ke3vg wrote:
What a beautiful sharp details and lovely eye contact! great work!
Thank you very much, Mukesh! Your images are very impressive, buddy!
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I took a sequence of burrowing owl in the process of hunting their favorite food, June bugs using the G 200-600mm lens. That was the best so far. I go out to the owl site at least twice in a week, more like 3 times actually. I was trying to get a similar sequence with the GM 600mm lens but no luck yet. I did get sequences alright but most of them are far away.
Until today although it was cloudy first and the owl slept in and we got a late start until the clouds dissipated some and the air became warmer. When June bugs started flying, the owls got active. This one owl cooperated, finally although the image was cropped and not quite frame filing as the others taken with the 200-600mm lens. Anyway, here it is, the first out of the sequence. More to follow, I got to go off-line.
Probably a silly question, but given how we've seen price drops in bodies like the a9, could we be seeing any price reductions on the 600 f/4? Just had to ask - selling all my Nikon gear right now, and will be getting the a9II with 200-600, but that f/4 is so sweet.
Colin F wrote:
Probably a silly question, but given how we've seen price drops in bodies like the a9, could we be seeing any price reductions on the 600 f/4? Just had to ask - selling all my Nikon gear right now, and will be getting the a9II with 200-600, but that f/4 is so sweet.
There's been about a 5-10% drop on used 400mm f/2.8 GMs. Hoping it doesn't go down much further as I'm extremely fond of mine. 600s will likely see a tiny dip used by next year, but new they are not going anywhere. Best bet is to find a dealer that will sell it to you w/ no tax and no shipping, or do what I did and buy it with an AMEX or cash back card and save a good chunk!
Colin F wrote:
Probably a silly question, but given how we've seen price drops in bodies like the a9, could we be seeing any price reductions on the 600 f/4? Just had to ask - selling all my Nikon gear right now, and will be getting the a9II with 200-600, but that f/4 is so sweet.
I'll sell you mine for 5% off in a year's time....but you need to sign on the dotted line now so I know I have the sale....
Colin F wrote:
Probably a silly question, but given how we've seen price drops in bodies like the a9, could we be seeing any price reductions on the 600 f/4? Just had to ask - selling all my Nikon gear right now, and will be getting the a9II with 200-600, but that f/4 is so sweet.
I managed to negotiate 640GM (15K USD RRP) around 12K USD equivalent here in Australia, also had Sony sales rep offering 9.3K USD equivalent for 428GM (11.6K USD RRP) earlier this yr. Discount can be negotiated if you are prepared to pay in full upfront for a walk-in customer like me. Probably will be able to negotiate better deal if you are affiliated with Sony Pro Support program or thru commercial sale.
Colin F wrote:
Probably a silly question, but given how we've seen price drops in bodies like the a9, could we be seeing any price reductions on the 600 f/4? Just had to ask - selling all my Nikon gear right now, and will be getting the a9II with 200-600, but that f/4 is so sweet.
Colin, the price drops for the A9 you noticed are for used copies. Sony did lower the MSRP of that camera once or twice to make it more aligned with the used prices but they haven't done so with both long GM lenses yet. There is definitely a better chance for you to get a deal on the 400mm than on the 600mm right now.
AGeoJO wrote:
There is definitely a better chance for you to get a deal on the 400mm than on the 600mm right now.
Thanks. I've never been drawn to the 400mm focal length, so will be getting the 200-600 for now. It is very sharp, works well with a 1.4 extender, is smaller, lighter, and offers the versatility of a zoom. I used Geoff's Saturday morning for a few hours and it was great!
Perhaps a 600 f/4 is in my future, I dunno, it's a chunk of change!
Colin F wrote:
Thanks. I've never been drawn to the 400mm focal length, so will be getting the 200-600 for now. It is very sharp, works well with a 1.4 extender, is smaller, lighter, and offers the versatility of a zoom. I used Geoff's Saturday morning for a few hours and it was great!
Perhaps a 600 f/4 is in my future, I dunno, it's a chunk of change!
I have both lens 400 and 600, they both are sharp and hand hold able. I like the 400 for early morning or late evening shooting and also when I am at wildlife refuge, birds tends to come very close when you are seating in one place, 600 is too long for those situations. Having 1.4 TC handy with 400mm does help in unexpected situations. I will keep my 400 for now, unless. Sony comes out with 800mm. -
The 200-600 is definitely a great lens, almost as sharp as 600mm f/4. I would certainly keep that lens for all around wildlife shooting. Sometime, after seeing the result of 200-600 , I wonder about the money spent on 600 f/4 but than I like the amazing bokeh of f/4. And great results with 2X tC.....
