p.44 #2 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Glad to hear that people have found this focal length to allow for better working distances. I’ve been really curious how that would play out. One of my first thoughts upon hearing about this lens was that it would allow photographers to get the shots they want while remaining far enough away that animals remain comfortable. Eight hundred millimeters is an awful lot of focal length, but it shouldn’t be a hindrance once the photographer learns how far away they need to be from the subject.
p.44 #4 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Not a ton of action but when it happened I didn't miss it and neither did the Z9! It almost never seems to miss! Cant say that for the Eagle!
Crops are between 60-100%
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/2500s500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/2500s500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/2500s500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/2500s500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/2500s500 ISO0.0 EV
p.44 #6 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
groob wrote:
Glad to hear that people have found this focal length to allow for better working distances. I’ve been really curious how that would play out. One of my first thoughts upon hearing about this lens was that it would allow photographers to get the shots they want while remaining far enough away that animals remain comfortable. Eight hundred millimeters is an awful lot of focal length, but it shouldn’t be a hindrance once the photographer learns how far away they need to be from the subject.
This was my motivation for buying the 800 f6.3. After shooting the 400mm f4.5 with a 2x converter for about 6 weeks, I quickly realized that I was choosing to make different types of photos with my lens. Where I live, winter really restricts one's ability to be quiet, mobile, and invisible. Short of digging a snow blind and waiting for something to trot or fly by, most photographic opportunities are derived by driving back county roads. While I abhor this strategy, this is one of the few ways I can make a different types of picture in winter. Sadly, most of the wildlife I see is skittish and pretty far off. With the 800PF, I can remain in my vehicle or drive beyond the view of my subject, and walk back to squeeze a few fleeting moments.
I have posted multiple coyote shots in the last 30 days and none of these would have been possible without the long reach of the 800PF. However, one must not see this as a panacea. I have to fight heat distortion and the impact of atmospheric moisture. What's more, high ISO shooting makes for very noisy images that can only be corrected so much without becoming smeary. I am now embarking on a print project of my stark winter images and am realizing the "real" limits of my current technique. Like any tool, it takes time to really learn how and when to use a specific piece of gear.
p.44 #10 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
I think photos posted in this thread are a good reminder that lens reviews on gear review sites need to be taken with a grain of salt more often than not. To be honest I was slightly concerned after seeing some sample images in the reviews - most of those concerns are gone now.
p.44 #11 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
lukemeup wrote:
I think photos posted in this thread are a good reminder that lens reviews on gear review sites need to be taken with a grain of salt more often than not. To be honest I was slightly concerned after seeing some sample images in the reviews - most of those concerns are gone now.
In my opinion, everything seen or read online in regards to reviews and videos on gear need to be about 30 or 40% of your own decision making process. Using the gear yourself is of paramount importance.
The Z9 from some reviewers on YouTube really early on and even now on going when talking about other gear can't help but through it under the bus when it's clearly as good and in some ways better than Sony or Canon's top cameras. I mean I get great results from the the Z9 extremely consistently as do others. But I've seen some that can't get a good image of of it.
Same goes for the 800pf. I had people constant AF what the hell would i should with 800mm Anna i said everything. I mean i was shooting the 500pf on the D500 for 3 years an i was used to that being 750mm equivalent FOV so 800mm feels like home to me. And people that say you can hand hold and track with it like the Thom review just doesn't have the skill for it or doesn't practice. When the Eagles aren't active or if it looking for other stuff and it's quiet, I'm practice with Gulls, Terns and swallows for keeping the pushing and tracking skills sharp.
p.44 #12 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Eric214 wrote:
In my opinion, everything seen or read online in regards to reviews and videos on gear need to be about 30 or 40% of your own decision making process. Using the gear yourself is of paramount importance.
The Z9 from some reviewers on YouTube really early on and even now on going when talking about other gear can't help but through it under the bus when it's clearly as good and in some ways better than Sony or Canon's top cameras. I mean I get great results from the the Z9 extremely consistently as do others. But I've seen some that can't get a good image of of it.
Same goes for the 800pf. I had people constant AF what the hell would i should with 800mm Anna i said everything. I mean i was shooting the 500pf on the D500 for 3 years an i was used to that being 750mm equivalent FOV so 800mm feels like home to me. And people that say you can hand hold and track with it like the Thom review just doesn't have the skill for it or doesn't practice. When the Eagles aren't active or if it looking for other stuff and it's quiet, I'm practice with Gulls, Terns and swallows for keeping the pushing and tracking skills sharp....Show more →
Good points, I agree. Early on when the lens was announced there were folks claiming it was way too much focal length, and I thought the same as you noted, that the extremely popular 500PF/D500 combo is a 750mm field of view, and popular 150-600mm lenses on same body that I nearly always used at max zoom are a 900mm field of view, so should be perfect. The 800mm on fullframe feels just right to me for so many bird situations.
p.44 #13 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Eric214 wrote:
In my opinion, everything seen or read online in regards to reviews and videos on gear need to be about 30 or 40% of your own decision making process. Using the gear yourself is of paramount importance.
