goomadeer
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Hi folks I've just ordered a Nikon 600/4 FL lens so pretty keen to try it out.
I do currently have a 400/2.8FL and a 500pf. I have a Z7 and a D500 to hang off the end of it. 
I hoping to use the 600/4 mainly handheld - and I'm assuming that I'll be able to do this because I do it with my 400/2.8 - I read they are both the same weight I think - but just checking folks thoughts on this as they are a different shape of course - I'm hoping that the potential longer physical length of the 600 won't feel much different than the 400 as the end element in the 400 would be bigger and heavier?
I do have a solid tripod and wimberley head and will use that if conditions/subject suits but I find it so much easier to shoot handheld - shoot a lot from a boat also.
I do have the newer 1.4x TC (III?) I'm not all that keen on it with my other lenses.. but I think I'm too much of a pixel peeper at times... I sort of think of my crop sensor D500 as my TC but I know there are a lot of flaws in that logic (one being that I could just use my Z7 in DX mode!, another being that I'll have a 1350mm equiv fov with the TC on the D500 etc) . So yeah its more about different AF and more FPS with the D500. I do love the images from the Z7 and have learnt to get along with its AF - i think its actually better in some ways but not as quick in others. For instance I think the Z7 gets less confused with backgrounds behind a moving subject.
But really enjoy the 400/2.8 as I do shoot a lot of larger wildlife such as wild water buffalo and the saltwater crocodile - and many larger wetlands birds just as jabiru, herons etc. But just find myself really needing more reach at times. The 500pf is really nice but not so good in low light with its 5.6 aperture.
This photo below is a good example of why I think I'd get a lot out of the 600mm.. I took it a few days ago at Corroboree Billabong in the NT of Australia. The Nankeen Night Heron was a bit shy but he was continually grabbing these little fish. There was a bit of current in the water so I'd go upstream a bit with my boat, turn off the engine.. and float back down past him quietly in the current.. but even so when I got too close he'd go back up into the trees until I passed. I did this about 3 times and could done it more but I couldn't get any closer to him..
Whilst I think this is a good shot (the lighting was a bit dull) its heavily cropped and I reckon I could get a much better shot with a 600mm. The head is slightly out of focus - its hard to nail focus on the eyes when they dart their head forward to grab a fish and you're in a moving boat!
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wildlife/Birds/Water-Birds/Egrets-Herons-and-Bitterns/Nankeen-Night-heron/i-vcBsNFt/1/4013eaa4/X2/WLD_3240-Edit-X2.jpg
Would love to hear your thoughts on my thoughts!
Edited on Jan 29, 2021 at 12:10 AM · View previous versions
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