p.93 #2 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George DeCamp wrote:
I remember saying the same thing about a 500 back when. I just worked more and eventually got what I wanted. You never know!!
When I pulled the trigger on the Z9, I remembered the heartburn I had when I bought my first USED Canon 5D (the very first model) for $1300, thinking I'd never spend that much on a camera again
p.93 #3 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
RoamingScott wrote:
When I pulled the trigger on the Z9, I remembered the heartburn I had when I bought my first USED Canon 5D (the very first model) for $1300, thinking I'd never spend that much on a camera again
Hard work comes with fun toys
Amen!! I'm an old fart (72) and now enjoying myself so spending a bit while I can! Only live once!
p.93 #6 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
I remember getting my used D7100 for like $600 thinking I'd never use it...man that's a lot of images ago. RoamingScott wrote:
When I pulled the trigger on the Z9, I remembered the heartburn I had when I bought my first USED Canon 5D (the very first model) for $1300, thinking I'd never spend that much on a camera again
p.93 #8 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George DeCamp wrote:
Amen!! I'm an old fart (72) and now enjoying myself so spending a bit while I can! Only live once!
When the Z9 was announced late lasr year I recall saying to myself that at age 75 (making you, George, a young whipper-snapper at 72 ) that I had no business buying a $5600 (plus accessories) dollar camera and that my Z 6II and my Z 7 II would suffice for my coastal British Columbia wildlife photo tours. My ‘better half’ remained silent, skeptical if you will.
Fast forward to June when on a photo tour with five others, three of whom were shooting with the Z9, in a grizzly bear sanctuary in Canada, my fellow shooters all the while in awe of being able to get bears’ eyes in focus at incredible distances in all sorts of funky lighting in subject detection while I struggled to make my Zs get the shots I wanted, I began to think about what I might be missing - like more ‘keepers’. So, I began to ponder … I’ve got the funds for the super “Z”, I am not getting any younger, AF can be hard and getting harder at 75, can I make this stuff easier and I want to have some fun with the best while I can still enjoy this past time? Getting the Mrs. to agree that I should “ go for it” (actually encouraged me, the pretend tightwad, 100%) I rolled out the Visa card. Easy as pie. Nine grand later with my Z9 with a new Z 400/4.5 I am really enjoying this even though I have yet to leave the city limits. I owned a D4s a few years ago so I knew what handling a pro body was like. My Z9 is as enjoyable to use as much as it is to learn how to use. I am glad I joined the ‘club’. No regrets. I don’t post much here anymore as this place is getting too far away from talking intelligently about gear.
p.93 #9 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
James Farrell wrote:
When the Z9 was announced late lasr year I recall saying to myself that at age 75 (making you, George, a young whipper-snapper at 72 ) that I had no business buying a $5600 (plus accessories) dollar camera and that my Z 6II and my Z 7 II would suffice for my coastal British Columbia wildlife photo tours. My ‘better half’ remained silent, skeptical if you will.
Fast forward to June when on a photo tour with five others, three of whom were shooting with the Z9, in a grizzly bear sanctuary in Canada, my fellow shooters all the while in awe of being able to get bears’ eyes in focus at incredible distances in all sorts of funky lighting in subject detection while I struggled to make my Zs get the shots I wanted, I began to think about what I might be missing - like more ‘keepers’. So, I began to ponder … I’ve got the funds for the super “Z”, I am not getting any younger, AF can be hard and getting harder at 75, can I make this stuff easier and I want to have some fun with the best while I can still enjoy this past time? Getting the Mrs. to agree that I should “ go for it” (actually encouraged me, the pretend tightwad, 100%) I rolled out the Visa card. Easy as pie. Nine grand later with my Z9 with a new Z 400/4.5 I am really enjoying this even though I have yet to leave the city limits. I owned a D4s a few years ago so I knew what handling a pro body was like. My Z9 is as enjoyable to use as much as it is to learn how to use. I am glad I joined the ‘club’. No regrets. I don’t post much here anymore as this place is getting too far away from talking intelligently about gear. ...Show more →
James the Z9 is in a whole different league than the Z6/Z7... glad you got your mitts on one.
Did you sell your 500PF, or are you keeping both the 500 and 400 f4.5?
I'm still shooting the 500PF, but would like to go all in w/ Z's... I just know that if I get the 400, I'll never take the 1.4x off. Once I'm in that mode, I feel like I should just use the 500.
