The AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens from Nikon features a long, versatile zoom range characterized by a constant maximum aperture of f/5.6, which gives it consistent performance all through the zoom range.
Moreover, its optical design includes three extra-low dispersion glass elements that minimize distortion and chromatic aberrations, resulting in enhanced sharpness and color accuracy.
Nikkor 200-500mm review
Nikkor 200-500mm benefits from a Super Integrated Coating applied to lens elements and improved quality and clarity by lessening ghosting and flare.
Moreover, this superb telephoto zoom lens can bring in focus anything of your passion. Be it share stunning views of wildlife, birds, motorsports, performers, athletes, landmarks, or other faraway subjects, and this lens can capture it with perfection.
It features a fast f/5.6 constant aperture, leading to beautifully out-of-focus backgrounds and capturing fast-moving dazzling action sequences. It has an electromagnetic diaphragm that operates in sync for the fastest shutter speeds, and it also has Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which leads to sharp and steady images.
Let us look in detail at Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens features to understand why this lens is so popular!
Nikkor 200-500mm – product overview:
The Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR is designed to be compact, yet it doesn’t comprise its super-telephoto zoom capabilities. Whether the subject is far or close, fast or slow, it can be captured through this lens. This lens on 500mm can bring distant animals, birds, athletes, landmarks, scenery, and more into tight focus.
It adds a 1.5x zoom effect for an angle of view, making it equivalent to a whopping 750mm! Even though it has this extreme power, subjects as close as 7.2 feet away can also be focused on for detail-rich close-ups.
With its total weight of 2,300 grams, it is noticeably heavier than its counterpart, which weighs 80-400mm at 1,570 grams, and the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 VC, which weighs 1,951 grams, and the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM which weighs at 1,930 grams.
But it is still lighter than other glasses weight-wise, such as the Sigma’s Sport version of the 150-600mm lens, which weighs 560 grams more. It is only slightly heavy but has tons of other features to compensate for it.
The fixed aperture of f/5.6
Even though it does not feature the same reach opportunities in the group of super-telephoto zooms, as it is the only lens with a fixed aperture of f/5.6, let’s not forget that the Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E VR can be done particularly well optically at the long end and can be used with teleconverters, while other lenses cannot.
So the 200-500mm f/5.6E VR surpasses the optical quality of other lenses, and many photographers opt for it instead of third-party options, majorly because of its autofocus reliability. While the rest of the 150-600mm lenses have reliability and quality assurance issues, Nikon is much better in that department and can be trusted.
Silent Wave Motor
Overall, Nikon’s beauty has quite a bit of modern optical technologies embedded into it when it comes to lens design. Although it is without Nano Coating, it does sport a Silent Wave Motor.
It has up to 4.5 stops of Vibration Reduction or image stabilization compensation, three extra-low dispersion lens elements, and an internal focus design.
Unlike Nikon’s previous old-style designed lenses, the mechanical diaphragms have been replaced by a much newer and superior electromagnetic diaphragm giving it a modern touch and feel along with faster and more efficient performance.
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Nikkor 200-500mm is an impressive product as Nikon was able to manufacture a constant aperture lens design, which very difficult for such a long zoom lens. It is the first of its kind as lenses of similar class we have seen in the past from Sigma such as 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM), Tamron like SP 200-500mm f/5-5.3 Di LD) and the newer 150-600mm variants as well as, all feature variable apertures from short f/5 to long f/6.3 end of the range.
Suitable with the 1.4x teleconverters
So the Nikkor 200-500mm is quite a catch! It is unlike slower lenses that are unreliable and have inconsistent focusing experience, especially in low-light situations. It faces no such issues as the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR has a brighter maximum aperture of f/5.6 at all focal lengths, making this the lens suitable to be used with the 1.4x teleconverters.
Next is the Silent Wave Motor AF system it sports, which helps it produce a fast and near-silent focusing performance, which is well-suited for image capturing and video shooting.
It can also be instantly overridden manually by turning off the simple manual focus ring. It is not only quick but also provides precise autofocus. Then there is VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization that minimizes camera shake effects by up to 4.5 shutter speed stops.
This further contributes to efficient and convenient photography in fast-paced situations and difficult light. Moreover, this lens also includes an electromagnetic aperture mechanism designed to offer greater exposure control stability. This results in better performance when shooting with faster continuous shooting rates.
Compatible with DX sensors
Not only can this lens be used with FX image sensors, but it is also compatible with DX sensors; the only difference is that there it will provide a 300-750mm equivalent focal length range.
Then the fixed f/5.6 maximum aperture leads to consistent performance all through the zoom range. Additionally, it has three extra-low dispersion elements that minimize color fringing and chromatic aberrations to a great deal, thus resulting in greater color accuracy and clarity.
A Super Integrated Coating has also been applied to all its separate elements to reduce internal reflections, ghosting, and flare. This leads to enhanced image quality like contrast, and color accuracy is improved even when working in bright light conditions.
There is also an internal focusing design that allows only internal lens groups to move during focusing so that the lens’s overall length can be maintained during use. This leads to faster focusing speeds.
There is Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which is complemented by a designated Sport Mode. This makes them well-suited to work in both low-light conditions and fast-paced conditions. Users would greatly benefit from this feature when shooting in conditions where panning and other lateral camera movements are common.
There is a rotating tripod collar that provides well-balanced support for photographing with the help of a monopod or tripod with both vertical and horizontal shooting orientations.
You can see this great lens tested by Daniel from the daniel life YouTube channel for a better understanding of what Nikon 200-500mm can do:
What’s in the Box?
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens
- 95mm Snap-On Lens Cap
- LF-4 Rear Lens Cap
- HB-71 Bayonet Lens Hood
- CL-1434 Semi-Soft Lens Case
- Tripod Collar
- Limited 1-Year Warranty
NIKKOR 200-500mm Specifications:
- Focal Length: 200 to 500mm
- Max Aperture: f/5.6
- Min Aperture: f/32
- Lens Mount: Nikon F
- Format Compatibility: Full-Frame
- Maximum Magnification: 0.22x
- Minimum Focus Distance: 7.22′ / 2.2 m
- Optical Design: 19 Elements in 12 Groups
- The angle of View: 12° 20′ to 5°
- Diaphragm Blades: 9, Rounded
- Focus Type: Autofocus
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Tripod Collar: Removable and Rotating
- Filter Size: 95 mm (Front)
- Weight: 5.1 lb / 2.3 kg
So to capture astounding pictures comfortably and efficiently, invest in this lens. <-Affiliate Link 🙂 It has all the features that a professional photographer requires, and its performance is beyond par. Use it to add magic to your photographs, as Nikon never fails to impress!
It is indeed a telephoto lens that zooms like a pro!
