p.17 #1 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
EyeSpyEagle wrote:
This is a lovely set George, as was the previous one. The chicks are precious and brilliantly captured. :-)
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I wanted to send out big "Thank you" to rick2906 for for posting info about the Zemlin lens caps for various big glass - including the 800PF. I received one of these for my 800PF over the weekend and it's quite nice, fits firm & solid and can be easily installed / removed with the hood i n place.
Having seen it in person, I think I'll get one for my 600F4 as well.
This will make me feel a whole lot better packing the lens for air travel.
p.17 #3 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bobby V wrote:
Very nice images!
FM forums enlarges the images so they don't look really sharp an detailed on my 4K screen, but when I display them at 100%, they are very good. Displaying these relatively low res images at 100% gives a much better indication of the quality of the lens on 4K screens. The up-rezzed images in my browser look far less good.
I have this lens on pre-order, but it will be a fair bit of waiting I believe.
ChrisMak wrote:
Very nice images!
FM forums enlarges the images so they don't look really sharp an detailed on my 4K screen, but when I display them at 100%, they are very good. Displaying these relatively low res images at 100% gives a much better indication of the quality of the lens on 4K screens. The up-rezzed images in my browser look far less good.
I have this lens on pre-order, but it will be a fair bit of waiting I believe.
p.17 #5 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bobby V wrote:
Thanks Chris! I've definitely not mastered exporting for FM forums but I can at least provide assurances that the lens is exceptionally sharp.
Here's a link to an example file that hasn't been down-res'd:
Thanks!
I am keeping my 800PF pre-order. I have long debated between it and the Sony 600GM (I currently have the Sony A1), but the size, weight, price, quality of the VR and lack of need for a TC all tip the scale towards the 800PF. I feel that I would enjoy that lens much more hiking and shooting handheld.
p.17 #6 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
ChrisMak wrote:
Thanks!
I am keeping my 800PF pre-order. I have long debated between it and the Sony 600GM (I currently have the Sony A1), but the size, weight, price, quality of the VR and lack of need for a TC all tip the scale towards the 800PF. I feel that I would enjoy that lens much more hiking and shooting handheld.
Yup, if you need 800mm. The 800pf is the way to go.
Unless Nikon 600f4S comes with the built in 1.4xTC, I don’t see myself getting it.
p.17 #8 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
EyeSpyEagle wrote:
This is a lovely set George, as was the previous one. The chicks are precious and brilliantly captured. :-)
__________________________________
I wanted to send out big "Thank you" to rick2906 for for posting info about the Zemlin lens caps for various big glass - including the 800PF. I received one of these for my 800PF over the weekend and it's quite nice, fits firm & solid and can be easily installed / removed with the hood i n place.
Having seen it in person, I think I'll get one for my 600F4 as well.
This will make me feel a whole lot better packing the lens for air travel.
p.17 #9 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
ChrisMak wrote:
Thanks!
I am keeping my 800PF pre-order. I have long debated between it and the Sony 600GM (I currently have the Sony A1), but the size, weight, price, quality of the VR and lack of need for a TC all tip the scale towards the 800PF. I feel that I would enjoy that lens much more hiking and shooting handheld.
The Sony 600/4 is one fine lens, but if you are hiking, one thing you might consider is the packing dimensions. I found that I can fit the 800 with the hood collapsed and the Z9 attached in a F-Stop Pro XL cube.
p.17 #10 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bobby V wrote:
The Sony 600/4 is one fine lens, but if you are hiking, one thing you might consider is the packing dimensions. I found that I can fit the 800 with the hood collapsed and the Z9 attached in a F-Stop Pro XL cube.
I can actually fit the A1/600GM into my XL ICU. The ICU does stretch out a bit but it fits. All that into my Ajna bag which I believe is the smallest bag that can take the XL ICU. But not with a 1.4TC attached to be at 840.
But still the 800PF is the best option to get to 800 and would be nicer to hike and handhold than the A1/600/1.4TC.
p.17 #11 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
arbitrage wrote:
I can actually fit the A1/600GM into my XL ICU. The ICU does stretch out a bit but it fits. All that into my Ajna bag which I believe is the smallest bag that can take the XL ICU. But not with a 1.4TC attached to be at 840.
