Should I buy a 600mm f/4 FL ED VR or a D5?

[Wahrsager]

I currently have a D4s and a 400mm f/2.8 FL ED VR and almost always use it with the TC-14E III. I find myself almost always cropping 100% or more to get the desired composition for most of what I find myself photographing. (Surfing from shore).

I'm intrigued by the slight resolution increase of the D5 and am not too put off by the less flexible dynamic range. I'm very interested in the increased sensitivity of the center AF-point as I almost always toggle between AF-C dynamic 9 and AF-C single point (via the customizable buttons on the lens barrel).

I love compression and the long-glass look and always shoot wide-open. Granted the price difference is huge, but life is short.

 

[whoosh1]

For increased resolution - I think you should go all the way to D810 & probably use it with 600mm f/4 FL. But maybe you think the focusing speed or the fps do not meet your requirement & that is why you have not considered the D810. I had a D4s - but I had already sold it & got a D810 by the time I got the 600mm f/4 FL. I make do with the D810 fps - sure would like the increased focusing speed though (from either D4s or D810). I heard the D5 focusing speed is really good. Still you may want to give a D810 a try before going D5 + 600mm f/4 FL.

 

[Wahrsager]

For increased resolution - I think you should go all the way to D810 & probably use it with 600mm f/4 FL. But maybe you think the focusing speed or the fps do not meet your requirement & that is why you have not considered the D810. I had a D4s - but I had already sold it & got a D810 by the time I got the 600mm f/4 FL. I make do with the D810 fps - sure would like the increased focusing speed though (from either D4s or D810). I heard the D5 focusing speed is really good. Still you may want to give a D810 a try before going D5 + 600mm f/4 FL.

Thanks for the response- Frame rate is very important as is overall responsiveness. I already have a D800E and I know the D810 is faster, but it's due for replacement soon and the files are way bigger than I need unless I'm doing a flash-lit portrait where the D800E is mostly satisfactory. The "Pro Bodies" have a lot of benefits besides speed- lit buttons, easy portrait mode handling, durability. Also, I think Nikon puts a secret sauce in the pro-bodies that the D8XX lack- Virtually every lens is dead-nuts accurate with my D4s body including the super-softy 58mm 1.4G wide open and the colors/ white balance, even when referencing a neutral card are superior in my opinion.

 

[Kris in CT]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket

 

[Wahrsager]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket

 

[Kris in CT]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket

 

[Wahrsager]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket

 

[AlexandreH]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket

 

[Wahrsager]

By the way, I clicked "buy." Nikkor 600mm f/4 FL ED VR and Wimberly Gimbal Head II gets here on new Thursday... We'll see how it works out..

 

[Sandy27000]

Hi - I have gone with 500mm FL and D5, and I don't earn a penny from photography. Perhaps sell the 400mm if you won't use both the 400 and the 600, and go with 600mm f4 FL and the D5

 

[Lance B]

I currently have a D4s and a 400mm f/2.8 FL ED VR and almost always use it with the TC-14E III. I find myself almost always cropping 100% or more to get the desired composition for most of what I find myself photographing. (Surfing from shore).

I'm intrigued by the slight resolution increase of the D5 and am not too put off by the less flexible dynamic range. I'm very interested in the increased sensitivity of the center AF-point as I almost always toggle between AF-C dynamic 9 and AF-C single point (via the customizable buttons on the lens barrel).

I love compression and the long-glass look and always shoot wide-open. Granted the price difference is huge, but life is short.

I think the 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII will give you similar IQ to the 600 f4, there will be little in it. Personally, I would buy a D500 and use your 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1,4x TCIII when required. With the D500, you basically have a "600 f2.8 VR". The D500 has the same or very similar AF to the D5 and it is ligthing fast and accurate.

This is generally my birding set up, D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR and use the 1.4x TCIII when required. Simply a brilliant birding combo! If I take my D810 along, I have a 400mm f2.8 bare and a 560mm f4 with the 1.4x TCIII and with my D500 I have a 600mm f2.8 bare and an 840mm f4 with the 1.4x TCIII.

View at full res.

