Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

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Archive 2008 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

redgrom
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p.2 #1 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

I think for your first attempt they work pretty well, but get a sturdy tripod and post when you get a chance. I would love to see a few shots with the 1.4 off a tripod around 1250 of a second and then judge sharpness. I just ordered the len's from calumet and with nps may be able to get it in a week or so according to my rep. If anyone is looking for a 500 afs v1 I will have it on the buy and sell soon.

. Thanks for posting the shots...

Jul 09, 2008 at 12:22 AM

jamach
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p.2 #2 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Great work Chris, keep working on that long lens technique! It is special for me anyway, to see what the big Nikon lenses can do, so keep posting your shots. I have not seen too many 400mm, 500mm or 600mm Nikon shots, note that they are ubiquitous at the C forum.

Joe

Jul 09, 2008 at 12:31 AM

GeorgeR
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p.2 #3 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

A little harder to find the target but a dream combo with a D3 although I rarely ever use VR or a TC.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jul 09, 2008 at 12:46 AM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #4 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

It's not trivial to get sharp images at such long FL and takes a practice to get the technique right, something I'm still learning. I'd say the softness is nothing to do with the TC - these superteles really work wonderfully with a TC, even a 2x IMO and I'm sure the Nikon's are as good as the Canon's in this regard.

Here's two shots taken @ 1000mm = 500 + 2x on my old 1D II. I used a sturdy tripod, and wimberley gimbal head and had IS off (I tried both)

2012 © Pixel Perfect

Jul 10, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.2 #5 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Todd Adamson wrote:
Maybe a dumb question, but why the VR on such a huge lens? Don't we usually turn off VR when shooting from a tripod?

I would think in a dynamic enough situation the lens would be used on a monopod, in which case VR would provide some benefit. Also, VRII, which is what the 600VR has, can be used on a tripod, unlike the original VR.

Jul 10, 2008 at 03:28 PM

fwyflyr
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p.2 #6 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

jamach wrote:
Great work Chris, keep working on that long lens technique! It is special for me anyway, to see what the big Nikon lenses can do, so keep posting your shots. I have not seen too many 400mm, 500mm or 600mm Nikon shots, note that they are ubiquitous at the C forum.

Joe

You'll find plenty of them on the Nature & Wildlife forum where you need the most reach to get the shots you want.
- Ken

Jul 11, 2008 at 03:06 PM

AZRich
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p.2 #7 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Andre- I have the 400mm f2.8 VR and use it with a TC just about all the time. So I'm out to 650mm f4.8 (and on a dx sensor that equates to like 975mm or something).

I use a monopod, carry the set up around like I would bear a cross! VR is real handy for static stuff like birds who have landed, or insect/flower tele-macro shots. For BIF or other moving shots I pretty much leave it off unless I forget. This month has been almost all bugs, so here's the link - http://www.pbase.com/azrichg/july_08

Trying to get any DOF with this combo is difficult at such short shooting distances, but with VR I can slow the SS down a whole lot and get my aperture up past 8 even with usable results. The only variable left is subject movement and wind which explains this shot-

http://www.pbase.com/azrichg/image/99832809

that's the whole frame resized btw. 1/80th at f10 ISO 360. The shot before it is also f10.

So VR is a quick, but cheap, tripod in my world! Now that I think of it, I have my VR setting to normal, I wonder if with a Monopod it's better to have it on 'tripod?'

Rich

Jul 12, 2008 at 06:59 AM

jamach
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p.2 #8 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Thanks Ken, let me rephrase the statement and also let's see some of your pictures- Great work Chris, keep working on that long lens technique! It is special for me anyway, to see what the big Nikon lenses can do, and look at those pictures in this forum, so keep posting your shots. I have not seen too many 400mm, 500mm or 600mm Nikon shots posted in this forum, note that they are ubiquitous at the Nature and Wildlife forum, but that is mostly a Canon forum.

Thanks much,

Joe

Jul 12, 2008 at 12:54 PM

EMC 2
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p.2 #9 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Pixel Perfect wrote:
It's not trivial to get sharp images at such long FL and takes a practice to get the technique right, something I'm still learning. I'd say the softness is nothing to do with the TC - these superteles really work wonderfully with a TC, even a 2x IMO and I'm sure the Nikon's are as good as the Canon's in this regard.

Here's two shots taken @ 1000mm = 500 + 2x on my old 1D II. I used a sturdy tripod, and wimberley gimbal head and had IS off (I tried both)

Pixel Perfect -- Those look great. I too shoot with the 500/4IS and 600/4IS with a Mk3, and the results are really fantastic all the time. I must admit to having (had) some lust for the new Nikon VR supertele's (switching

), but after seeing this and other postings I'm glad to be in the C camp... Just my opinion.

Jul 12, 2008 at 11:13 PM

AGeoJO
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p.2 #10 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

I know Chris on a personal basis and have seen his wonderful images using the C word. I would say that it is a matter time and practice of getting used to a new setup and brand new long lens. Before too long, he will be able to crank out great shots again with the N word.

Jul 12, 2008 at 11:34 PM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.2 #11 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

James R wrote:
VR is hand holding.

Todd Adamson wrote:
But would anyone actually hand-hold with that lens??

Yes. I can point to aviation (ground-to-air in particular) as an area where hand-holding is almost the only way to use a lens. And I have at least one friend (world-class shooter) who handholds Canon's 600 and their new 800 for extended periods of time without a problem.

If you care enough about something, you'll build up the requisite strength and stamina. I remember when I first moved to a 70-200, thinking it was long, heavy, and awkward. Later, of course, it became a non-issue. I do have trouble handholding my 200-400 for extended periods of time, but mostly because I'm not getting enough exercise and photo practice.

Jul 13, 2008 at 04:29 AM

Chris Dees
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p.2 #12 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

AGeoJO wrote:
I know Chris on a personal basis and have seen his wonderful images using the C word. I would say that it is a matter time and practice of getting used to a new setup and brand new long lens. Before too long, he will be able to crank out great shots again with the N word.

Thanks for the support Joshua. It's more difficult to handle the 600 than with the 500. It will take some time but I'll manage. There're always people who want to have a laugh about others and have nothing important to contribute.

Edited on Jul 13, 2008 at 01:08 PM

Jul 13, 2008 at 01:05 PM

soonipi1957
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p.2 #13 · Nikkor 600VR, what a lens!

Especially the 2X are sharper IMHO than the Nikon ones...and I shoot Nikon (I have tried both).

Jul 13, 2008 at 10:39 PM


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