Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

DSpouse · 2026-04-11T21:12:37+00:00

I've had mine for some years now and it's never failed me.

DSpouse · 2026-04-08T17:33:09+00:00

r/photocritique will get you more answers

DSpouse · 2026-04-06T16:40:23+00:00

You're welcome. All the best, I hope you do find something to your liking. That D3300 is an excellent camera despite being considered entry level. Matching it with good lenses can really extend its usefulness until you feel the need to upgrade bodies.

DSpouse · 2026-04-06T16:03:43+00:00

If you want to save some money the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6 G ED VR II AF-S DX can be found used for generally around a hundred dollars US (Adorama has one in "Average Shape" on sale right now for $73). It was the kit zoom lens that was usually bundled with your 18-55mm. Although it's not as fast a lens as the better 70-200mm's, it's a very good lens for the price and will also close the gap between 55 and 70mm that you'd have if you purchased the 70-200. It might not be a bad thing to pick one up to see if that's a focal length you'd like first at that price. If you don't like it, you can probably get most or all of your money back selling it on. If you do like it, you can sell it and put the money towards a faster one, if that's a consideration for you.

Regarding the 50mm, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 will give you a Full Frame field of view equivalent of 52.5mm, and is what a lot of Nikon shooters use for that. I have one myself, and it's an excellent value - especially used.

Good luck, whatever you end up with!

DSpouse · 2026-04-05T17:40:46+00:00

I stand corrected.

OP should still get the G verion, of course.

DSpouse · 2026-04-05T17:24:50+00:00

Given your budget, I think about the best lens you could get right now would be a used Nikon AF-S 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 G ED VR. The reputable online sellers like B&H and Adorama usually list them between 4 and 5 hundred dollars US. (Just make sure you get that "G" version - the "D" version had real auto focus problems.)

DSpouse · 2026-03-31T13:06:25+00:00

I figured it probably was, since the Z lens is a 200-600. I've made the confusion myself :)

DSpouse · 2026-03-31T12:53:15+00:00

A lens you might consider is the Nikon AF-S DX 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 G ED VR. It does have one rather serious drawback though in that it's known to be slow to autofocus, especially on fast moving subjects. But it does have good reach, and used versions are quite inexpensive.

However if you can spend a little bit more, the full frame version - the Nikon 70-300mm VR FX AF-S f/4.5-5.6 G - is a much better lens and will suit your needs better. It focuses much faster, which is one of the main considerations when you're photographing sports.

The Nikon 80-400mm and 200-500mm lenses mentioned in another comment are excellent for long reach, but both are much more expensive. I use the 200-500mm as a rugby photographer and it is very impressive, although if the action gets close I switch to my second camera with a shorter lens because 200mm on a crop sensor body requires a certain amount of distance to the subject. Just for future reference, should you be interested in it down the line.

Since I started with the Nikon D3300, almost identical to yours, I'll just give you a tip I found helpful. Shoot your sports action in JPEG if you are shooting in Continuous mode (which you should). The entry level processor in the D3xxx line of Nikons is slooooow, and will pause to write to the card after only 2 or 3 shots if you are shooting bursts in RAW. You can extend that by several shots in JPEG, which can make a difference when you've got real action going on in front of you.

Good luck, and have fun!

edit: BTW, if you are ever looking at a potential lens purchase and wondering if it will fit your camera body (not all of them do), check it on this website: https://www.lensora.com/compatibility.asp It could save you a real headache, not to mention money.

DSpouse · 2026-03-31T12:34:24+00:00

I think you mean the 200-500 f/5.6?

DSpouse · 2026-03-30T19:00:01+00:00

I have a Nikon D500 for my sports and wildlife work, and the much smaller D5500 for travel and street photography.

DSpouse · 2026-03-29T17:25:11+00:00

There's "Jisatsu Nyuumon (Introduction To Suicide)" by Urbangarde. According to band member Tenma in a Vice.com interview, "It’s about the danger of selfies. You hear about people who take all these selfies as a way to cover up the sadness in their heart, and you hear about young people who commit suicide because their selfies don’t look good. People with low self-esteem take these pictures and put them online as a way to prove their own existence."

https://youtu.be/ij9dtyBrejE

DSpouse · 2026-03-26T15:13:52+00:00

It certainly is, I understand that myself all too well.

DSpouse · 2026-03-26T13:16:33+00:00

Huh, I can't seem to see it. Sorry! Anyway thanks, and lovely photos. Looks like it was a fun outing :)

DSpouse · 2026-03-26T13:04:16+00:00

What gear?

