Verdict

The Nikon AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR is a long telephoto prime lens which is relatively compact and comes at a very low weight of only 1.5kg. In my tests it turned out to be a very good performer: Resolution across the full frame is very good even wide open from infinity down to minimum object distance with colour aberrations, coma, and field curvature practically non-existent. And its optical image stabilization working together with the IBIS of any full-frame Z camera body proved to be effective giving the lens a 4 stop boost in handhold-ability. It is also equipped with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a professional Z-Nikkor plus a dedicated memory set button to save focus positions.

What’s not to like? Well, I have a few small issues: There’s some focus shift when the lens is stopped down from f5.6 to f8.0, focus breathing is not well controlled, and minimum object distance of 2.8m yields a maximum magnification of only 1:5.0. Then there’s the Bokeh: It is very good in the background with a smooth transition zone but the foreground often looks nervous with a slight tendency towards double contours. And when using the AF-S TC-17E II performance takes a visible hit. To be fair I’ve read reports that the lens still performs very good with the AF-S TC-14E III attached.

Let’s put this into perspective and have a closer look at how the Nikon AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR compares to Nikon’s Z 400mm f4.5 VR S, Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S, Z 400mm f2.8 TC VR S, and Z 800mm f6.3 VR S.

Above from left to right: Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S, Nikon Z 400mm f4.5 VR S, Nikon AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR (on FTZ adapter)

Compared to Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S

Nikon’s Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S is their best iteration of a telephoto zoom lens so far. It produces very sharp images and comes in a package which is comparable in size and weight to the AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR. But when you want to reach 500mm focal length you either need a Z TC-1.4x which reduces focal ratio to f8.0 or crop 1.25x into the image reducing resolution 36% from e. g. 45MP to 29MP. When choosing between both lenses it ultimately comes down to flexibility (favoring the Z 100-400 zoom lens) versus longer reach and better image quality (which favors the F 500/5.6).

For more details see my Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S review where the lens came Highly Recommended.

Compared to Nikon Z 400mm f4.5 VR S

In my tests both lenses perform comparably with the AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR having a slight advantage in the center and a bit softer rendering in the corners than the Z 400/4.5. The latter has the advantage of over 300g less weight (including the FTZ adapter needed on the F 500/5.6), a one stop more effective image stabilization, a bit better focus consistency, and a 2/3 of a stop larger focal ratio – when used without teleconverter. But then it’s only 400mm – a disadvantage of 20% in reach which nets the F 500/5.6 the full 45MP while the image of the Z 400/4.5 needs to be cropped down to 29MP to match the angle-of-view. With focus speed on a par and a closely matched price choice comes probably down to which focal length you prefer.

For more details see my Nikon Z 400mm f4.5 VR S review where the lens came Highly Recommended.

Compared to Nikon Z 400mm f2.8 TC VR S

Nikon’s Z 400mm f2.8 TC VR S proved to be an excellent lens with one extremely compelling feature over rival systems: It has a built-in 1.4x teleconverter which changes it into a 560mm f4.0 lens at the flick of a switch. My comparison showed that the Z 400/2.8 TC is clearly ahead optically of all the other lenses in this review with 400mm or 500mm focal length, but there’s a price to pay – literally and in weight: The Z400/2.8 is over 10k EUR/USD/GBP more expensive and is twice as heavy as the F 500/5.6. So choices are pretty clear: If you need ultimate optical quality plus the incredible flexibility of a built-in teleconverter plus much brighter focal ratio get the Z 400/2.8 TC. If you prefer small and light (on your neck and your wallet) get the F 500/5.6 – or the Z 400/4.5.

For more details see my Nikon Z 400mm f2.8 TC VR S review where the lens came Highly Recommended.

Compared to Nikon Z 800mm f6.3 VR S

If 500mm focal length has simply not enough reach you can use e. g. the AF-S TC-17E II teleconverter to get to 850mm focal length – or get an 800mm lens. As my tests have shown the Z 800mm f6.3 VR S is optically superior to any other lens in this review at 800mm and has a 1.2 stop brighter focal ratio. But then the Z 800/6.3 is 120mm longer than the AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR + AF-S TC-17E II, 0.8kg heavier and over 3k EUR/USD/GBP more expensive – if you already own the TC for the F-Nikkor. Tough choice.

For more details see my Nikon Z 800mm f6.3 VR S review where the lens came Highly Recommended.

Final remarks

With the AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR still right up there regarding optical performance, size, weight, and price with Nikon’s new telephoto lenses for their Z system Nikon offers photographers on the long tele-photo lens range a lot of very good options. Considering that another two lenses are already on the road-map (Z 600mm probably f4.0 and TC, and Z 200-600mm) you might be well advised to think a bit about which photographic needs you really want/need to cover. All of these are very good lenses, so chose wisely.

Nikon AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR final verdict

Nikon’s AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR is a very good long telephoto prime lens of compact size and low weight. The lens produces very sharp images with virtually no field-curvature or colour aberrations and can confidently be used wide open. Only when using it with a 1.7x teleconverter does the lens show its limits. Its Bokeh is very nice in the background but nervous in the foreground and the optical image stabilization of 4 stops proves helpful with the challenges of hand-holding a 500mm lens. All this makes the AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF VR S still Highly Recommended – even four years after its introduction.

Good points:

• Compact and light weight.
• Very good resolution and contrast across the full frame.
• Effective optical image stabilization.
• Very good close-up performance.
• Practically no longitudinal colour aberrations or purple fringing.
• Only little vignetting and no distortions – through lens-profile.
• Practically no field-curvature.
• Very nice Bokeh in the background.
• Can use AF-S teleconverter.
• Weather sealing, function buttons, focus limiter, nice lens case.

Bad points:

• Nervous Bokeh in the foreground.
• Minimum object distance of 2.8m.
• Focus shift and focus breathing.
• Cannot use Z TCs via FTZ adapter.
• Tripod foot is not Arca Swiss compatible.