p.17 #1 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
I would love to learn this groups comments on the following: 1. Is external 1.4 sharper than internal TC?
2. Is 2.0TC sharper than internal+external 1.4 combined?
After waiting for many months looks like i am going to get my hands on the 400mm TC soon. Can’t wait
p.17 #2 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
protikh wrote:
I would love to learn this groups comments on the following: 1. Is external 1.4 sharper than internal TC?
2. Is 2.0TC sharper than internal+external 1.4 combined?
After waiting for many months looks like i am going to get my hands on the 400mm TC soon. Can’t wait
At least for my copy of the lens and TC, TCx2 is sharper than using internal and external TC1.4 when I tested it at long distance.
The difference is not huge but noticeable at 100% magnification.
p.17 #3 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
protikh wrote:
I would love to learn this groups comments on the following: 1. Is external 1.4 sharper than internal TC?
2. Is 2.0TC sharper than internal+external 1.4 combined?
1. The internal TC is a tiny bit better. But really that doesn't matter and you have to search for it in the 100% magnification.
2. I tested 2 different Z TC 2.0 and two different Z TC 1.4. The results were absolutely identical. In the center I couldn't find a difference in sharpness but in the corners 2x 1.4 were very visible better. I tested it with different distances to the subject but all in the range I normally take photos. That means from some meters to not more than around 60-80 m.
p.17 #4 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
protikh wrote:
I would love to learn this groups comments on the following: 1. Is external 1.4 sharper than internal TC?
2. Is 2.0TC sharper than internal+external 1.4 combined?
After waiting for many months looks like i am going to get my hands on the 400mm TC soon. Can’t wait
I got the 400/2.8TC in April and it's my go to lens, I also got the 800pf a few weeks later. Both are awesome and Nikon knocked it out of the park with both of them. I had both converters so I tried both on the 400TC. Both worked extremally well but I use the TC1.4 almost always when I need an additional converter (when I might need 800mm) but if I know I will need 800mm I use the 800pf, it's just lighter!. The TC1.4X just easier to stick in my pocket, it gives me 560mm and 784mm when its on my 400TC. It seems as fast as the bare lens and just as sharp, actually the TC 2x is close as well but for convenience I stick with the TC1.4 and besides I shoot 560 mostly but wanted the 400TC for the many times 560 is even too long however 560 is my most used focal length.
Oh and congratulations you getting one hell of a lens!
p.17 #7 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
A few burrowing owl photos from my lunch break today…… he wasn’t very active but I still liked the shots with the white flowers in the foreground and background.
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/1000s250 ISO+0.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/1000s320 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens560mmf/4.01/1000s320 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/2.81/1000s140 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/2.81/1000s160 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/2.81/1000s200 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/640s320 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/640s320 ISO+0.5 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens400mmf/4.51/640s180 ISO+0.3 EV
p.17 #8 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
eorlando wrote:
A few burrowing owl photos from my lunch break today…… he wasn’t very active but I still liked the shots with the white flowers in the foreground and background.
p.17 #9 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
eorlando wrote:
A few burrowing owl photos from my lunch break today…… he wasn’t very active but I still liked the shots with the white flowers in the foreground and background.
Great job!! I'm sure you're just loving that lens!
p.17 #10 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
I posted a short review of this incredible lens on my homepage. It's on German, but maybe it is worth to try the google translator. You find the review here!
p.17 #13 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
eorlando wrote:
Looks fine to me….. what don’t you like? I’ll be curious to hear you thought between this and the 600mm tc
It seems more sensitive to the double edge ghosting on branches, with and without TC, worse with TC. I'll be testing the heck out of them though for sure I'm only going to be able to keep one of the two though if I do end up keeping one. So far I still feel like the F mount FL's render a more realistic looking image that sort of takes you back to where you took it when looking at them, the Z images seem kinda synthetic and empty. Could just be my subconscious telling me not to sell all my shyte to buy one lens kinda turning me F mount biased who knows (probably). I will say from a useability standpoint the Z400 is better than the FL in every way except one. I prefer an actual mechanical focus ring for the odd occasion I want to assist my lens before activating AF, the drive by wire on Z just isn't as precise, even set to linear. The weight, balance, internal TC, silent AF, VR, and custom controls of the Z are hard to beat once you get used to them though.
