New Lens! Nikon 500mm PF. First impressions.
I took your advice and bought a new lens. The Nikon 500pf is exactly what you said it would be. I've only had it for about a week. I can't wait to spend more time with it.
Go check out Jeremy's channel.
/ jeremyneipp
#NikonZ6II #Nikon500mm #birdphotography
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F-Stop Backpack amzn.to/2Wykvuv
Drone DJI Air 2S amzn.to/3jnSwXJ
Nikon Z6II amzn.to/2SntkFK
Nikon Z6 amzn.to/3wy1IgC
K&F Concept Variable ND amzn.to/3gXMmf6
Wimberley gimbal amzn.to/3s2ABqE
Tripod Benro Mach 3 amzn.to/3uobYWE
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Rode video Mic Go. amzn.to/3gtkP5w
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People told you to buy the camera, so you did???? Probably not the best of reasons
No better place to get advice than to reach out to the thousands of viewers/photographers on this channel that have years of experience with gear that I may be interested in. Plus I follow many of the viewers/photographers on Instagram and other platforms, I've been out in the field with a lot of the guys that watch this channel. I trust them. So...Yes. people suggested I go for it and I did. Thanks for your concern.
I don't think that this was the only reason :)
this is you tube at its best. people with the same interests all over the world communicating with a shared love and helping each other out.
Indeed.
Congrats on the new gear, Josh! And looking forward to seeing your experience with flying birds using a Z9! Hopefully, it'll help you never miss a shot again!
I think someone once said, “there’s no free lunch”…never a truer phrase when it comes to photography. However, that one-stop loss of light I think is an acceptable trade-off for what the 500 mm PF otherwise gives us. I recently added one too and have been thrilled with it in my limited shooting with it so far. Congrats on adding to your kit. Methinks you’re gonna have some fun when that Z9 arrives. Thanks as always, Josh.
Thanks Marcus. Now if I could just get more time out in the field. Have a great weekend.
WoW congrats on the new purchases! Really happy for you and looking forward to seeing what you do with them!
Congrats Josh, That new combo will be excellent. Looking forward to seeing them in action.
Congratulations- I’m so happy you made the decision to get the z9 - excited to watch you use it!
What a great lens for bird photographers!! Getting that lens changed my photography for sure. Can’t wait to see your results!
Wow Congrats looking forward to more great images !!
Thanks so much!
Nice! Good luck with the new gear. Have fun and come back with your oppinions.
Congratulations on the purchase of the 500PF and excited to see your review of the Z9 when you get it.
Congrats on the new purchases. I'm really looking forward to seeing your results with the z9. I think your going to love the mobility that the nikon 500 pf will give you. I don't own one yet, but want one! 🙂. I use the tamron 150-600 G2 and love stalking wildlife. Getting really close and getting the shot gives me a buzz. Great video as always 👍
Awesome! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the move, lens and Z9, wooo hoo!!!
Thanks as always. I sure do appreciate it.
Awesome glad you like it.
Awesome Josh, congrats on the Z9... exciting stuff and can't wait for the phone call from the store for both of us!
A 5-minute commute is the greatest gift you can give yourself ever. Congrats! I am very much looking forward to your Z9 videos. I suspect you'll love it. And thanks for your comments on the 500mm PF, and thanks for putting the slowish max aperture of the lens in some context. And great photos!
really loving the close proximity to work. Game changer.
Looking forward to watching this and hearing your impressions! I love my 500pf!
the first few shots were soooo good. I think I am going to love it.
@@BayouJosh it’s surprisingly impressive !
Congrats on the new lens and new camera body. Like you I took the plunge on both lens and body. Great review. With these new systems, you can make up for that lost stop of light in post-processing. Keep up the great content.
Indeed. I a very happy thus far. this weekend i'll get to spend some more time with it.
So glad to hear you took the plunge and ordered up the Z9- It's going to pair up beautifully with that 500PF. I look forward to comparing notes whenever my Z9 finally arrives in my hands. As for that PF, I'm sure your shoulders and back are thanking you for the purchase. I look forward to your upcoming videos with the new gear. Take care, Josh!
thanks Kevin. fun times.
