Is the Nikon 200-500mm sharp enough? 

This lens is brutal sharp. Period!

Very helpful for a guy that just bought the lens. And it's gonna try and figure out if you made a mistake. Thank you for your video.

A very honest opinion. Thank you.

Great review..👍 Is it compatible with kenko DGX 1.4 tele converter ?

Hey Mike. I've used the lens for a 1 1/2 years and agree with your comments based on what and how I shoot. AF speed in good conditions has been the main issue I have faced both in initial acquisition and requiring focus once lost. This won't come as a surprise as there are other RU-vid videos on this subject that all agree. Other drawbacks in an otherwise good lens were lack of weather sealing (for dusty, wet, or sandy conditions). As you know, the extension and retraction of the lens also make the lens prone to getting grit in the joints of the lens. I have not experienced this yet, but was curious about your experience. I was also not happy using this lens with the 1.4X TC III. This lens should appeal to anyone needing flexibility, portability, and who has stable shooting conditions in reasonable light. Shooting BIF in low light is certainly possible (and I have many images to prove it) but at times frustrating. I am curious about what you think as "possible alternatives in the Nikon lineup" such as 300mm f/4 with possible use of 1.4X TC. I believe Steve Perry did such a review, but it's been a while. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort.

Thanks sir, I'm confused which lens should i buy. Now I decided that Nikon 200-500 is best for me

I will save you 5 minutes. I use one of these and I am generally very particular about sharpness. The answer - is this lens sharp enough? Yes, it is. For the price and size it is very sharp if you get a good one. Mine seemed a tad soft at 500mm on arrival, and needed micro adjusting. Once done it's the sharpest tele-zoom I've used and one of the sharpest in my collection, beating some primes.

I like how you leave your other camera exposed to the elements without a lens in it. You must love your gear. LOL

Weather sealing?

Thank you for a good review I just got it to my D850 to use until I can afford a 2nd 400mmF2.8 E FL or G VR lens

The 45.7 mp D850 can be used in DX mode at 20mp so no need for a D500 . You can get to 300mm up to 750mm as well in DX at 20MP on the better D850 . D500 has one frame faster burst rate over a gripped D850 thats it.

Hi Mike. I have that lens and have gotten great images with it. BTW, is that a RRS l-bracket on your D850 and grip?

Hello, I'm using this lens paired with d850 for 3 years and i should say this is one of the sharpest zooms out there... There were two lots of lenses (in India, don't know about other countries) where the first lot of lenses would not produce sharp images.. But the second lot or present ones have been improved and sharp. Also the autofocusing is fast, also I've found that its sweet spot is f/7.1..

Hi Sir,.... Can you please advise that At 500mm, who has the better image sharpness, Tamron G2 or Nikon 200 to 500 mm F5.6

I highly recommend to use Nikon DF-M1 dot sight with 200-500mm for birding.

I’have watched a few review about that lenses, the thing that bugs me a little is telling me that a $ 1 400.00 dollars lenses is not gonna give you as good as a $ 14 000.00 dollars lenses well really? Not that I don’t agree maybe just say to remember that in life manufacturers will give you for what you pays. And that is is a great value for the price !!

Thank you Mike, thanks for your frank and honest review. You hit all the major points, both positive and negative. You where very honest about the quality of the lens as compared to the Nikkor "pro" level lenses. I appreciate the review very much. 🙏 👏 😌 👍 😊📸

This is an old video but being a beginner with a d850 myself I found this useful. In the d500, I never get why people switch between the two as as I understand it, in the d850 I can go to settings and select DX area and it becomes de facto like a d500, no?

I assume when you acquire your lenses you perform the auto focus fine tuning in your camera. With this lens on a D750 I made an adjustment to -3 and the sharpness changed from pretty good to really good. Texture and detail improved very noticeably.

Hi Mike Very good explanation thanks I am using 18-200 for learning bird photography and watching all you tubers are taking nice picture with 200-500 do think I can achieve the best results with this lense ? I found 18-200 will giving kind of soft results not that sharp ! Or can I go for Nikon Pf lense 300 f4 ? Please advise thanks

Dear Mike Hagen..a very nice presentation about the super telephoto zoom lens. I am following your videos on the you tube and learning a lot. I am using this Nikon 200-500 mm. Super Telephoto lens with my Nikon D 7100. I am highly interested in Wildlife Photography and due to that deep interest I purchased this Lens in Year 2016. I am using the Neutral Color NC Filter NC 95 mm with this Lens. In the fields I am using a Tripod and using the Nikon Remote Code MC-DC 2 with the Nikon D 7100. I am very happy about this WILDLIFE LENS and at the moment has a good collection of Wild Images. Just for my personal awareness I would like to know - when I mount the Neutral Color NC Filter NC 95 mm will there be any good effect..? Next matter what about this super telephoto lens with Nature and Landscape Photography works ?

Hi Please tell us if Tamron G2 150-600 is better than Nikon 200-500

9/7/2023: I've had my (used) copy for 9 days; out on shoots 3x. I paid $560; that didn't include the foot/collar, a front filter, hood (another $150 I dropped)= $710 I'm getting what I paid for....a HALF-ass telephoto that more often than not DOESN'T critically focus on moving objects. I NEVER would've paid full price. Lots of blown shots (sports type). I'll be buying a D500 body within a few months and hoping the high FPS rate will rescue this lens. I used it on a DX body...making the minimum focal distance 300mm. This is a hard lens to use if birds aren't your thing (not mine)....because it forces you to re-think everything...like almost 20ft. in front of you....isn't. WHEN it works, it's fine; not great! My copy is under-whelming for AF ("hunts"), nuts to hike with (I have) at 5#, hand holding is possible yet impractical for long periods, and...a more practical lens + tele-converter MAY be of more use/higher quality. Lastly, the zoom rotation collar is TOO long a motion for the full range. Nikon should shorten this throw. One last note- and this is another experiment....use the latest/greatest software available, such as Topaz AI or LuminarNEO to MAXIMIZE image quality...ie critical sharpening/focus.

Still trying to get my 200-500 onto the Gimbal

Please but a cap on that d500 😀

How's Nikon 200-500mm vs Sigma's 150-600mm Contemporary?

I think your images look unsharp because you use too slow shutter speed.

Is it good with Nikon 5600

Make sure that your lens is positioned over a tripod leg, not between legs. Tipping over should not be a problem then.

Terrible sharpness on mine! Took a photo of a bear and it came out looking like a banana!

Hanging a digital camera around your neck with no lens on it outdoors is just asking for trouble. You must own a good sensor cleaning device.

Wow, not great in sharpness!? get another copy, mine is razor sharp. I have heard that they can vary a bit from copy to copy... not good, but for the price....? See the Steve Perry review.

Mine is razor sharp 🙂

What a load of crap..mines super sharp?

Cheap and Cheerful from China 😂