Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 and the Z50: Bird photography @Steve Perry
#nikon #z50 #nikonnature #wildlife #longlens #200500mm #birds
Sample pictures and lessons learned from shooting birds with the Z50 in combination with the Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 lens. Cropping, fuzzy pictures, AF system effectiveness and struggling switching AF setup fast.
Affiliate link to Nikon Z50 on Amazon:
amzn.to/3BiyJSk
Table of content:
0:00 Introduction
1:55 Still cropping at 750mm FF Eq?
2:59 Birdfeeder vs natural environment
4:26 AF examples
6:20 AF setup struggle
9:44 Pictures as paintings?
11:20 AF setup frustration
13:10 Wrap-up
Link to video from Tech Gear Talk about the Nikon Z50:
• Nikon Z50 | Watch Befo...
** Notice: In the video under the chapter "AF setup frustration", I say that U1 and U2 cannot save focus mode. It can! - please follow the card in the video to go to the video where I correct this mistake. **
Great video, and a true gentleman! Also, I liked your analysis of the heat distortion which I hace alwasy wondered about its effect on a long focal length. Keep it up and I wish you much blessings for the great values you presented.
Thank you for your kind words Karios - will do my best!
Great video. Well done. I think the Z50 does pretty well for bird photography. I made a video with some examples on my channel.
Thank you Richard - will take a look!
Thanks 🙏
Thank you! Much appreciated! Take care!
Enjoy listening to your sharing of your work. I’ve been photographing for many decades, but nature and wildlife is still a challenge. Like you, I admire Steve Perry’s work. Another remarkable wildlife photographer that should be included is Mark Smith; his work has to be seen to believe. I am your new subscriber👍👍😊 from BC, Canada
Thank you Philip for your kind words - much appreciated! And welcome to the channel! Found Mark Smith on KZhead - have sub'ed! Thank you very much for the tip! All the best!
frederikboving, guess what? I came back to double check on your comments about the lens and noticed that I had not hit on the subscribe button. When you’re 72 these things tend to happen quite frequently🤪
@@psoon04286 Ha-ha! Well, glad you found the subscribe button Philip and welcome to this channel :-D
Besides Steve Perry and Mark Smith which are excellent photographer's. Check out Duade Paton and Steve Mattheis excellent wildlife photographer's
@@cesarm8811 Thank you for sharing Cesar!
Great video!
Thanks!
For bird flighting photography, second hand D500 9:54 9:54 vs new Z50, what is your choice suggestion? TKS!
It depends on your requirements to the AF. In my opinion the DSLR's still have the best Af systems as they have been developed over many years. It is getting better and the Z9 probably is at par with the DSLR's, but I think it will take some years before the improvements have trickled down to the more affordable ML cameras. So the safe bet, if fast and precise AF is key, is the D500 IMHO.
Black rapide have an arca quick release plate with a built in ring for the strap carabiner. They also have a replacement screw for use with other plates. Both these will allow you to use the strap in combination with your monopod.
Thank you Nina! Maybe a stupid question but won't I then need to take the blackrappid strap on/off the screw every time I remove/mount the camera on the monopod?
Yes, you need to unclip the strap. But the tripod screw stays in place, the hook folds into the QR plate. The blackrapid part is FR-T1. I also run a tether strap from the camera lug to the strap - in case the screw fails!
Got it! Thank you 🙏🏻
yes! I like your ‘bird in a natural environment’-approach. Then photography means looking closer and longer at reality instead of creating a fake of at least forced reality. I’m with your romantic approach, but I’m aware that the word ‘image’ has several layers of meaning, of which none seems to mean ‘reality’. Thought provoking video.
Thank you Tom! "Romantic approach" - I like that wording, so thank you! Many famous photographs are actually staged or manipulated, so I guess there is no need to keep the romantic standards high in pursuit of a great image :-D I just feel like it is cheating to have a bird specific setup in your backyard so you can sit with your smartphone and operate the camera sitting on a tripod and pointing towards the setup, while the shade of the trees keep you and your chardonnay out of harms way in terms of the sunlight. It is too easy!!! :-D
7:55 I actually like the blurred out bird flying over the water. In focus would be ok too.
Thank you Donovan!
Excellent video once again. I would say you have at least two keepers of the bird pictures you have shot. In these two pictures you had good light from behind. It's all about circumstances hard to control. I would switch to manual focus, use smaller apertures and higher ISO. In that way you can prepare yourself beforehand. Providing you still have good manual focus on this lens and of course use your D4.