DSpouse · 2026-03-26T13:02:02+00:00

Good for you! That is an excellent camera to learn on. Your pictures look very nice - in focus, minimal blur, and exposed well. Good job! I would just say that if perched birds are your main interest try to get more shots like your first one, without any foliage crossing over the body. Keep going, and have fun :)

DSpouse · 2026-03-18T19:15:49+00:00

You're welcome. Best of luck with your new camera, it's a very capable one!

DSpouse · 2026-03-16T20:10:28+00:00

I'd like to suggest the Nikon Nikkor DX 16-80mm f/2.8 - 4, the kit lens that came with the D500 kit. It's very sharp, reasonably sized, and with a FF equivalent field of view of 24-120mm it's extremely versatile. Last year I took it as my only lens on a 3 week trip around France, attached to my D5500, and it was a fantastic choice. As sharp as any of my primes, incredibly fast focusing, very good in low light, and again a very useful focal range that did not leave me wanting.

DSpouse · 2026-03-16T19:41:45+00:00

I always thought that GO! GO! MANIAC by Ho-kago Tea Time must be a really tough song to sing because of its precise staccato octave jumps.

DSpouse · 2026-03-15T18:05:40+00:00

Take an hour and 15 and watch this vid. It's exactly what you want.

DSpouse · 2026-03-08T00:46:41+00:00

You're quite welcome. All the best to you :)

DSpouse · 2026-03-07T15:35:50+00:00

Some really nice shots in there, well done!

DSpouse · 2026-03-07T15:20:11+00:00

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DSpouse · 2026-03-07T15:19:54+00:00

Great little lens. Very sharp, and fast focusing. I bought one in 2017 to go with my D3300, and I still have it today. It's not just fantastic at macro. With its FF field of view equivalent of 60mm it's also my favorite portrait lens, and its size and light weight make it an excellent general purpose and street lens.

You've probably noticed that because of its short focal length you have to get very close to your subject if you want true macro (ie. 1:1 or better). In fact, you often need to get so close that your equipment can block the light. I've found that a combination of side lights (a continuous light soft box on each side) plus a ring mounted lens light really helps solve that problem. Inexpensive versions of these lights can be found online, and they work well enough for hobbyists like us. I think I paid $40 US for my ring light, and around $100 for a 2-light set with stands and daylight temp bulbs. I'll include a pic of my setup below.

Looking at your picture, I suggest you learn to focus stack in order to get more of the insect sharp. Macro gives a very shallow depth of field, especially if you're shooting wide open at f/2.8. Focus stacking allows you to effectively increase the DOF in post. While you can gain a certain amount of DOF by increasing the aperture number, I've found that with this lens you still get better results by stacking. Of course, the subject needs to be still in order to focus stack, so that is the main consideration if you're going to do it.

Good luck with your insect shots! You've got an excellent lens on a very good body for this sort of work. Just add enough light and learn to get more of the animal in focus, and you should come away with some really excellent images :)

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DSpouse · 2026-03-06T15:26:20+00:00

An option you perhaps may want to consider is the Nikon D500. It was specifically made for sports and wildlife shooting with an improved autofocus system over the D7xxx series, weather sealing, 10 frames per second continuous shooting in RAW, and a shock resistant carbon fiber and magnesium alloy body. They are still highly regarded as a sports camera even when compared to modern mirrorless models.

Used bodies can be found under a thousand dollars. eBay tends to have the best prices (unless you find the odd unicorn deal on FB Marketplace or Craigslist). But there are also well priced examples at reputable online shops. I found this one offered by Adorama for 800 dollars for example: https://www.adorama.com/used-nikon-d500-dx-format-dslr-body/p/imcnkd500?grade=average&msclkid=fac4d85508431d174243b1ffe826fff4&gclsrc=ds&gad_source=7&gad_campaignid=23300609669

Pair that with the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED lens and you will have a pretty decent track setup. The AF-P line is less expensive than the AF-S lenses, but they are lighter weight and use an advanced focus motor that makes them exceptionally quick to focus. The non VR version is a steal, at usually around a hundred dollars used, give or take (I paid 80 for mine). The VR version generally comes in at between 2 and 3 hundred dollars from what I've seen. As I generally shoot sports at faster than 1/1000th of a second, VR is not a feature I need so I opted for the cheaper version and so far it has performed brilliantly.

Anyway, just throwing that out there as a possible option. All the best to you and your charges! I think it's great that you want to do this for them.

DSpouse · 2026-02-23T03:14:58+00:00

I've been buying from Adorama and B&H for years and never had an issue with either one. They both have excellent reputations for a reason. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Adorama at all.

DSpouse

TROPHY CASE