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D850 is this all you need?  Rate Topic 
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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Feb 25th, 2018 12:21 1st Post
I am getting to grips with the D850 now and testing it against my D500 for bird photography. I may soon soon say perhaps the D500 can go. This shot hand held out of top window of our house with D850 and my big Nikon 500mm F4 lens produced a pin sharp A3+ print.

1/1000 sec f9 at ISO 1000 single spot AF-C auto focus and matrix meter this is blow up from shot I will load below.

Attachment: 03 Blackbird.jpg (Downloaded 61 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Feb 25th, 2018 12:24 2nd Post
This is whole shot as taken at 35 feet with the 500mm lens. I hope to post pix soon next time a blackbird lands there at similar lighting. I have the D500 loaded at same settings with the same 500mm lens

Attachment: Blackbird.jpg (Downloaded 60 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Sun Feb 25th, 2018 15:55 3rd Post
I think that the D500 will be a winner for Birds in Flight and fast moving subjects as the AF points cover the whole screen better.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 25th, 2018 18:44 4th Post
Keep saying it Jonathan....you know we believe you. :lol:



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Feb 25th, 2018 18:51 5th Post
Yes I think you are rightbut the advantage is small as is the 7 frames against 9 with the D500. I should also have included the size of images above uncropped was 8256x5504 and cropped 3576x2744 an uncropped D500 image is 5568x3712. So the Blackbird pix is quite impressive.

I hope to get another similar bird in the same place in same light in next few days the D500 with big lens is in place in our spare bedroom. We have 5 male Blackbirds in garden at present take bets on me getting a matching pix?

I will not get rid of the D500 in a hurry as I like both cameras. Just tring to help Eric with some info.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 03:10 6th Post
There is quite a debate about this generally.

The consensus I see is that the D850 is excellent for IQ, no question but for birds in flight the it seems to be D500 wins on several counts.

There are big costs involved with D850 ownership, huge files with the consequent issues of offloading, storing and processing them, an iPad or even a Mac Book Pro won't cut it, by all accounts. The D850 also has a much greater initial cost £1800 v £3500, almost half and haggling with the D500 might produce an even better price I doubt one could haggle much off a D850, given they are often out of stock. Processing the D850 files will require an up to date version of whatever software is chosen.

As a 'hobby want' item, as opposed to a 'professional need' tool it becomes expensive, which for most needs is overkill.

At the Nikon Roadshow I visited last week even Nikon stated that the D500 was considered superior for BIF, while exhorting the virtues of the D850. One interesting feature of the D850 is the silent electronic shutter which at 30 frames a second I understand is very useful in all sorts of situations, should be possible to capture the defining moment with that, maybe some sporting events like cricket?

I understand the images in this thread are taken with a D500 and AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E VR.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1346257/39

They would do me and most hobbyists, even most nitpicking pixel peepers.

I think it comes down to personal preferences and how much cash one wants to sink into a hobby. Another factor is how enthusiastic one is to hide for hours 'out there in the marshes' to grab the shot of a lifetime.

This thread which is actually a lens thread but touches on real world experiences of competent photographers with the D500 and D850.

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,7118.50.html



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 10:04 7th Post
Robert wrote:
There is quite a debate about this generally.

The consensus I see is that the D850 is excellent for IQ, no question but for birds in flight the it seems to be D500 wins on several counts.

There are big costs involved with D850 ownership, huge files with the consequent issues of offloading, storing and processing them, an iPad or even a Mac Book Pro won't cut it, by all accounts. The D850 also has a much greater initial cost £1800 v £3500, almost half and haggling with the D500 might produce an even better price I doubt one could haggle much off a D850, given they are often out of stock. Processing the D850 files will require an up to date version of whatever software is chosen.

As a 'hobby want' item, as opposed to a 'professional need' tool it becomes expensive, which for most needs is overkill.

At the Nikon Roadshow I visited last week even Nikon stated that the D500 was considered superior for BIF, while exhorting the virtues of the D850. One interesting feature of the D850 is the silent electronic shutter which at 30 frames a second I understand is very useful in all sorts of situations, should be possible to capture the defining moment with that, maybe some sporting events like cricket?

I understand the images in this thread are taken with a D500 and AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E VR.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1346257/39

They would do me and most hobbyists, even most nitpicking pixel peepers.

I think it comes down to personal preferences and how much cash one wants to sink into a hobby. Another factor is how enthusiastic one is to hide for hours 'out there in the marshes' to grab the shot of a lifetime.

This thread which is actually a lens thread but touches on real world experiences of competent photographers with the D500 and D850.

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,7118.50.html


You raise a number of issues here, Robert.

Leaving aside cost of the body there is the cost of the lens to consider.
From what I've read elsewhere, there are a limited number of lenses that TRULY capitalise on the resolving capabilities of the D850. No surprise they are all the top end lenses and have 4figures in the price.

Dropping down to the second quality tier of lenses will give, for most people, almost indiscernible lesser quality ....which has prompted some reviewers to say "get a D810 and save some cash, if you aren't going to use the top 10-12 best quality lenses." Or get a D500 and save more!

In fact there is a strong arguement that for wildlife, where you never seem to be able to fill the frame with the subject, having perfect lenses right to the edges or when using a DX body with Fx lens, absolute quality may be unnecessary.

When you refer to those getting perfectly acceptable results from a 300mm E f4 lens (which is actually a good new lens worthy of the 850 anyway) I would make an observation.

The shooting of those images was engineered. By that I mean the photographer didn't just turn up to a spot and capture those images on the fly. Natural foliage, twigs and shrubbery are far too invasive to allow such clarity of scene. I know this from bitter experience. To get such perfectly executed shots, especially with a mere 300mm attached, the landing location and photography 'set', for the bird has to be controlled by prior gardening and pre organised flight path.

Nothing wrong with that I would add, if your desire is to capture a perfect example of the critter, with no distracting background, foreground or sides!

I was reading that a local RSPB reserve has set up a photographers hide ( actually a wicker screen with holes) so that photographers shutter noise doesn't annoy the birdwatchers in the hides, AND they have 'positioned branches strategically close to feeding areas to make photography of birds easier'. Again....nothing wrong with that....you still have to stand or sit for hours for that moment! :lol:

But I have to say that although I will get out and do my share of shooting in the great outdoors soon, while it's subzero, the wildlife in the garden, from an armchair has a strong pull. I KNOW the images won't be as good through double glazed windows, and will have to put up with ungardened photosets. So there's little point in buying an D850 and £5k worth of glass while such lassitude prevails...I will make do with the Fuji for now.

Here what I mean about pre gardening.....if I had only known it was going to perch on that branch!

