Sorry, but I wasn't aware what you used in your long photography history.
Pretty much everything...
Most of my Nikon gear is older (pre-Z) and has been sitting in storage for the last 4 or 5 years, but after seeing so many great images coming from Z9 users, my curiosity got the better of me. I'm just astounded by how light this lens is!
Yesterday I was shooting this lens with 1.4x on my Z9 alongside my recently acquired ungripped A1 and 200-600mm, both handheld. The conditions were the ultimate test for AF (fast erratic hunting Welcome Swallows against very difficult BG) and I felt the A1 AF system had a somewhat noticeable performance edge over the Z9. Nonetheless I found myself putting the A1 down and using the Z9 much of the time, it is just so much more comfortable to hand hold. Whilst it is not that much lighter than the Sony combo, it feels a LOT lighter as the weight is all in the shooter's hands rather than cantilevered to the front and the Z9 grip is just so much more comfortable for my hand size and shape than the sharp and cramped little grip on the A1. The A1 may improve with the addition of a grip but then the weight would go up even more.
It really does sheet it home to me that one can read all the reviews, opinions and spec sheets one wants but not until the equipment is in your hands, attached to your body, attached to your grey matter, shooting in your locations and your subjects do you really understand how well a piece of equipment is going to work for you.
I can imagine that with ease, the Sony A1 ungripped is not really suited for (wildlfe) use with a long lens. I only use it ungripped for travel photography, and for that it is great. For birding/wildlife, I personally use a Meike small grip extension (Meike MK-A9II) on the A1 (wtih 600GM), which improves the grip by a mile without adding much weight (85gr I believe).
And still the ease of use and comfort of holding the A1 does not come close to what was for me the best handling camera I ever owned (and I have owned a few...): the Nikon D500.
The Z9 would be overkill for me, but if Nikon ever uses a D500-like casing for a Z camera, I would be all over it. The Nikon Z or Sony A bodies are too small and finicky for wildlife, the Nikon Z9 or D6 bodies are way too big and heavy.
They need to find a new drawing board...
Feb 23, 2023 at 02:48 PM
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