My current thought is to sell my Z6 & Z6ii and just add a second Z9 to the bag...
Anyway, sorry to hear you missed your most recent trip to BC... are you heading back next year?
p.93 #10 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
OwlsEyes wrote:
James the Z9 is in a whole different league than the Z6/Z7... glad you got your mitts on one.
Did you sell your 500PF, or are you keeping both the 500 and 400 f4.5?
I'm still shooting the 500PF, but would like to go all in w/ Z's... I just know that if I get the 400, I'll never take the 1.4x off. Once I'm in that mode, I feel like I should just use the 500.
My current thought is to sell my Z6 & Z6ii and just add a second Z9 to the bag...
Anyway, sorry to hear you missed your most recent trip to BC... are you heading back next year?
Bruce: I sold my 500 PF last November when the Z 100-400 S got favorable reviews. Bought a 100-400 and a Z TC14 right after the first of the year. Also thought that the resolution of the Z7II and cropping would make the 500 PF not needed. I am all Z lenses. Was hopeful that this combo would be the ticket to shedding my FTZ. Alas, my June trip to the Khutz proved to me that the Z TC14 on the 100-400 was not very good. As you know, in less than good light that combo doesn’t work great. Out of focus areas not very good, even in good light. Have only experimented briefly with the 400/4.5 with the Z TC1.4 but I am impressed, even at f/6.3. The 400/4.5 is sharper with better OOF background than the 100-400 at 400. And light as a feather and pairs with the Z9 better than Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers on the stage (had to type that, sorry you’ve too young to appreciate that). I’ll keep the 100-400 but it is now relegated (?) as my 100-350 zoom. The 400/4.5 is either my 400 or 560/6.3. On the Z9 this works great. My remaining Z7 II will mostly live with the Z 24-120 attached. Best Regards Always, Jim
p.93 #12 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
James Farrell wrote:
When the Z9 was announced late lasr year I recall saying to myself that at age 75 (making you, George, a young whipper-snapper at 72 ) that I had no business buying a $5600 (plus accessories) dollar camera and that my Z 6II and my Z 7 II would suffice for my coastal British Columbia wildlife photo tours. My ‘better half’ remained silent, skeptical if you will.
Fast forward to June when on a photo tour with five others, three of whom were shooting with the Z9, in a grizzly bear sanctuary in Canada, my fellow shooters all the while in awe of being able to get bears’ eyes in focus at incredible distances in all sorts of funky lighting in subject detection while I struggled to make my Zs get the shots I wanted, I began to think about what I might be missing - like more ‘keepers’. So, I began to ponder … I’ve got the funds for the super “Z”, I am not getting any younger, AF can be hard and getting harder at 75, can I make this stuff easier and I want to have some fun with the best while I can still enjoy this past time? Getting the Mrs. to agree that I should “ go for it” (actually encouraged me, the pretend tightwad, 100%) I rolled out the Visa card. Easy as pie. Nine grand later with my Z9 with a new Z 400/4.5 I am really enjoying this even though I have yet to leave the city limits. I owned a D4s a few years ago so I knew what handling a pro body was like. My Z9 is as enjoyable to use as much as it is to learn how to use. I am glad I joined the ‘club’. No regrets. I don’t post much here anymore as this place is getting too far away from talking intelligently about gear. ...Show more →
Way to go old man! 🤣
Yeah I try to ignore all the negative stuff and just do my thing. Once in a blue moon I get caught up in something but for the most part I figure leave that to someone else to fight, I'd rather just stick to show and tell! Enjoy your gear, you've earned it!
