Nikon 800PF: The Story Behind The Photos
This is a followup to my first review video - if you missed that, see it here:
• Nikon 800 PF Review Fo...
In my last video, we did a general review of the 800PF, but understanding how I used the lens in the field might be even more helpful. So, in this video, I've tossed in a baker's dozen worth of images I captured with the 800PF and I'll discuss specific ways I was able to leverage the strengths of the 800PF to make these images happen. You'll learn my techniques and what aspects of the 800PF played the biggest role in helping me secure the sample shots in a remarkably limited amount of time. And, as always, I'll toss in lots of tips and tricks along the way that can help any shooter.
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Once again The Honorable Mr. Steve Perry costs me MONEY! I really had decided I don’t need this lens (however I had sold a lot of old equipment and have been holding the cash for just such a purchase) and after seeing your GREAT video I pushed the Pre-Order button. Thanks Steve for the fantastic content you provide.
LOL, sorry. Just ask Rose, I'm an expensive hobby!!
If it's any consolation it'll probably take a year to get it to you! That 500 PF was out of stock for two years.
Even when I'm not working in the system your reviewing I still enjoy your reviews and, of course, your images. Keep up the great work.
Love these story telling videos, keep doing them please
Even though I am not looking to purchase either the Z9 or the PF800, I can still learn from your techniques. I am still learning things about my D850 using my Nikon 200-500mm lens. You are so very knowledgeable and thorough.
Thank you!!
The 200-500 is the panacea of lenes
Appreciate your approach to evaluating Nikon's products and sharing what you've learned. I'm glad to see Nikon recognizing your work and your influence.
This is just so outstanding that I just wish I could afford this lens. I absolutely love my 500PF and my D850 but your combination of the 800PF and Z9 is out of my reach but I can really appreciate the quality of your images Steve and your ability as a wildlife photographer. Amazing images and so helpful in your explanations of the technique, settings and environment you shot them in. I always take away some nugget in all of your videos so thank you. Fantastic.
I'm on the same boat. Loving my D850+500PF, but Z9+Z800PF is so tempting. Good thing Z9 is OOS everywhere
I’m in the exact same boat as well. I love my D850 and 500mm PF combo, but dropping another $10k to upgrade to a Z9 and the 800mm PF is just way too out of my budget for the foreseeable future. Photography is an expensive hobby.
I'm about to graduate from grad school and will get my first real job. I'll probably get the z9 and this lens in a year or two. My current sigma 150-600 f6.3 will be tucked away when that happens lol.
A giant thank you for taking the time to explain all the back story here, it's so helpful! Great video!
Excellent video, going in-depth with each photo really gave great insight into the actual capabilities of the lens and the experience shooting with it.
Wow... Beautiful results, Steve!
As always, very interesting !! Congrats 👍
Another very comprehensive video Steve. Thank you for your enthusiasm and from the look of it you are very excited about that new lens coupled with the Z9.
Love your work Steve.
A very informative segment, it is so helpful to get the background on each individual shot. Your videos have made me even I more excited to get my ordered 800mm in my hands. Thanks so much Steve!
Thank you for sharing Steve.
Excellent photos Steve. It is so nice to outsource my bird photography to you.
Beautiful and convincing. Thanks Steve Perry !
Your videos are always so information packed and engaging that they feel much shorter than they are. 20 minutes gone in a blink! As always, your enthusiastic delivery has inspired me to pack my camera gear and plan for a morning excursion. Thanks!!
Great video Steve. I really like hearing the stories about how you got these shots, especially the techniques you used. With the size and weight savings with this lens combined with the cost savings, it really seems like a no-brainer if you're in the market for a long tele.
Always outstanding information in your presentations. Many of the Nikon specific tips and tricks I find helpful for improving my most frequent types of photos . . . event, performance, and dance. A few years back I flirted with bird photography, your enthusiasm and energy is infectious enough that I may give it go again. Cheers!
great great video- I enjoyed AND learned , those "behind the scenes" videos are good!
Great job Steve.🥂
Enjoyed your video again.. The soothing narration made me sleep in my recliner but watched again with coffee... These pictures prove right man with the right tool for the right job :)
Those Spoonbill shots particularly are amazing!