Thank you for sharing Je Bo! I have especially taken notice of the manual focus suggestion; will give that a try! All the best!
@@frederikboving These autofocus problems can be really annoying but you are having great results.
@@frederikboving about birds and gear interesting to watch. ISO etc.
Hi Frederik, thank you so much for making this video. I love your channel and always love your videos. Especially the ones dedicated to the supremely magical D700. I use a D7200 + 200-500mm for my bird photography but have been wanting a mirrorless option for the lens. However, I really prefer the DSLR image quality so much more. For example, I was previously using my D700 for bird photography but, despite the image quality, felt like I didn't have the resolution I wanted for cropping. Have you come across any Nikon options that has the higher megapixels but at the same time has the magic of the D700?
Hi Mizanur and thank you for your kind words! And a great question! I am not a camera engineer, but my understanding is that the reason why the D700 is such an amazing camera is exactly because the resolution is relatively low at 12MP. The camera's image sensors are "big and fat" and take in a lot of light to determine exactly the brightness and color of the light hitting a given area on the sensor. This setup makes the sensor able to read the light very precisely and hence especially the micro contrast of the images is lifted to a high level. It is a feature of the large sensor (FF) and the low resolution (12MP). It would probably have been even better had it been a Medium format sensor with 8MP, provided the pixel sensors had grown even larger! So when you go up in resolution then you also lose exactly what makes the D700 unique. And that is probably why there has never been a camera like the D700, as the camera vendors ventured into a battle of "the more MP the better", because a convincing spec sheet is what sells cameras relative to the competition, unfortunately. Your D7200 is another classic and legendary camera. I have seen so many photographers praise that camera that I have lost count. The only camera that is up there is the D500 where the AF system is reported to be amazing. I have neither the D7200 nor the D500, but I have read enough reviews and blogs to allow myself to draw this conclusion from second hand information. So I am sorry to say that the D700 and the D7200 are probably some of the best DSLR cameras you can get. For bird photography my only recommendation would be to rent a D500 and see if the AF system works magic for you. Otherwise I would stay with the D700 and the D7200 and maybe instead spend the money on a travel to a far away location with lots of colorful birds that are different from where you live! I'm sorry that this answer does not qualify for a relief of GAS, but it is my honest opinion! All the best!
Hi Frederik, great pic with the oyster catcher. And I liked your creative approach to heat distortion :-) Re the AF modes: on my z5, you can assign modes to the function buttons, i.e. if you press the function button, and rotate the front or back rotating button (forgot the proper English word, apologies) you can quikcly switch between focus modes and or focus areas. I guess the z50 will have a similar setup. Go to custom settings menu, controls, custom controls, fn1 or fn2 - > Focud mode/AF-area mode. Hope this helps.
Hi Jacob, Thanks for your suggestion regarding the function buttons - unfortunately I have f1/f2 set up as you suggested but it is still 2 buttons I have to push and 1+2 command dials I have to turn to make the change happen. Would be nice with a u1/u2 button to address this, at least when it comes so cameras designated to wildlife photography 🤗
@@frederikboving maybe I was unclear : choose either fn1 or fn2: push that one button, and then select af area and af mode with front and back dial. If you want only one dial + fn button, go back button focus and only use fn + dial for af-area selection.
@@jacobjurg3746 Jacob, thanks, no you were very clear and I get it! My point it is simply that it would be nice with a dedicated butting to change drive, af area and focus mode all at once. But it is of course a very specialized wish I have 🤗
@@frederikboving If I might add. I love me Z50 along with my Z6ii. I believe they behave the same as far as setting the Fn1/2 buttons. I think if you give it some practice it is not that big of a deal. The Z50 AF is not as good as the Full frames but I think if you pair it with native Z glass it will be faster and of course sharper than the F glass.
@@Ben_Stewart Thank you SOB, I actually made this video as a follow up to the first video to correct my mistake: kzhead.info/sun/Y9OKoNGEhnVrZHA/bejne.html - it turns out that U1 and U2 (and I believe you have a U3 as well on the Z6) is designed exactly to do what I was after :-D My bad, I dare say!
