200-500 f/5.6

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I hope to pick up a review sample of this and other new Nikkors by the end of this week.

[elsa hoffmann]

I am looking forward to that review

[Fons Baerken]

So am i

[Kim Pilegaard]

It will be interesting to see whether it is as sharp as the AF-S 300/4 with 1.4x converter.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Picking up the review sample of the 200-500 later today. My Nikon contact added the new 600/4 as well ....

[Bjørn Rørslett]

OK, now have in my possession the 200-500/5.6, newest 600/4, and the TC14.3E. I plan to start separate threads for each lens, but am open to questions and suggestions from now on.

[Mike Wallace]

Really looking forward to your reviews Bjorn! 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I probably do this like the Df, posting day by day observations. I have the lenses at my disposal for 3-4 weeks at least.

Done the first "get-acquainted" series with the 200-500 and was surprised over the findings. Unfortunately (?) a political meeting is on my agenda this afternoon, so might not be able to start the new thread(s) before late this evening. Stay tuned. I have plenty of impressions already, but these need to be cross-referenced and checked before posting.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

It would be interesting to see a comparison of the two for a subject in strong backlight.

[elsa hoffmann]

And now I wonder how the Sigma 200-500 f2.8 performs..

[elsa hoffmann]

not sure if this has been posted :

To users of the AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens

Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photographic needs.

Nikon will implement a service for updating AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens firmware. Details regarding implementation of this firmware service are as follows.

Firmware update details
We have confirmed that with autofocus shooting using the AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, autofocus may sometimes become disabled and focus operation switches to manual focus* when the zoom ring on the lens is rotated while the camera's shutter-release button is pressed halfway, or the camera's AF-ON button is held down.

*Autofocus operation can be restored by pressing the camera's shutter-release button halfway again, or pressing the camera's AF-ON button again.

To address the occurrence of this, we will implement a service for updating AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens firmware.

Updating lens firmware
Those who would like to have their AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR firmware updated may take or send their lens to a Nikon authorised service center, where the firmware will be updated free of charge.

Identifying lenses with which the firmware has already been updated
Firmware in lenses with a serial number of 2008365 or higher have already been updated.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I was warned that this issue exists with my review sample. Probably drop by the Nikon repair centre and have it fixed over the weekend.

[pw-pix]

What a pisser, shame that option isn't available to us mere mortals who spend their money on Nikon beta products.
I'm sure we'd all love to drop our buggy products off and have them fixed up over the weekend.

Instead we wait weeks and weeks for warranty service.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I'm mortal too ....

Just was spared by my Nikon contact to discover this buggy behaviour for myself.

I agree that field testing ought to have caught this flaw, but these days we are being accustomed to major makers rushing out their latest products with warts and all. Adobe, Apple, Nikon, Microsoft, Samsung, ..., the list goes on ad nauseam. Perhaps we, as customers, should look into the mirror and ask ourselves if we also play a part of this game in the eager of having the latest and greatest toys to play with? People spend too much time on rumour sites and stoke up the pressure on the makers even further.

[pw-pix]

I reckon you have a good point about rumour sites putting pressure on manufacturers to get things out quickly.
Even competitor rumours would have that sort of effect, 'Sony has one coming, we'd better have one too'.

It does look like the 200-500 is an excellent response to the value priced 150-600 zooms from Sigma and Tamron.