rico wrote:
Yeah, your 500 AF-I images really stuck in my head—partly 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:
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.
I want to read Gary's thoughts on the big Sigma *zoom* vs this new lightweight/fast 400.... while used in a watercraft.
bs kite wrote:
I want to read Gary's thoughts on the big Sigma *zoom* vs this new lightweight/fast 400.... while used in a watercraft.
I already know it's going to be a huge difference in weight and balance, no question. What I'm really anxious to find out is how the 400 and 1.4 TC compares to the Sigma at 600mm. I guess those tc's are non existent.
sum1sgrampa wrote:
I already know it's going to be a huge difference in weight and balance, no question. What I'm really anxious to find out is how the 400 and 1.4 TC compares to the Sigma at 600mm. I guess those tc's are non existent.
Yes, I know the weight and balance will be so much better. Did not know those Z TC's are non existent now.
This morning from the kayak. First time out with the 400 instead of the Sigma zoom. 400 is obviously pretty limiting compared to 150-600 but also a bit liberating framing with what you're offered. The weight and compactness was a huge difference, needless to say. I had to wait quite a while for this egret to give me something and having the combo up to my eye while waiting was super easy.
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/6400s160 ISO-1.3 EV
This Heron rounded a corner in the creek and was just about right over me in the kayak when I spotted him. I literally just pointed the camera and fired off one burst. I was amazed anything was in focus. I really have to eat my words pertaining to so much I blabbered about over the past couple years. What I took for hyperbole or "equipment validation" by Z9 users and milc in general I'm finding to be very real. WYSIWYG-game changer. Silent shutter-game changer. Amazing AF abilities-game changer. 20FPS-game changer. I've got numerous examples of Peregrines, Mergansers, and Herons and Egrets that I never would have captured even after seven years of using my D500.
And I used to scoff at Z9 users saying they haven't picked up their D500 or D850 since getting the Z9. The only thing making me hold on to the D500 at this point is sentimentality.
Gary
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/3200s500 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/3200s500 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/3200s500 ISO-1.3 EV
My grandson's soccer game last night. Loving this combo. It's been a while since I shot jpeg but I didn't want the large files for a kid's soccer game. Really makes me appreciate what a great job DxO does on my Raw files.
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/3200s1250 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/4.51/3200s1250 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.01/3200s1250 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.01/3200s1250 ISO-1.3 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.01/3200s1250 ISO-1.3 EV
Seems to be the Nikon forum has been taken over by Sony and Canon folk telling each other how really really really good their cameras are. Ghastly.
Anyway, I had a ball shooting some good old provincial rugby last week. These are NZ defence force teams and these guys love their rugby and love knocking the daylights out of each other. Best of mates at the after-match. Playing for a place in the national team which will be playing curtain-raisers at the Rugby World Cup in Paris in a few months time. So they had everything to play for.
All with Z9 and 400/4.5.
Alistair1 wrote:
Seems to be the Nikon forum has been taken over by Sony and Canon folk telling each other how really really really good their cameras are. Ghastly.
Anyway, I had a ball shooting some good old provincial rugby last week. These are NZ defence force teams and these guys love their rugby and love knocking the daylights out of each other. Best of mates at the after-match. Playing for a place in the national team which will be playing curtain-raisers at the Rugby World Cup in Paris in a few months time. So they had everything to play for.
All with Z9 and 400/4.5.
You got that right. The Nikon forums have become pretty much intolerable.
Your rugby looks just a little more intense than my 10 year olds Great shots !
Gary
FWIW, a highly unscientific test using a Merganser that I rescued from an antique shop.
About 25 feet away, Tripod mounted, VR off, I let the camera focus on the eye. Actually looking at these on this screen I think I prefer the last if you're after the most reach. I think it's fair to say that if there is a loss in IQ from the tc I can't see it. Any thoughts ?
FX bare cropped
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.61/500s400 ISO-1.3 EV
DX bare cropped
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens400mmf/5.61/500s400 ISO-1.3 EV
FX with 1.4 cropped
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Z TC-1.4x lens560mmf/6.31/400s400 ISO-1.3 EV
DX with 1.4
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Z TC-1.4x lens560mmf/6.31/500s400 ISO-1.3 EV
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.