Attachment: 15E76427-D05E-44D3-81C3-90E64BBBFE2E.jpeg (Downloaded 55 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 10:08 8th Post
On the other hand some critters are more predictable.

Attachment: 047FFC00-CCF2-423B-ADF7-7810D1E4FDB9.jpeg (Downloaded 57 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 10:16 9th Post
Had a surprise visit of a Stock Dove yesterday...

Attachment: 898C591D-1F56-4CD8-BF8B-838BCE7CB416.jpeg (Downloaded 55 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 10:35 10th Post
...and our 'resident' crow.

Attachment: 0814374F-AA8B-46EE-B6F2-FF43E37632A0.jpeg (Downloaded 55 times)



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Eric


Posted by jk: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 14:34 11th Post
I think there is also a lot of 'boxed in thinking'. That is to say if you have a f2.8 lens then you need to stop down to f5.6 to get best results and likewise if you have an f4 lens then it will need to be f8 to get most out of it.
Get over it. Yes old lenses may behave like this but not necessarily the truth with newer lenses.

Of course this is complete BS.
The Nikon 400mm f2.8 AFS is as optically good at f2.8 as at f8. There is almost no difference between any of the stops between f2.8 - f8.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 15:14 12th Post
I find the 500mm is producing spot on right up to f16 needless to say depth of field is a major problem with long lenses.This means good results with high ISO is a major advantagemeven in good light I wind up ISO to stop down as much as possible.

Sory today not able to get Blackbird with 500mm lens and D500 I may have just set one too far!! We had bit of snow top temp + 1.4 cent and the birds were low all day on the ground feeders.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 15:21 13th Post
Apart from bokeh and DoF. My excuse for fast lenses of both of these.

A long while ago I went on a photography 'course' The trainer asked what aperture I was using with my Nikkor 300mm f2.8, he was a bit taken aback when I told him I hadn't paid a small fortune for it to shoot at f8. Why have a fast lens then stop down except if the DoF requires it. My whole aim in photography is to separate the subject from the background.

Mind you, it also helps me keep the shutter speed up... To help with my doddery hands!!! :lol:



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Robert.



Posted by jk: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 18:23 14th Post
Robert wrote:
Apart from bokeh and DoF. My excuse for fast lenses of both of these.

A long while ago I went on a photography 'course' The trainer asked what aperture I was using with my Nikkor 300mm f2.8, he was a bit taken aback when I told him I hadn't paid a small fortune for it to shoot at f8. Why have a fast lens then stop down except if the DoF requires it. My whole aim in photography is to separate the subject from the background.

Mind you, it also helps me keep the shutter speed up... To help with my doddery hands!!! :lol:

Yes indeed.
I shoot my Nikon 200-500 f5.6 at f5.6-8. My 400mm f2.8 I use at no smaller than f4 unless I am already at 1/8000 already, so I need to stop down to get correct exposure.



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Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 26th, 2018 18:32 15th Post
jk wrote:
I think there is also a lot of 'boxed in thinking'. That is to say if you have a f2.8 lens then you need to stop down to f5.6 to get best results and likewise if you have an f4 lens then it will need to be f8 to get most out of it.
Get over it. Yes old lenses may behave like this but not necessarily the truth with newer lenses.

Of course this is complete BS.
The Nikon 400mm f2.8 AFS is as optically good at f2.8 as at f8. There is almost no difference between any of the stops between f2.8 - f8.

But there is more than double the dof between f2.8 and f8 and shooting moving birds at 30-40 feet you need all the lattitiude you can get. That's why many people use f8 or smaller. Anyway...the Fuji 100-400 and teleconverter prevent me from using anything wider. :needsahug:



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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Feb 28th, 2018 13:54 16th Post
Who needs medium format when you can get this from a Fuji.
 

Reduced for better viewing on smaller devices!



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 28th, 2018 15:40 17th Post
HOW COME ITS SO BIG?8-)



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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Feb 28th, 2018 15:57 18th Post
Eric wrote:
HOW COME ITS SO BIG?8-)
Changed it down to 1600pixels rather than full size.



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Posted by Robert: Wed Feb 28th, 2018 16:16 19th Post
jk wrote:
Eric wrote:
HOW COME ITS SO BIG?8-)
Changed it down to 1600pixels rather than full size.

LOL, I couldn't get it on my 28" screen, no chance with an iPad!

Very sharp JK, good picture.



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 28th, 2018 16:29 20th Post
jk wrote:
Eric wrote:
HOW COME ITS SO BIG?8-)
Changed it down to 1600pixels rather than full size.

There was a serious question in that .... I have to sample down my files considerably for the forum software to allow me to attach them....as a result they always look inferior to originals. Is there a secret to posting bigger files? o.O



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Eric


Posted by Robert: Thu Mar 1st, 2018 06:56 21st Post
Another facet of the D850... Slide and negative copy, the D850 inverts the negative and saves as a JPEG, Magic!

edit: Silly old sod! I forgot to add the url

https://www.dpreview.com/news/6668188440/nikon-s-es-2-film-digitizing-adapter-for-the-d850-will-finally-ship-in-march



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Robert.



Posted by jk: Fri Mar 2nd, 2018 11:25 22nd Post
Eric wrote:
jk wrote:
Eric wrote:
HOW COME ITS SO BIG?8-)
Changed it down to 1600pixels rather than full size.

There was a serious question in that .... I have to sample down my files considerably for the forum software to allow me to attach them....as a result they always look inferior to originals. Is there a secret to posting bigger files? o.O

Yes host the files on a server that allows large files and use the https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Eric: Mon Mar 5th, 2018 17:49 23rd Post
Well the Fuji can deliver! Even with UK smallest bird...Goldcrest.

But the viewfinder freeze is still a pain. Fortunately this little fella was very understanding and didn't move far in his movements ...enabling me to catch up with him.

Attachment: 0D222D8C-4706-4C46-B61E-00A194791E95.jpeg (Downloaded 38 times)



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Mar 5th, 2018 18:24 24th Post
Well done super pix!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Mon Mar 5th, 2018 18:46 25th Post
Lovely photo, nice when the sitter is cooperative!



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 6th, 2018 06:56 26th Post
Robert wrote:
Lovely photo, nice when the sitter is cooperative!
There is a slight irony / coincidental twist to 'the sitter being cooperative', Robert.

I can reveal that the best place for covert photography in our house is the bathroom. The frosted glass and vertical blinds make it easy to poke a lens out through the blinds and open window without the birds being disturbed. It's also convenient that one of our feeding areas is opposite that window.

What is not so convenient is the bathroom being monopolised by me....with a window open and a cold east wind blowing.