Colin, it's good to start with 200-600, I don't think that you will miss the 600 f/4, may be you can wait for the Sony release of lens like 500mm PF. Who knows thay are competing with Nikon and Canon and may release the lens like that. Just a thought!
ke3vg wrote:
I have both lens 400 and 600, they both are sharp and hand hold able. I like the 400 for early morning or late evening shooting and also when I am at wildlife refuge, birds tends to come very close when you are seating in one place, 600 is too long for those situations. Having 1.4 TC handy with 400mm does help in unexpected situations. I will keep my 400 for now, unless. Sony comes out with 800mm. -
The 200-600 is definitely a great lens, almost as sharp as 600mm f/4. I would certainly keep that lens for all around wildlife shooting. Sometime, after seeing the result of 200-600 , I wonder about the money spent on 600 f/4 but than I like the amazing bokeh of f/4. And great results with 2X tC.....
Colin, it's good to start with 200-600, I don't think that you will miss the 600 f/4, may be you can wait for the Sony release of lens like 500mm PF. Who knows thay are competing with Nikon and Canon and may release the lens like that. Just a thought! ...Show more →
I concur and it does make you wonder why you have the F4 but I am not getting rid of mine.
The one thing I noticed on an outing to Wakodahatchee Wetlands last week was many of my images were not tack sharp on my ballasted RRS TFC34 tripod and Wimberley gimbal. I was using mechanical shutter on my A7rIII and cable release on continuous Hi+ with the stabilization off since it was on a tripod. There was more wind than I like and I was using the 2x most of the time so reaching out 1200mm and the next time I am trying three things. Faster shutter speeds an silent shutter and going to compare stabilization on and off. I wonder with the wind if IBIS would have helped? I was using both the 200-600G and 600 GM and got some very sharp images but too many required sharpening and define2 and I think I needed faster shutter speeds and higher ISO. I was shooting a lot at ISO 800 & 1600 and will also try my A9 since it supposedly handles higher ISO better.
I do feel like faster shutter speeds are in order because I took care to focus manually on focus mag and also AF with selective spot small.
Anhingas were 600 F8 ISO 400 640th -should have kicked the ISO and shot higher shutter speed IMO
Cattle Egret was 600 F8 + 2x tc ISO 400 1,000th - should have kicked the ISO up and shot at 4,000 I think
Any ideas?
trstahly wrote:
I concur and it does make you wonder why you have the F4 but I am not getting rid of mine.
The one thing I noticed on an outing to Wakodahatchee Wetlands last week was many of my images were not tack sharp on my ballasted RRS TFC34 tripod and Wimberley gimbal. I was using mechanical shutter on my A7rIII and cable release on continuous Hi+ with the stabilization off since it was on a tripod. There was more wind than I like and I was using the 2x most of the time so reaching out 1200mm and the next time I am trying three things. Faster shutter speeds an silent shutter and going to compare stabilization on and off. I wonder with the wind if IBIS would have helped? I was using both the 200-600G and 600 GM and got some very sharp images but too many required sharpening and define2 and I think I needed faster shutter speeds and higher ISO. I was shooting a lot at ISO 800 & 1600 and will also try my A9 since it supposedly handles higher ISO better.
I do feel like faster shutter speeds are in order because I took care to focus manually on focus mag and also AF with selective spot small.
Anhingas were 600 F8 ISO 400 640th -should have kicked the ISO and shot higher shutter speed IMO
Cattle Egret was 600 F8 + 2x tc ISO 400 1,000th - should have kicked the ISO up and shot at 4,000 I think
Any ideas?...Show more →
I assume you were shooting from one of the boardwalks at Wakodahatchee...I wonder if all the pedestrian traffic was causing a lot of vibration to the tripod setup? Also it looks like the shots were in mid-day harsh sun and possible air turbulence was affecting the shots, especially with 1200mm. Personally I wouldn't shoot live subjects with MF and cable release...sure they aren't moving a lot but they are always moving and I think using AF-C with long lens technique on your tripod with OSS ON would net better results if this wasn't due to atmosphere. I shoot handheld 1200mm shots down to 1/400 or so with IBIS/OSS and can get sharp shots. Faster SS might help but I don't think it was the main factor for the inconsistent results.