p.93 #13 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Picked up a mint 2nd hand Z7II mid last year to reolace one of my 2018 Z6's,
Not because I wasn't satisfied with those, but merely having had a D850 in the past I liked the idea to have a 45 megapixlbody, for the extra cropping space (sloppy photographer )
Of course a few month later Nikon annonced the Z9
Was thoroughly impressed by the specs and in particular the AF, but told myself that as I no longer shot professionally I didn't really need to get one
But when about a month ago I saw images shot with a Z9 posted here on FM of the knd of subjects I usually shoot (fast moving dancxers under bad / low light conditions) I was converted and finally got one (which I to my astonishment was able to pick up without preorder the next day after I saw it advertised at a brick and mortar shop)
Haven't been able to subject it to my usual torture test for new cameras (catwalk = fast moving subjects under bad lighting) although I will do so this weekend, but really already like the Z9 this far (apart from AF and high ISO also in particular the way it can be customized using the menu options)
p.93 #14 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
James Farrell wrote:
Bruce: I sold my 500 PF last November when the Z 100-400 S got favorable reviews. Bought a 100-400 and a Z TC14 right after the first of the year. Also thought that the resolution of the Z7II and cropping would make the 500 PF not needed. I am all Z lenses. Was hopeful that this combo would be the ticket to shedding my FTZ. Alas, my June trip to the Khutz proved to me that the Z TC14 on the 100-400 was not very good. As you know, in less than good light that combo doesn’t work great. Out of focus areas not very good, even in good light. Have only experimented briefly with the 400/4.5 with the Z TC1.4 but I am impressed, even at f/6.3. The 400/4.5 is sharper with better OOF background than the 100-400 at 400. And light as a feather and pairs with the Z9 better than Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers on the stage (had to type that, sorry you’ve too young to appreciate that). I’ll keep the 100-400 but it is now relegated (?) as my 100-350 zoom. The 400/4.5 is either my 400 or 560/6.3. On the Z9 this works great. My remaining Z7 II will mostly live with the Z 24-120 attached.
As far as any possibility of getting back to Canada next year I have a bit of an unresolved issue with a tour leader that we both know that has to be worked out. I will PM you instead. I know you are likely up to your neck with things there. Soldier on. We’ll discuss. Best Regards Always, Jim
Thanks for the follow up Jim,
It sounds as if our kits are only modestly different. As you might recall, I took the 500PF and 70-200FLE w/ TC14iii to the Khutz in 2019 and was more than impressed with how this combination worked w/ my hybrid D500/Z6 bag.Since that time I replaced the 70-200FLE w/ the 70-200S w/1.4x, and replaced that with the 100-400S. At the time, I cautioned a lot of people about adding a 1.4x converter to the zoom, and I still wonder why people insist on adding converters to this and other (Sony) long-range zoom lenses. The loss of light and distracting bokeh negates any optical advantage of the increased focal length. To this date, I have retained my 500PF because I find that 500mm is the minimum focal length for anything but the most "tame" wildlife species. Because I have had mixed results with 1.4x converters on everything from 300mm f2.8 lenses to 500mm f4's, I am cautious about buying a 400mm f4.5 with the knowledge that I will need to permanently attach a converter to it.
With this caveat, I also know that the 500PF causes me 3 frustrations... 1: the need for an FTZ (though this is much like the need for a 1.4x on the 400), the running of VR even when the camera is at rest, and the noisy specular highlights when shooting backlit subjects. The latter is the most frustrating for me, as I happen to like shooting backlit animals to make an image moody and different.
For cameras, I still have 3.. Z6 w/ 24-120S (a great addition), Z6ii w/ 100-400S, and Z9 w/ 500PF. I'm pretty set, but really wished Nikon just remounted the 500PF in the Z... that would have been my perfect solution.
p.93 #15 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
More sandpipers (these are "solitary sandpipers" Tringa solitaria ... I think).
Z9 + 500PF most are DX crop.. will label if I can recall which are which
FX
NIKON Z 9AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens500mmf/5.61/1600s5000 ISO+1.0 EV
DX
NIKON Z 9AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens500mmf/5.61/640s6400 ISO+1.3 EV
DX
NIKON Z 9AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens500mmf/5.61/1600s3200 ISO+1.0 EV
DX
NIKON Z 9AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens500mmf/5.61/1600s2000 ISO+1.7 EV
DX
NIKON Z 9AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens500mmf/5.61/400s500 ISO+0.7 EV
p.93 #16 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Something totally different...the Helios 44-4 giving me some downright weird vibes wide open. Loved how filmic this one turned out, even if technically deficient in just about every aspect. Also thought I might get shot while taking this...you never know out there.
p.93 #20 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Danrdz10103 wrote:
very nice. interesting most of the body is out of focus even at F/4. did the camera pick the eye or you placed the focus point manually?
Yes, the DOF was razor thin. I picked the points manually because the frogs were stationary.
) that I had no business buying a $5600 (plus accessories) dollar camera and that my Z 6II and my Z 7 II would suffice for my coastal British Columbia wildlife photo tours. My ‘better half’ remained silent, skeptical if you will.