There were several complaints about having to trudge to the bedroom ensuite or the need for a heated toilet seat while I was off uploading images, from a certain lady. Yes the sitterS did have to cooperate....albeit grudgingly in the case of one.
:sssshh:



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 6th, 2018 06:59 27th Post
Lady Blackcap from same location...( note to self ..prune the amelanchier harder this year!)

Attachment: 80DA7583-7D25-4865-888C-BE4EF78FE5AF.jpeg (Downloaded 34 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 6th, 2018 08:34 28th Post
Eric wrote:
Robert wrote:
Lovely photo, nice when the sitter is cooperative!
There is a slight irony / coincidental twist to 'the sitter being cooperative', Robert.

I can reveal that the best place for covert photography in our house is the bathroom. The frosted glass and vertical blinds make it easy to poke a lens out through the blinds and open window without the birds being disturbed. It's also convenient that one of our feeding areas is opposite that window.

What is not so convenient is the bathroom being monopolised by me....with a window open and a cold east wind blowing.

There were several complaints about having to trudge to the bedroom ensuite or the need for a heated toilet seat while I was off uploading images, from a certain lady. Yes the sitterS did have to cooperate....albeit grudgingly in the case of one.
:sssshh:

Just reread that and 'covert photography' in the bathroom sounds a bit pervy! I meant covert photography OUT OF THE BATHROOM WINDOW.:lol::lol:



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Eric


Posted by Robert: Tue Mar 6th, 2018 14:47 29th Post
Eric wrote:
Just reread that and 'covert photography' in the bathroom sounds a bit pervy! I meant covert photography OUT OF THE BATHROOM WINDOW.:lol::lol:
Exactly what I thought!

Heated toilet seat? You don't spend all day in there do you??? :lol::lol::lol:

Very nice pix!



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Robert.



Posted by jk: Wed Mar 7th, 2018 04:07 30th Post
I was going to suggest that Eric got out more but then again he might monopolise the toilet in the caravan! :diggingahole:^_^



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Posted by jk: Wed Mar 7th, 2018 04:07 31st Post
I was going to suggest that Eric got out more but then again he might monopolise the toilet in the caravan! :diggingahole:^_^



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Posted by Eric: Wed Mar 7th, 2018 17:27 32nd Post
jk wrote:
I was going to suggest that Eric got out more but then again he might monopolise the toilet in the caravan! :diggingahole:^_^
Well it wasn't me that suggested a heated toilet seat....it was a certain sarcastic lady.

But you reminded me that some years ago I DID use the caravan as a hide in my back garden. Wasn't necessary to use its bathroom...plenty of windows with seats already in place.:thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Mar 8th, 2018 04:42 33rd Post
Eric wrote:
Well the Fuji can deliver! Even with UK smallest bird...Goldcrest.

But the viewfinder freeze is still a pain. Fortunately this little fella was very understanding and didn't move far in his movements ...enabling me to catch up with him.

You must have found the only goldcrest that stays still. :lol:



Posted by Eric: Thu Mar 8th, 2018 13:39 34th Post
Iain wrote:
Eric wrote:
Well the Fuji can deliver! Even with UK smallest bird...Goldcrest.

But the viewfinder freeze is still a pain. Fortunately this little fella was very understanding and didn't move far in his movements ...enabling me to catch up with him.

You must have found the only goldcrest that stays still. :lol:

Superglue on the branches and diazepam impregnated fat balls.:thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Fri Mar 9th, 2018 11:18 35th Post
:lol::lol::lol:



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 11th, 2018 11:12 36th Post
We have plenty birds in our gargen but bird on a feeder is not very interesting!

Attachment: Chaffinch Mr & MrsS.jpg (Downloaded 20 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Sun Mar 11th, 2018 14:11 37th Post
Don't know Graham, the birds look pretty interested...



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Robert.



Posted by Eric: Mon Mar 12th, 2018 18:17 38th Post
Robert wrote:
Don't know Graham, the birds look pretty interested...
We put some more feeders up in the garden on Saturday. They seem to have scared all the birds away! :doh:

Not sure if I mentioned this already on the forum...can't find it posted....

During the snow period, I looked out on the lawn and saw what I thought was a rabbit lumbering around in the snow covered lawn. Went to get the binoculars....and it had gone. I noted the place where it was last stood and went out to look. It was 1am.

I saw this peculiar trail around the lawn....but it ended in untouched snow??? The 'rabbit' had evaporated.

Attachment: A967A268-4244-4E1B-8597-D6D9B874E897.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Mar 12th, 2018 18:41 39th Post
The wife's curiosity was roused, so she got up and had a peep through the curtains at 2am ....then dragged me from bed half asleep to take a look. For the next hour or more I struggled to acquire focus and capture a photo in near pitch darkness.

The culprit was a Wood**** foraging for worms under the snow, but it's movements were too much for my 1sec@f5.6 and 12800iso.









The wife was clearly more awake than me because she flicked on the security floodlights :doh:

The Wood**** froze ( well it was -8] long enough for 1sec...

Attachment: 70A72719-BF36-4FB5-9477-14EFA7A4F8A9.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Mar 12th, 2018 18:50 40th Post
We switched off the lights and he continued to forage.

Yes he did have success...but wouldn't stay still...shaking with his excitement, or maybe the cold.

I went back to bed ...well it was 3:45. :needsahug:

Attachment: C1C175A7-9CFF-4569-B3AF-05D8E521AE35.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Tue Mar 13th, 2018 11:40 41st Post
Nice to have one of them in the garden. I need to get down to Norfolk as there is not much up here.



Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 13th, 2018 13:48 42nd Post
Iain wrote:
Nice to have one of them in the garden. I need to get down to Norfolk as there is not much up here.
There were lots of reports of Wood**** coming into gardens during the bad weather and he was seen on two evenings. In hindsight, he had probably been hiding up in our 'woodland' border area during the day as it's very quiet. As soon as the temperature started to rise and the snow melted...we never saw him again.

At the moment we are trying to track down where the Snowy owl ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-43377572/harry-potter-arctic-snowy-owl-makes-rare-norfolk-visit ) has gone. Although it hit the headlines at Titchwell and Snettisham it was actually seen on the marsh areas just north of Kings Lynn some days earlier :sssshh:

We are hoping it back tracked.;-)



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 13th, 2018 15:28 43rd Post
Edit ...Snowie is in Nether Poppleton, NYorks now :needsahug:

But on a positive note it's heading your way Iain :thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by jk: Tue Mar 13th, 2018 15:33 44th Post
Quick Iain, get out there!



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Mar 16th, 2018 11:00 45th Post
Bit suprised at grain in this at only 1000ISO with D850 but light was poor and it needed pulling up post +1.5 stops? I hate to say it but think D500 may cope better with a shooting error of underxposure?