Hello Josh, congrats for the Z9 and the 500PF. You will love this combo! Thank you for your videos, they are inspiring. Take care and be safe. Best regards Johannes
thanks Johannes. have a great weekend.
Congratulations
Congrats on the new stuff! Love the new “office” setup too! Looks good! ☺️🙌🏻
Thanks brother. I can't wait for our trip!
@@BayouJosh It's gonna be exciting! Thanks for the shoutout!
Congratulations on your purchases. I have also ordered the z9 which will be my first flagship camera. Certainly looking forward to it and moving into the mirrorless environment. Really enjoy your videos as they have a "down to earth approach". Thanks and Cheers fro Australia.
thank you Tony. I am exited to get it.
Congratulations in your decision... Look forward to seeing you with your new Z9.
Thank you! exciting times.
Always enjoy your videos :-) I have the 500PF also and love it :-)
Yay, I am so happy for you! I cannot wait to see your pretty images and videos with the new lens and the z9. You deserve to have the best to match your awesome photography. Oh yes, a 5 minute commute over a 35 minute commute! Happy for ya!
I don’t know if I deserve anything but definitely excited to test things out. 😃
@@BayouJosh you do deserve it! Talent deserves the best equipment to achieve higher highs. Bring on the highs!
absolutly brilliant choice, I am sure you will love the combo :)
Loving it so far.
I have been using this since last year with D850 and its just amazing light weight everything you need for a walk around combo , looking forward to get my Z9 :)
Congrats on your new “toys”. Love my 500pf! Sharp with a 1.4tc in good light as well … Always enjoy your videos.
Right on!
Ive wanted that lens for a while now. I’m so happy for you that your gonna get that camera!!!!
Wow Josh, huge congratulations. am excited as just as u are buddy
thank you my friend.
Another great Video Josh. funny you did this after recommending this lens to me. glad you did at least makes it easier to know what it's like. Thanks Again and keep it up
Getting a Nikon z9 will have another advantage... An awesome creator like yourself will share his experience with us... Helping us with our decisions as well... Stay blessed...
You got some really nice images with your 500pf. As others have commented on I also am looking forward to see how you get on with the Z9, hope you don't have too long to wait for it.
Can't wait to see your next video with the nikon z9
Been shooting this lens for two years now. Absolutely love it. It pairs excellently with Z bodies. I was looking at a 500 f4 (not the FL version) the other day but the idea of a lens that weighs three times as much is not appealing. So I'm keeping the PF and going for the z9 with the idea of a compact high powered package.
Yeah man. I am with you. I am curious as to how much I will use my 600f/4 now.
@@BayouJosh Just my 2 cents but with the higher megapixel body you will need that F4 more than with the Z6. The tighter pixel pitch will give you noise issues which get magnified when you crop. I have an A9 and A7R4, the A9 can cleanly go to 6400 which helps with the fast shutter speeds, the A7R4 I wont shoot over 1600. The Z9 may be clean to 2000 but I will bet at 3200 when you crop an image you will see it. You can run Topaz(robs a little sharpness) which helps but the Z6 and F4 will still have a big advantage
Really? it will work with the Z9 ok great!
@@longrider9551 Or you could just put the Z9 into crop mode, giving app 21 m pixels at 750mm with the 500pf when in low light situations , yes there is an initial greater expence with a higher megapixel camera but you end up esentially with 2 cameras in one.
@@stephentaylor6328 Yes, that is true but it still doesn't change the fact that you comparing a 5.6 verse and F4 lens and losing that stop alight. Maybe critical if you're shooting early in the morning or late in the afternoon. In those situations the z6 will give you a cleaner file because of the pixel pitch. When you try to shoot in bad light with a crop camera or a high megapixel full frame camera, the noise can get magnified really badly there is a website called photons to photos and the fella is a Harvard professor. He analyzes just about every camera for noise levels first ISO. It's a very good reference to it
Great shots of the small birds.
thanks James. much appreciated.
