Nikon D500 - first impressions

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Automatic WB is very good with the D500, but so is the Df.

As to the balance with certain lenses, D500 gets partially into the same kind of trouble as for Df, viz. front-heavy lenses do not handle very well. 'Partially' because D500 functions better with AFS lenses whilst Df invites manual lenses to be attached to it.

[golunvolo]

And I like that dog from another realm a lot.

[BW]

Its the devil in disguise Like the D500..

[tommiejeep]

I've had the D500 for a week but have not had much opportunity to use it for Birds/Soccer.  My first impressions are very good.  Taking some time to get it set up they way I want it but that will come.  Next thing is to check out the fine tuning on my most used lenses.  I am having a hard time checking the speed of acquisition vs the gripped D300s, D3S and D500 since when they were my primary action cameras I was faster, younger and healthier.  The D750 is with Nikon so cannot shoot head to head at the moment.   So far I've not found anything to complain about and love the increased ISO range for what, and how, I shoot 

This was a quick draw shot in the bright , harsh sun.  D500, 300 2.8 vr I w/tc1.4II at f5,1/2500, ISO 640, center weighted metering, M-mode, auto WB and ISO(normal) .  Really looking forward to my first soccer match but hope to have it set up for ooc jpegs before that happens,  trying to get it right using NEF in CC PS 2015 is taking time.  The second image is at longer distance  but both heavy crops . I kept moving the shutter speed up and wound up shooting most at 1/4000 

[PedroS]

Nice photos, but either you didn't nail the right sensor to focus or you have front focus.
Can you please check where were the focus sensor?

[dslater]

Automatic WB is very good with the D500, but so is the Df.

As to the balance with certain lenses, D500 gets partially into the same kind of trouble as for Df, viz. front-heavy lenses do not handle very well. 'Partially' because D500 functions better with AFS lenses whilst Df invites manual lenses to be attached to it.

Attaching an MB-D17 filled with NiMH AA batteries helps resolve this issue no?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Attaching an MB-D17 filled with NiMH AA batteries helps resolve this issue no?

So do switching to D4s or D5 .... In my opinion, D500 functions (in terms of handling) best with not too longish lenses if it is used hand held. Thus it combined very well with the new 70-200 FL E.

[Bent Hjarbo]

I tried my old AIS 50mm 1.4 today for portraits, but had problems getting a sharp image, until I discovered that I have a "back-focus" issue, both using the finders focus indicator, and as well by judging by the OVF screen. I thought that this type of problems was related to AF lenses only. The 50mm if focused on the tip of the nose would render the lip sharp. (So it did focus approx 1 cm further away than I wanted)
Any having seen this on D500 or other models ex. Df?

Br Bent

[Bjørn Rørslett]

No, never had that issue. However, one has to be very careful about adjusting the finder dioptre for optimal accuracy. I do this several times per day as in my experience,  eyesight characteristics fluctuate quite a lot over time.

[tommiejeep]

Pedro, probably the did not nail is the answer but will have to check all lenses.  I'm a single parent at the moment so that is on my "to do" list when I have some time.  I uploaded these with Bridge so even though they are on ViewNX I did not get the focus point (note to check camera settings) .  Still have not seen the Migrant birds yet so have not taken the 500vr out, hopefully I will work on the fine tuning when my wife returns.
Some Raptors have shown up and they are also waiting for the influx of birds  >  The Lake/Pond is in a very sorry state so I do not think I will see any Osprey or Sea Eagles taking fish 
Cheers,
Tom

[David H. Hartman]

I tried my old AIS 50mm 1.4 today for portraits...

I found I was better at focusing my 50/1.2 AIS than I was at holding focus. At f/1.2 the DoF is so shallow at a focus distance of 2 meter that slight body sway would blow the focus. If I braced myself against something solid I might achieve good focus about 3 out of 4 shots. Now if this were a free standing person as a subject the success could easily drop.

It probably has been suggested but checking focus from a tripod, optical viewfinder v. live view is probably a good idea.

The camera might be out of spec but if it were me and my camera I'd doubt myself first.

Best,

Dave Hartman

[Bent Hjarbo]

It probably has been suggested but checking focus from a tripod, optical viewfinder v. live view is probably a good idea.

The camera might be out of spec but if it were me and my camera I'd doubt myself first.

Best,

Dave Hartman

Thanks I will test with a tripod. Both me and the person I photographed was free standing
Br Bent

[chambeshi]

D500 with 135 f2 Zeiss APO Sonnar, challenging to focus

Admin comment: No need to upload the same image three times ...

[John Koerner]

Nikon D500 + Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8VR II + Nikkor AF-S 2x TC-20E III

[John Koerner]

Nikon D500 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar Macro