to all kinds of weather and abuse. Moreover, due to the good online "reviews" this lens tends to command a premium usually selling for ~US$2200+. Finally, if you want to use a TC, it is only compatible with the hard-to-find Nikon model of that era. I eventually decided on the Sigma 150-500 instead because I wanted to shoot handheld and wanted the benefits of AF with optical stabilization and at half the price.

With the D300 you really don't need that lenses "P" function since you can program the camera. Unless you really want to shoot F4, I think the Kowa 500 F5.6 photo lens/scope might be the better more modern choice for a 500mm MF prime.

 

[Helios]

I would recommend going for a newer autofocus version, perhaps the AFS I or II, or saving a while longer for a new one. Quite difficult at the moment as there's not a lot of these lenses on the used market.

I had the 500/4 P a while back and paid £1500 for it at Grays of Westmister, and that was pretty much mint, so I wouldn't pay any more. The lens is very sharp, even with a 1.4 teleconverter. However the main reason I disliked it was that there was often a weird type of distortion on subjects of 10 meters or more. Seemed to be something to do with the air quality (heat haze, particulates, etc). Sometimes I didn't get it at all, but other times it was very frustrating. Also lots of CA. Really the 500/4 VR I have now is much better image quality wise, and you also get superb autofocus for flight and action shots.

I've examples of the 500/4P in my gallery (probably about two years back), and the 500/4VR that I'm using now.

 

[Helios]

You can use a modern teleconverter with the 500/4 P but you'll have to grind off the little metal tab. I used Fixation for this and I think it cost around £50.

 

[asiostygius]

Take a look at this amazing thread with sample shots:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=40213024

And this interesting review:
http://nikonglass.blogspot.com/2008/05/nikkor-mf-500mm-f4p.html
The guy have published a book on birds using extensively this lens with a TC14EII.

 

[RJM]

I suggest anyone considering a MF supertele take their current AF lenses out and shoot MF for a day or two then review their results. I am lucky to have more money than time so for me AF is a "must-have" feature in a wildlife lens. Too many lost shots and opportunities when trying to focus on a live, moving animal when they are not filling the frame. Of course it quite possible to get great MF pics but behind ever great pic will be dozens of crap frames.

 

[asiostygius]

Sure AF helps a lot for moving birds, but I am wondering how bird photographers in the 1970's and 80's took so many great shots with MF lenses.
Even today this is true, see for example this flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikkorprime/
or http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...hread=40213024

"...Of course it quite possible to get great MF pics but behind ever great pic will be dozens of crap frames...."
what is the problem here if DSLRs have routinely 4-6 fps capability with plenty space in 16Gb or more CF/SD cards?

Dont get me wrong, I do have and enjoy modern AF-S telephotos (300mm VR, 600mm AF-S II), but there are some occasions when I prefer to use those marvelously crafted and optically still very good old MF Nikkors (as the 600mm f/5.6 EDIF - no focus breathing vs. the 600 AF - and the 800mm f/5.6 EDIF).
Just my humble opinion.

 

[Phil Bishop]

I have had this lens since the late 90's-bought from Grays in near mint condition for around £3k and have never regretted it. You will need a decent tripod and head of course.
I tend to take it out only when I know I will need it (usually with a 2x and sometimes a 1.4 converter) as I also own the 300f2.8vr which is a bit more of a walk around lens.
The 500P is reckoned by some to be just as good optically as the current versions, but is much lighter and easier to handle-I have used it hand held for birds in flight occasionally.

Dont really know what a realistic price would be these days-I have seen anywhere from £1 to £2.5k in the last couple of years. If you can find a good copy for around £1k I would go for it as I dont think there is anything else in that price bracket that will come anywhere near as close.