In love with the Great Blue Heron shot 😍I love mirror image shots like this.
Excellent, as always!
Very good video and fantastic images. Thanks for all you do.
Excellent review , Love it
Amazing photos
Excellent review and demonstration of the capabilities of this lens. With his deep background as a wildlife photographer he is more focused on the end results and so Steve addresses background issues with more insight.
I agree JD 110%. After watching both videos I am sold on this lens. Awesome job Steve and I can't wait for the lens to arrive.
Even though I'm not thinking of buying the Z9 or the 800mm PF, I watched because your practical info videos always hold good bit of interesting info. It's also entertaining to see other people's pictures and hear a bit about how they were captured. I never considered trying to shoot a flying bird from a moving boat like that. Pretty cool. :)
What a lens, amazing.
Yes I did enjoy the video, very much. Thanks!
The heron preening is such an amazing shot. Sadly, it will be a very long time before I can afford a brilliant combo like the Z9 + 800pf, but I’ll live vicariously through Steve’s work for now. Incredible!
Hi Steve just wanted to thx you for all your videos.. you save me while i was having Depression and decided to get a new Hobbies to fight it, and i’ve choosen bird photography. I am from Switzerland and read and watch all your videos. You are a very professional photographer and i can’t thx you enought for your videos! Thx man 🙏
Love that mirrored Heron shot. Great review and absolutely beautiful images
Thanks, it's one of my favs too.
The mirrored Heron is my favorite, fantastic shot.
Mine is now on order!!
Amazing pictures of great composition and quality. It just goes to prove in the hands of a talented, capable and unbiased photographer just how good the Z9 & 800PF is.
I'm very impressed that Steve was down in the vegetation along the water - I KNOW how many big gators lounge about there.
Thank you for this video. I agree with your comment at the beginning that relaying real-world experience is often more valuable than a typical review. Thank you for making this.
Steve, I just rewatched this video as I await the arrival of my 800mm this week. I really appreciate this style of video. It gives a more rounded idea of what to expect, as well as learning a few things as well. I hope you consider doing more of this style. Thank you for your contribution to the field...now off to get through more of your Z9 setup guide!
Great info, a perfect follow-up to the tech / specs review! Love it. And this is another wow-moment for Nikon, given all the features of this lens at this price. It's a pro lens that's also attainable for many enthusiasts. Still looking forward to the 200-600, that's likely an instant pre-order for me. Hopefully this year! Thanks Steve!
I think that 200-600 is a instate pre-order for a LOT of people!
Excellent information on the 800mm and the details of the shots!!
Steve Perry Have to say... super photos - and great review of what the 800mm can produce. Can't wait till they ship mine !
Excellent Video!
Hi Steve, your sample photos looked phenomenal...thanks for including them in the video! I'm waiting on taking delivery of a 300mm pf as I type this. Just starting out I'm still learning and your video pointing out my upgrade path lol.
Just purchased your Z9 and Autofocus books. Looking forward to broadening my photography horizons. I've always been interested in shooting wildlife, but never had the equipment to do so.
I dont even have a Nikon but still such a fun video to watch!
I love these videos. Neat, thanks!
Great shots Steve.. The size and weight of the new Nikkor 800 6.7 PF is impressive. I hope Nikon sells a bunch of these and makes me Nikkor 300 2.0 in PF..
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Would love to see a comparison in image quality of the Z9 with the 800 PF in crop mode compared to the same set up in FX mode using a 1.4X t/c. Really hate swapping out lenses out in the field to add the t/c.
I was waiting for the new 600mm f4s, I sold my 600mm fl but I think I will love this 800mm.
Steve thanks for that. Looks a complete game changer that lens, those hand held shots at 1/320 and 1/200 almost defy belief....
I know, right? I had another shot a t 1/200th just as sharp, but I liked the pose in the one in the video better. I show the 1/200th shot in the review video if you want to take a peek.
Darn it Steve, I have been telling myself that I am not interested in this lens. This and your last video has been amazing. I am not a big user of tripods and I am very impressed with your ability to use this handheld.