Attachment: Jackdaw155ND+S.jpg (Downloaded 37 times)



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Mar 16th, 2018 11:16 46th Post
Original pix as shot not one of my better ones but it was getting dark!

Attachment: _DSC0155.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Fri Mar 16th, 2018 17:42 47th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Bit suprised at grain in this at only 1000ISO with D850 but light was poor and it needed pulling up post +1.5 stops? I hate to say it but think D500 may cope better with a shooting error of underxposure?
Lovely image despite the exposure issue!

Was that the 400mm?



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 17th, 2018 05:40 48th Post
It was the 80-400mm plus the x1.4= 560mm Still very happy of this lens setup it is light enough to carry in to places that need a walk in and I can not fault sharpness.My 500mm F4 needs tripod and is not easy to use for flight pixs, so tend to use it if in a fixed hide.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 17th, 2018 19:08 49th Post
This is another with the 80-400mm AF-S with x1.4 this with the D500 in S France on the Rhone Delta.

Attachment: Herons3124.jpg (Downloaded 30 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 07:04 50th Post
This morning in snow at last got a bird in same place as Blackbird at start of this topic: Nikon D500 with 500mm AF-S f4 lens
This pix is about 30% of total fram so reasonable blow up
1600 ISO 1/1600sec f11 hand held out of window.

Attachment: Starling79.jpg (Downloaded 29 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 07:07 51st Post
Taken at same time but this Goldfinch was further away and smaller bird so this is about 20% of total frame size. Ligt slightly less. Still D500 with same 500mm lens 1600 ISO 1/1600 sec at f7.1

Attachment: Goldfinch94.jpg (Downloaded 29 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 13:08 52nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Bit suprised at grain in this at only 1000ISO with D850 but light was poor and it needed pulling up post +1.5 stops? I hate to say it but think D500 may cope better with a shooting error of underxposure? I'll keep my eyes and ears open. As it's heading north I might be lucky.



Posted by Iain: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 13:10 53rd Post
jk wrote:
Quick Iain, get out there!
It's heading north I might be lucky. ;-)



Posted by Iain: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 13:12 54th Post
3 posts!! Don't know how the first two happened. o.O



Posted by Eric: Sun Mar 18th, 2018 17:15 55th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
This morning in snow at last got a bird in same place as Blackbird at start of this topic: Nikon D500 with 500mm AF-S f4 lens
This pix is about 30% of total fram so reasonable blow up
1600 ISO 1/1600sec f11 hand held out of window.

Super image, Graham. :bowing:



____________________
Eric


Posted by jk: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 17:12 56th Post
The 500m f4 wins. The 80-400 is a tad behind.

BTW the 80-400 is apparently about to be discontinued in UK according to NikonRumours website. However it is still on Nikon Europe website.



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Posted by amazing50: Sun Mar 25th, 2018 01:08 57th Post
You can post a sampled down version here and link to a high res version on some other site.

This will give those trolls that steal our work higher quality material to resell.:sssshh:



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 25th, 2018 06:25 58th Post
You are so right but I've long given up bothering about people steling my images. How can you ever hope to control pirates in this high tec media world?
Let alone get paid for the damage they do, most do not even think they are breaking the copyright laws.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Sun Mar 25th, 2018 07:36 59th Post
Graham Whistler wrote: You are so right but I've long given up bothering about people steling my images. How can you ever hope to control pirates in this high tec media world?
Let alone get paid for the damage they do, most do not even think they are breaking the copyright laws.
I agree Graham.

What I do is to make sure the images are limited in size 75kb-250kb, 1024pixels.
Content is difficult though.



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Posted by amazing50: Sun Mar 25th, 2018 23:38 60th Post
Just won an auction for a 58mm Helios-44-2-for-M42-Zenit-Pentax-Praktica for $32 US. Another $5 for a 42mm to Nikon adapter with corrective optic.

Nothing like some fine old Soviet glass for the D850
:lol:



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace


Posted by amazing50: Sun Mar 25th, 2018 23:38 61st Post
Just won an auction for a 58mm Helios-44-2-for-M42-Zenit-Pentax-Praktica for $32 US. Another $5 for a 42mm to Nikon adapter with corrective optic.

Nothing like some fine old Soviet glass for the D850
:lol:



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Mar 26th, 2018 13:22 62nd Post
This is D850 with the 80-400 mm plus x1.4 at 550mm today on Farlington Marsh flock of over 200 Brent this at 1000 ISO 1/500 sec f10. Plenty of good detail in quite overcast light.

Attachment: Brent 0223.jpg (Downloaded 44 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by amazing50: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 00:37 63rd Post
They look like Canada Geese that landed in the Tar Sands.:'(



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace


Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 06:11 64th Post
No they are Brent and smaller than Canada.

Here is a family of Canada Geese in Tichfield Haven another of our local bird Reserves. Tech bit: Nikon D500 with Nikon VR 500mm F4 AF-S lens, 1/1600 sec at f9 500 ISO.

Attachment: Canada Geese 0166.jpg (Downloaded 38 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Robert: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 06:54 65th Post
Nice family snap! No obvious difference between the goose and the gander? Do I count seven gosling heads?

Obliging of them to stay in line to have their picture taken, certainly helps with the DoF.



____________________
Robert.



Posted by Eric: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 12:41 66th Post
Robert wrote:
Nice family snap! No obvious difference between the goose and the gander? Do I count seven gosling heads?

Obliging of them to stay in line to have their picture taken, certainly helps with the DoF.

Size:thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Robert: Wed Mar 28th, 2018 16:48 67th Post
Really? I thought plumage was the indicator!

One learns something every day. Just as long as the Geese know then I guess it don't matter!

o.O



____________________
Robert.



Posted by Eric: Thu Mar 29th, 2018 06:15 68th Post
Robert wrote:
Really? I thought plumage was the indicator!

One learns something every day. Just as long as the Geese know then I guess it don't matter!

o.O

Quite a few species of birds have the two sexes identical to all but the trained eye. For example the Goldfinch has red face markings that extend beyond the eye in males but stop at the eye in females. There may be such a tweak of nature in Canada geese that I am not aware of...but always thought the female was smaller. Most of the corvids are the same for both sexes with size being the only, or most obvious, differentiator.

And don't get me started on goosanders, mergansers and immature of each species, not to mention eclipse phases or individual bird variations .....a right buggers muddle. :lol:

Attachment: D8506012-81C2-434F-8A1A-CD0157856E7D.jpeg (Downloaded 32 times)



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 31st, 2018 06:52 69th Post
We all learn from each other, we have Goldfinches in garden but I have never noticed those difewrences! You must have been quite close to get that good detail, perhaps you shoulsd stick with you Fuji Camera! Happy Easter!!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Sun Apr 1st, 2018 05:32 70th Post
This is for Eric.
https://www.fujix-forum.com/threads/grand-slalom.79220/

It is all about the technique.
All images shot on XT2 with 100-400.
If you got the camera set up right and you know your stuff then it is easy. It is about getting the AF settings right.