Hi Frederick, Thank you so much for your video on U1 and U2 in wildlife photography. I am new to your channel and trying to find my way in digital photography. You mentioned a link to a tech channel but I can't see it. I think my 50-200 zoom is not enough for wildlife. Could you please give it to me? ( I am also new to KZhead and I could not find him). I also love taking spontaneous pictures of children playing: do you have a video on the topic or can you recommend a good channel? I have a lot to learn. Your explanations are very clear and in a soft voice which is really great to listen to so thanks again, Veronique from Australia
Thank you Veronique! The review I was referring to is this one: kzhead.info/sun/ktNqaZGsanedooU/bejne.html. It is a very detailed review of the Nikon Z50. In the video, just after I have mentioned the video, there is a link that appears top right for you to click on for easy reference. Many youtube videos has these references - it is KZheadr's attempt to keep you binge watching! Inspired by you questions related to which youtubers to watch, I made this post: frederikboving.com/which-photography-youtube-channels-to-follow/ - hope you'll find some useful links. Daniel Norton is my go-to guy when it comes to portrait photography and he also knows a lot about light. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much Frederick. I will watch that.
Really great video, thanks! Did the firmware update make any difference to the AF tracking?
Thank you! This particular update was about saving the focus position when the camera is turned off and back on again - I don't think there was any mention of AF tracking improvements.
Use short-cut buttons for focus settings
Is that an order?
@@frederikboving ?
Cant you set up your AF settings in the U1 & U2 settings on the dial? Seeing your preferences made me think that it was possible, but your frustrations tell me otherwise. I will check when I get a chance.
You can! I made a video where I address this: kzhead.info/sun/Y9OKoNGEhnVrZHA/bejne.html
Hello! I need/want second Z body but not really wanting the current state of the bodies. Already have z6ii which is the best Z camera for me. z9 is overkill, I don't want 45MB. I bought the Z 100-400S and consider getting the 1.4 TC although it's waiting time if I order it. I just got the idea of... why not getting z50 instead of TC and swap my Z lenses from time to time, lol. Then I'll have 600mm reach still at f/5.6. Do you think it's good idea? :D
Hi Dice, I like your thinking! I am not a big fan of TC's as they tend to slow down AF a tiny bit, and also they are not as sharp as the lens alone. That said, the Nikon ones are very good. I use the Z50 with my 200-500 mm lens, and it works well. I will say that the computing power of the Z50 is much less than the Z6ii, and although I have not made comparisons, I would expect the AF on the Z50 to be a bit slower and you will have more misses in terms of focus, than with the Z6ii. If you can, maybe see if you can borrow/lend a Z50 and see how you find it. Coming from a Z6ii you will be able to operate the Z50 quickly.
@@frederikboving Hey, thank you for the answer^^ Yes, I'm aware of the limitations but just decided to check for another point of view as you use similar equipment here. But to be honest I actually lean toward the Z fc + the 28mm + the Grip in a pack which is not extremely more in price considering it's newer gear + I'm generally street photographer so it sounds like best of both worlds - experiments with 100-400 with the Zfc or using my manual 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 which would look also marvelous with the Zfc. Or jsut buying nothing... Oh, money-money-money ;D
Good luck with your decisions! Curious to hear what you end deciding🙏🏻🙂
How is the evf on the Z50? I’m considering buying this camera for all purpose duty as well as photographing the birds and wildlife that I see in the city. I’m getting older and my eyes aren’t what they used to be!
Hi John! My advice may not be what you want to hear, but the EVF (versus a OVF) is very subjective and deep into personal preference territory, so if at all possible, I'll suggest you visit a camera store and try it out in real life. My opinion may not be applicable for you at all! If you want to see a good review of the Z50 that covers many aspects of the Z50, the Tech Gear Talk channel has a good well indexed review right here: kzhead.info/sun/ktNqaZGsanedooU/bejne.html. My thoughts regarding the EVF in the Z50 is that it is good, not as good as the Z6ii that I also have, but really good. But some absolutely hate even the best EVF's (it's like watching a TV) and hence my best advice is for you to try it out in real life and see if you like it.
@@frederikboving Ah, thank you.. Yeah, I have an early Fuji and the viewfinder is really laggy and I’m not always nailing focus even with focus peaking so I think I might need a bigger viewfinder if I’m gonna be adapting lenses. Luckily I live only a mile from the biggest camera store in Seattle so I need to go and actually handle some of these. Good advice, thanks!
@@johntravena119 Thanks John! Good luck with the viewfinder hunt! All the best!
how does the D7500 compare? Have you tried it with the 200-500mm lens vs the Z50?
