Nikon 600mm f/4 VR

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

After waiting for the last 8 months I was informed on Friday that I would be receiving my Nikon 600mm f/4 Vr lens next week. I am very excited to use it and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with this lens and what kind of luck they have with it? Anything I should be aware of? Thanks ahead of time.

Mac

[James Shadle]

It's heavy.
And be careful, it's so sharp you may cut yourself on it!:)

Have fun.

James

[Grady Weed]

Congrats on the new toy! I want a 500 for my Canon. I can't wait.

[Markus Jais]

Well, that may sound obvious but don't drop the lens! I remember a guy I met in Yellowstone 3 years ago who told me that he dropped his 4/600 Nikkor in Yellowstone. He had insurance but for this trip to Yellowstone he was stuck to using the 4/200-400.

I also heard from another photographer who dropped his EOS 10D + 2.8/100 Macro in a creek in Bavaria. So dropping lenses can happen. Be very careful.

I can image that it's easy to drop a large lens when mounting it on the tripod or handling it in other ways. I am always extremely careful with my Canon 4/500 but still have insurance that covers dropping the lens.



Markus

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

James-

I recieved the Nikkor 600mm VR lens today and went to the backyard to test it. The image I took of the Ruby-throated I posted was not sharpened. It came out of the camera looking like that. Whow! I am sorry I didn't post it sooner but I have been at the emergency room of the local hospital having the cuts looked after. Thanks for your thoughts.

Wheeler

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

James-

I recieved the Nikkor 600mm VR lens today and went to the backyard to test it. The image I took of the Ruby-throated I posted was not sharpened. It came out of the camera looking like that. Whow! I am sorry I didn't post it sooner but I have been at the emergency room of the local hospital having the cuts looked after. Thanks for your thoughts.

Wheeler

[Desmond Chan]

James-

I recieved the Nikkor 600mm VR lens today and went to the backyard to test it. The image I took of the Ruby-throated I posted was not sharpened. It came out of the camera looking like that. Whow!
Wheeler

Hmmm...I was expecting something sharper...cuz I've seen raw file pic from a 300 f2.8 VR, handheld shot straight out of the camera, zoomed in 100% and you'd think no sharpening even needed for the final image. But have to say your shot was taken under a different condition so that might explain it.

Congrats on the lens !!

[Doug Brown]

Congrats on your new acquisition Wheeler!

[John Chardine]

I find my Canon 500/4 very unforgiving of poor technique but if all the planets align it is truly remarkable (and I'm sure the 600 VR is too). Early in the learning curve my rejection rate was pretty high but has come down a lot since then. Artie Morris has a nice article on super-tele technique in one of his bulletins which I found very useful. Part of long-lens technique involves releasing the shutter when subject movement is minimal, or use a high shutter speed to minimise this effect. This was something I did not realise until quite late- you set up on a solid tripod, set IS to mode 2, and use perfect holding technique and the result at 1/500s is blurry because the bird moved! Species that move a lot and quickly can be very challenging!

[Desmond Chan]

I find my Canon 500/4 very unforgiving of poor technique but if all the planets align it is truly remarkable (and I'm sure the 600 VR is too).

In my case, even the Nikon 200-400 f4 VR is like that, too :o