Excellent !
OK, I put in a preorder at Hunt’s Photo (Massachusetts), so I can wait for that along with waiting for a Z9. As others have commented, your reviews are expensive! I’m not young, so I’m hoping to still be around when they ship (either one). Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Hey Steve! Awesome video! I always click on your videos when they come out. I'm really excited to get my Z9 when they ship and possibly eventually this lens one day, but for now my 500PF will work as it has served me well when I paired with my D500 and D850. I don't think I've seen you do a review of the Z9 which surprised me. Do you think you're going to be coming out with that sometime near future? Let me know! Love your videos.
I have been in the marshes of South Carolina capturing images for a couple of weeks. The natural beauty of the
I’m a real estate photographer, and my go to lens is this Nikon PF 800mm lens for photographing interiors.
Hi Steve, as always great video. As hobbyist photographer, I can't justify the price of the Z9 and the 800mm lens, so I will enjoy the photo you take thru you camera gear!!!!
I pre-ordered this lens but was on the fence and what pushed me into ordering it was your video, the out of focus areas at f6.3 were just beautiful and I pulled the trigger. Not sure if I should thank you for the push due to my bank account suffering but I enjoy your video's and am currently 2/3rd done with your "Secrets to the Nikon AF system - Mirrorless edition". Appreciate the effort and the joy you obviously get in shooting wildlife, it's addictive.
I think I should start putting warning labels on my videos, "viewing this could be detrimental to your bank account" LoL!
Your not alone !! I’ve been waiting for this lens … not sure if I can afford to keep both it and my 600 f4 but I will have to figure that out once I get the 800 PF. Thanks Steve!!
One think I wish he had showed were more distracting backgrounds and how they rendered. The ones he showed were all beautiful. But often we have things like tree branches close behind. I know my 500pf does not render them particularly well. So it’d be nice to see how the 800 handles tougher backgrounds
I’m in the same boat. My 600 f/4 is just too heavy for me to ever handhold. So it’s always a tripod and often you miss shots you’d get if you could hand hold. My 500 f/4 is lighter but I’m not good with it for extended waiting handheld. So I typically shoot with 500pf. But no way I can afford the f/4 lenses and this 800.
This cements my decision to purchase the lense,thanks Steve.I was at the wetlands yesterday,all we caught was a juvenile bald Eagle.
How cool! I sometimes think the juveniles are nicer looking than the adults, depending on where they are with the plumage.
Always look forward to your reviews! Wonder your thoughts on the Z9 I don’t think I missed a video. I know you like to really really use it first.
I'll probably get a review out over the summer when I've had more time with the camera. Right now, I think the Z9 is a heck of an improvement over the other Nikon Z cameras.
@@backcountrygallery why I appreciate your reviews you actually use it !
That lens seems like magic.
Agree with the other viewer-- it is a system changer. I have a D500 and D850 with 300 and 500 PF. For your viewers, if you haven't used the PFs lenses, they are the game changer for sure! Now looking at the Z9 just so I can use this lens! Life is short and it's only money. Thanks Steve. You remain one of maybe 3 YTers that I will consistently click on for Nikon content. Cheers!
Do you think Nikon will ever make an 800mm PF for DSLRs?? Or is that a bridge too far?
Disregard, did not see your reply on the last video THanks!!
Great shoots especially with such a short time with the lens etc.! Always interesting on your approach to the subject. Question did you "calibrate" the lens in anyway? Additionally would be cool to see the photos prepossessing, If that applies. Have fun and keep the passion, Steve
No, no calibration. I'm not finding it necessary on any mirrorless lens. The photos were only minimally processed.
Great shots, looks like a heck of a lens. I shoot Canon, but I'm happy for Nikon shooters.
The Canon 800mm 5.6 AF faster.
@@bngr_bngr how are you so sure about that? You don’t even have the Nikon
@@bngr_bngr All else being equal, I'd rather save four and a half pounds and $10k (in comparison with the Nikon 5.6 version), or 2 pounds and $11k (in comparison with the Canon RF version). I have a 500 f/4 II and if this were an option for RF mount, I think I'd have zero problem selling the 500 and buying this, since it basically costs what I paid for my used copy.
