Just posted this one on another thread and explained that I had to run while this Greater Scaup was diving to get into position and jumped on the ground to get this shot. Photo taken right after it surfaced. 500PF was the perfect lens to do that with.
Keith, the swallow work is outstanding!
I don't know what kind you have but they are a bit reminiscient of Tree Swallos here, and I feel Tree Swallows are in the top 5 of most beautiful bierds.
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Keith, the swallow work is outstanding!
I don't know what kind you have but they are a bit reminiscient of Tree Swallos here, and I feel Tree Swallows are in the top 5 of most beautiful bierds.
Thanks! The images shown here are of tree swallows. There were a couple violet-green swallows and a couple barn swallows, but the vast majority where I was shooting were tree swallows. Washington State Fish and Wildlife actually have a bunch of nest boxes for the tree swallows at the Skagit Wildlife Area. The tree swallows use those boxes, and reliably show up here each year. Their numbers seemed even higher this year than previous years. Some may be migrating through however. They are beautiful birds, but boy are they challenging to photograph in flight!
Just ordered my 500 PF a couple of days ago from The Camera Store in Calgary. They said it will be 3-8 months before it comes in. Possibly a year. They have received a total of 9 lenses since release, about 2/month. There are currently more than 25 people on the waiting list.
Just from watching things online it sounds like a big batch arrived in the US in February or March. Hopefully, Canada is next!
The person I talked to said that Nikon estimated sales by looking at how many 500mm f/4 and 200-400’s they sold. Sounds like the 500 PF has already outsold the f/4. Their production line was much too small to handle the number of orders they received, and there are not many people trained to build this lens as it is quite complicated.
Hope they make some changes and they start coming out faster! Anyone else have more info regarding availability?
Ordered mine in early January from a small, local camera shop in the US located in a third-tier market. I'm probably the first/only one to order the lens through this shop, which I had hoped would work to my advantage. There is no indication of impending delivery. I am not an NPS member and the shop say they will only be able to project a likely arrival when they receive the freight notification themselves.
I am resigned that I will miss most of the interesting events and seasonal weather this year—summer is brutal here. On the plus side, I have had plenty of time to agonize over accessories.
mhenry wrote:
Just ordered my 500 PF a couple of days ago from The Camera Store in Calgary. They said it will be 3-8 months before it comes in. Possibly a year. They have received a total of 9 lenses since release, about 2/month. There are currently more than 25 people on the waiting list.
Just from watching things online it sounds like a big batch arrived in the US in February or March. Hopefully, Canada is next!
The person I talked to said that Nikon estimated sales by looking at how many 500mm f/4 and 200-400’s they sold. Sounds like the 500 PF has already outsold the f/4. Their production line was much too small to handle the number of orders they received, and there are not many people trained to build this lens as it is quite complicated.
Hope they make some changes and they start coming out faster! Anyone else have more info regarding availability?...Show more →
Being in Canada, this recent post could be useful: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1571232/12#14809259
That is a less than 2 month turn around to get a lens from Vistek. If I were you, I'd place orders at multiple stores and see who delivers first. Easy enough to cancel all the rest when one ships.
Went out to the local orchard to see if warblers have arrived but turned out to be still too early for warblers.
But got to use PF a little bit more. Well, one of these shots is with 600mm f4 FL. Can you tell which one without looking at the exif?
600mm f4 FL might find itself on the used market soon...lol
Thanks! I paid the full balance in January, and I want the assistance on offer by my LCS in case I find myself in need of service or help. I know I'll probably wait a little longer, but it would be unfair to ask for a refund in the circumstance. They can't help it if Nikon hasn't fulfilled their order.
Being in Canada, this recent post could be useful: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1571232/12#14809259
That is a less than 2 month turn around to get a lens from Vistek. If I were you, I'd place orders at multiple stores and see who delivers first. Easy enough to cancel all the rest when one ships.
Thanks Geoff, I hadn't seen that forum yet. Some very good info shared on there. Btw, your BIF shots are fabulous. Looked at your Flickr for 500 PF shots.
