Will we see a Z replacement for the 500pf?

[kbrkr]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

 

[ghostfox_1]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

Maybe eventually, or maybe not. The only people who know for sure aren't saying, but if they do, I can't imagine it's any time soon.

 

[Jeff Klofft]

I doubt we will anytime soon. I the meantime, the 400 f/4.5 with the T14 is the closest solution.

 

[Boudewijn van der Drift]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

The stepsize 600/400 = 1.5 is a bit large, some other primes have a smaller one, so longterm yes, probably.

But the waiting lists for these other PF primes makes it unlikely to be "real soon now". Design and tooling-up for production is costly. And as you say there is the F-mount alternative, plus available zooms, the Z TC1.4 (which is excellent) and cropping an FF picture.

I hope I am wrong on the timing

 

[ZapperVT]

The 500pf has been discounted for months now. Perhaps Nikon is trying to draw down inventory in preparation for a new model?

 

[Boudewijn van der Drift]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

The stepsize 600/400 = 1.5 is a bit large, some other primes have a smaller one, so longterm yes, probably.

But the waiting lists for these other PF primes makes it unlikely to be "real soon now". Design and tooling-up for production is costly. And as you say there is the F-mount alternative, plus available zooms, the Z TC1.4 (which is excellent) and cropping an FF picture.

I hope I am wrong on the timing

P.S. the production of high quality Fresnel lenses might be the limiting factor. So an extra PF lens then would compete for production capacity with the other ones.

 

[ZapperVT]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

The stepsize 600/400 = 1.5 is a bit large, some other primes have a smaller one, so longterm yes, probably.

But the waiting lists for these other PF primes makes it unlikely to be "real soon now". Design and tooling-up for production is costly. And as you say there is the F-mount alternative, plus available zooms, the Z TC1.4 (which is excellent) and cropping an FF picture.

I hope I am wrong on the timing

P.S. the production of high quality Fresnel lenses might be the limiting factor. So an extra PF lens then would compete for production capacity with the other ones.

But every Z 500pf sold is likely one less F 500pf sold. The demand for pf elements might not change much.

 

[areallygrumpyoldsod]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

I consider it is more likely that we will see a Z 600mm f/6 PF before a Z 500 mm PF

But this lens is less important than the 200-600 and much shorter glass.

 

[Dbltfarmer]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

I consider it is more likely that we will see a Z 600mm f/6 PF before a Z 500 mm PF

But this lens is less important than the 200-600 and much shorter glass.

I don’t disagree but how big will a 600 pf be. That’s one of the great things about the 500 pf. One has to wonder if they can’t jus change the production line to produce Z mount 500 pf lenses for Z cameras and same with 300 pf. Of corse they will have to make it look like the z lenses and change a few things like VR.

 

[michaeladawson]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

The practical answer I truly believe is no. By that I mean what most of the responders are saying. Not any time soon. In fact, I would expect one so far into the future that my "practical" answer is to go about your photography as if one is not coming.

Ask the question again in 5 years.

 

[michaeladawson]

But every Z 500pf sold is likely one less F 500pf sold. The demand for pf elements might not change much.

I don't think that is true at all. Any of those people that won't buy an F version for their Z camera. Any of those people that have the F version and will now buy the Z version. I think demand would go up a lot.

 

[Boudewijn van der Drift]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

The stepsize 600/400 = 1.5 is a bit large, some other primes have a smaller one, so longterm yes, probably.

But the waiting lists for these other PF primes makes it unlikely to be "real soon now". Design and tooling-up for production is costly. And as you say there is the F-mount alternative, plus available zooms, the Z TC1.4 (which is excellent) and cropping an FF picture.

I hope I am wrong on the timing

P.S. the production of high quality Fresnel lenses might be the limiting factor. So an extra PF lens then would compete for production capacity with the other ones.

But every Z 500pf sold is likely one less F 500pf sold. The demand for pf elements might not change much.

Ah, thanks, did not realize the F 500PF is still being sold/produced. The Z version then still needs designing, and the clientexpectation is it should be a marked improvement.

 

[TomS53]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

As I just got the Z400mm 4.5 and both Z TCs :-D , the announcement will be forthwith for the Z500 PF :-x ! Stay Safe & Happy Holidays!

 

[archerscreek]

I love my 500 PF, but its still an F mount and requires a separate TC and FTZ adapter. Nikon released the 400mm, 600mm, and the 800mm, but the 500mm 5.6 can be the sweet spot for most wildlife shooting.

Do we think we will see a 500mm PF replacement?

I consider it is more likely that we will see a Z 600mm f/6 PF before a Z 500 mm PF

But this lens is less important than the 200-600 and much shorter glass.

I don’t disagree but how big will a 600 pf be. That’s one of the great things about the 500 pf. One has to wonder if they can’t jus change the production line to produce Z mount 500 pf lenses for Z cameras and same with 300 pf. Of corse they will have to make it look like the z lenses and change a few things like VR.

Size and weight of the future lightweight 600 lens is an interesting question. I also bet Nikon is contemplating whether it will utilize the 500 PF formula or the 400 f/4.5 S lens formula for size and weight reduction. I hope they go the 400 f/4.5 route.

 

[shuncheung]

The 500pf has been discounted for months now. Perhaps Nikon is trying to draw down inventory in preparation for a new model?

That is incorrect information. Check Nikon Japan's discontinued F-mount lens page. The 500mm PF is not on that: https://www.nikon-image.com/products/nikkor/discontinue_fmount/

 

[ZapperVT]

The 500pf has been discounted for months now. Perhaps Nikon is trying to draw down inventory in preparation for a new model?

That is incorrect information. Check Nikon Japan's discontinued F-mount lens page. The 500mm PF is not on that: https://www.nikon-image.com/products/nikkor/discontinue_fmount/

I said "discounted" i.e. selling at a reduced price, not "discontinued".

 

[shuncheung]

The 500pf has been discounted for months now. Perhaps Nikon is trying to draw down inventory in preparation for a new model?

That is incorrect information. Check Nikon Japan's discontinued F-mount lens page. The 500mm PF is not on that: https://www.nikon-image.com/products/nikkor/discontinue_fmount/

I said "discounted" i.e. selling at a reduced price, not "discontinued".

Sorry, I misread your post. However, the discount on the 500 PF is only seasonal. It is not constantly discounted.

Since so many people already have the F-mount 500mm PF, it will be difficult for Nikon to get them to buy another Z-mount version so soon. Eventually Nikon will introduce a Z-mount version, but that will likely be a few years from now. With the 400mm/f4.5 and up-coming 200-600, that space is already pretty crowded.

 

[Oswego]

I think they want fans of the 500pf to move to the 400. Those that can afford it will move to the 800pf. I don’t think we will see a 500pf. They would rather you make the decision between those two lenses.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

The 500pf is such an excellent piece of glass that I think Nikon will eventually simply convert it to Z-mount as-is. Maybe call it 500 ver ii.

Other than finally machining ARCA-swiss rails into the tripod mount, I can't think of any improvements that are both needed and would be noticeable. Perhaps a newer generation of VR or a bit faster focus motor, but nothing significant.

 

[Paddler213]

Ah, thanks, did not realize the F 500PF is still being sold/produced. The Z version then still needs designing, and the client expectation is it should be a marked improvement.

It's not clear to me that a Z version will be a "marked improvement" in IQ over the 500/5.6PF in F mount. It is incredibly close to the 500/4E already. A Z version would likely be a little lighter, and you wouldn't need the FTZ adapter. But I think IQ would be a wash, the current lens is that good.