Colin F wrote:
Thanks. I've never been drawn to the 400mm focal length, so will be getting the 200-600 for now. It is very sharp, works well with a 1.4 extender, is smaller, lighter, and offers the versatility of a zoom. I used Geoff's Saturday morning for a few hours and it was great!
Perhaps a 600 f/4 is in my future, I dunno, it's a chunk of change!
I'm still waiting for the $400 rental fee cheque.....
For interest sake, Colin spent just a couple hours shooting the A9/200-600 and decided to dump his top notch Nikon gear...if that doesn't say something about the Sony system, I don't know what does.
arbitrage wrote:
I'm still waiting for the $400 rental fee cheque.....
For interest sake, Colin spent just a couple hours shooting the A9/200-600 and decided to dump his top notch Nikon gear...if that doesn't say something about the Sony system, I don't know what does.
It would be fair to also test the 400 f/2.8 w/ 1.4 or 2x converter to see if you like that setup as well! He may end up getting a great white after all!!
arbitrage wrote:
I assume you were shooting from one of the boardwalks at Wakodahatchee...I wonder if all the pedestrian traffic was causing a lot of vibration to the tripod setup? Also it looks like the shots were in mid-day harsh sun and possible air turbulence was affecting the shots, especially with 1200mm. Personally I wouldn't shoot live subjects with MF and cable release...sure they aren't moving a lot but they are always moving and I think using AF-C with long lens technique on your tripod with OSS ON would net better results if this wasn't due to atmosphere. I shoot handheld 1200mm shots down to 1/400 or so with IBIS/OSS and can get sharp shots. Faster SS might help but I don't think it was the main factor for the inconsistent results....Show more →
I uploaded another anhinga I just did on my 5k iMac rather than my MacBook Pro and it is sharper now that I can see what I am doing.
I don't understand with MF and cable release. Can you elaborate do you imply that cable release has something to do with something and if so what it is. I have the newer Sony remote but sometimes it is quirky on pushing half down for AF I was shooting some of these with AF-C and some with MF now that I think about it more with AF-C than manual but I shot so many different birds I cannot remember which was which and not sure if EXIF shows any of that or not.
Your opinion on electronic shutter vs mechanical on the A7RIII and IV and also A9. I use silent shutter on landscape all the time and a lot of times for birds.
I do think the OSS was a factor and the boards at the wetlands are always an issue that is why I bought a RRS TVC44 for less vibration but have not sent it down for the winter yet. I am also lugging a 5lb bag of shot on a PD Slide on my left side it definitely helps and I should consider 7.5 to 10lbs I have 30lbs for my balcony shots. I had it on a long slide strap almost touching the ground so I had to let it set to stop from swaying and need to hook it up higher and leave the strap on for walking.
As far as focus do you like selective spot small? Or recommend a different setting. What apertures do yo like for shots like this?
trstahly wrote:
I uploaded another anhinga I just did on my 5k iMac rather than my MacBook Pro and it is sharper now that I can see what I am doing.
I don't understand with MF and cable release. Can you elaborate do you imply that cable release has something to do with something and if so what it is. I have the newer Sony remote but sometimes it is quirky on pushing half down for AF I was shooting some of these with AF-C and some with MF now that I think about it more with AF-C than manual but I shot so many different birds I cannot remember which was which and not sure if EXIF shows any of that or not.
Your opinion on electronic shutter vs mechanical on the A7RIII and IV and also A9. I use silent shutter on landscape all the time and a lot of times for birds.
I do think the OSS was a factor and the boards at the wetlands are always an issue that is why I bought a RRS TVC44 for less vibration but have not sent it down for the winter yet. I am also lugging a 5lb bag of shot on a PD Slide on my left side it definitely helps and I should consider 7.5 to 10lbs I have 30lbs for my balcony shots. I had it on a long slide strap almost touching the ground so I had to let it set to stop from swaying and need to hook it up higher and leave the strap on for walking.
As far as focus do you like selective spot small? Or recommend a different setting. What apertures do yo like for shots like this?
Terry, opinions may vary but some 99.9% of the time I am using the AF-C for my drive mode on my A9. I vary the AF mode, depending on the situation. For semi stationary target that may move unexpectedly, like in your situation, I would put either selective or just center AF in the RT mode. I place the AF rectangular on the eye and let the camera acquire the AF on the eye and it will latch on. The AF of the A9 is extremely good in latching on in this case. I had a situation where an owl jump and flew into my direction and the camera got 4 out of 5 frames in perfect focus on the eyes. It was over in 0.5 seconds. There is no way I could react to that otherwise.
