Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR

Nikon F (DX/FX)

OIS Autofocus

Overview

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR is a prime telephoto lens that is particularly renowned among wildlife and sports photographers. It boasts a fast f/4 maximum aperture, which allows for excellent light-gathering capabilities and the ability to create beautiful background blur, making it a fantastic option for isolating subjects in a busy environment.

Build Quality and Design

This lens is built like a tank, featuring a robust magnesium alloy body that is both lightweight and durable, which is a significant advantage for photographers who spend hours in the field. The lens also has a weather-sealed design, providing protection against dust and moisture, which is an excellent feature for outdoor and wildlife photography. The integrated Vibration Reduction (VR) technology is another standout, reducing camera shake and allowing for sharper images even at slower shutter speeds.

Optical Performance

When it comes to image quality, the AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR delivers stunning sharpness and clarity, even wide open at f/4. Chromatic aberrations and flare are well controlled, thanks to Nikon's ED glass elements and a Super Integrated Coating. Bokeh is smooth and creamy, contributing to aesthetic visuals in portraits and wildlife images. The lens also performs admirably when stopped down, providing remarkable detail and contrast across the entire frame.

Autofocus System

The autofocus on this lens is fast, accurate, and nearly silent, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects. The multi-focus system ensures that tracking an action-filled scene is seamless, which is vital for sports and wildlife photographers. However, it’s worth noting that while the lens is geared towards high-end performance, occasional hunting in low light situations can occur, which may require manual adjustments for consistency.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Excellent build quality with weather-sealing
Outstanding optical performance with minimized aberrations
Fast and accurate autofocus system
Impressive low-light capabilities due to f/4 aperture
Effective stabilization with VR technology

Cons

The lens is quite expensive, which may deter hobbyists
It can be cumbersome to handle without proper support, such as a tripod
The weight might be unmanageable for some users over long shooting sessions

Verdict

Overall, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR is a fantastic lens that is primarily aimed at serious photographers who demand high-quality performance in their photography. While its price point may seem steep, the resulting image quality, build, and versatility are hard to beat for capturing distant subjects with precision and detail. If you are a professional or an enthusiast willing to invest in a premium telephoto lens for your Nikon F (DX) mount, this lens is definitely worth considering.

Technical Specifications

500mm

min focal length

500mm

max focal length

max f (min zoom)

max f (max zoom)

52mm

Filter diameter

400cm

min focus distance

f22

min. aperture

3880g

Weight

Elements

Groups

391mm

Length

140mm

Diameter

Which cameras does the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR fit?

The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR is a full-frame lens for Nikon F-Mount cameras. On full-frame bodies it uses the whole sensor; on APS-C Nikon F-Mount cameras its field of view equals 750 mm in full-frame terms.

Nikon F-Mount cameras

Full frame:: Nikon D6, Nikon D780, Nikon D850, Nikon D5, Nikon D810A, Nikon D4S, Nikon D810, Nikon D750, Nikon Df, Nikon D610, Nikon D4, Nikon D800, Nikon D800E, Nikon D600, Nikon D3S, Nikon D3X, Nikon D700
APS-C:: Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500, Nikon D500, Nikon D3400, Nikon D5600, Nikon D5500, Nikon D7200, Nikon D3300, Nikon D7100, Nikon D5300, Nikon D3200, Nikon D5200, Nikon D5100, Nikon D7000, Nikon D3100, Nikon D300S, Nikon D5000, Nikon D3000, Nikon D90, Nikon D60

With the Nikon FTZ II / FTZ the lens can also be used on Nikon Z (DX/FX) cameras.