Hi Josh, This video just popped up in my "Recommended to watch" list. Been so long since i saw one of your videos. I used to really enjoy your videos on bird photography. I hope you and your wife are both well and it would be great to see you back here on KZhead.
Stumbled on your channel Josh live your style .. many thanks
the canon 100-500mm changed my life!
Congrats for the new gear upgrade👍
thank you my friend.
Can't wait to see Z9 in your hands! :)
Looking forward to your impressions on the Z9!
Me too. 😆
Great lens. I use it on my D850. Love the freedom of handholding everywhere. Have fun. PS. You’re absolutely right about the limitations at max 5.6. It can struggle in early morning, late evening light.
Ahhh good for you! So glad you went with the Z9 and the 500mm lens. Well deserved.
Thanks Daniel. I’m not sure I deserve anything but it’s nice to be able to get it.
@@BayouJosh you deserve it if you believe you do. The way I see it, you seem to be a hard working person who will do what it takes to provide for the family. Achieving that is worth more than its weight in gold. You definitely do deserve it. Keep up the great work good sir.
That 500 pf on the Z6II is my favorite setup right now. Also looking forward to the Z400 2.8 and the Z9.
I love my 500pf. My favorite lens currently . You can handhold it and hike for miles. It Works well with the 1.4 iii teleconverter also. I also have the 300pf and it is excellent too. Enjoy your new kit!
Thank you for confirming what I have been thinking about this lens. I will be buying one soon to go with my pre-ordered Z9.
Glad I could help!
Bro i am super excited for you. Ive always said upgrade only when you're being limited. I hope the unpacking goes well and the new home is a blessing. Cheers, man.
Thanks Kevin! We’re excited to be closer to town.
@@BayouJosh yeah that is definitely helpful in commuting. The less you're traveling for work and more you're home with family and.....birds....the better. 😃
I have a Nikon 500mm f 4 G lens that weighs 8.6 POUNDS. It is super sharp with unbelievably good contrast for little warblers. I use it exclusively during spring migration when I am mostly shooting from my truck window or on a tripod in a blind. I also have an 80-400 f4.5/5.6 lens that I use for EVERYTHING else. It is so handy and so versatile. I'll be 80 years old in a couple of months and I can't walk around with a monster lens, regardless of it's qualities and advantages. But I can walk around quite well and shoot handheld with the 80-400. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far and the image quality is quite good for flowers, birds and insects.
8.6 lbs?? Holy smokes
You won’t regret with the 500 MM PF lens .. it has incredible image quality. D500/D850 with this lens is super awesome combo for wildlife .. and now with Z9 it will be out of the park. Congratulations 🎉🍾
great lens, happy photos
Many thanks!
I have had this lens since its introduction and it is by far my favorite lens. Now get yourself a Black Rapid strap, really great for this camera. Makes this a great walk in the wood lens.
Hey Josh, I always enjoy the calm pace of your videos. I'm not a fan of 'review' or 'unboxing' vids, but when I'm at that point of deliberating whether or not to splash out on a new camera or lens, I invariably find yourself watching as many as possible! I've been using the 200-500 on my D500 for a few years now, and I've been mostly very happy with it. But I'm getting itchy for the 500pf. Anyway, after watching a number of review videos from all of those I trust most in these instances (Steve Perry, Mark Smith and yourself), I reckon you've helped me decide. Thanks!
Josh super happy that you bought the 500 pf lens ! Great video....and music! I use the same camera and lens setup plus the 300 pf f4. Congratulations!
I love it! thank you Axel
It's certainly on my list down the road.
It's a good one brother. You can use this one on our trip.
The 500pf is a great choice. Using the same with the z6ii. And congratulations on the decision to get the Z9. This will help me a lot once I get mine 😁. Looking forward to your videos and especially images with it!
Awesome, thank you!
Enjoy the 500mm PF - it's a great lens - look forward to seeing the Z9 in your hands!
I've had this lens since the end of 2018. Amazing lens. My only gripe is that you get odd flaring if you shoot at certain angles into direct sunlight. I feel like it's a condition related to the PF design as it also occurs with the 300pf.