p.17 #14 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Gotcha. When did you pick your up? I have only had a chance to use mine twice now (baseball photos and the burrowing owls). Hopefully I can get out some more this coming week. My external 1.4 tc will be here Tuesday so I am excited to try it out as well. I also picked up a Zemlin cap. They are so nice. Even though I do like the new lens cover they came with better than the fl cover. Unfortunately, it didn’t mesh well with the lens coat. It kept wanting to pull it back off the lens hood every time I put it on. Zemlin cap solves that problem.
Kasper6188 wrote:
It seems more sensitive to the double edge ghosting on branches, with and without TC, worse with TC. I'll be testing the heck out of them though for sure I'm only going to be able to keep one of the two though if I do end up keeping one. So far I still feel like the F mount FL's render a more realistic looking image that sort of takes you back to where you took it when looking at them, the Z images seem kinda synthetic and empty. Could just be my subconscious telling me not to sell all my shyte to buy one lens kinda turning me F mount biased who knows (probably). I will say from a useability standpoint the Z400 is better than the FL in every way except one. I prefer an actual mechanical focus ring for the odd occasion I want to assist my lens before activating AF, the drive by wire on Z just isn't as precise, even set to linear. The weight, balance, internal TC, silent AF, VR, and custom controls of the Z are hard to beat once you get used to them though. ...Show more →
p.17 #15 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Kasper6188 wrote:
So far I still feel like the F mount FL's render a more realistic looking image that sort of takes you back to where you took it when looking at them, the Z images seem kinda synthetic and empty.
I used the AF-S 400/2.8 E FL before the Z 400/2.8 TC VR S and for some days I was able to shoot them side by side before I had to send my old 400/2.8 E FL to his new owner. I really couldn't find big differences in the overall IQ of both lenses.
One photo was captured with the FL and the other with the Z version. Can you really see a difference between them? Both images are unprocessed .
p.17 #18 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
It's hard to tell from a downsampled jpg. If you sent me sooc jpg stripped of exif of a bird up close at the same aperture I could tell you immediately (maybe) . I'm actually going to switch my decision based on colors S top FL bottom. What I'm looking for isn't really shown here. Do you have any more side by sides? Maybe it is all in my head and I can squash this internal conflict
p.17 #19 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
The exifs are included in the photos! So I think it is more or less impossible to tell which one is which. I shot thousands of images with the new Z 400/2.8 and I never had the feeling my old FL had delivered more pleasing captures. I don't think too much about my gear. I think more about how to create my next image. In my option gear matters much less than most people think. Great captures are all about light and composition.
Even it is maybe the wrong place some captures taken with a D5, D3s and different lenses.
But of course I love to shoot with the best of the best and that is in my opinion the Z9 with the Z 400/2.8 S.
p.17 #20 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Your photos are inspirational to say the least!!! I always look forward to your posts.
NaturRosi wrote:
The exifs are included in the photos! So I think it is more or less impossible to tell which one is which. I shot thousands of images with the new Z 400/2.8 and I never had the feeling my old FL had delivered more pleasing captures. I don't think too much about my gear. I think more about how to create my next image. In my option gear matters much less than most people think. Great captures are all about light and composition.
Even it is maybe the wrong place some captures taken with a D5, D3s and different lenses.
I'm only going to be able to keep one of the two though if I do end up keeping one. So far I still feel like the F mount FL's render a more realistic looking image that sort of takes you back to where you took it when looking at them, the Z images seem kinda synthetic and empty. Could just be my subconscious telling me not to sell all my shyte to buy one lens kinda turning me F mount biased 