Hi, I broke my D7500 in a salt water accident some years back, so I cannot test it with the 200-500 lens unfortunately. I do seem to remember that the AF on the D7500 was very good, and I have seen others describe it as a budget D500. Not sure if it is true, but I would be very surprised if the D7500 and the 200-500m would not be a very good match. But I cannot support this with evidence in any way unfortunately. Sorry not to be of more help!
I wonder if you are using any UV/protect filter with this lens. I've noticed with my Tamron 100-400 that on the longer end the more distance there was from the subcjt there was a similar sort of fuzzy picture efect. It was not out of focus, but just like fuzzy. I've read somwhere that this issue might be caused by the filter because the light reflecting between filter and the lens. It seems that when I stoped using filter there was like 80-90% sharp photos whereas with filter around 20-30% was ok. So dramatic difference there.
BTW I also have the Z50 with FTZ and this Tamron
Hi, thank you for your question: No, I don't use UV filters. I know that Ken Rockwell recommends using UV filters, not because of the UV effect, but because it is a cheap way of protecting the front glass on your lens - he then also leaves the lens cap at home and finds this works well for him. And should you scratch the filter, a replacement is inexpensive. The only kind of filter I use is ND filters. The explanation you give with the light reflecting between the filter and the lens seems very plausible, but I have no first hand experience. Thank you for sharing!
@@frederikboving I was just curious, because the not sharp effect on your seagull picture reminds me of the one that I had with the filter. :)
Hi, how well does the VR work?
Hi Andrew! In my view, pretty well! It gets the job done and I don't feel like the VR is getting between me and the shooting experience! Notice that when you shoot birds in flight (say at 1/2000) then you don't need VR.
I think AF has problems on all Z cameras if the background is very bright and the subject is relatively small.
Noted. Thanks 🙏🏻
Switch to manual AF and zoom in. Easy.
Will give that a try, thanks 🙏🏻
U1 and U2 CAN save focus modes. Why not use them to change your focus from single and continuous af?
You're right! I misread the manual page 82 - thanks for the tip!
@@frederikboving No worries, just remember to use the save function after you made all your changes in U1 U2. If you are in U1 for example and you change AF settings, switch to M and then again to U1 the settings in U1 won't be saved unless you clicked on the save option (I think in the wrench menu but not sure)
@@musicdefinesgravity Right. For some reason I can only select modes P and P* - I would like to store S (shutter priority) under U1. Any idea what I do wrong? The manual is not very helpful! Ah, found out: you have to leave U1, go to S, then save settings under U1 (from S mode) and then S is selected when you turn to U1. Not exactly intuitive!
frederikboving Well there’s something new for me, thanks. At least once you have set it up it’s done for good.
@@musicdefinesgravity Ken Rockwell has a video on how he sets up his Nikon Z50 and i believe he talks about what the photographer needs to do to get the desired settings to stay 'locked' in to that particular user setting.
I'm still waiting for the similar Z lens! Why would we want to buy this lens now?
If the S lens for 200-500 follows the same logic as the other S lenses for the Z mount, then the optics will be significantly improved but also the price point will move significantly upwards. So I guess it depends on your wallet, and to what extend you find that the timing of your purchase of the 200-500 lens fits Nikons roadmap. I wanted to do bird photography NOW! So I did not want to wait! Can always trade in f-mount model for z-mount model at a later stage.
Not sure about the z50 but I have the d500 and use caf using group instead of single point and it's pretty fast and accurate 👍
Thanks Steve - no group option on the Z50 as far as I can tell.
i have a Z50 but will be getting a D500 for wildlife
@@mcmoouk Thanks for sharing! The snapchick has a video where she explains why they are selling their D500 - maybe something to look into before you buy. kzhead.info/sun/rMOdg9ayb5uNfKM/bejne.html
@@frederikboving the z50 can't keep up with fast moving birds and the battery life is terrible.the z50 is a brilliant little camera I'm not selling my camera just getting d500 just for wildlife photography
@@mcmoouk Right. Maybe it is because I also have Fuji cameras, that I think the battery life of the Z50 is not-that-bad. And maybe it is because I do not have a D500 that I think the Z50 does ok for bird photography. This guy seems to agree somewhat, 14 mins into the video: kzhead.info/sun/Y8yTYZuPgp-eonk/bejne.html - all the best!
Do you work as a photographer professionally?
I do, but not full time.