Some NZ dotterels that I have been working locally with to trap introduced pest species that are threatening their viability as a species. (and an Oyster Catcher at the end for good measure!)
Cold winter weather in the SW coastal British Columbia. I missed a red-tailed hawk with prey today because the snow was too crunchy. At least got this one.
Yesterday I managed to visit the location where I photographed long-eared owls last year.... well January '21. Almost all of last year's images were made with my D500/500PF combination, and a few of those pictures were among my favorite of the year. With the DSLR gear gone, I was curious about how the Z9 and 400 f4.5 w/1.4x would perform.
The spot where these owls roost (though I only saw one) is in a thicket of low growing trees in the middle of a wetland. The area is only accessible after a hard freeze because one must walk through a cattail marsh to get there.
As I implied in a prior post, I decided to return my 2x converter and replaced it w/ a 1.4x... I just couldn't live with f/9. For now, I am going to rely on this set up w/ a one button push on the Z9 to toggle between FX (560mm) and DX (840mm FOV). While I have the 800PF on order, I am still non-committal. I really think that it is too much money for a focal length that is not consistent with my photography. I am the type of wildlife photographer that would live comfortably with the 400mm f2.8S w/ built-in converter... for me, the price to play is a real barrier.
Anyway, I'd say that my current kit can easily replace the D500/500PF. My in flailed experience and output of REAL pictures reveals no loss in optical acuity...
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Z TC-1.4x lens560mmf/6.31/2000s1600 ISO+0.7 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Z TC-1.4x lens560mmf/6.31/2000s1800 ISO+1.0 EV
OwlsEyes wrote:
Anyway, I'd say that my current kit can easily replace the D500/500PF. My in flailed experience and output of REAL pictures reveals no loss in optical acuity...
These are great. You could easily put them in a portfolio / calendar.
I don't mean to complain, but coming home today with 2000 photos of owls is sort of problematic. Especially when 90% are sharp. Busy backgrounds? No problem. Ugh. Life was so much easier at firmware 1.0.
CJMiller wrote:
Excellent shots, Bruce. I'm glad you're happy with the new Nikon gear. Your images look great.
Chris
Thanks Chris... the 400 f4.5 pairs really well with the Z9. I'd rather have the 400 f2.8S w/ built in converter, but I'm not sure I'll every be ready to spend that much money on a lens.
lukemeup wrote:
I don't mean to complain, but coming home today with 2000 photos of owls is sort of problematic. Especially when 90% are sharp. Busy backgrounds? No problem. Ugh. Life was so much easier at firmware 1.0.
Wow Luke!...
I thought I was fortunate to get some LEO portraits... these are at a whole different level! How much cropping did you need to do... they all look really clean!
OwlsEyes wrote:
Wow Luke!...
I thought I was fortunate to get some LEO portraits... these are at a whole different level! How much cropping did you need to do... they all look really clean!
regards,
bruce
Thanks, Bruce. They're mostly in the range ~30 mpix. I had a couple sequences where 560mm was too long but also plenty where the bird was a bit too small in the frame so I didn't even bother playing with those. Impressed with the Z9 firmware - I have so many shots in focus that I had trouble picking the ones to post.
lukemeup wrote:
Thanks, Bruce. They're mostly in the range ~30 mpix. I had a couple sequences where 560mm was too long but also plenty where the bird was a bit too small in the frame so I didn't even bother playing with those. Impressed with the Z9 firmware - I have so many shots in focus that I had trouble picking the ones to post.
The work is really spectacular. You were very fortunate to see the SEO's hunting. I went out to shoot the LEO's yesterday and made many more amazing pictures, but none are hunting sequences. I caught the long ears hunting in a snow storm last year and am hoping for the same this year.
Your series supports what I have observed with the new firmware. When photographing eagles at a nest, I was amazed by the ability of the Z9 to track eagles flying to and from a branch cluttered nest w/ the 2x converter in morning light. The 3D Animal AF is a marvel... I would love a 2nd Z9 or a DX version w/ the same AF so I can leave one camera on my 400mm f4.5 and the other on my 100-400. As it stands, I almost never use my 2nd body for anything but landscapes. The Z9's AF capabilities have spoiled me. In addition, the capacity to devote a button to DX mode with a single touch has made the camera/lens combination so versatile.
BTW, I did end up returning the 2x converter, as f/9 was one stop too much for me... With the realities of a limited budget, the question that I must address is, get the 800PF or get a second Z9?
OwlsEyes wrote:
BTW, I did end up returning the 2x converter, as f/9 was one stop too much for me... With the realities of a limited budget, the question that I must address is, get the 800PF or get a second Z9?
Enjoy the new gear and don't think about more purchases for a while.
The Z9 was announced over a year ago, and a lot of people seem to prefer smaller camera bodies, so one would think Nikon would put out a smaller camera with close to Z9-like capabilities soon (in 2023). The Expeed 7 processor should give a large boost to the performance of the Z6 / Z7 series, and there could be other models coming as well. If the intention is to use two cameras side by side, then it probably is not desirable to have two Z9's for this purpose, rather, have a smaller second body to keep the total weight of the bag and cost at a manageable level. An 800/6.3 can then be added at an earlier point and there would be a bit more space in the bag for it than if the space and carrying capacity is occupied by two large and heavy bodies.
Personally don't mind switching lenses and don't keep two cameras mounted to lenses at the same time. I prefer the lighter weight bag when just carrying one camera. I miss moments for sure (not always having the right focal length at hand) but then I also miss shots in case I am burdened by a bag that is too heavy and as a result don't go out to shoot.