____________________
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https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Eric: Sun Apr 1st, 2018 14:24 71st Post
jk wrote:
This is for Eric.
https://www.fujix-forum.com/threads/grand-slalom.79220/

It is all about the technique.
All images shot on XT2 with 100-400.
If you got the camera set up right and you know your stuff then it is easy. It is about getting the AF settings right.


No disrespect, as the images are very good, but shooting moving objects as big as a person are one thing....2" birds are another thing. THATS what I have found challenging the Fuji. But in fairness it was with the 1.4x tc on, as well.

I had similar success in horse eventing and motor racing with Nikon and would be happy to use the Fuji kit for that. I am sure the focus tracking modes will cope with that sort of movement ..and anticipating movement is much easier when the approximate course of the subject is known in advance. Sadly, not so predictable with small birds.

I've actually purchased a D500 and added a couple of lenses, one being the new 300mm. Although a little shorter than the Fuji 400mm, the Nikon combo is 800g lighter than the Fuji combo. Which sort of blows out of the water the lightweight benefit of mirrorless.

Have still got all the Fuji gear. Will be interesting to see if I miss any of its advantages... or disadvantages.

;-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by Eric: Sun Apr 1st, 2018 14:27 72nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
We all learn from each other, we have Goldfinches in garden but I have never noticed those difewrences! You must have been quite close to get that good detail, perhaps you shoulsd stick with you Fuji Camera! Happy Easter!!
Not my photos, Graham. Birds in the hand by ringer.:-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by jk: Sun Apr 1st, 2018 18:29 73rd Post
Well I am very happy with my D500 and 200-500 it is heavier than the Fuji XT2 and 100-400 but better for birds in flight.



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Posted by amazing50: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 01:33 74th Post
The 200-500 on a DX sensor is great for birds.



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 05:49 75th Post
Not my photos, Graham. Birds in the hand by ringer.
Eric thanks for that.
I too find small bird photography very hard to get focus perfect. I think the D500 is slightly better than the D850 at small moving birds, but both camreas have very good auto focus compared with all earlier Nikon DSLRs I have owned over the years.
The D500 with my big Nikon 500mm AF-S f4 lens works very well but needs to be on a good tripod with video fluid head tripod for best results. On the Kingfisher shoot with this set up in a hide for a day and taking nearly 500 pictures I had hardly any focus problems. Malcolm at same time was also using D500 but with Nikon 80-400 lens on tripod and also had very good ressults with auto focus.



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 07:15 76th Post
This morning Eric a male Goldfince (showing off my new gained info!!) Very poor light raining it is 30 feet away from our window. D850 with 80-400 Nikon lens at 400mm plus x1.4. Single point focus, 1/500 sec f8 3200 ISO.

Attachment: _DSC0263Goldfinch All.jpg (Downloaded 17 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 07:18 77th Post
Here is blow up bit grainy but not bad. No winner at camera club but proves how good D850 work in very poor conditions. Yes it is male!!

Attachment: _DSC0263 Goldfinch.jpg (Downloaded 19 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 13:37 78th Post
Eric wrote:
jk wrote:
This is for Eric.
https://www.fujix-forum.com/threads/grand-slalom.79220/

It is all about the technique.
All images shot on XT2 with 100-400.
If you got the camera set up right and you know your stuff then it is easy. It is about getting the AF settings right.




I've actually purchased a D500 and added a couple of lenses, one being the new 300mm. Although a little shorter than the Fuji 400mm, the Nikon combo is 800g lighter than the Fuji combo. Which sort of blows out of the water the lightweight benefit of mirrorless.

Have still got all the Fuji gear. Will be interesting to see if I miss any of its advantages... or disadvantages.

;-)
That lens handles the tc's well Eric.



Posted by Eric: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 17:10 79th Post
Iain wrote:
Eric wrote:
jk wrote:
This is for Eric.
https://www.fujix-forum.com/threads/grand-slalom.79220/

It is all about the technique.
All images shot on XT2 with 100-400.
If you got the camera set up right and you know your stuff then it is easy. It is about getting the AF settings right.




I've actually purchased a D500 and added a couple of lenses, one being the new 300mm. Although a little shorter than the Fuji 400mm, the Nikon combo is 800g lighter than the Fuji combo. Which sort of blows out of the water the lightweight benefit of mirrorless.

Have still got all the Fuji gear. Will be interesting to see if I miss any of its advantages... or disadvantages.

;-)
That lens handles the tc's well Eric.

Agreed...got the 1.4x as well;-)

I think the point is, that for lightweight walking around, serendipity wildlife photography, DX x 300 x 1.4tc ie 630mm is acceptable with some cropping. (By the way....D500+300+1.4 weighs 1800g.....XT2+400+1.4 weighs 2600g).

But for more exacting, sitting in a hide, using a tripod moments I suspect neither will be long enough. Better to reach rather than crop.



My previous experience using a 1.4x tc with zoom lenses resulted in a noticeable quality drift. Do we know if the tc is usable on the 200-500?


One final question.... is it normal to use 500+mm for bif? Just wondered how many of these type of shots are taken with lesser reach lenses and cropped?

Have to say using Fuji + 400 + 1.4tc (ie 840mm) was cumbersome and frustratingly difficult to keep in frame. It exacerbated the issues with the mirrorless format. I ended up taking off the tc (eg =600mm) and had more success.



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 2nd, 2018 19:08 80th Post
In my early postings reporting on tests I did with my then new 80-400mm plus the x1.4 with the D810 and later with D500, there was no loss of sharpness or speed of focus but there is a loss of 1 stop in speed.
The x1.4 works just as well with the big 500mm f4 lens. I think most early tele extenders were very poor but Nikon have got it right with this one, no complaints.



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Tue Apr 3rd, 2018 05:04 81st Post
I would say the 500mm is not the best for BIF I think your 300mm +tc would be easer to use being lighter Eric.



Posted by Robert: Tue Apr 3rd, 2018 06:16 82nd Post
What about an X2?

Loosing two stops compared with one isn't the end of the world with a D500... Or is it?

o.O



____________________
Robert.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Apr 3rd, 2018 07:02 83rd Post
As I said you only lose 1 stop with the new x1.4 Nikon this again today is with it + 80-400 at 400mm with the D850 is 560mm. Sorry only a Dunnock today but better light so this is 2500 ISO.