I always have the IBIS on and so far, I have yet to see any ill effect of that. If on tripod, I have it in Mode 1. For panning left to right or vice versa, I set to Mode 2 and for jerky and unpredictable movement, like handholding with unknown flight pattern of owls, I used Mode 3.
trstahly wrote:
I uploaded another anhinga I just did on my 5k iMac rather than my MacBook Pro and it is sharper now that I can see what I am doing.
I don't understand with MF and cable release. Can you elaborate do you imply that cable release has something to do with something and if so what it is. I have the newer Sony remote but sometimes it is quirky on pushing half down for AF I was shooting some of these with AF-C and some with MF now that I think about it more with AF-C than manual but I shot so many different birds I cannot remember which was which and not sure if EXIF shows any of that or not.
Your opinion on electronic shutter vs mechanical on the A7RIII and IV and also A9. I use silent shutter on landscape all the time and a lot of times for birds.
I do think the OSS was a factor and the boards at the wetlands are always an issue that is why I bought a RRS TVC44 for less vibration but have not sent it down for the winter yet. I am also lugging a 5lb bag of shot on a PD Slide on my left side it definitely helps and I should consider 7.5 to 10lbs I have 30lbs for my balcony shots. I had it on a long slide strap almost touching the ground so I had to let it set to stop from swaying and need to hook it up higher and leave the strap on for walking.
As far as focus do you like selective spot small? Or recommend a different setting. What apertures do yo like for shots like this?
My concern with MF/cable release was just that the bird can move and if not using AF-C with active AF then the MF may be off by the time the shot is taken. I don't use MF or a cable release so can't say for sure. But if you were using AF-C and cable release then I guess that wouldn't have an affect.
I only have the A9 so not sure how the A7R3/4 do with e-shutter. With the A9 I shoot in e-shutter 100% of the time but I realize with the A7R cameras that isn't feasible for moving subjects as the sensor is read too slowly and introduces distortion to the shot.
For AF modes, for perched birds like these shots I'm usually using Flex Spot Med in Tracking mode. Just like Joshua says, start the square on the head/eye and let it track as I recompose the shot or the bird moves a bit. If I'm trying to find a bird through lots of clutter I'll go to Flex Spot Small Tracking and sometime Flex Spot Small without Tracking if I find the Tracking jumping to the branches. For flight shots I've been using Zone and Wide, sometimes with Tracking, sometimes without. I still haven't concluded if I like Tracking or not with those modes. Both have worked and both have failed.
As for apertures, I'm 90% of the time shooting wide open although right now I'm using the 200-600 which is only f/6.3 and with the f/4, I may stop down if I'm close enough to the bird. But even when I did own the Canon 600 f/4, I usually shot it wide open at f/4. But again, the closer you get, the more it can help to stop down. You shouldn't need to stop down for sharpness concerns with these Sony lenses, only if DOF is getting too shallow at close range.
daniel.in.la wrote:
It would be fair to also test the 400 f/2.8 w/ 1.4 or 2x converter to see if you like that setup as well! He may end up getting a great white after all!!
I'm currently debating if I want the 400 or the 600. Right now actually leaning towards the 400 as I've never owned a 400/2.8 before (I have owned a Canon 600 f/4 IS II). Something about the ability to use f/2.8 when needed and the smaller size of the entire rig is tempting me away from the 600. With the 600, my main value would be placed on being able to shoot at 1200mm for certain bird photography.
As most of us are aware, the original A7r was known for vibration from shutter shock with the camera tripod mounted when using lenses about 100mm and longer particularly in around the 1/125 of a second to about 1/2 second. In many instances, I found that holding the camera body in my right hand (as taking an exposure) with my tripod mounted camera for those images in those shutter ranges tended to absorb some of the shutter shock even when using the Sony electronic release and provided sharper images. I could be mistaken, but I would not be surprised if even using the silent shutter or mechanical shutter with the A9, a 7rIII, and A7III may also benefit from having the camera in your right hand when using such long lenses for taking exposures to help lessen vibration and soften the images. I am experimenting with this myself with my 200-600mm G lens alone and with the TCs.
arbitrage wrote:
I'm currently debating if I want the 400 or the 600. Right now actually leaning towards the 400 as I've never owned a 400/2.8 before (I have owned a Canon 600 f/4 IS II). Something about the ability to use f/2.8 when needed and the smaller size of the entire rig is tempting me away from the 600. With the 600, my main value would be placed on being able to shoot at 1200mm for certain bird photography.
