p.33 #1 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
nmerc_photos wrote:
lovely work George!
I'll be down in SC for a week or two at the end of Feb. Never heard of that plantation or the swamp, but it's right next to my sister's place! will definitely have to stop by
Well worth the visit especially around that time. Should be lots of birds around then nesting.
p.33 #2 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
lukemeup wrote:
Great shots! Maybe one day I'll be able to justify the cost of the big prime but I can't help to wonder if you took those images with 400 4.5 & 800 6.3 - would they look much different?
Your's is a good question... I think the 400 f2.8 might have been the difference maker with the harrier. Locking on to that bird in a sea of black would have challenged the other lenses. When you handle the 400 f2.8S, the AF seems to be at a different level than my former lenses.
As for the other shots... maybe I would have had to raise the ISO or shoot at a different shutter or aperture... maybe not.
My desire for this lens was to get myself to a 3 lens and 3 body travel/landscape kit that could fit in one bag. I am at that point, but am now wanting a smaller alternative to the 180-600...
Currently, I can pack the 400 f2.8 w/Z9 and hood in shooting position (it's a Zemilin) on one side of the bag, the 180-600 w/ body attached on the other, and the 24-120 detached on the side w/ the 180-600Lens. The 3rd body is squeezed into a side pouch... When I get back from Japan, I'll probably trade/sell the 180-600 for a 100-400 or 70-200 f2.8 so I can attach a camera to my 24-120. This set would allow me to enter the field w/ cameras ready and not worry about the weather.
I like to work in drizzle, snow, cold, and potentially stormy conditions. Being able to grab a ready camera and lens works best for me..
cheers,
bruce
p.33 #3 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
OwlsEyes wrote:
Your's is a good question... I think the 400 f2.8 might have been the difference maker with the harrier. Locking on to that bird in a sea of black would have challenged the other lenses. When you handle the 400 f2.8S, the AF seems to be at a different level than my former lenses.
As for the other shots... maybe I would have had to raise the ISO or shoot at a different shutter or aperture... maybe not.
My desire for this lens was to get myself to a 3 lens and 3 body travel/landscape kit that could fit in one bag. I am at that point, but am now wanting a smaller alternative to the 180-600...
Currently, I can pack the 400 f2.8 w/Z9 and hood in shooting position (it's a Zemilin) on one side of the bag, the 180-600 w/ body attached on the other, and the 24-120 detached on the side w/ the 180-600Lens. The 3rd body is squeezed into a side pouch... When I get back from Japan, I'll probably trade/sell the 180-600 for a 100-400 or 70-200 f2.8 so I can attach a camera to my 24-120. This set would allow me to enter the field w/ cameras ready and not worry about the weather.
I like to work in drizzle, snow, cold, and potentially stormy conditions. Being able to grab a ready camera and lens works best for me..
cheers,
bruce...Show more →
Bruce, I agree with this. The 400/2.8 does focus faster than lenses with less aperture. You have a well thought out plan.....what bag do you use?
p.33 #4 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
George DeCamp wrote:
Something different today, we went to Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, a two hour trip from home. Once there made our way to Audubon Swamp which is a rookery at Magnolia Plantation! Nice morning but probably 2 weeks too soon however I got the following sequence which made the trip well worth it! It will get busier over the next few weeks there!
Fantastic photography!! Kudos @George DeCamp - a visual treat indeed
p.33 #5 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Phil Seu wrote:
Bruce, I agree with this. The 400/2.8 does focus faster than lenses with less aperture. You have a well thought out plan.....what bag do you use?
Thanks..
I use a ThinkTank/Mindshift Backlight 36L. I chose this because it is airplane safe for travel.
regards,
bruce
p.33 #7 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Z9/400S TC. First 2 images of Spotted owl are shot at 1120mm with external 2X TC and Internal 1.4 TC stack. Rest of the images are shot at 800mm with external 2X TC:
I went to Raja Ampat in Indonesia mainly for scuba diving but had a chance to spend a couple of hours shooting these two birds one morning during the trip.
Lighting was very poor especially for Wilson's bird of paradise. I dropped shutter speed down to 1/50s to keep iso reasonably low. ISO climbed up very quickly to around 5000 with anything above 1/100s unfortunately and everything was shot handheld.
p.33 #12 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
George DeCamp wrote:
Really nice images and the colors on that bird of paradise are amazing!
Thanks George. A couple of friends are now scouting out a few places in another part of West Papua looking at a few
places for more bird of paradise. May be next year, I can do a trip there just for birds instead of my usual scuba trip.
Maybe one day I'll be able to justify the cost of the big prime but I can't help to wonder if you took those images with 400 4.5 & 800 6.3 - would they look much different? 
