Recently I have been using the new Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f5.6E ED VR Lens for my wildlife imagery and intimate landscape scenes. I will do a full review of the lens once I have had more time with it, but I must admit that so far I am lovin’ this lens – money well spent 🙂
On the weekend past, the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I was up at Horseshoe Lake near Parry Sound, Ontario to close-up the family cottage for the winter. Amid doing the various chores that needed tending to before closing up the cottage I noticed a juvenile Common Loon slowly making its way along the shoreline of the lake. I quickly grabbed my gear and jumped into the canoe and paddled towards the loon. This youngster will hang out on the lake for about another couple of weeks before flying to southern, coastal waters where it will remain for 2-3 years prior to flying north again. As I made my approach I slowed down to ensure I did not startle the loon and was glad to see that it was going to be a co-operative. Once I had the canoe into position I sat in the bottom of the canoe to gain a slightly lower perspective and photographed the loon while it swam about the canoe looking for a fish dinner below. On occasion the loon would come in almost too close to the canoe and I would have to wait for it to swim further away from my position. I experimented with using the lens in both the Full Frame format and the 1.5 DX Sensor Crop feature on the Nikon D800. I will select this sensor crop on the Nikon D800 when I wish for a little more “reach” as it will create an effective focal length that would be roughly the equivalent to adding a 1.4 Teleconverter onto the lens, however, there is no loss of f-stops. When working with the 1.5 DX Sensor Crop the 200-500mm lens becomes a 300-750mm lens.
Here is a sampling of some of the photos I created of this juvenile Common Loon with the new Nikon 200-500mm VR Lens. Please do remember to click on each image to view the sharper, larger versions.
Just spectacular loon shots – will be interested to hear further commentary about this lens. Horns of a dilemma – I use 300mmf4 + 1.4 TC……….
Thanks John, much appreciated…stay tuned I will post some additional imagery and more thought soon 🙂
I look forward to the full review as well Andrew…especially as we essentially have the same camera. Looking great so far with your images…
Thanks so much Karen, I appreciate the kind words!!!
Great shots. Looking forward to hearing more about the lens. One point a cropped sensor does not magnify it alters the angle of view to an equivalency of a longer focal length. The magnification never actually changes.
Thanks so much Victor…you are absolutely right about the cropped sensor 🙂
Wonderful shots! Surprised he let you get so close.
Thanks Stephen and the loons on our lake generally do allow a close approach…or they are so used to my presence that they tolerate me until I paddle away 🙂
You sure took advantage of this unique opportunity. Fabulous images.
Glad we have connected on Instagram!
Cheers, and have a great day.
Thanks so much Janet, I really appreciate it and ditto, I am also glad we hooked up on Instagram too, you have a wonderful collection of images in your feed…chat soon 🙂