The New Nikkor 500mm Lense

Last year nikon released a new 500mm lense using phase fresnel technology to create a more compact telephoto lense. It had good reviews so I ordered one at the beginning of October 2018. Five months later it has finally turned up after a long wait as worldwide demand immediately outstripped supply. Naturally I've immediately been out to see how it performs and must say I'm really impressed by the results. It's light weight and compact and fast to lock onto its focus. I'm pretty pleased with my first lot of photos using it.

I also bought a 1.4 and a 1.7 teleconverter to use with it giving an effective focal length of 700mm and 850mm respectively. I haven't used the 1.7 teleconverter much yet but it certainly performs well with the 1.4. Focal response is a bit slower in poor light and at short range but otherwise it performed well.

Here's a selection of my first photos with the new Nikkor 500mm f5.6E PF ED VR lense.

My very first photo taken with this lense. A paradise shelduck (putangitangi) flying through the valley behind our house. I only had seconds to lock on and take this photo so was pretty impressed with the result. I would not have managed to take this shot with my Tamron 150-600 zoom lense.

A variable oystercatcher (torea pango) at the Waiwhakaio river mouth. Taken with the 500mm lense plus 1.4 teleconverter.

An adult and juvenile oystercatcher - 500mm lense + 1.4 teleconverter.

Adult and juvenile in close up, 500mm lense and 1.4 teleconverter.

Oyster catcher in close up, 500mm lense with 1.4 teleconverter.

a young starling in the flax, 500mm lense with 1.4 teleconverter.

pied stilt (poaka) at the Waiwhakaio river mouth, 500mm lense with 1.4 teleconverter.

Canada goose in the golden water at lake Mangamahoe. The colouring is from the morning sun lighting up some trees on the shore of the lake and being reflected in the water. nikkor 500mm lense.