Attachment: _DSC0275 Dunnock.jpg (Downloaded 46 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Wed Apr 4th, 2018 14:57 84th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
As I said you only lose 1 stop with the new x1.4 Nikon this again today is with it + 80-400 at 400mm with the D850 is 560mm. Sorry only a Dunnock today but better light so this is 2500 ISO.
That's what you call a really nice LBJ......(little brown job). Virtually impossible to differentiate between sexes outside of breeding season but the the male has a bit more grey intensity.....and chases the other one. :lol:

I had two doing exactly that outside my window today....but far too excited to standstill long enough to get camera out.:thumbsdown:



____________________
Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Apr 5th, 2018 18:30 85th Post
This was a definitely a male, singing in the orchard, back in....2008 8-)

Scarey how time flies.

Attachment: A98F7ECA-752D-4051-A02C-36069B75704F.jpeg (Downloaded 39 times)



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Apr 6th, 2018 03:52 86th Post
Spent three hours on Farlington Marsh in hope waders may come in with rising tide but all I saw were there Redshanks. D850 with 400-80mm at 400mm plus x1.4, good light. No Brent Geese of two weeks ago must have moved up North as wind has at last moved back to SW.

This time next month will be in your part of world Eric so hope more birds on the Wash! In mean time getting in as much practice as I can with the long lenses and local birds.

Attachment: DSC0287 Redshanks.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 6th, 2018 10:24 87th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Spent three hours on Farlington Marsh in hope waders may come in with rising tide but all I saw were there Redshanks. D850 with 400-80mm at 400mm plus x1.4, good light. No Brent Geese of two weeks ago must have moved up North as wind has at last moved back to SW.

This time next month will be in your part of world Eric so hope more birds on the Wash! In mean time getting in as much practice as I can with the long lenses and local birds.

Up to our ears in Ring Ouzels here at the moment. These warm southerly are going to speed up migration over next few days....but got busy week next week so not going to be able to get out with camera. :needsahug:

Although a day behind, worth monitoring this site....

http://www.norfolkbirds.com/News.aspx



____________________
Eric


Posted by Iain: Sat Apr 7th, 2018 10:15 88th Post
Eric wrote:
Graham Whistler wrote:
As I said you only lose 1 stop with the new x1.4 Nikon this again today is with it + 80-400 at 400mm with the D850 is 560mm. Sorry only a Dunnock today but better light so this is 2500 ISO.
That's what you call a really nice LBJ......(little brown job). Virtually impossible to differentiate between sexes outside of breeding season but the the male has a bit more grey intensity.....and chases the other one. :lol:

I had two doing exactly that outside my window today....but far too excited to standstill long enough to get camera out.:thumbsdown:

Was it you or the birds that were to excited. :lol:



Posted by Iain: Sat Apr 7th, 2018 10:17 89th Post
Useful link Eric, thanks.



Posted by amazing50: Sat Apr 7th, 2018 10:35 90th Post
If a TC doesn't give a better image than a crop from the lense, it rather a waste. Considering the light loss meaning a slower shutter speed with a longer focal length has put me off using them in most cases.

One place I like a 1.4 TC is on my Samyang 8mm fish eye, where it gives a full frame DX image instead of the rounded normal view.



____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 04:17 91st Post
I have done tests with and with-out the Nikon TC x1.4 and can see no loss of image quality. The turning of a 400mm lens to a 560mm is a major advantage when photographing birds. The size, baulk and weight of the lens is also not changed too much.

With modern DSLRs with dramaticly improved ISO at higher settings the need to have an f4 large 500mm lens is no longer needed, when as a 77 yr old, I try to reduce what I carry when out on a walk in a bird reserve.

My big 500mm f4 comes out when I spend the day in a fixed location like a hide or can work from my car.There is no doubt that the image quality at wider f nos is better with the big lens. Stop down the 400-80mm a bit more and it also is pin sharp.

Than goodness long gone are the days of a Hasselblad and a 500mm f8 lens and 50 ISO transp film. Working like this in Africa in the 1970s bird photography was not easy. Here photographing white rhinos in Rhodesia with a Linhof 6x7 1970!!

Attachment: GW Rhinos 1970.jpg (Downloaded 29 times)



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 05:20 92nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I have done tests with and with-out the Nikon TC x1.4 and can see no loss of image quality. The turning of a 400mm lens to a 560mm is a major advantage when photographing birds. The size, baulk and weight of the lens is also not changed too much.

With modern DSLRs with dramaticly improved ISO at higher settings the need to have an f4 large 500mm lens is no longer needed, when as a 77 yr old, I try to reduce what I carry when out on a walk in a bird reserve.

My big 500mm f4 comes out when I spend the day in a fixed location like a hide or can work from my car.There is no doubt that the image quality at wider f nos is better with the big lens. Stop down the 400-80mm a bit more and it also is pin sharp.

Than goodness long gone are the days of a Hasselblad and a 500mm f8 lens and 50 ISO transp film. Working like this in Africa in the 1970s bird photography was not easy. Here photographing white rhinos in Rhodesia with a Linhof 6x7 1970!!

I am in admiration of your courage and envious of your flexibility to squat that low, let alone take photos in that position, Graham.:lol:

Time will only tell whether the convenient portability of the 300 with a 1.4 will be sufficient reach. But I am trying to stop carting large lenses around on the off chance something might pop out of a bush.

If my commitment to bird photography gathers momentum and I find myself more frequently sat in hides, then I may well invest in a longer heavier prime. But at the moment it's a peripheral interest for me that doesn't warrant high investment.



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 09:34 93rd Post
Not that brave I had been photographig them for a week with a game ranger keeping an eye on me. They are not as dangerous as Black Rhinos and they were more than happy with us being down wind.

Far more interesting is my progress with the D850 in very dull rain this morning very poor light, 80-400 at 400mm plus x1.4 this is about 1/2 the full frame. 1/650 sec f8 ISO 2600. (Is this all you need!!?)

Attachment: Woodpigeon 0333S.jpg (Downloaded 27 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 13:28 94th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Not that brave I had been photographig them for a week with a game ranger keeping an eye on me. They are not as dangerous as Black Rhinos and they were more than happy with us being down wind.

Far more interesting is my progress with the D850 in very dull rain this morning very poor light, 80-400 at 400mm plus x1.4 this is about 1/2 the full frame. 1/650 sec f8 ISO 2600. (Is this all you need!!?)

Many bird photographers still believe that the bird only needs to be 1/3 of the frame to ensure a good part of the habitat is part of the photograph. The fact you are able to attain such clarity from that crop suggests that, YES, it may well be enough.

So FX400 x 1.4 = 560mm, cropped 1/2 full size ....so 1020mm equiv.

