Exactly what I expected from a Nikkor lens. I made the mistake of buying a Sigma 150 to 600, and even after lots of study and practice to get it as sharp as it could be. it was still unacceptable. The Nikkor 200-500 is sharp right out of the box even at maximum aperture.

Very happy to purchased the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 VR lens. It is very sharp in 500mm too. (Muy contento en haber comprado el lente Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 VR. Es muy nítido en 500mm también)

Great in 500mm and Excellent VR

Heavy Weight

If you want to do serious wildlife photography, "big glass" is inevitable. But the price of a 500mm or 600mm prime lens can set you back half the price of a new car! The Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR is a serious prosumer "budget" solution for those who can't justify such a massive cash setback -...

A big lens that is actually easy to handhold with beautiful results.

I use the 200-500 exclusively on my D7200, which I have for the 1.5x reach. Originally, I was on the 200-500 pre-order list and received one of the early ones. I wasn't able to get images as sharp as I had hoped and convinced myself I didn't need to spend that much money for a lens, since I am only...

This lens has now been used for a while before reviewing. It has produced some impressively sharp photos even wide open at f5.6 at all focal lengths. The VR is good (but not perfect) and useful in lower light conditions.

I bought and shot this lens for 2 weeks in Europe this December of 2015, going after airplanes, trains and birds. I left my 300 2.8 at home because it's slightly smaller in my carry-on and more versatile zoom-wise. Optically very good but not as sharp as my 300.

After using 3rd party lenses for a long time, I made the decision to switch over to this lens. And boy, ain't I glad I made the switch? There is a vast difference in the image quality.The f 5.6 is a just apt for making beautiful images at a long end 500 mm.

This lens takes very clear, spectacular pictures. I was amazed at the picture quality. The lens is also surprisingly very fast. I was a bit reluctant at first, but once I got it and played with it a bit, I was happy to have made this purchase. The lens is a bit heavy, but for a good reason.

Consistent Output; Durable; Easily Interchangeable; Fast / accurate auto-focus; Nice Bokeh; Rugged; Strong Construction

Very good lens from Nikon. Affordable for wildlife photography. Optical quality is very-very good. VR is the best I've had on any Nikkor. Focusing speed is fine but not a race engine. All in all a home run from Nikon.