Watching the remarkable YT video now. May not get through it in one sitting.
A couple of responses at this point.
The video section (starting at 10:40) and slow-mo section (12:06?) are fascinating! I have never seen so many swallows in one area.
If the diversity and biomass of insect species are a quick indicator of the health of a system (and I think they are) then this is a very healthy system. Where I do my loon work there are not anywhere near this many swallows.
As you said, setting up in the right spot is vital. And a head wind slows them down.
Thanks, yes it is a great spot a few times a year when the conditions are right. Just FYI I found Auto Area worked best for tracking the swallows with the Z9 - there is a little skill/luck involve to acquire focus initially but it seemed to track them pretty well once acquired. Using even the largest custom area I found I would lose too many during tracking - the bird ends up on the outer edges of the frame quite a lot during tracking prior to being close enough for a decent image.
duncang wrote:
Thanks, yes it is a great spot a few times a year when the conditions are right. Just FYI I found Auto Area worked best for tracking the swallows with the Z9 - there is a little skill/luck involve to acquire focus initially but it seemed to track them pretty well once acquired. Using even the largest custom area I found I would lose too many during tracking - the bird ends up on the outer edges of the frame quite a lot during tracking prior to being close enough for a decent image.
I just happen to have my Z8 set on Auto Area. Still learning the menu. Yes, I can see that swallows would be outside the largest box very quickly. My photography is of loons (Common Loons). But occasionally when on the water for loons, I have tried swallows. Forget it! It is impossible
When the conditions are right you have a honey hole there. So, when the wind is really strong, you must be setting up in the air channel against that vegetation, that they find just tolerable for them.
You can bet I will be looking forward to much more of your work Duncan
I sent mine in last week, and it came back today, 6 days in total, including weekend.
For those who need to deal with Nikon Canada, I live about 80km from Mississauga, where Nikon service is located at.
I am sending my Z8 in. I'm not sure if this is the cause, but if any other user here has the same setup, could you check to see if it's the case?
I have a Techart TZM-01, worked fine on my Z6II, and Z9 as well. But it won't work with the Z8. The aperture doesn't get anything, doesn't AF and I cannot get the shutter to release. Latest firmware on the adapter... I did try on another Z6 to make sure the adapter was operational.
So, I'm inclined to believe that maybe the mount is giving some contact problem.
Either way, the camera would be out tomorrow. Let's see if fixes the issue once it's back.
Dropped off my Z8 on Wednesday last week; got it back today (Tuesday) by Purolater.
Nikon Canada will accept drop offs at their Mississaugga location for the Z8 recall. They have stopped ALL in-person customer service at that location since the pandemic. (So I was told. Maybe NPS is different.) They even removed the parking signs etc.
On Nikon Canada's online self service page, my camera was entered as "Problem: REPAIR PRODUCT TO GOOD WORKING ORDER REPAIR DONE AT NO CHARGE FOR GOODWILL " Strange wording for recall repair.