DX270 x 1.4 = 567mm

So the question is....... if you had put the 80-400 with the 1.4x tc on the D500, set it to 270mm and done the same 1/2 crop, would the image have been as good?
;-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 18:55 95th Post
It was 35 feet from our back bedroom window and sorry ISO should read 2500. This would give a top quality A3+ print not bad with such high ISO and dull light. Exposure was spot on with matrix metering and focus on AF-C single point on head.



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 9th, 2018 12:05 96th Post
I have just added a lot more Nikon Bird pictures on my website all Nikon images is any body is interested:

http://www.gwpmultimedia.com/birds



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Mon Apr 9th, 2018 14:32 97th Post
Eric wrote:
Graham Whistler wrote:
Not that brave I had been photographig them for a week with a game ranger keeping an eye on me. They are not as dangerous as Black Rhinos and they were more than happy with us being down wind.

Far more interesting is my progress with the D850 in very dull rain this morning very poor light, 80-400 at 400mm plus x1.4 this is about 1/2 the full frame. 1/650 sec f8 ISO 2600. (Is this all you need!!?)

Many bird photographers still believe that the bird only needs to be 1/3 of the frame to ensure a good part of the habitat is part of the photograph. The fact you are able to attain such clarity from that crop suggests that, YES, it may well be enough.

So FX400 x 1.4 = 560mm, cropped 1/2 full size ....so 1020mm equiv.

DX270 x 1.4 = 567mm

So the question is....... if you had put the 80-400 with the 1.4x tc on the D500, set it to 270mm and done the same 1/2 crop, would the image have been as good?
;-)

Grasshopper feel the force. The paper in your wallet will not feed you!
:needsahug:

Get the 200-500 and be done with it.



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Eric: Mon Apr 9th, 2018 16:30 98th Post
jk wrote:
Eric wrote:
Graham Whistler wrote:
Not that brave I had been photographig them for a week with a game ranger keeping an eye on me. They are not as dangerous as Black Rhinos and they were more than happy with us being down wind.

Far more interesting is my progress with the D850 in very dull rain this morning very poor light, 80-400 at 400mm plus x1.4 this is about 1/2 the full frame. 1/650 sec f8 ISO 2600. (Is this all you need!!?)

Many bird photographers still believe that the bird only needs to be 1/3 of the frame to ensure a good part of the habitat is part of the photograph. The fact you are able to attain such clarity from that crop suggests that, YES, it may well be enough.

So FX400 x 1.4 = 560mm, cropped 1/2 full size ....so 1020mm equiv.

DX270 x 1.4 = 567mm

So the question is....... if you had put the 80-400 with the 1.4x tc on the D500, set it to 270mm and done the same 1/2 crop, would the image have been as good?
;-)

Grasshopper feel the force. The paper in your wallet will not feed you!
:needsahug:

Get the 200-500 and be done with it.
.

It's a possibility Jonathan, if I find the 300+1.4tc falls short of my needs.



____________________
Eric


Posted by jk: Mon Apr 9th, 2018 18:36 99th Post
I find that the flexibility of the zoom really wins.

200-500 is cheaper as well at £1150 versus £1170 for the older 300mm f4 or £1500 for the new version.
Dont forget that the D5, D850 and D500 have a minimum max aperture of f8 NOT f5.6 as was the case in the past.



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Eric: Tue Apr 10th, 2018 15:30 100th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I have just added a lot more Nikon Bird pictures on my website all Nikon images is any body is interested:

http://www.gwpmultimedia.com/birds

Some lovely images there Graham. I particularly like the cormorant...wonderful lighting, colour, composition and detail. May I ask what camera/ lens were used and how much cropping? :bowing:



____________________
Eric


Posted by Eric: Tue Apr 10th, 2018 15:42 101st Post
jk wrote:
I find that the flexibility of the zoom really wins.

200-500 is cheaper as well at £1150 versus £1170 for the older 300mm f4 or £1500 for the new version.
Dont forget that the D5, D850 and D500 have a minimum max aperture of f8 NOT f5.6 as was the case in the past.

It's not about money Jonathan, it's about weight and probability of use. The D500+300+1.4 weigh 800g less than the Fujixt2+100-400+1.4!

The 200-500 weighs 2300g compared to the 300 at 700g.

I want to travel light and suspect for most of my situations, the 300 with 1.4 on the D500 will be adequate. If I discover I need more reach on some occasions I may well get the 200-500...or what about an even longer lens for static tripod use....Sigma 800?
;-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Apr 10th, 2018 18:18 102nd Post
Eric the Cormorant was shot with Nikon D810 and my Nikon 400-80mm plus x1.4 pix blown up from 1/2 width of full frame. 1/500 sec f10 500 ISO. Tichfield Haven in our local reserve on River Meon.

Attachment: Cormorant2398.jpg (Downloaded 55 times)



____________________
Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Wed Apr 11th, 2018 13:35 103rd Post
Eric wrote:
jk wrote:
I find that the flexibility of the zoom really wins.

200-500 is cheaper as well at £1150 versus £1170 for the older 300mm f4 or £1500 for the new version.
Dont forget that the D5, D850 and D500 have a minimum max aperture of f8 NOT f5.6 as was the case in the past.

It's not about money Jonathan, it's about weight and probability of use. The D500+300+1.4 weigh 800g less than the Fujixt2+100-400+1.4!

The 200-500 weighs 2300g compared to the 300 at 700g.

I want to travel light and suspect for most of my situations, the 300 with 1.4 on the D500 will be adequate. If I discover I need more reach on some occasions I may well get the 200-500...or what about an even longer lens for static tripod use....Sigma 800?
;-)

Didnt realise there was such a disparity in weight. I dont find the D500+200-500 is that heavy a combo.



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Eric: Wed Apr 11th, 2018 17:39 104th Post
jk wrote:
Eric wrote:
jk wrote:
I find that the flexibility of the zoom really wins.

200-500 is cheaper as well at £1150 versus £1170 for the older 300mm f4 or £1500 for the new version.
Dont forget that the D5, D850 and D500 have a minimum max aperture of f8 NOT f5.6 as was the case in the past.

It's not about money Jonathan, it's about weight and probability of use. The D500+300+1.4 weigh 800g less than the Fujixt2+100-400+1.4!

The 200-500 weighs 2300g compared to the 300 at 700g.

I want to travel light and suspect for most of my situations, the 300 with 1.4 on the D500 will be adequate. If I discover I need more reach on some occasions I may well get the 200-500...or what about an even longer lens for static tripod use....Sigma 800?
;-)

Didnt realise there was such a disparity in weight. I dont find the D500+200-500 is that heavy a combo.