Done Well. I hope the Z 500 PF comes soon
Congrats Josh to the new gear and enjoy when you get them :) Ronny
Great to hear that you pre-ordered the Z9 and got a lighter lens. Hope and trust you’ll enjoy them. I just got my first monopod gimbal combo this week. Today I left it in the trunk just to find I really needed it😏
that's the way it works right?
I own this lens and it is awesome piece of equipment. Packed it already few times to my carry on lugage. It is also great option if you want to use portable hide and you have lot of gear to transport for a longer time in the difficult terrain. I'm sure you will love it!
I am excited to have it in my arsenal.
Glad to hear you bought the lens. I have been shooting with it since it came out. The light weight and maneuverability really allow for more opportunities out in the field. The extra stop is not a hinderance with modern high end bodies, in fact I use it almost exclusively with the the 1.4x TC.....shooting F8...! The autofocus still locks in fast and reliably. Looking forward to marrying it up with the Z9.....mine is on order as well. Have fun out there....!
that is awesome to hear. It is built well and I am sure I will get many years of enjoyment out of it.
Yup!! You'll love Josh!!!
thanks Paul. I am sure I will.
I’m ordering the Z9 too! Can’t wait!! I have the 500pf and 600 f/4 e. I currently shoot with the D850 body and the 500pf more because of flexibility. I’m surprised you made the change but since you sold the home that extra cash had to go somewhere!! LOL! Glad you’ did it!! Awesome!!
Love your setup , light , compact, great IQ, still using d500 with 200 500 , would like to upgrade some day
Go for it!
Glad to see that you worked out your needs! I have shot Canon my whole pro life since 1983 and always had the Series 1 cameras but when we went digital , I have never even used full frame because I always had the same thought processes that you had in the last video, in that , what I had (APSC) works for me! The Z9 is the first full frame mirrorless camera that rocks my boat, so I am waiting for mine to arrive anytime! To ease the wait I have bought the f2.8 holy trinity and 105 macro!😎
that is going to be a fantastic kit.
If I enjoy using it, that coming 400 2.8 with extender has my name on it! This is the advantage of not submitting to GAS all these years, I have saved up for my dream kit that never came until now!😂
congratulations, this is a great lens. I use it on my nikon d500. i love it. you are going to enjoy it for the great quality and the freedom of mooving around with it.
Thank you my friend. I can’t wait to spend some more time with it.
I bought a 500PF not long ago, and I love it. I use it a lot with a monopod and Wimberley Sidekick. You mentioned shooting at 1/100s in low light. Don't forget that you now have a fantastic VR system that was not on your 600F4. I've also had good experience using a 1.4x teleconverter on the Z6 II.
I noticed the VR capabilities immediately. Yes!
Wow, Josh! Splurging, huh? A new house, Z9, and 500 PF. I pre-ordered the Z9 as well. I have the Z6 II and Z7 II. I believe, the Z9 is what all Nikon shooters are waiting for a Nikon mirrorless. Looking forward to the next generation of non-flagship Nikon mirrorless so that enthusiasts and prosumers with no deep pockets could experience most of the Z9 tech. Cheers!
Yeah, a little crazy. I had to get closer to work and I couldn't pass on the opportunity to sell our other house. 😀
You ll love the new flagship feeels and the z9 will blow u away. Z9 and DX mode combo
I have a 600/4 which i use on a tripod. I also have the 200-500 /5.6 and the 500/5'6 PF and as you found these lens are the perfect "Walk around Lens" I especially like them when I walk on the beaches. I live on Long Island NY so I do a lot of my shooting at the beach.
I'm already looking forward to your 800mm f6.3 PF video :)
Me too. 😄
You've such a cool vibe and your photos are super sharp and beautiful. Love it. Got yourself a new sub. :)
Thank you my friend. I sure do appreciate it.
Congratulations Josh! Looking forward to seeing how this decision affects your future content!
