OwlsEyes
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
|
 p.164 #3 · Medium Format Digital Images Thread | |
kalani_kane wrote:
Oh wow, thanks for the too-kind words, Bruce, it has been a really fun exploration so far, but I think it's your work that's inspiring me! I just picked up a z8, z24-120, and am agonizing over the 600pf vs insane splurge of a 600 f/4 tc. The question is, am I really this into wildlife, specifically bird-in-flight, and what do I do with literally 1,000+ bald-eagle-in-flight shots I already have from renting the z9 600pf 1.4x for two days? For the ubiquitous bird-in-branch, bird-on-a-stick, and large wildlife that I'm most interested with bears, moose, dall sheep, mountain goats, the 100sii in a surprisingly fun system combined with the 500, which was meant to replace the 100 but I have yet to take the 500 1.4x tc off!
If I ever have the chance to photograph breaching whales like you, maybe a full-on wildlife lens setup makes sense with the z8, or helps solve the rent vs. buy impasse. I asked myself recently, would I ever decide to travel specifically for birds, to maybe Coata Rica or the Amazon, that would necessitate a fast supertele prime? For now, that answer is no (I think!), but maybe one day with more time, maybe a retirement plan or retire-early passion? So for now, the 100sii opportunity cost vs true wildlife setup (waiting for the z9ii with pre-capture/pre-record, 40fps for example) is just fine for me. Thanks again for your inspiration!
...Show more →
I do get your point here... what to do with all of those shots. My answer is this, the more you make the more you discover what "excellent" looks like. As you bank images, you'll be more comfortable deleting images because you know you have better ones in the tank. During my last whale outing, I shot 1400 pictures and kept 55. Of the 55 kept, I probably should keep only 15, but I'm a bit sentimental about them right now. I can aggressively toss photos because I know I have as good or better one.
As for your dilemma, I'm going to suggest something that most others will not. The 600PF is great, but it is very limiting. It is a one focal length lens, and will suit you for that one focal length. If you are only going to have one wildlife lens in your kit, you should get a 180-600... the 24-120 and 180-600 is super versatile, and with Topaz, you can get away with high ISO's.
If you find that you are a bird specialist, add the 800PF... if you find that you want to focus on mammals, add the 400mm f4.5 for when you want the best possible images.
I am a committed nature photographer, so I've decided to double down and buy one "great" lens... the 400mm TC, but I also have the 100-400 and 180-600 because I value versatility.
I am heading out for a camping photo road trip next week and I'll be bringing my XCD 50C (i & ii) 45mm XCD, 90 XCD, Z9, Z8, 17-28mm f2.8Z and 180-600Z... I'm leaving the 400mm, 100-400, and 24-120mm home... This is more of a landscape trip than wildlife. When I go to Yellowstone in autumn, I'll bring the same Hassy stuff, but reverse the lenses... leaving those that I'm taking now at home and taking those than I'm leaving. That trip will be wildlife heavy, so I want the best I've got for that outing.
cheers,
bruce
|
