Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR vs Tamron SP 500mm f/8 Mirror Adaptall-2
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR is faster by 1 stop (f/5.6 vs f/8.0), letting in more light.
| Spec | AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR | SP 500mm f/8 Mirror Adaptall-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Nikon | Tamron |
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon F |
| Type | Prime | Mirror |
| Focal length | 500mm | 500mm |
| Max aperture | f/5.6 (faster) | f/8.0 |
| Released | 2018 | n/a |
| Blades | 9 | n/a |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 11 | 4 |
| Af motor | SWM | none |
| Elements | 19 | 7 |
| Weight g | 1460.0 | n/a |
| Filter mm | 95 | n/a |
| Length mm | 237.0 | n/a |
| Stabilized | Yes | n/a |
| Diameter mm | 106.0 | n/a |
| Min focus m | 3.0 | 1.7 (closer focusing) |
| Max magnification | 0.18 | n/a |
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5.6E PF ED VR
A 2018 super-telephoto that weighs just 1.46kg thanks to a Phase Fresnel element. It has VR and a 95mm filter thread.
Pros
- Light for 500mm
- VR
- Close focus of 3m
- Sharp
Cons
- f/5.6 aperture
- PF flare near bright lights
- Large 95mm filter size
Tamron SP 500mm f/8 Mirror Adaptall-2
Tamron SP 500mm f/8 Mirror Adaptall-2: a mirror telephoto lens with a 500mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/8, made for Nikon F mount cameras, from the Tamron SP series. Its catadioptric design keeps a long focal length compact and light.