Love the 500 pf great walk around set up, just watch the tripod foot some have had problems with foot coming adrift while carrying it by the foot with camera and lens ending up on the floor, changed mine for a Wimberley , no problem with it. Hope we will see you use the 105 z mc. Great channel thanks Josh
Great advice Terry. I’ve seen those concerns and I put the biscuits on that thing when I tightened it down. That’s country for a really tight.
i bought that lens when it first came out 2 years ago, and love it ....the compact size, and sharpness were the selling point for me
You better check your invoice. It's already been three years! :D Late 2018 was possible to (pre)order, but the availabilty was bad and getting one of these lenses was like winning in lottery. :)
@@Wild_Ekin ordered it when it was first released, it took about 9 months for me to get it in my hands
Nice one! The 500mm PF lens is an absolute beauty - I love the fact that I can just take mine anywhere :)
It really is!
Congrats on the new lens and on the decision to go ahead and order the Z9. I have thought about getting the 500mm PF numerous times to replace my 400mm f2.8 but always come back to the reason I bought the 400mm in the first place, shooting at dusk. When shooting with my 150-600 f6.3 I missed a lot of shots when birds were coming in to roost just after sunset. With the faster lens I can capture them almost to dark with the f2.8 prime. It is a hassle to haul around though and best suited for blind shooting rather than carrying around on hikes. Enjoy the new lens, and hopefully we will all see our Z9 orders come in soon!
so true Todd. There is no replacement for fast glass.
Every single person that has bought the Canon 600 or 800 f11 disagrees with you. They, Toneh and Lady Toneh says your a fool for spending the extra coin on your short reach f2.8 GAS lens. LMAO. I am not one of them.
@@free-qe6wx hmmm, it really depends on what you are shooting, for some light is not as important as for others. F11 is pretty stopped down.
@@Interbeing_CDN I am sure the Canon 600 and 800 f11 are great for landscapes at noon in full sun.
I continue to be amazed at the image quality of the Z lenses.
I'm considering this lens and a z5 or z6. But I have to smile when I see the size of it and you say how much it weighs. I'm used to lugging my heavy gx9 and 100-300mm about. That 2lbs of kit really puts my back out 😄
Hi from the UK. Great lens you'll love it, using mine with the d500 and Z50 for a couple of years! Watch the tripod foot, mine came loose, luckily I noticed it and screwed the 4 very small screws up tight again. If you remove the foot you'll see them. I know other people including Steve Perry who have had the same issue! That apart it's a belter!! Cheers David
thanks for the heads up David. I ordered a replacement foot just for that reason.
Excited for you Josh and look forward to seeing more on both the 500mm and the Z9. My go to set up is the R5 with the Canon 100-400 L version 2. I love the flexibility of a compact set up and it looks like you're going in that direction. I use a Lucky Camera Strap that mounts to the camera with the left side camera loop and an arc plate that has a loop for a strap and it positions the camera at my hip like a six shooter. Extremely comfortable to hike with and my camera is always at the ready for those unexpected moments. Take care and look forward to some more adventures.
thanks Jim. I have seen those Lucky straps. I may need to try one out.
@@BayouJosh I ordered one from Australia on a Saturday and had it Wednesday. Crazy!
Jim - I do a similar setup with a Blackrapid side sling for my Sony 200-600. Lets me handhold while out shooting birds. I will use a tripod on occasion, but just prefer the freedom on handheld
@@LeeDillion Hi Lee, I think the only time I use a tripod is if I'm shooting landscape and need to extend shutter time. Just watching guys carrying big lenses and tripods makes my back ache :) Wishing you good light and abundant birds!
nice lens!
Over the past few years my standard set-up has been the 600+TC on the tripod over my shoulder, and a second camera + 500PF on a black rapid strap. It's nice because you can walk away from your tripod without removing your camera when you see something else happening and still have a lot of reach.
You are the 10th person that mentioned the rapid strep. I need to grab one of those.
@@BayouJosh 3 days after I received my D6 it fell off the black rapid strap and had to be repaired. For the record, it still worked fine, but the upper panel had cracked. I was not using the safety tether like I should have. Moral of the story - use the safety tether if you get a black rapid strap.
