RandyR wrote:
wow what a set
have you tried silent mode ? I've been very impressive w/ the 500pf on the Z6 and silent mode has increased my keepers
Randy: Question .... what do you find preferable - silent mode or EFCS (1/250 or slower) assuming no motion issues vis a vis rolling shutter? I too own the Z6 and 500 PF. Love the combo.
James Farrell wrote:
Randy: Question .... what do you find preferable - silent mode or EFCS (1/250 or slower) assuming no motion issues vis a vis rolling shutter? I too own the Z6 and 500 PF. Love the combo.
silent mode, I leave it on all the time now. I don't use this camera for BIF so for what I needed it's perfect. Stuck at home for months with just my backyard to shoot and I can get very close to the birds but the D5/D850 shutter is way to loud so the Z6 is perfect
RandyR wrote:
silent mode, I leave it on all the time now. I don't use this camera for BIF so for what I needed it's perfect. Stuck at home for months with just my backyard to shoot and I can get very close to the birds but the D5/D850 shutter is way to loud so the Z6 is perfect
If I知 using a z camera with this lens I知 most likely in silent mode because I知 using it in my blind very close to the birds (same as you). When I知 out taking photos in the wildlife refuge for example I知 using it with my D500. The AF difference is just to great to use the Z cameras.
palmor wrote:
If I知 using a z camera with this lens I知 most likely in silent mode because I知 using it in my blind very close to the birds (same as you). When I知 out taking photos in the wildlife refuge for example I知 using it with my D500. The AF difference is just to great to use the Z cameras.
the Z6 + 500pf has a strange problem with AF. If I focus far and then try to come back to my perch the camera hunts and never acquires focus. I have to focus on something mid range 1st. Very annoying and would never work on BIF or anything moving fast. This could be because the 500pf is on 'full' and my perch is just past MFD. I'm still researching
RandyR wrote:
the Z6 + 500pf has a strange problem with AF. If I focus far and then try to come back to my perch the camera hunts and never acquires focus. I have to focus on something mid range 1st. Very annoying and would never work on BIF or anything moving fast. This could be because the 500pf is on 'full' and my perch is just past MFD. I'm still researching
The mirrorless cameras (not just Nikon) have issues coming from far to near and if near is close to MFD then sometimes it just never works. This is present in my Sony cameras also but Sony just won't even "see" the totally OOF near perch/bird and often won't drive focus at all. My Z50 seems to try but often does a few hunts back and forth...usually it gets it eventually. However my backyard perches are not as close as MFD so most times it works okay.
arbitrage wrote:
The mirrorless cameras (not just Nikon) have issues coming from far to near and if near is close to MFD then sometimes it just never works. This is present in my Sony cameras also but Sony just won't even "see" the totally OOF near perch/bird and often won't drive focus at all. My Z50 seems to try but often does a few hunts back and forth...usually it gets it eventually. However my backyard perches are not as close as MFD so most times it works okay.
not even 'see' is exactly the symptom description. Sad because that disables the camera from alot of work but it is sure good otherwise
RandyR wrote:
not even 'see' is exactly the symptom description. Sad because that disables the camera from alot of work but it is sure good otherwise
One thing I've adopted when I know I want to get back to close focus at a moments notice is to set the lens button on the 500PF to remember a focus distance. Then I can just tap that button and it will be back at my near perch or close enough.
arbitrage wrote:
One thing I've adopted when I know I want to get back to close focus at a moments notice is to set the lens button on the 500PF to remember a focus distance. Then I can just tap that button and it will be back at my near perch or close enough.
great idea....I never use those focus buttons on a lens so I better have a look....using the focus ring on the 500pf w/ a lenscoat is a PIA and not much better than trying to force AF
RandyR wrote:
great idea....I never use those focus buttons on a lens so I better have a look....using the focus ring on the 500pf w/ a lenscoat is a PIA and not much better than trying to force AF
I have the same issues (far to near) and do the same thing with the focus memory, problem for me is I really only use the Z cams while I'm in my blind so reaching the buttons is a pita.
RandyR wrote:
great idea....I never use those focus buttons on a lens so I better have a look....using the focus ring on the 500pf w/ a lenscoat is a PIA and not much better than trying to force AF
I recently removed my lenscoat from the 500PF. I prefer just having the black native paint. I've found the Nikon black lens paint to be extremely durable. I took no care at all in protecting my 200-500 when walking through brush and forest and yet after 2 years it looked like new after a quick wipe down. Can't say the same about my Canon superteles which had paint loss all over the place after a few years (but I realize that is paint onto metal so not quite the same). But for the 500PF the lenscoat annoyed me enough (I was using the RolanPro) that I took it off for now.
