Nikon 500mm/f5.6 PF Super Tele Formally Announced

Mary, you should get a Z6 or Z7 body and try FX mirrorless. :cool:

Are you putting yours on a Z6? How do you like it so far?

I am really happy with the Z6 for landscape and video. Today I just shot some video with the Z6 and a 600mm/f4 on a tripod. For 4K video, I can use the Z6 in DX mode for further magnification.

But my point is that if one wants a lighter body, there is no need to use micro 4/3. The Z6 and 7 are very small and light, but too small IMO. AF is not the nest, though.

But my point is that if one wants a lighter body, there is no need to use micro 4/3. The Z6 and 7 are very small and light, but too small IMO. AF is not the nest, though.

The thing is I see nothing wrong with micro 4/3, at least not at this time. On the other hand, I will need to use an adapter on the Z6 to use the Nikon lenses that I already have. If I know myself, I will eventually discard those lenses and buy the new ones. Then what do I do with my non-mirrorless cameras? This would not make a lot of sense at all.

The thing is I see nothing wrong with micro 4/3, at least not at this time.

Mary, if you are happy with Micro 4/3, that is the only thing matters, to you.

Personally, I think sensor size does matter and Micro 4/3 is too small, leading to very small pixels and sub-optimal low-light performance. However, that may not matter if one mostly photograph under good light. In particular, most of us only look at images on a computer screen in these days. I haven't printed an image in several years and my printer has clogged up a few years back due to lack of usage. A lot of the quality we are getting is no longer necessary.

Micro 4/3 is too small, leading to very small pixels and sub-optimal low-light performance. However, that may not matter if one mostly photograph under good light.

You are right in this aspect. Nikon performs better in night photography - seems less noisy. Other than that, it performs well in low light for my purpses., With the excellent VR, I can handhold under ridiculously low light in high ISO and the photos look OK - again without critical scrutiny in big prints.

I am sure the waiting lists will clear eventually, people have gotten lenses after having been two months on a list.

Here we are - some 9-10 months later (and 14 months after the initial announcement) and there are still waiting lists (though occasionally the lens can be found in stock at smaller, local camera stores. I waited for 6 weeks (Sep 5 - Oct 16) and was told there are 5 people ahead of me (California chain store) . Based on the serial number of the lens I received, the production run so far appears to be about 10,000 units.

To me the main attraction are the small size and weight - especially considering that used 500/4 lenses can be had for less than the price of the 500 PF.

I wonder if the rumoured (sorry!) 600mm PF will ever materialise?

Maybe Z mount only?

I wonder if the rumoured (sorry!) 600mm PF will ever materialise?

Over a year after the release date, Nikon can't fill the demand for the 500PF - how can we expect them to release another lens with the same technology? And one that can reasonably be expected to sell in smaller quantities? Simply because it will be larger, heavier and most of all, twice the price of the 500 PF.

Maybe Z mount only?

Doubtful - that would exclude a large portion of the already not very large market. An F-mount version can be adapted to a Z-mount camera; a Z-mount lens can't be used on an F-mount camera.

I think Nikon will launch additional PF supertelephoto lenses, they indicated so in a recent interview, mentioning specifically the success of the 500 PF. However, it is not clear, which lenses those will be.

The 500 PF won't be forever in supply and several have appeared on the second hand market also e.g. at fredmiranda.com.