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Is the Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF MF lens worth its 5.5Kg weight to carry around?

It's really a personal choice and depending where one is based, that a lens of this calibre can outweigh the disadvantages of its weight and bulky length. First, the only versatile pack to carry such a long heavy lens on the global market is the sleek Kani pack. The Kani pack does accommodate an 800mm lens with any pro-body attached. I recently travelled overland through India, Nepal and Bangladesh using a Kani pack which gets 10/10. The 800mm lens does show some signs of CA fringing on wide apertures at high contrast exposures. An odd halo in some images is present when pointing at certain angles towards sunlight. The CA and halo can be eradicated in post processing which isn't a big drama. At times, I also use the Nikon 800mm f/5.6 lens on DX mode (1200mm) to capture long distant subjects. It also saves wasted parts of image space that's not required. A 1.4x teleconverter in my bag is hardly used due to the powerful magnification of this lens. The only drawback with this old classic lens, is the lack of autofocus on any fast moving subjects at certain angles when focus and DOF becomes an issue to capture sharp images.

Slow moving subjects, landscapes, and any stationary subject using the 800mm manual focus lens is certainly not difficult. When having no required time limit to manually re-focus, or change settings makes this lens shine. A stable tripod is imperative to hold the 6.5kg weight (lens and body), including a robust tripod head that's easy to work with. I've been using the same Wimberley WHII head since 2009 without any issues. The Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens was manufactured from 1986~2005 with 2972 units produced. It is now considered as an old horse, but this lens like many other classic manual focus lenses can accommodate an added dandelion chip if need be. The chip is designed to fit most manualI focus lenses. I would personally recommend this lens to anyone who's thinking to upgrade from a smaller prime lens. Mint condition Nikon 800mm f/5.6 lenses can still be purchased online through Japanese eBay sellers, or KEH used camera- gear in USA.  
All images on this page were taken with a Nikon 800mm ED-IF manual focus lens using D3 and D3s 12 megapixel sensor bodies.

The above image looks as if it was captured from 20 metres distance. The deer were spotted using binoculars who were settling in for the night on an isolated strip of land protected by wetlands from predators. The shot was taken using a classic 12 MP Nikon D3S body in DX mode with the Nikkor 800mm lens on a tripod.   

Long Shot - 350+ metres  

Long Shot full frame - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/250 sec, 400 iso

Egyptian Vultures - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/2000 sec, 2000 iso

 An Eurasian Griffon - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/1000 sec, 800 iso

Egyptian Vultures - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/2000 sec, 2000 iso

Let's Dance, Egrets - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/3200 sec, 500 iso

A Steppe eagle 2018 - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/400 sec, 500 iso

 Fox Glacier national park landscape - D3, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/2000 sec, 400 iso

Sunset on the edge of the Thar desert - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/32, 1/13th sec, 200 iso

Mid air clash of a Steppe eagle and Egyptian vulture - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/320sec, 250 iso

On location at Sitakunda ship wrecking yards - FPP (fixed pitched propeller) - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11 1/640 sec, 800 iso

A purple moorhen- D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/1600 sec, 1600 iso

Sometimes the inevitable happens at a particular location when there was no other lens but the 800mm to capture a street portrait snap. This image was taken with a classic Nikon D3 in west Bengal @ f/8. 1/1000 sec, 800 iso

A purple Heron - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/1250 sec, 400 iso

Young Grey Herons - D3s,  Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/320sec, 1600 iso

A Himalayan Griffon vulture - D3, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/2000 sec, iso 1100

Wildlife snap - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/32, 1/400 sec 450 iso

An Egyptian vulture  feeding on  a carcass - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/3200 sec, 3200 iso

Bangladesh ship wrecking yards, this image was captured from an approximate 600 metre distance in the early morning with minimal light at the subjects. The image was taken with a D3s body @ f/8, 1/1600 sec, 640 iso

A grey Heron in action - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/2500 sec, 800 iso

 A spotted owl within its natural habitat - D3s, 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/320 sec, 800 iso