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso200

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/640s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso360

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso640

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/640s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso1400

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/1250s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso3200

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/1000s f/8.0 at 560.0mm iso1800

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso3200

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/1250s f/5.6 at 550.0mm iso5600

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/2500s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso2200

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.0 at 560.0mm iso280

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.0 at 560.0mm iso140

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/800s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso160

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/2000s f/6.3 at 560.0mm iso250

D500 + 400 f2.8E FL VR + 1.4x TCIII, 1/400s f/5.6 at 560.0mm iso1400

--
Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

 

[Marcus nikonious]

Now that you will have the 600 and the converter, and you can't get the 800 why not go for another converter ie a D500. The wimberly would work really good at 1200mm +. It also would give you a 900 mm f4 from the center of the lens with the same min focus as The 600. Not to mention your 400 mm ...

As far as cameras go the auto focus is scarey . It doesn't hang on , it attaches itself . Results are really good printed. . Or enjoy what you have. Have fun, the real show is outside !

Mike S.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

Looking at my EXIF, I'm typically shooting up to ISO 1400 prior to sunset and up to 8000 in my pre-dawn shots. I find shadow noise and detail "okay" for web use with the D4S with those aforementioned numbers (contingent upon the "dark and light zones"

Both the D500 and D5 seem better at the ISO's you mention for high ISO noise.

I would rent a D500. You are likely to find it gives your D4s a run for its money with much better AF. Once you see whether a D500 does what you need you can go from there.

 

[Geomaticsman]

By the way, I clicked "buy." Nikkor 600mm f/4 FL ED VR and Wimberly Gimbal Head II gets here on new Thursday... We'll see how it works out..

I think you made the right choice as far as lenses go. I'm not sure how much better, if at all, the bare 600FL will be over the 400FL+TC14EIII, but I've always been in the camp that believes if you're always relying on a TC, you're using the wrong lens. I think the 600FL is a better compromise than the 400FL....still decent speed at f4 for low light situations but can be extended to a still-very-sharp 840mm f5.6 w/TC14EIII when shooting in good light. You can't get there with the 400FL.

It will be more interesting, I think, to rent both the D5 and D500 and compare them. My expectation is you'd like to have both....the D500 should perform well in good light, but the D5 will be king at dawn and dusk. No surprises there.

Good luck!

--

Gary -- Some Nikon stuff -- and a preference for wildlife in natural light
www.flickr.com/photos/garyirwin/

 

[Valeriu 64]

Hi , Lance.

I like very much your photos with birds.

Very good D500.

Thanks , Valeriu

 

[Wahrsager]

Thanks for posting those examples! They're crazy detailed!

 

[Lance B]

Hi , Lance.

I like very much your photos with birds.

Very good D500.

Thanks , Valeriu

Thank you very much for your generous comment, Valeriu. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Thanks for posting those examples! They're crazy detailed!

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Wahrsager. Much appreciated!

 

[whoosh1]

I agree with Geomaticsman. The 600mm FL is the best focal length without getting into the 800mm price & weight territory. It can go with either D4s or D5 or D810 well - and retain full frame ISO advantage with the possibility to add a DX camera for further reach if needed. I would probably sell the 400mm FL in this case though - and wait for the 300mm f/2.8 FL version. The 300mm & 600mm would better complement each other than a 400mm & a 600mm.

By the way, I clicked "buy." Nikkor 600mm f/4 FL ED VR and Wimberly Gimbal Head II gets here on new Thursday... We'll see how it works out..

I think you made the right choice as far as lenses go. I'm not sure how much better, if at all, the bare 600FL will be over the 400FL+TC14EIII, but I've always been in the camp that believes if you're always relying on a TC, you're using the wrong lens. I think the 600FL is a better compromise than the 400FL....still decent speed at f4 for low light situations but can be extended to a still-very-sharp 840mm f5.6 w/TC14EIII when shooting in good light. You can't get there with the 400FL.

It will be more interesting, I think, to rent both the D5 and D500 and compare them. My expectation is you'd like to have both....the D500 should perform well in good light, but the D5 will be king at dawn and dusk. No surprises there.

Good luck!

--

Gary -- Some Nikon stuff -- and a preference for wildlife in natural light
www.flickr.com/photos/garyirwin/

 

[DAVID MANZE]

Get a D500, keep your 400, d4s and 4k in your pocket