No it's not that heavy to use...it's just too heavy to carry around hoping to use it.;-)



____________________
Eric


Posted by Eric: Wed Apr 11th, 2018 17:42 105th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Eric the Cormorant was shot with Nikon D810 and my Nikon 400-80mm plus x1.4 pix blown up from 1/2 width of full frame. 1/500 sec f10 500 ISO. Tichfield Haven in our local reserve on River Meon.
Lovely shot. Amazed you managed to get it with the eye lid up. Every shot I took it had the waterproof cover in place....looked like 'blind bart'.:'(



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 02:24 106th Post
Had a good day yesterday at Blashford Lakes near Ringwood with photographer friend John. We saw plenty of small birds in the woods including this Brambling. D850 with 80-400 lens.

Attachment: _DSC0397 Brambling.jpg (Downloaded 43 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 16:11 107th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Had a good day yesterday at Blashford Lakes near Ringwood with photographer friend John. We saw plenty of small birds in the woods including this Brambling. D850 with 80-400 lens.
Very nice bird.
One of our favourite winter garden visitors. Unfortunately they are never in full 'Saracen helmet' plumage like this chap. You were lucky to see one in full 'bleeding prumage' that far south. They should be up north by now!
:bowing:



____________________
Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 17:49 108th Post
I reviewed yesterdays pix and felt I could inprove my settings still with the cD850 and 80-400 mm lens plus x1.4 I am posting several pixs. I have on average used 1000 ISO 1/800 sec but stopped don to F11 0r better in some so sharpness with better DOF on small birds.All single point focus CF. Most of these are only 30% of the full frame so I ask is the D850 all you need?

Attachment: Brambling0606A4+S.jpg (Downloaded 40 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 17:56 109th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
I reviewed yesterdays pix and felt I could inprove my settings still with the cD850 and 80-400 mm lens plus x1.4 I am posting several pixs. I have on average used 100 ISO 1/800 sec but stopped don to F11 0r better in some so sharpness with better DOF on small birds. Most of these are only 30% of the full frame so I ask is the D850 all you need?
I've read a number of reviews that suggest it is!o.O

The bigger question for me is whether a zoom telephoto is necessary? Given that every bird shot I've ever taken has had some degree of cropping it suggests I always have to use the maximum focal length available. I've often used a tc just to try to get close enough. So why lug the dead weight of the zoom around?

For me there is balance point between portability, price and reach.

The new 300mm is incredibly light and relatively inexpensive. If the proposed 600mm is similarly light and reasonable priced it may be the ideal combo with the D850?

o.O



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 18:08 110th Post
Another of todays pixs

Attachment: Brambling.jpg (Downloaded 40 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 18:09 111th Post
And another!

Attachment: Chaffinch.jpg (Downloaded 43 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Apr 19th, 2018 18:10 112th Post
Goldfinch.

Attachment: Goldfinch0473.jpg (Downloaded 40 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Apr 21st, 2018 05:53 113th Post
6.00am this Dunnock outside bedroom window woke me up so did a quick portrait through glass before it flew off! Tech details D850 again with same 80-400mm at 400mm bird less than 5 feet.
Yes Eric this is all you need but D500 not for sale quite jet yet!Eric I will be White Hart Hotel Boston photographing birds on the Wash 13-16 of next month, great if we could meet up for a day of bird photography?

Attachment: Dunnock0611.jpg (Downloaded 33 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Sat Apr 21st, 2018 11:18 114th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
6.00am this Dunnock outside bedroom window woke me up so did a quick portrait through glass before it flew off! Tech details D850 again with same 80-400mm at 400mm bird less than 5 feet.
Yes Eric this is all you need but D500 not for sale quite jet yet!Eric I will be White Hart Hotel Boston photographing birds on the Wash 13-16 of next month, great if we could meet up for a day of bird photography?

I am very impressed you sleep with the D850 by your side Graham. :lol:

Very interested at the prospect of a lightweight 600mm coming onto the market. I might well use that as the trigger to get a D850 to pair with it. Could be an ideal combo...provided the birds aren't only 5ft away.

My birdwatching friend and I have been planning to visit Frampton ever since you first mentioned it, but sorting out my deceased father's estate got in the way. His passing also somewhat sapped my enthusiasm for most things. I am emptying his house of furniture next week.

But It would be an ideal opportunity to combine the two events. I will give you a call nearer the time.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Apr 21st, 2018 12:35 115th Post
Eric all sounds good my dates are now firmly booked and Tom my very good birder cousin will be with me (he lives in S Repps)
This pix was taken at same session as above and it is I think some sort of Pipit but unable to find it in several bird books any idea? Is a ground feeder and was with the Bramblings and about same size. Shot as above D850 and 80-400mm AF-S.

Attachment: DSC0546.jpg (Downloaded 34 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Apr 21st, 2018 14:46 116th Post
Sorry it is a Dunnock!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Fri Apr 27th, 2018 10:24 117th Post
A Tree Sparrow D500 and sigma 150-600mm

Attachment: D50_4583-Edit.gif (Downloaded 20 times)



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Apr 27th, 2018 11:23 118th Post
No doubt these two cameras are outstanding, good pix! Fast spot on focus and low noise at high settings. I think the D850 has lower noise when pushed above 2600 ISO but there is not much in it.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Apr 27th, 2018 14:01 119th Post
Robin D850 big blow up 80-400mm AF-S plus x1.4 560mm ISO 1250 1/800 sec f11

Attachment: Robin522.jpg (Downloaded 19 times)



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sun Apr 29th, 2018 10:27 120th Post
For wildlife I think if you have either the D850 or D500 you will be happy.



Posted by jk: Sun Apr 29th, 2018 13:53 121st Post
Iain wrote:
For wildlife I think if you have either the D850 or D500 you will be happy. I agree. The D500 will give you more 'reach' than the D850, unless you want to use the D850 extra pixels to provide cropping.



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Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 30th, 2018 08:19 122nd Post
JK I agree but cropping with the same area gives better results with the D850 as I think noise is far better sorted compared with the D500 shot for shot.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by jk: Mon Apr 30th, 2018 15:46 123rd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
JK I agree but cropping with the same area gives better results with the D850 as I think noise is far better sorted compared with the D500 shot for shot.
It makes sense that this would be the case as the D850 costs more than the D500.



____________________
Still learning after all these years!
https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none


Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Nov 6th, 2018 09:42 124th Post
I think this pix I just posted on the new 500mm lens proves just that point here too. D850 with new 500mm plus x1.4 ISO 1600 1/500 sec at f8 (this is the f5.6 lens full open with the x1.4 on as you lose a stop)

Attachment: Starling2131.jpg (Downloaded 10 times)



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Graham Whistler

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