Bryan Holliday wrote:
Hey Geoff, what Z9 AF Area mode are you finding works the best to keep focus on the bird and not losing it to the background?
I found that using the Small Wide Area AF or some custom size but on the smaller size of the spectrum worked best. If the camera could figure out the subject then it could track them over the complicated background as I handed over the Wide Area to Auto Area AF via my custom button. If I could acquire with Auto AF over the less complicated smooth water then I could keep it in Auto the entire sequence as long as subject detect was working and holding onto the swallow. To acquire them when already against the complicated background it was really tough and again a Small Wide Area AF was the only thing that worked as my background was relatively close to the subject.
Thanks Geoff. I will give that a try, as that has been my main frustration with the Z9 after using the A1.
arbitrage wrote:
I found that using the Small Wide Area AF or some custom size but on the smaller size of the spectrum worked best. If the camera could figure out the subject then it could track them over the complicated background as I handed over the Wide Area to Auto Area AF via my custom button. If I could acquire with Auto AF over the less complicated smooth water then I could keep it in Auto the entire sequence as long as subject detect was working and holding onto the swallow. To acquire them when already against the complicated background it was really tough and again a Small Wide Area AF was the only thing that worked as my background was relatively close to the subject....Show more →
The colors and contrast from this lens is amazing, i have to decide between A1+200-600 vs Z9+400/4.5, AF and tracking is better in Sony camp from what i've read but the lens is really amazing from the Nikon camp.
Mine just arrived an hour ago. 15 minutes in the backyard. Not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Absolutely gorgeous ! I was planning on doing a side by side @400mm with my beloved Sigma 150-600 S but I won't even bother. I can't wait to get this thing out on the kayak
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/250s125 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/160s125 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/160s125 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/160s125 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.01/125s200 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.01/125s200 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/250s200 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/250s200 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/250s200 ISO-1.3 EV
sum1sgrampa wrote:
Mine just arrived an hour ago. 15 minutes in the backyard. Not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Absolutely gorgeous !
Really happy to hear this news since you're one of my favorite FM shooters. This lens is on my to-buy list for an upcoming Hawaii trip. At your leisure, I would like to hear a comparo with AF-I teles. Strange request, I know.
rico wrote:
Really happy to hear this news since you're one of my favorite FM shooters. This lens is on my to-buy list for an upcoming Hawaii trip. At your leisure, I would like to hear a comparo with AF-I teles. Strange request, I know.
What a wonderful compliment ! Thank you so much. If you're referring to actual AF-I lenses, that would be hard. I traded my 500 F4 AF-I in order to get this 400 I loved the IQ from my old 500 AF-I but sadly it sat unused because it was just way too heavy. I shot that lens for almost 10 years and when I first got it I made do with the size and weight but things have changed. I shoot differently now, mostly from a kayak. I would never have been able to manage that 500 in a boat. I'm trying to get my hands on a Z TC 1.4, I have orders in with Nikon and also B&H. I'm really anxious to compare that combo to my Sigma 150-600 S at 560/600 mm. From what I've seen so far I expect that even with the TC it will be sharper. And I loved that Sigma. Shot it for seven years. But I'm not going to miss that weight and the front heavy awkwardness.
Again, thank you for the compliment, you made my night
Gary
Here's a rough comparison I shot earlier. Framing wasn't exact but the OOF areas alone have me sold. I can't imagine anyone being unhappy with this lens unless they're expecting the 2.8.
NIKON Z 9VR 150-600mm f/5-6.3G lens400mmf/6.01/250s200 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/250s200 ISO-1.3 EV
sum1sgrampa wrote:
If you're referring to actual AF-I lenses, that would be hard. I traded my 500 F4 AF-I in order to get this 400 I loved the IQ from my old 500 AF-I but sadly it sat unused because it was just way too heavy. I shot that lens for almost 10 years and when I first got it I made do with the size and weight but things have changed.
Yeah, your 500 AF-I images really stuck in my headpartly because I own the 300 AF-I cousin. But I just can't see myself lugging any of those supertele fossils across Maui, so something modern and Z is needed: I have nothing above 200mm.
rico wrote:
Yeah, your 500 AF-I images really stuck in my headpartly because I own the 300 AF-I cousin. But I just can't see myself lugging any of those supertele fossils across Maui, so something modern and Z is needed: I have nothing above 200mm.
I also had the 300 before the 500. That is a fantastic lens and I used it for years with the Tc-2 lll as my long birding lens. The IQ was great but there was too big of an impact on AF. And I agree, not something you want to lug around on vacation. I also just got rid of my 300 PF. Another lens I wasn't using because it was too short for me. But that lens worked great on my Z50 and then also on the Z9. A great choice for travel as it's obviously so light and small. But if you start adding the FTZ and then a TC it starts to get bit awkward. I just really wanted to get away from the FTZ. I never thought I would say this but I've pretty much made a full transition from F to Z. Still holding on to my D500 and Sigma S though, for now
Hope you have a great trip, always wanted to get to Hawaii.
. (the 800PF stays almost permanently attached to the Z9 these days). 