I have this lens and love it. It’s my go to lens
I have a feeling it’s going to get a lot of action.
@@BayouJosh I also hight recommend the 300 PF
Portability has a quality all its own. Given the high ISO performance of the Z9 and Z6II cameras I think you made a good choice that will help compensate for the loss of the f-stop. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of your new gear when you've had a chance to use it for awhile.
I’m excited to be able to test things out. You were absolutely right. Portability definitely has a huge value.
Woohoo...nothing like new gear to get your shooting juices goin! I had the Canon 400 5.6 on a 7D2 and it was a great combo. Still is! I think I subscribe to Jeremy's channel...if I do not I will.
You made me super happy to see that I am ok getting the same lens and wait for Z9 to pop up at my dealer place ti get one. This will be the tru XMas
Hope you enjoy it!
I can hike all day with my D500 paired with the 500 PF lens. I also own the 300 f/4 PF which is even lighter and able to capture subjects in lower light situations. But the 500 PF is the best option for photographing smaller birds.
Loving it thus far. I just need more time off. 😃
Good for you! I’m envious. Also, I’d like to know more about the monopod and fluid head, especially after you have had a chance to shoot with it.
I hope your an NPS member and you ordered it priority, otherwise I doubt you’ll see the Z9 this year. Congrats on the kit upgrades, looking forward to the content.
Congratulations on the 500PF, I've had one for about two years now. Absolutely love it. Amazing image quality. The only issue with the copy that I have is that dang cheaply made lens hood. So hard to twist off it's frustrating. Other folks I know who have it, their's works fine. First world problem I know. The 500PF saved the day for me on a recent trip to Grand teton National Park when my tripod leg twist lock broke. I can't handhold my 600mm f/4 long enough to make properly exposed images... basically it's a spay and pray situation. Enjoy your knew kit!
gotta love equipment failures while on expedition.
Love the Nikon 500 Pf on the 850 and Z7ii…. Love Nikon , love the lenses portability!!! Sharp glass , sharp cameras ! Love Nikon ❤️❤️
I love this lens ! I have it on my D850, perfect combo !
It really is!
@@BayouJosh I look forward to your videos with that lens and the Z9, magic in the making.. but no pressure 😉
Congrats on your new house and yes getting dark at 16:30 it's a bummer 😪
Can't wait to see what you can do with the Z9.
exciting times.
I used the older manual 150 - 600 mm nikon with my nikon camera d800 and the results are verey good. Thanks for u chanal.hope u are doing well with very good nikon lens.
Thank you my friend
Looks a great wildlife lens. When I am shooting wildlife video I always use a tripod for stable footage, so much more smoother looking at those longer focal lengths. It means I have to hulk it around and sometimes I am a bit clumsy and slow to react to dynamic situations but it pays off when you get rock steady footage 😁
so true.
Hey Josh glad to see you picked up the Nikon 500 mm PF. I just want to warn you about the sensitivity of the tripod mount release on the tripod mount. I items 26, 27, and 28 in the user’s information document. I do not use a camera strap and have been caring my cameras using the tripod collar mount on the 500. The third day after receiving my Z9, I was out testing it with a 2X teleconverter mounted to my 500 using an FTX II adapter. I was carrying my camera and lens by the tripod collar, because I was using the 2X teleconverter the additional length and/or weight caused an imbalance, which caused my hand to make contact with the tripod release which resulted in the both camera and body hitting the ground. Broke the FTZ II adapter but camera, lens, and teleconverter seem to have survived. Good luck I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing your adventures.
Thank you for the warning. I replaced the foot within a week with the wimberly model.
Good choice with 500mm PF. I own it for more than 2 years now and I love to take it with me all the time I go for "hunt". I wish they do more PF lenses in the future. Nikkor 800mm f6.3 PF was announced, hope they will come with 500mm f4 PF or 600 as well. Love the size and weight, still with the great optical performance.
Indeed. I know Nikon patented. that design which leads me to believe they plan on implementing it more and more.