p.89 #1 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
And for now something completely different :-)
Nikon Z9 -- 800mm -- 1/100 -- f/6.3 -- ISO 2000
Only cropped it to the square format. Moon and planet Venus, top right, from earlier this evening.
p.89 #4 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Here are a few recent shots from the 800pf and Z9. The in-flight swallow shots are all uncropped, made using auto capture. I have just started using that. Wish I had given it a serious try earlier. It is a super power IMO.
p.89 #5 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Alistair1 wrote:
Here are a few recent shots from the 800pf and Z9. The in-flight swallow shots are all uncropped, made using auto capture. I have just started using that. Wish I had given it a serious try earlier. It is a super power IMO.
p.89 #7 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Alistair1 wrote:
Here are a few recent shots from the 800pf and Z9. The in-flight swallow shots are all uncropped, made using auto capture. I have just started using that. Wish I had given it a serious try earlier. It is a super power IMO.
p.89 #10 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
It's been cold and dismal in the MW, so I was rather pleasantly surprised when I saw a group of around five males hanging out by my place. They're usually not in this area in January, so I'm wondering if the storm and extreme conditions south of us drove them north?
p.89 #14 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
So I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I retired from my job in NY and moved down here with my wife in 2017. Today we had 5 or 6 inches of snow, this was the 2nd snowstorm we had since we moved here and the first snowstorm was 1 or 2 inches, they closed schools for a week because it kept freezing and the roads were a disaster! So different from NY where a few inches of snow wasn't even news!
Here's a few bird images from the baack yard this morning.
Female Northern Cardinal
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/320s3600 ISO+0.3 EV
Junco
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/500s720 ISO0.0 EV
Hermit Thrush
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/500s1800 ISO0.0 EV
Eastern Bluebird
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/800s3600 ISO+0.3 EV
p.89 #16 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Saw on the news a Space X rocket took off from Florida and was going to pass right over, or near enough to see from our place in Myrtle Beach, SC. I grabbed the Z9 & 800pf and went out on the front lawn and we found it. Well my wife did, so I grabbed a couple shots. They were hand held, didn't have tripod nearby.
Here's one, they all look the same. Not cropped but was shot in DX mode!
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/125s25600 ISO0.0 EV
p.89 #18 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Hello, I'm deciding whether to buy the Z8 or the Z9 in combination with the 800mm f/6.3.
Perhaps someone can help with my questions.
1. Is the Z9 better balanced than the Z8 with the 800mm 6.3 when shooting handheld? The Z9 is heavier, or would the Z8 be the better choice in terms of handling?
2. The Z9 has a better battery. Does the Z8's battery drain that much faster, or is it sufficient?
I mostly take photos, so less filming.
3. Another question about the Z9. It has more buttons that can be assigned. Does the Z9 have a noticeable practical advantage for wildlife photography, e.g., the FN3 key, or is that negligible?
4. The Z9 has two dials on the back. So, another one if you're shooting vertically.
Can you assign different functions to each of the two dials, or does one function always apply to both dials?
p.89 #19 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bastapix wrote:
Hello, I'm deciding whether to buy the Z8 or the Z9 in combination with the 800mm f/6.3.
Perhaps someone can help with my questions.
1. Is the Z9 better balanced than the Z8 with the 800mm 6.3 when shooting handheld? The Z9 is heavier, or would the Z8 be the better choice in terms of handling?
2. The Z9 has a better battery. Does the Z8's battery drain that much faster, or is it sufficient?
I mostly take photos, so less filming.
3. Another question about the Z9. It has more buttons that can be assigned. Does the Z9 have a noticeable practical advantage for wildlife photography, e.g., the FN3 key, or is that negligible?
4. The Z9 has two dials on the back. So, another one if you're shooting vertically.
Can you assign different functions to each of the two dials, or does one function always apply to both dials?
You might receive more feedback if your questions were posted in another thread. Likewise, you are likely to receive a variety of opinions. The best answer is to find your LCS and try them yourself as everyone is different. My general response is this, namely the Z9 balances better with front heavy lenses though I find the weight of the Z9 unmanageable for my style (hiking) of photography. Because the 800 is relatively long for its length, it actually feels more balanced on a Z8 than say the 180-600 (a smaller and lighter lens). Now to your questions specifically:
1) I shoot handheld 99% of the time. The Z8 attached to the 800 PF is lighter and easier to handhold and carry IMHO.
2) There is no comparison of battery duration. The Z8's battery is 2280 mAhr, the Z9's battery is rated at 3300 mAhr. For all day shooting I typically go through at least two and sometimes three batteries on the Z8, though it depends on how much one "chimps". They are small and easily fit in one's pocket. Alternatively, one can power the Z8 through a PD power bank (good for tripod work).
3) Yes, buttons, size (ergonomics), battery, etc. all favor the Z9 though if one doesn't like a full sized, pro body camera, the Z8 is the best alternative. You need to hold and use them (see above).
4) Big advantage for the Z9 with its integrated grip. The add on grip for the Z8 is pretty poor IMHO and the combination is larger than the Z9. One can program most of the buttons/dials for custom features.
p.89 #20 · Official 800PF image and discussion thread
Bastapix wrote:
Hello, I'm deciding whether to buy the Z8 or the Z9 in combination with the 800mm f/6.3.
Perhaps someone can help with my questions.
1. Is the Z9 better balanced than the Z8 with the 800mm 6.3 when shooting handheld? The Z9 is heavier, or would the Z8 be the better choice in terms of handling?
2. The Z9 has a better battery. Does the Z8's battery drain that much faster, or is it sufficient?
I mostly take photos, so less filming.
3. Another question about the Z9. It has more buttons that can be assigned. Does the Z9 have a noticeable practical advantage for wildlife photography, e.g., the FN3 key, or is that negligible?
4. The Z9 has two dials on the back. So, another one if you're shooting vertically.
Can you assign different functions to each of the two dials, or does one function always apply to both dials?
I have used both the Z8 and Z9 with the 800pf when I had it and I only sold the 800pf to help fund my 600TC.
These are just my personal feeling with regards to the Z8 v Z9 + 800pf:
I shot the 800pf always handheld, I never shoot on a tripod with any lens unless it is for long exposure.
1) The Z9 is better balanced and is easier to use than the Z8 simply because of the extra grip. However, it never stopped me from using the Z8 if I wanted to go lighter.
2) Battery life is never a consideration. Yes, the Z9 battery is larger and thus lasts longer but I have three Z8 batteries and 2 Z9 batteries and I have never run out of batteries with either camera as I take all spares with me. I have rarely ever used more than two Z8 batteries on a day's outing and that can be thousands of images. The third battery rarely if ever gets used and certainly never drained.
3) I have not used all the buttons of the Z9, or even Z8 for that matter. I am fairly simplistic in my use of these cameras.
4) As far as I know, the two rear dials operate the same functions.