The Z9 from some reviewers on YouTube really early on and even now on going when talking about other gear can't help but through it under the bus when it's clearly as good and in some ways better than Sony or Canon's top cameras. I mean I get great results from the the Z9 extremely consistently as do others. But I've seen some that can't get a good image of of it.
Same goes for the 800pf. I had people constant AF what the hell would i should with 800mm Anna i said everything. I mean i was shooting the 500pf on the D500 for 3 years an i was used to that being 750mm equivalent FOV so 800mm feels like home to me. And people that say you can hand hold and track with it like the Thom review just doesn't have the skill for it or doesn't practice. When the Eagles aren't active or if it looking for other stuff and it's quiet, I'm practice with Gulls, Terns and swallows for keeping the pushing and tracking skills sharp....Show more →
Eric, I came across your Flickr stream, you have a phenomenal collection of eagle shots!
p.44 #14 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Eric214 wrote:
Not a ton of action but when it happened I didn't miss it and neither did the Z9! It almost never seems to miss! Cant say that for the Eagle!
Crops are between 60-100%
Wow! My wife and I would love to witness eagle action like that. Those are fantastic captures.
With all the great images in this thread, you guys are making me realize I really need to get out more often to some refuges with my 800PF, or pass it on to someone else who can make better use of it.
p.44 #15 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Ross Martin wrote:
Eric, I came across your Flickr stream, you have a phenomenal collection of eagle shots!
Thank you so much Ross! Really appreciate the kind words. I live just 30 min from the Conowingo dam so when I I'm not feeling like traveling far to places i hang at the dam or sometimes Bombay Hook NWR.
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Ross Martin wrote:
Wow! My wife and I would love to witness eagle action like that. Those are fantastic captures.
With all the great images in this thread, you guys are making me realize I really need to get out more often to some refuges with my 800PF, or pass it on to someone else who can make better use of it.
My vote... Get out often and shoot more! Tread lightly and carry a big lens 😁
p.44 #16 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Ross Martin wrote:
Good points, I agree. Early on when the lens was announced there were folks claiming it was way too much focal length, and I thought the same as you noted, that the extremely popular 500PF/D500 combo is a 750mm field of view, and popular 150-600mm lenses on same body that I nearly always used at max zoom are a 900mm field of view, so should be perfect. The 800mm on fullframe feels just right to me for so many bird situations.
Problem is that in the past 800mm generally is cost prohibitive, big and heavy so it was a relatively rare focal lenght.
Personally, when I had 600/4e FL and D6, I ended up using 600mm with TCx1.4 very often as there was not much room to crop.
Suddenly when 800PF became available wiht Z9 with the price and weight that make sense to me, I did not have to
think much. This is a lens that I have been waiting for.
p.44 #17 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Nice to see the 800PF producing such great images on the Z9!
I used the D500+500PF for two years and absolutely loved the combo.
I wanted to move up to mirrorless but chose the Sony A1 due to its fit (for me) as my single camera for all shooting, and recently got a 600GM to replace the 200-600G.
Had Nikon made the Z8 before the Z9, I would have opted for a Z8/800PF combo, but the A1+600GM is a stunning combo also and leaves little to wish for (and is a bit more versatile featuring a razor sharp f4 aperture). I will always have a soft spot for Nikon though, and the 800PF is a cracking lens.
I have yet to purchase a 1.4TC, since I dislike teleconverters, but 600mm is a bit short for birds in open wetlands and small songbirds. The 800PF should beat the 600GM at 800mm (840mm for the Sony 600GM+1.4TC), so Nikon users wanting ultimate reach are well served. It's nice to see Nikon getting it all together in a good way, and the rumored Z8 will take the 800PF to a next level in portability.
p.44 #20 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
ChrisMak wrote:
Nice to see the 800PF producing such great images on the Z9!
I used the D500+500PF for two years and absolutely loved the combo.
I wanted to move up to mirrorless but chose the Sony A1 due to its fit (for me) as my single camera for all shooting, and recently got a 600GM to replace the 200-600G.
Had Nikon made the Z8 before the Z9, I would have opted for a Z8/800PF combo, but the A1+600GM is a stunning combo also and leaves little to wish for (and is a bit more versatile featuring a razor sharp f4 aperture). I will always have a soft spot for Nikon though, and the 800PF is a cracking lens.
I have yet to purchase a 1.4TC, since I dislike teleconverters, but 600mm is a bit short for birds in open wetlands and small songbirds. The 800PF should beat the 600GM at 800mm (840mm for the Sony 600GM+1.4TC), so Nikon users wanting ultimate reach are well served. It's nice to see Nikon getting it all together in a good way, and the rumored Z8 will take the 800PF to a next level in portability....Show more →
Good word, Chris. And you certainly have one of the best teles on the market with the Sony 600!