Hi Steve, Another great video packed with useful information. On some of the BIF shots were you using Manual with an Auto ISO? My next stop is purchasing your Mirrorless book for my Z9. Thank you.
Thanks! It was a mix of M + Auto and full manual. I honestly don't recall which was which though.
Brilliant move by Nikon, I shoot Sony and when the Z9 came out I knew it was good but I didn't think it would cause cause folks to leave Sony or Canon. This lens is something that WILL make folks think about moving to Nikon, it is 15 to 18k performance for a 3rd of the price and I could buy this lens and a Z9 for what I paid for my Sony 600 F4
Lots of stuff coming :)
I costed it up the other day, just for fun I cannot afford even one factor here: In my country, I could purchase the 800PF, z9 AND the f-mount 500PF plus an FTZ, and still have enough money left over to go on a trip to use the stuff, just for the cost of Canon's 800/5.6rf alone. When the rumours were rolling about this lens 'only' being f/6.3, I thought it would be a bust. When the rolled to it being phase fresnel, I was a bit more optimistic, when the price came out my jaw absolutely dropped. I think nikon could have asked an additional 50% or so, and this lens would have sold well but at this price. Big oof. Really the only draw back I potentially see is, if I understood Steve's other videk right, the AF is good (f-mount super tele prime good), but not most new z-mount lenses amazing. Then again, nikon still need to make reasons to encourage people to get the 400/2.8 with tc (wildlife shooters that is, sports folk obviously would probably not want the 800), and at a price lower than the latest f-mount super teles cost used, I think it is 'forgivable'. Who knows, maybe all the used f-mount primes are about to plummet in value 🤞
@@scriptosaurusrex Not a fan of what Canon did, took the 400 2.8 and built in a tele, not cool and the RF400 isnt really an RF lens they took a shortcut and built in an adapter instead of designing a new lens
Your excitement about the lens made me feel better about putting in my order yesterday. I hope it does well on my Z7 shooting birds and butterflies. I don't need Z9 speed, so I'm thinking it's going to be ok.
Z7 and butterflies is pretty specific :) I only had the lens a few hours and only tried birds.
Great video, amazing lens. Your demonstration of the VR and lower shutter capability is amazing. I have the 500 PF - my favourite lens - but it struggles some in lower light. This lens seemed to handle light conditions better. I’ve been thinking about shelling out the mega-bucks for the 400 2.8 TC but the weight, handholding ease and capabilities of this lens are changing my mind. Any thoughts on your experience with the new 400 2.8S TC versus the 800 PF, Steve?
I haven't used the 400 2.8, so I don't know. I'll be trying to test one for sure.
Hi Steve. Would you be doing a review of the update 1.40 for Z7II/Z6II from wildlife photography perspective anytime soon?
Mr. Perry, please start your own Perry Bucks credit card as I would use it following every new video. Once again a VERY informative video essay on the new 800 and the Z9. I do wish you would have a slide inserted showing the settings you mention as you shoot in different scenarios. Additionally, your Z AF download is also very informative relative to the Z9. Thank you.
This was most valuable. I already have the Z9 and 800 pf on order. The takeaway from this vid is I can leave the tripods home. I wasn't expecting that. Currently I lug a D850 with 200-500 F5.6 often with TC1.4 and at minimum have a monopod attached. I love the idea of leaving the mono or tripod home. :)
The hand-holdability of this lens was the biggest surprise for me.
@@backcountrygallery After my few days at our South Coast (South Australia) last week, I can't wait for the 800 PF. I just used the 200-500 F5.6 at 500mm and never bothered with the TC1.4. In hindsight, I should have put the TC on at times. My thinking is I would not have needed to encroach on the birds as much as I did at times.
Another great video Steve. Glad that Nikon are listening to wildlife pro's. Out of interest, how many shots did you take?
Several thousand. Mostly because we were doing lots of BIF and the shots add up at 20FPS. I had a ton of nice shots I jus didn't process, I just sort of picked some quick favorites for the review.
