Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6e PF ED VR

£3249/$3597 It’s the David to Sigma’s Goliath

his Nikon 500mm prime lens is an f-stop slower than its Sigma counterpart so you’d expect it to be smaller. As it turns out, the Nikon is much shorter, slimmer and less than half the weight, tipping the scales at just 1460g. A major factor in the downsizing is Nikon’s use of a PF (Phase Fresnel) element in the optical path. More usually featured in lighthouse and theatre stage light projection lenses, the ridged element not only enables a much more compact design, but also helps to minimize chromatic aberrations.

Comparatively mainstream Nikon attractions include three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, VR with dual switchable Normal and Sport modes, and an electromagnetically controlled aperture diaphragm.

TPerformance

It’s definitely a high-performance lens, with additional Af-lock and AF-ON finery, complete with optional confirmation beep. Sharpness proved good rather than great in our lab tests, but overall image quality is very appealing.