Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR : Specifications and Opinions

Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR, front

The Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR is a supertele lens for FF and APS-C, manufactured from 2018. The focus is done by Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM), it has image stabilization. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 3799 €;

67 users have given it an average vote of 9.6 out of 10.

MOUNT

This lens is available with the following mounts:

Nikon F: this lens is compatible with reflex fullframe and APS-C Nikon.

Specifications
Focal lenght	500 mm
Angle of view	5°
Format	FF, APS-C
Max. aperture	f/5.6
Aperture blades	9
Lenses/Groups	19 elements in 11 groups
Min. focus distance	3.00 meters
Reproduction ratio	0.18x
Features
Stabilization	Yes (built in lens)
Focus	Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM)
Internal Focus	Yes
Built and notes
Tripod ring	Yes
Extenders	Yes
Filters	95 mm
Lens hood	Yes, supplied
Weather sealing	Yes
Weight	1460 g
Dimensions	106 x 237 mm
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Reviews

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Nanoq

sent on 16 Gennaio 2021

Pros: sharpness, VR, AF-speed in most situations fast enough, WEIGHT!!

Cons: AF somtimes hunts in nervous backgrounds

Opinion: for me, this lens is a dream. After times with heavy 600/4 or bulky 560/5,6 this is the lens I can take with me wherever I want - long hikes, into the mountains, or...just out of the car window. You save many seconds just taking the camera plus 500/5,6PF, instead of lifting a heavy lens out of the window while "driving by". For hide-fotography or when a TC is an option, a 500/4 or 600/4 would be the better option - af is a little faster and the heavy lenses are more "think about what you shoot" and "concentrate on the target". While the 500/5,6 is a "run around and search and have fun" lens :-) Difficult to explain, but with the 500/4 fotography feels a little bit more serious ;-)

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Fulvio Lagana'

sent on 13 Aprile 2026

Pros: lightness, autofocus speed, stabilization effectiveness, excellent sharpness even at full aperture

Cons: Minimum focusing distance of 3 meters, blurred a bit, textured with certain backgrounds

Opinion: I use it with D500 and D850 especially for itinerant hunting and trekking. I had the 200/500 which I was satisfied with (autofocus slowness aside) and I still have the 500 F4 G. The 500 pf is lighter and more performing than the zoom, excellent in shots on the fly and allows sharp photos handheld with fairly slow shutter speeds (from 250 upwards). The 500 F4 is perhaps a little sharper, but you have to shoot with very fast times (a two thousandth or more,) or use it on a tripod and Gimball, the blur is super; on the other hand, you save on the gym to build muscles. Last but not least, coupled with TC 1.4 it does not lose quality (it slows down the autofocus, less if you partialize the range of the focusing distance). Taken used, highly recommended optics!

Brunobruce

sent on 24 Novembre 2025

Pros: Sharp, lightweight, ease of use, VR, memory recall

Cons: ridiculous plastic lens hood, ridiculous tripod foot, blurred jittery in some circumstances

Opinion: INSANE optics, impressive quality compared to anything I've ever tried (I don't compare it to any f/4 FL since I've never tried them). Its lightness and compactness allows you to use it safely freehand for an hour in the park. The function keys are very welcome, minus the poor quality of the lens hood that breaks at the first blow, and the tripod mount that was not even a 70-200 f4 (immediately replaced with an arca swiss) It has retired my beloved 300 PF (also crazy for how compact, light and sharp), the blur is a bit nervous on backgrounds such as lawn and the like, normal on non-demanding backgrounds. At the moment it gives big smiles

Clarenz

sent on 23 Gennaio 2025

Pros: Sharpness, AF speed, light weight

Cons: lens hood

Opinion: After a year from the purchase I can say that I am fully satisfied with this lens that has replaced the still valid nikon 200-500. Sharp even at full aperture and equipped with lightning-fast autofocus, I place it as a quality between the 200-500 F.5.6 and the 500 f.4 G series that I had but closer to the latter than to the zoom. The difference with the 500 f.4 is only noticeable in the quality of the blur and when the subject is at a considerable distance but otherwise the portability (it is mounted on a D5 in a 44x30x19.05 backpack) and the better AF motor compensate for these differences. Let's draw a pitiful veil on the lens hood that I have already had to change as it broke ...

Lumar78

sent on 18 Gennaio 2025

Pros: Lightness and compactness, easy handling, image quality, impeccable construction, af speed, tropicalized.

Cons: Nothing really relevant

Opinion: Bought new several years ago for light releases, it is really excellent from every point of view, second only to superteles in terms of image quality, for the rest (portability, tilt, weight) it is unrivaled on reflex. It is also very good on "Z", perhaps even better than on reflex, excellent even at full aperture, excellent even with the 1.4x tc and more than good with the 1.7x, clearly losing brightness. You can also take it on trips in hand luggage on the plane without too many problems (already done more than once). On "Z" it essentially replaces both the 400mm f. 4.5 and the 600mm f. 6.3. It also holds up well to the 45mpx of today's megapixelated machines without problems. It has nothing to do with Nikon 80/400 or 200/500 zoomons, nor with those of third-party manufacturers, it is definitely on another planet. At today's prices it is a "must have".

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Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR : Specifications and Opinions

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Photos taken with Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6 E PF ED VR