But still the 800PF is the best option to get to 800 and would be nicer to hike and handhold than the A1/600/1.4TC.
Yup, that's the same carry solution I've landed on...I assume it (GM 600) does fit in the bag with the hood reversed?
p.17 #13 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bobby V wrote:
The Sony 600/4 is one fine lens, but if you are hiking, one thing you might consider is the packing dimensions. I found that I can fit the 800 with the hood collapsed and the Z9 attached in a F-Stop Pro XL cube.
I am aware that the 600GM is a unique lens, like the A1 is a unique body. I had the Sigma 500mm f4 lens before I switched to mirrorless, and there is something special about long f4 lenses.
I would for sure want an f4-f4.5 super telelens in future, but I will wait for an innovative lens like the coming Canon RF500mm f4.5 DO or such. I don't want a lens that is too big or heavy, since it does not fit my always on the move handheld shooting style. I see lot's of birders do the drive by and shoot from the car window thing, but it is not for me. I like to go on long hikes and have the lens ready at all times for handheld shooting.
The Nikon 800PF is on the right side of the balance, it does not need a TC and also of importance: it does not need a lens cover, which for a lens like the white 600GM is mandatory for me, but adds another 200gr. I will adapt to the f6.3 aperture and in future look out for a f4-f4.5 lens. Best case scenario would be for Sony to pick up the gauntlet in due time and make some special 400-500mm f4-f4.5 lens or such that works amazing with the 1.4TC, because the A1 is superb.
p.17 #14 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
After seeing so many great reviews and first impressions like in Steve Perry's case and this thread, I'm sad to see a good photographer, tester and influencer judging a lens so quickly and without considering the hypothesis of having a bad copy.
I think photographers in general are quick to have an extreme opinion about photography gear and don't usually like to change their opinion. But the fact is that, there is still a lot of sample variation in optics and each copy of a lens is unique, and if you influence a lot of people, you should be almost certain (good sample size, good methods and technique) before you share your opinion.
I still value Alex Phan's opinions but I think he probably tested a bad copy and took it for the entire lens model.
p.17 #16 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
George DeCamp wrote:
A few more now that I'm home. This and the prior two posts were all taken the same day at Nickerson Beach on Long Island!
Great images as always George, any further thoughts on the lens and also how it performs with the 1.4x converter. I realise you have pretty good light there but interested to get some feedback.
p.17 #17 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
snapquacky wrote:
Great images as always George, any further thoughts on the lens and also how it performs with the 1.4x converter. I realise you have pretty good light there but interested to get some feedback.
The lens is great! It performs very well with the converter also, maybe a touch slower but hard to tell which I guess is a good thing! I will use it whenever I need that 800mm or more!
p.17 #18 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
George DeCamp wrote:
The lens is great! It performs very well with the converter also, maybe a touch slower but hard to tell which I guess is a good thing! I will use it whenever I need that 800mm or more!
.....and thank you!!
Your images speak volumes but good to hear the lens is working out well. Now to establish if I can live with just an 800mm prime and 200-600 zoom and no holidays or replacement cars for the next 5 years
p.17 #19 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Mr. DeCamp those pictures are outstanding! I ordered the lens in first 5 minutes so I'm hoping I get mine soon. I was wondering if you would share some post processing tips?!
p.17 #20 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
wamoss wrote:
Mr. DeCamp those pictures are outstanding! I ordered the lens in first 5 minutes so I'm hoping I get mine soon. I was wondering if you would share some post processing tips?!
Thanks for sharing, Allen
Thanks very much!!
Hmmm, well my normal workflow is first Denoise normally anyway if it looks even like there is a little noise! Next any cropping or straightening if needed. Then I open Camera RAW, I use photoshop always, and touch up the image with texture, clarity and vibrance if needed (maybe tweak the contrast too) then either I use a touch of Topaz sharpen or I'm done. I do the same exact thing for every single image. Like I said sometimes it needs one or the other or all the above in moderation!
That's it! It goes so fast since I do the same thing each time!
and no holidays or replacement cars for the next 5 years