Thanks, unfortunately I have the 400GM & 600GM and 200-600. For birds the 400GM will always stay at home unless I want to do some BIF but even then I think the 200-600 would be better or even a 300 2.8 GM when they come out with one.
I think about selling the 400 GM but for sports or auto racing it is nice but depending upon how much I like the 200-600G it may go down the road. Especially if a 300 2.8 comes out.
With a A7rV I could easily crop to 450 to 500 without a TC or use APS-C mode, even with a A9 II at 36mp for BIF I can crop enough and think keeping the bird in the frame with a 300 is a lot easier than a 400 big white. Again the 200-600 or 100-400 GM might be the better way I have just starting BIF so only speaking from limited experience. I will say I have had some very good luck for how little I have done thanks to the A9 tracking.
It is not so much a matter of the money invested for me as it is having something I do not use enough to justify it so time will tell obviously. The problem with big lenses is you don't go out with three of them unless your car is parked near by.
I am looking for a smallish bag for my 200-600 G so I can attach the peak design anchors to the two ringlets on the barrel or the bag and carry it on my left wide with a PD slide. I tried it without a bag and was too worried about dinging it up on something but it is certainly light enough to carry that way and have the Big lens on a monopod or my RRS TFC34L which is a dream to carry with the legs out at shooting position. I put a Lens Coat leg wrap on two of the legs and can walk for hours with it.
trstahly wrote:
Thanks, unfortunately I have the 400GM & 600GM and 200-600. For birds the 400GM will always stay at home unless I want to do some BIF but even then I think the 200-600 would be better or even a 300 2.8 GM when they come out with one.
I think about selling the 400 GM but for sports or auto racing it is nice but depending upon how much I like the 200-600G it may go down the road. Especially if a 300 2.8 comes out.
With a A7rV I could easily crop to 450 to 500 without a TC or use APS-C mode, even with a A9 II at 36mp for BIF I can crop enough and think keeping the bird in the frame with a 300 is a lot easier than a 400 big white. Again the 200-600 or 100-400 GM might be the better way I have just starting BIF so only speaking from limited experience. I will say I have had some very good luck for how little I have done thanks to the A9 tracking.
It is not so much a matter of the money invested for me as it is having something I do not use enough to justify it so time will tell obviously. The problem with big lenses is you don't go out with three of them unless your car is parked near by.
I am looking for a smallish bag for my 200-600 G so I can attach the peak design anchors to the two ringlets on the barrel or the bag and carry it on my left wide with a PD slide. I tried it without a bag and was too worried about dinging it up on something but it is certainly light enough to carry that way and have the Big lens on a monopod or my RRS TFC34L which is a dream to carry with the legs out at shooting position. I put a Lens Coat leg wrap on two of the legs and can walk for hours with it....Show more →
Hi Terry,
I haven't posted any photos of this, but did mention in a thread sometime back that I have the Tenba Solstice 12L (available in blue or black)
If you remove all of the other dividers, my 200-600mm G zoom with my A7rIII fits into the pack and you can remove and place into the bag the lens and camera either from the back or the top of the backpack. In order to place the lens and the camera into the backpack you insert the camera toward the top of the bag first and then the lens. Removing the camera and lens you remove the lens first.
If you remove all of the other dividers, my 200-600mm G zoom with my A7rIII fits into the pack and you can remove and place into the bag the lens and camera either from the back or the top of the backpack. In order to place the lens and the camera into the backpack you insert the camera toward the top of the bag first and then the lens. Removing the camera and lens you remove the lens first.
Thanks but that is 2 lbs and 9 x 18 x 8" I want something much smaller and lighter I just ordered one of these the lens is only 4.5 x 12.6"
Think Tank Photo 150 V3.0
Material Exterior: DWR and polyurethane coating, 600D polyester, 300D diamond weave polyester, high-density shock cord, nylon webbing, rubberized laminate, 3-ply bonded nylon thread
Interior: 200D polyester, polyurethane-coated nylon rain cover, closed-cell foam, 3-ply bonded nylon thread
Type of Closure Zipper
Carrying/Transport Options Attaches to optional belt or backpack
Removable shoulder strap
Grab handle
Internal Dimensions (WxHxD) 5.5 x 12.7 x 5.6" / 14 x 32.3 x 14.2 cm
Exterior Dimensions (WxHxD) 5.8 x 13.4 x 5.9" / 14.7 x 34 x 15 cm
Weight 12.8 oz / 362.9 g