Hi Steve Love your showcase with this lens Are you shooting high efficiency raw with these or uncompressed? Always great shots in your hands
Right now, still using lossless compressed.
Thank you. Always like hearing how shots came to be. I take it you prefer to use the viewfinder to frame shots rather than the monitor? I have a D850 and Z6ii both with nice screens, but I always prefer the viewfinder. Although it comes in handy with low shots like your first one. I wonder sometimes if I just prefer that due to many years of using viewfinders. It just feels awkward to me to use the screen. I know that battery consumption could be another consideration with that, but I just prefer the viewfinder. lol
Yes, I prefer the viewfinder by a LARGE margin! However, I'll use the screen if I need to. It does take some practice though.
Steve, these Story Behind videos are awesome ! Not only we have the opportunity to view your exquisite images, we get very practical information on your approach in taking them. I was just about to purchase an A1. This lens makes the decision much harder as Sony does not have such a lens and I am shooting the majority of my pictures from a distance. I was going with the 200-600. It falls down to weight + flexibility vs reach and sharpness I guess. Now that you had this lens in your hands, how do you compare the performance of this combo with the A1?
The a1 is really an outstanding camera, but - as you say - Sony doesn't have this lens. I'd tend to favor this combo over the a1 and 200-600, but only because I like primes and use 800mm a lot. I'm not a huge fan of F/6.3 at shorter focal lengths. However, the a1 is far more customizable than the Z9 and offers a lot more options. I think the a1 also, currently, has an edge for BIF work.
Brilliant photos as usual Steve. But how are you able to pull off such clean images from such high ISOs. My d800 is basically color sandpaper at ISO 3200
A big part of it is filling the frame. If you try high ISO and aren't filling the frame, the detail is easily overwhelmed by noise and you either have sandpaper without noise reduction or a smooth plastic bird with it.
Hi Steve, very good video of an amazing lens. You kind of cover it all exept testing with 2x extender on a tripod just to see the possibility of 1600 mm f12,6 !!! Would you consider the new canon 800mm f5,6? That lens is about 3,2 kg, about 800 gram more and a much better minimum focus at 2,5 m if you could fit it on your Nikon z9 ?
I'm very skeptical of the new Canon. It looks a lot like a 400mm with a TC and adapter welded on.
Steve, very nice video. Can you do a comparative video to 600mm F4? I have one and want your opinion if it makes to trade to 800mm
I will once I get the 800 :)
Hello and thank you Steve.I have ordered one!Do you remember the AF mode you was using in the last shot in the boat there?Single point AF or Dynamic?Wide L small or maybe Auto Area?I was in the same situation on a whale safari with a dx cropped 70-200mm and a TC-1,4x.And used the auto area.Got some ok shots of the orcas but with that 800 it’s an another tool.
Nice video Steve. Great lens. What do you prefer, z400 2.8 with the option of an additional TC2.0 to get 800 f5.6 or the z800 f6.3? I think with the 400mm and TC you are more flexible but almost double the price.
I haven't used the 400 2.8 yet so I can't really say. It does seem more flexible, but I've had inconsistent results with 400 2.8 lenses and 2X TC (even with Sony). I'm also fairly confident that this 800pf will be sharper than the 400 and 2X, but I'll try to test it to be sure when I get a chance.
I may end up purchasing only one Nikkor Z lens and this is my dilemma. The 400 mm f/2.8 Z would provide the potential of 3 lenses with a Z TC 2.0 (400 mm, 560 mm, 800 mm) and allow for a better minimum focal distance. I also take pictures in foliage dense environments in South America where low light capability of f/2.8 would be of benefit. The lighter weight and image sharpness of these images doesn’t make the decision any easier. Thanks for this video. I will be spending my afternoon reading the Z9 Update for the Mirrorless AF Book.
@@joshuahorner2639 Happy to help and thanks for the purchase :) FWIW, I'm starting to think about the same thing - 400 2.8 (with TC) and the 800PF - what a one-two punch!
Hello Steve, first of all thank you so much for your always great reviews. I'm considering to get the 800mm, too and I would know a very important thing for me, before. Is it honestly such a smoothy backgrand and great bokeh out of camera or you've also edited additional in photoshop?
