p.29 #6 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
OwlsEyes wrote:
Thanks George...
I am enjoying the lens, and will have to "love" it, as there is no way I can afford a 400mm f2.8S or 600mm f4S
At this point, I think that I will be selling my 100-400S at a bargain price and maintain an 800PF, 400 f4.5S, and 24-120S system of lenses. I think I can fit all three and my two bodies in my F-stop Tilopa... this will allow me to hike and shoot at will.
bruce
Glad you got your hands on the 800pf Bruce. You deserve it. FWIW, I have arrived at pretty much the same kit as you albeit still waiting for the 800pf. I need a simpler life with less "stuff" and have traded in all my other gear including Sony for a miserable sum but it feels strangely liberating! BTW, you should not have to sell the 100-400 at a bargain price, they are currently unavailable to order, no?
p.29 #16 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Let's call this... "The Learning Curve" and "A Reality Check" for those contemplating this lens.
Using an 800mm is a whole different ball of wax! I hesitated to pre-order the 800PF because I'm not the typical bird photographer. While I will photograph birds, I am more opportunistic than deliberate. To be clear, I generally focus on animal species that I can see on a regular basis, and establish a longterm shooting strategy. My typical target species are those that roost, overwinter, breed, or exist year round near my home. Furthermore, I tend to focus on larger charismatic bird and mammal species.
Most of my wildlife photography has been with either the 200-400 or 500PF. The 500PF has been my go to lens since 2018, as its size, weight, and VR capabilities make is super easy to use. In winter, everything gets much harder. Single digit and subzero temperatures are common in MN from December to March, and this complicates everything. The cold weather creates mist, heat differentials, and frozen fingers. Working slowly and accepting missed images is a fact of life.
The 800PF, while a beautiful optic, becomes an even greater challenge under these conditions. The high magnification compounds the problems associated with heat distortion and mist. As such, I am now realizing that I need to be way more deliberate when shooting this lens during the winter months. Today I used the 800 on my Z9 and the 400 f4.5 with the Z6II. After my excruciating hours shooting I think I will be reversing bodies for winter photography. The Z6II is better suited to a more deliberate approach, and will allow me to push ISOs to accommodate the f6.3 max aperture. In the end, I walked away with a few keepers with the 800, but prefer what I shot with the 400 f4.5 (to be posted later today).
So is the 800mm PF for me?... well, I'm not sure yet. I guess time and opportunity will help me decide.
cheers,
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/1000s4000 ISO+0.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/1600s6400 ISO+1.3 EV
