p.43 #1 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
I'm sure my initial 'shoot birds only' phase will subside soon and I'll start putting the Z9 through more regular paces. I have a lot to learn about framing and light.
p.43 #2 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Why not? Aren't TCs also optics? so why does a bare 600mm always perform better compared to 300mm with 2X TCs? isnt it simply because of improved optics/ coatings? All i am saying is starting off with a longer focal length combined with newer optics and coatings will only do better.
Daran wrote:
Uh, how could even vastly improved optics help with heat distortion? In my experience the reason TCs make it "worse" is simply that they enlarge the effect. In that sense cropping also makes it worse.
p.43 #3 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
As for birding, you will be spoilt with choices as there are too many places. Rufous necked hornbills are rare and you find them in eastern himalayas towards the state of arunachal pradesh where as snow leopards/ raptors are in western himalayas.
I will send you a PM with some links to some of the best wildlife tour operators. I visited Hemis in 2016 during december i think and it was crazy cold (touched upto -45 degrees) and i visited Rumbak valley that only has village home stays so it was quite challenging for me to get used to the extreme cold. But in the end, that one glimpse of a Snow Leopard was worth all the pain.
suteetat wrote:
Hopefully once traveling is back to relative normal, I will go to India again. I only been there twice, once for scuba diving at Andaman Island and once for landscape trip to Leh and Zanskar. But it looks like wildlife will be a lot of fun as well.
I definitely want to photograph snow leppard one of these days. Recently I met a photographer from Singapore who went to India many many times and told me about all the raptors there. Also I was told that Rufous necked hornbill sighting is also very common in some area (forgot the name of the place right now). This hornbill is rare here and you need to spend days waiting to see one and most of the time they still wont show up. The guide that I used when I was in Leh did tell me about snow leppard but he said that best time is February when it is -30C and sighting is still incredibly rare However, he is really more usual Leh sight seeing guide rather than wildlife guide. However, I wonder if there is any specialized wildlife guide in that area? I am starting to plan 2023 as hopefully travel should be possible then.
p.43 #4 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
lukemeup wrote:
I'm sure my initial 'shoot birds only' phase will subside soon and I'll start putting the Z9 through more regular paces. I have a lot to learn about framing and light.
p.43 #5 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
The action at my normal spot has been unusually slow the past month or so. I decided to get up around 3:30am Sunday morning and drive 3hrs down into the South Carolina low country. It paid off as I basically stayed on the same 50yd stretch of water for 4 hours and had non-stop in-flight opportunities (mostly larger, slower waterfowl or wading birds but a little of everything).
p.43 #6 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
arbitrage wrote:
Oh man you went back again....addicted?...your wife and dog must miss you
I wouldn't say 'addicted'. It's just something new & more challenging that the things I normally photograph. Z9 makes it possible, so why not. BB probably won't really work in the summer months because of heat distortion and the owls will be gone too.... where do I find more owls?
p.43 #7 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
DGettisNC wrote:
The action at my normal spot has been unusually slow the past month or so. I decided to get up around 3:30am Sunday morning and drive 3hrs down into the South Carolina low country. It paid off as I basically stayed on the same 50yd stretch of water for 4 hours and had non-stop in-flight opportunities (mostly larger, slower waterfowl or wading birds but a little of everything).
Here's some of the pics
These came out awesome!! Where abouts where you in SC?
p.43 #8 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George DeCamp wrote:
These came out awesome!! Where abouts where you in SC?
Thank you!
I've been wanting to check out Donnelley WMA and Bear Island for a while now but never made it down that far (about 3hrs each way for me). I usually go to Pee Dee NWR on most weekends, and occasionally will head over to Pocosin Lakes or Alligator River NWR in the eastern part of NC (5hrs each way for me).
As far as SC, I've really only visited Sandhills NWR and Santee NWR.
Pee Dee has been so boring lately, I decided to get up early Sunday morning and drive to Donnelley (glad I didnt head to Bear Island first as I was later told that was closed until next week sometime).
I was debating between Donnelley and Huntington Beach and went with Donnelley. I thought it was awesome! I will definitely be going back soon.
p.43 #9 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
DGettisNC wrote:
Thank you!
I've been wanting to check out Donnelley WMA and Bear Island for a while now but never made it down that far (about 3hrs each way for me). I usually go to Pee Dee NWR on most weekends, and occasionally will head over to Pocosin Lakes or Alligator River NWR in the eastern part of NC (5hrs each way for me).
As far as SC, I've really only visited Sandhills NWR and Santee NWR.
Pee Dee has been so boring lately, I decided to get up early Sunday morning and drive to Donnelley (glad I didnt head to Bear Island first as I was later told that was closed until next week sometime).
I was debating between Donnelley and Huntington Beach and went with Donnelley. I thought it was awesome! I will definitely be going back soon. ...Show more →
Cool!! I have not yet gone to Donnelly so have to get there now that I've seen these! I'm at HBSP several times a week, it's my go to spot! Let me know if you're around again!
p.43 #10 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George DeCamp wrote:
Cool!! I have not yet gone to Donnelly so have to get there now that I've seen these! I'm at HBSP several times a week, it's my go to spot! Let me know if you're around again!
Honestly your pics lately are what reminded me of Huntington Beach
I still want to go there as well but I really liked Donnelley and want to spend more time learning the area down there. I didnt have a map with me, so once I got to the water section (old rice fields I think), and saw the action I stayed there until the mid-day sun started being too harsh. Its about 8000 acres so there is still 90% or so I didnt even check out.
As a bonus, I started chatting with another guy there that morning...turns out he also just got his Z9 and was using it with a 500PF like me lol.
I spent a little too much time waiting and hoping for a Roseate Spoonbill to take off lol. After 3 hours none of the 3 did anything. I go put my camera in the truck about to leave, and as I'm at the truck one of them flies off (heading right in my direction for a few seconds too, but couldnt grab the camera in time lol)
I'll most likely head back down there either this Saturday or next Saturday but will let you know once I figure it out
p.43 #12 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
DGettisNC wrote:
Honestly your pics lately are what reminded me of Huntington Beach
I'll most likely head back down there either this Saturday or next Saturday but will let you know once I figure it out
Ha that's funny!!
Stuck the next few weeks actually then heading to Florida on 2/18 so maybe if you come after that! I'm hoping I have the new 400/2.8 TC VR S soon but probably with my luck not until I get back from Florida. Sure would like it before I go but they said late February and 2/18 is more middle!
p.43 #17 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
I haven't had much time to work with the Z9 since I received it and like most others I am trying to get a handle on this thing. Yesterday afternoon I was determined to find some birds in the yard that that I could try and at least get a shot of. A couple of Junco's were the only ones that would cooperate, beggars can't be choosers.
Crawling on my fat belly on a overcast day with Z9 and 500pf.
However, he is really more usual Leh sight seeing guide rather than wildlife guide. However, I wonder if there is any specialized wildlife guide in that area? I am starting to plan 2023 as hopefully travel should be possible then. 
It's just something new & more challenging that the things I normally photograph. 