The images are lightly edited, but I didn't soften the backgrounds. I will soften background from time to time, but not for a review since people need to see what the lens can really do, not what I can pull off in Photoshop :)
@@backcountrygallery Thank you so much, Steve. I really appreciate your very quickly respond and wish you all the best. You are definitely the giant in your field.
Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Hi Sr... I haven't heard you talk about monopods which I think come to play with big lenses as an alternative to tripods.... I bet shooting with monopod helps a lot... regards.
I think I mention them in some videos and I do use them for sure. I didn't with this lens, but I probably will at some point.
I wish I could afford to buy the 500 and 800 PF lenses. I do own the 300 PF and realize the quality as well as the weight advantage.
Seriously thinking of the 800mm lens, your review make it very tempting and the price for that kind of lens is not that bad. I will have to buy a Z9 body too because I am a canon photographer...I have a 600mmf 4, the older 3,9 kg version bt its exellent on a tripod, I have the new R5 body and a 5D mk4 so really I dont need a new camera system but the portabillity with tthat 800 mm lens seems very tempting.
Nikon is really knocking it out of the park with their new lens offerings. They are rapidly turning into the best choice for wildlife photographers.
Great video as always. I do have a question? I'am more into African Wildlife and less into small birds. I have this lens on order, but not sure at this stage if this lens is useful for use in Kenya or Tanzania?? Or should I wait for the Z600 f/4?? Thanks.
It depends, most I'd say generally 800mm might be too long for large mammals in Africa. However, it depends on how close you are too - I have my drivers stay back a bit so I can use longer glass, making the shot look more like eye-level images. (Too close and it's obvious you're shooting down).
@@backcountrygallery Thank you for the quick reply. Yes, you do make a good point asking the driver not to get too close.
I think a true test of a lens is during less than ideal lighting and weather conditions those images turned out very good.
Nikon is on the move! Sure wish Canon made such a lens, especially at that price! What a deal vs Canon's new $17,000 RF 800mm. Competition is wonderful for consumers. Thanks Sony!
Steve having watched your, Ricci's and Matts vids early yesterday I chose to pre-order (and that means fully pay for) this lens and cancel my order for the Z-100-400. My passion is Big Cats, primarily in Africa, and I had already ordered the Z-400/2.8 TC S-line. To justify the 400/2.8 TC I had already analysed the shots I took over the last few safari years and this help to justify this lens as well. I was worried about the f/6.3 max aperture of this lens, but I "discovered" that only 22% if the shots I took at 800mm or longer AND subsequently processed and used were at f/5.6 (wide open on a 600mm f/4 + TC1.4). The balance of 78% were at f/6.3 or even more closed down. So this gave me comfort for an 800mm/6.3 as does carrying the 400/2.8TC on to which I can either engage the internal TC and add an external 14TC or just bolt on a 20TC to reach 800mm at f/5.6. Your (and others) feedback -- including this video -- makes it clear this lens is incredible. And, then there is the price which is extraordinary. When these 2 lenses arrive -- I will have fully transitioned to the pair of Z9 (in my hands) and 6 Nikon Z mount S-lines lenses (14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8 (my favourite), 105/2.8MC+2 coming soon), a couple of other Z-mount Nikon primes and a bunch of shorter and specialist AF-S F-mount primes (I will keep these and may not replace them when/if a Z-mount version emerges). All my F-mount safari gear, including my 2 D850s and 400/2.8EFL and 600/4E-FL and the f-mount version of all the lenses I now own in Z-mount, will be up for sale soon. Everything else has already been sold or given away. Marking the completion of my transition to the Z9 and mirrorless. Thank you for the Z9 update to your book. Today also marks the release of an upgrade to DxO Photo Lab 6 to v5.2.0 build 56, which provides support to processing the Z9's lossless RAW files. Neither DxO nor Topaz are likely to come out with support to either High Efficiency format anytime soon.
Honesty, I'm about a minute from ordering a 400 2.8 to go with this lens. I think it's the ideal combo - especially if you have a pair of Z9s. There's not much you couldn't cover.
