My first major outing with the Z8 400mm 4.5 This lens is light and sharp ! with and w/o 1.4x Spent a week on Galveston Island for the spring migration. Lots of birds I have never shot before in Az. So many images.......more to come
When I was a Sony A1 guy I owned their 600mm f4 Unless you sit in the same spot with a tripod the any of the Nikon pf lenses are far more versatile. Steve Perry has a you tube video talking about how the lighter weight allows slower shutter speeds which to me makes sense. I was perfectly happy with the A1 but the PF lenses made me shift to Nikon. For me these lenses are a real game changer.
Nicely done!... I traded my 400 f4.5 for a 400mm f2.8TC for only one reason...
What long lens did I want to carry? I think that this is something that people need to consider.
I had the 800PF, 180-600, and 400mm f4.5... too much long glass that required a decision before leaving the house.
1. The 800 and 400 f4.5 pair well, but then there is the gap issue... so you need to put the converter on in the field or take it off.
2. The 800 and 180-600 pair well, but then you are committing to two large and bulky lenses that are heavy on the back.
In the end, I sold it all and built back with the 400 f2.8TC, 100-400, and 1.4x converter. Add in the 24-120, and all of bases are covered. While the 800PF might be a 5% improvement on stacking my TC's on the 400 f2.8, I've accepted the penalty as a way to save weight while maintaining flexibility.
If you need to be at 800mm more than you need 400mm or 560mm, then the 800PF / 400 f4.5 (or zoom) is definitely the way to go
just my 2c's
OwlsEyes wrote:
Nicely done!... I traded my 400 f4.5 for a 400mm f2.8TC for only one reason...
What long lens did I want to carry? I think that this is something that people need to consider.
I had the 800PF, 180-600, and 400mm f4.5... too much long glass that required a decision before leaving the house.
1. The 800 and 400 f4.5 pair well, but then there is the gap issue... so you need to put the converter on in the field or take it off.
2. The 800 and 180-600 pair well, but then you are committing to two large and bulky lenses that are heavy on the back.
In the end, I sold it all and built back with the 400 f2.8TC, 100-400, and 1.4x converter. Add in the 24-120, and all of bases are covered. While the 800PF might be a 5% improvement on stacking my TC's on the 400 f2.8, I've accepted the penalty as a way to save weight while maintaining flexibility.
If you need to be at 800mm more than you need 400mm or 560mm, then the 800PF / 400 f4.5 (or zoom) is definitely the way to go
just my 2c's
I currently have the Z8 400 pf 1.4x and I am thrilled with the IQ and of course the weight. I decided to buy the 180-600 to have a zoom . My copy of the 180-600 was really soft at 600 so I sent it back. May revisit the lens when they become more abundant.
What did you think of the IQ of your 180-600 ? Former A1 owner 200-600 my copy of the 18-600 was no where near the 2-6.
sparadise wrote:
I currently have the Z8 400 pf 1.4x and I am thrilled with the IQ and of course the weight. I decided to buy the 180-600 to have a zoom . My copy of the 180-600 was really soft at 600 so I sent it back. May revisit the lens when they become more abundant.
What did you think of the IQ of your 180-600 ? Former A1 owner 200-600 my copy of the 18-600 was no where near the 2-6.
I must have had a good copy of the 180-600. I did not sell it because of image or AF issues, it just was not the best fit with the 400 f2.8TC. I found the 180-600 was the perfect 2nd lens to the 800PF... I just don't shoot the subjects to which the 800PF is best suited.
OwlsEyes wrote:
Nicely done!... I traded my 400 f4.5 for a 400mm f2.8TC for only one reason...
What long lens did I want to carry? I think that this is something that people need to consider.
I had the 800PF, 180-600, and 400mm f4.5... too much long glass that required a decision before leaving the house.
1. The 800 and 400 f4.5 pair well, but then there is the gap issue... so you need to put the converter on in the field or take it off.
2. The 800 and 180-600 pair well, but then you are committing to two large and bulky lenses that are heavy on the back.
In the end, I sold it all and built back with the 400 f2.8TC, 100-400, and 1.4x converter. Add in the 24-120, and all of bases are covered. While the 800PF might be a 5% improvement on stacking my TC's on the 400 f2.8, I've accepted the penalty as a way to save weight while maintaining flexibility.
If you need to be at 800mm more than you need 400mm or 560mm, then the 800PF / 400 f4.5 (or zoom) is definitely the way to go
just my 2c's
I've been debating doing this, and after a year hiatus, I'm adding the 400 4.5 back into the lineup to use alongside my 600PF for the ultimate lightweight kit, and to also give me a lower light option. Also have the 180-600/800PF "heavy" kit for when ultimate reach and versatility are needed, but I'm debating whether or not I'll be keeping those two
Strongly agree with Bruce's two points above, and also his statement on the "analysis paralysis" over what to bring each outing. I didn't like the massive gap between the 400 4.5 and 800PF, felt that I was constantly changing lenses and missing shots. Now that I am a 600mm shooter, the 400 4.5 makes more sense, and felt it was a good time to revisit.
"Well, why don't you just forgo the 600PF and just use the 1.4TC on the 400?"
"The 180-600 makes more sense, it does the job of both the 400/600"
Both great points, but I didn't like the IQ of the 400 4.5 + 1.4TC (especially compared to the 600PF), and while the 186 is exquisite, I'm not really a fan of zooms. I like the no nonsense nature that shooting with primes instills, don't like fiddling about with TCs and zooms, and I want to go as light as possible.
My 600Pf is stuck in Nikon Repair now for 3 full weeks, with no sign of an ETA, so have been lugging the 186+800PF everywhere for birding; quite refreshing to lock this featherweight lens on the Z8 and head out into the field (behind my house) for some testing. Shot w/wo the 1.4TC, and have no complaints about IQ so far, but true test will be comparing it to my 600PF whenever they decide to send it back.
Wish it had a built in TC. 