Seal Pups - D3, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/4000 sec, 1600 iso

Sitakunda ship wrecking yards - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/800 sec, 800 iso 

Jackals in low light - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8 1/250 sec, 2500 iso

Long Shot - 400+ Metres

  A Saras crane in take off mode @400+ metres - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/22, 1/1600 sec, 2000 iso 

A snake bird  in action with a catch - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/1600 sec, 1600 iso

Egyptian vultures, Keoladeo, India - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/16, 1/2000 sec, 1250 iso

A pond Heron - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus @ f/8,  1/1600 sec, 500 iso

A cow carcass - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/22 1/125 sec, 400 iso

 Himalayan Griffon -  D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/22 1/2000 sec, 1600 iso

Wildlife - Getting The Shot

Nikon - Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF AIS Manual Focus Lens (1986-2005)

Imagine arriving to any isolated location full of wildlife, but the lenses you have don't reach out far enough to capture distant subjects. This happens more often than most realise with some becoming very disappointed because of it. Moving up too close will usually make wildlife move even further away. Using 1.5/2x/3x tele-converters is an option. These should be avoided due to f/stop loss, pushed iso or slower shutter speed in low light conditions. Heavy classic lenses like the Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 (5.5Kg+body) need to be used on tripods, which give good positive results rather than trying to use this lens hand-held. An added weight of 5-10Kg should also be clipped on under tripod heads when using these lenses. This will dramatically reduce most vibration from ground up to the lens mount. A small 1-2Kg weight pack placed on top of the lens directly above the tripod head lens mount will also eradicate 99% of vibration when the shutter is activated.       

A set of stainless steel extended tripod foot spikes will ensure stability in soft ground. A solid stainless eye-lit can be purchased at almost any hardware store. Both accessories will help to maintain any tripod a firm non-movement grip reducing vibration, including safety with heavy photo-gear. Anything available like rocks and bottles of water can be used to fill a bag that's then attached to the eye-lit to keep tripods stable.    

An Eurasian collared dove - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/22, 1/1250 sec, 1250 iso

A grey Heron  in take-off mode - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus @ f/8, 1/2500 sec, 500 iso

 Quick snap - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus len @ f/8, 1/1250 sec, 160 iso

Steppe eagles - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/1250 sec, 800 iso

Female Jackal - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/1600 sec, 1250 iso

Below, A spotted dove - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/5.6, 1/1600 sec, 400 iso

Below: Open bill storks - D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/1000 sec, 400 iso

Random street portrait - D3, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/8, 1/1600 sec, 400 iso

FX Single frame long shot, Mount Cook NZ -  D3s, Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF manual focus lens @ f/11, 1/80 sec, 200 iso

Looking for a LensPack than can accommodate an 800mm lens with body attached?

More images on the KANI Backpack for LARGE 800 PRIMES  -  Robust  -  Comfortable -  Reliable 

Reaching Out - Long Shot

The magnification of a classic manual focus Nikon 800mm f/5.6 lens still has some punch. Location and image capture below were taken on the same day at the Rohtang pass (4000 metres) at a distant pinnacle peak of the Himalaya on the Indian/Chinese (Tibetan) border (6100 metres).

Going To Wildlife Parks?

Forget About Using Smart Phone Cameras or Point & Shoots!

As mentioned many times through this website, Quality DSLR camera-gear is required to capture great images. It's even more important using DSLR equipment within any wildlife park, nature reserve or wetland habitat. Most birds and animals will take-off, if approaching to close to capture images of them. Using a long tele-lens will pay-off with rewards of taking unlimited wildlife images. This page alone shows enough image captures that can be achieved even with a 1986 manual focus lens attached to 12 megapixels DSLR bodies. You only have yourself to blame when the time comes to develop wildlife images into large wall canvases that most images if taken with cell phone or point & shoot cameras didn't deliver the quality close-up that was wanted. The above image was captured from a 250 metre distance (DX mode @1200mm cropped)       

Background image: On location - Himachal Pradesh