@@backcountrygallery Thanks and Agreed -- with the Z-70-200/2.8, a wider angle and the 2 TC as well I am all set. I see that Alan's has posted a vid of his unboxing the first 400/TC customer order they received in his store. Showing that you guys in the USA are better at sourcing the new gear than the rest of the world.
Your are not only a great photographer....your pretty funny...Thanks so much for this great practical review. How much of your book is about the Z9? Thanks.Do the Z7 and Z6 commands overlap with the Z9?,. Thank Again. Ordered the 800mm on the first day! Can't wait....
Thanks :) The book completely covers the Z9 - and yes, there is a lot of overlap between the cameras. For instance, the AF area modes they share work the same way, the Z9 is just works better. However they work and how you use them is identical between the cameras. I've been shooing the Z6/7 since they came out and it was pretty seamless going to the Z9. The biggest trick is the difference in subject detection and the Z9 gets its own section for that while the other Zs have their own section (with links to skip if you don't own one or the other camera).
@@backcountrygallery Thanks Steve!
Great commentary. How did you find the airboat? Doesn’t the airboat scare the birds off? I thought they were usually pretty loud. But you seemed to get close enough.
Honesty, it was a mixed bag. As you say, it scares a lot of them off, but at the same time it gets into places I couldn't do with a kayak. Overall though, it's less than ideal, although I have no idea what ideal would be in that scenario. Maybe a kayak with a big fan on it :)
@@backcountrygallery the air boat gets you through waters that a quieter prop boat can’t and that’s a big advantage. I saw on tv an electric speed boat. Ideally there will come electric air boats that are quieter (maybe). My kayak days are past. So I need a power boat to get to sights on the water. Thanks again for the video.
This lens appears to take on a 3D effect similar to the 300mm PF. I have the 600mm f/4E and love how it makes the backgrounds disappear. I am struggling with sticking with the 600mm so I did preorder the 800mm. I am curious if you think the 800mm f/6.3 does as good of a job dissolving the backgrounds as the 600mm f/4 glass? The other hard thing is the loss of 1 1/3 stops of light. great video as always.
I think they are in the same league for sure, however, until I can compare them side by side it's tough to say if one is better. I was very impressed with the 800pf's backgrounds though.
You talked a lot about image sharpness thanks to the VR of the lens . I'm wondering how much the IBS of the Z9 contributed to the image sharpness. Any thoughts?
I think the Z9 IBIS helps a little, but in this case I think it's more the VR in the lens. IBIS is great for shorter glass, sensor-based stabilization simply doesn't have enough room to move to make a big difference one way or another for longer glass. You need a larger VR group with more movement for stabilization to really be effective and that means most of your stabilization I coming from the lens. Although, I do wonder if the Z9 sensor has a bit more movement than others since there's no shutter mechanism to contend with. Hmm....
So, where you in Manual and adjusting ISO mostly looking at histogram?
When you look away from the viewfinder, the animal does exactly what you want him to do.👏👏👏😂😂😂
Nice video steve, i cancelled my sony 600mm f4 order and pre-ordered the 800mm f6.3 after watching your video. My only concerns about this 800mm pf is the focus speed. Did u get a chance to compare the focus speed between your 600mm F4 and 800 pf? Thanks
I wasn't allowed to do direct comparisons. However, I think AF speed is on par with the 600 F/4. I can tell you have I zero concerns about it and I'm kinda picky about AF speed. I talk about it a bit in my other video.
@@backcountrygallery thanks steve, 800mm pf seems a perfect lens for wildlife. Hope wont wait forever to get my hand on it.
Really nice shots, Steve! Would be awesome, If you could include some 100% crops :)
See my first video, there are a few in there from Lightroom - and they are 200% crops :) Also, what I can do and show with the preproduction lens is limited. I wish I could have made a few of these RAWs available for download, but that wasn't allowed.
@@backcountrygallery thanks a Lot for the quick answer! I'll check it out 😊
I think the Bokeh of this lens is a big surprise. Very nice smooth out of focus areas.
I thought so too.