Industry News: Nikon Announces Development of AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR

[R1-7D]

Only if you insist on new. You can get an EF 500 f4.5 for $2,000, or an EF 500 f4 IS for $4,000 and a 1DX for $2,500.

So you can get world class Canon body and glass for under $7,000...

The problem is that Canon aren’t servicing the old 500 f/4.5 & f/4 IS anymore. If something were to happen, $2000-4000 is a lot to spend on a paper weight unless you can find somewhere else to fix the lens.

I can't afford a Canon 500 f/4 II right now, so I'm considering at some point springing for the Sigma 500 f/4 Sport. It's a fair amount cheaper, and by all accounts its supposed to hold its own against Canon's big tele offerings. It has a seven year warranty too, which is nice.

 

[ahsanford]

There has been a sighting:

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=35341.0

- A

 

[AlanF]

The specs and pricing are now out https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/le...l/Telephoto/af-s_500mmf_56e_pf_ed_vr/spec.htm and $3,600 BHP.
It looks superb: the MTFs are very high all the way to the edge, it weighs only 1.46kg and only 106x237mm compared with 2.1kg and 128x233mm of the DO II. Further, it takes 95mm filters so you can carry it without a lens hood without fear of scratching the front lens element. The lens hood is in fact an optional accessory. The weight is an important factor - it weighs 200g less than the 100-400mm II, and 815g less than the 400mm DO II with its lens hood.

Despite my earlier reservations of preferring 400mm + 1.4x + 2xTC combos to 500mm + 1.4xTC combo, the Nikon is very attractive, especially considering its pricing.

There is a real migration from Canon to Nikon by birders because of the superior AF of the D500 and D850, with Canon having the edge in glass. Now, Nikon is ahead all round. If I was starting now, there is no question that I would choose Nikon for wildlife. Wake up Canon - we need a 7DIII to match the D500 and some competitively priced lightweight telephotos!

 

[MrFotoFool]

When you (AlanF) say "the lens hood is in fact an optional accessory" I assume you mean using it is optional, not that you have to buy it separately as an optional accessory (which is how your post reads). Of course with a lens of this price the hood is included, as listed in Adorama ("What's in the box"): https://www.adorama.com/nk50056e.html?origterm=nk50056e&searchredirect=true
This lens looks amazing - really the perfect 500mm lens. If I could afford to switch I would sell all my Canon gear and jump ship today. In fact I have the Canon 70-200 iii due to ship this week from Adorama and I am tempted to cancel my order and apply it to Nikon. I can't, but I am tempted.

 

[MrFotoFool]

BTW link on Adorama pre-order says manufacturer will start shipping on September 13, 2018. That's pretty quick, a lot shorter lag time than between when Canon 70-200 iii was available for preorder and when it will start shipping from manufacturer (which is today coincidentally).

 

[Don Haines]

If you shoot Canon and want birds on a budget you use a 7D2. The Nikon camp uses a D500. The two cameras are roughly equivalent.

For lenses, both can use a third party lens (Tamron or Sigma 150-600) at the same price....

For native glass, Canon is 100-400 and Nikonis 200-500..... any longer and you jump to 10K $....

Nikon just added an alternative... good for them... I would love to see a 500F5.6 out of Canon, perhaps this will push then a bit....

 

[AlanF]

When you (AlanF) say "the lens hood is in fact an optional accessory" I assume you mean using it is optional, not that you have to buy it separately as an optional accessory (which is how your post reads). Of course with a lens of this price the hood is included, as listed in Adorama ("What's in the box"): https://www.adorama.com/nk50056e.html?origterm=nk50056e&searchredirect=true
This lens looks amazing - really the perfect 500mm lens. If I could afford to switch I would sell all my Canon gear and jump ship today. In fact I have the Canon 70-200 iii due to ship this week from Adorama and I am tempted to cancel my order and apply it to Nikon. I can't, but I am tempted.

B&H has the hood listed as an optional accessory https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1431717-REG/nikon_20082_af_s_nikkor_500mm_f_5_6e.html?sts=pi which surprised me. But the Adorama listing must be right.

 

[AlanF]

If you shoot Canon and want birds on a budget you use a 7D2. The Nikon camp uses a D500. The two cameras are roughly equivalent.

For lenses, both can use a third party lens (Tamron or Sigma 150-600) at the same price....

For native glass, Canon is 100-400 and Nikonis 200-500..... any longer and you jump to 10K $....

Nikon just added an alternative... good for them... I would love to see a 500F5.6 out of Canon, perhaps this will push then a bit....

The D500 is far superior to the 7D2 in terms of AF and has a superior sensor, which is why we need a 7DIII. It doesn’t stop us taking great photos but you should see what Arbitrage can do with the D500 and 300/4 PF capturing birds in flight that I can only dream about see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/100907765@N08/