Marcelo_R
Well-known member
I've got my unit on Sat 9/30 and was out testing it on Sun 10/1. I honestly wasn't happy with the results.
I'd love to see som lab testing : what is the light transmission % (T-stop) on this zoom?
I suspect that on the 180-600 is on the lowish side. It looked to me (at least on my unit) that the ISO was 1 stop higher than what I usually see in (roughly) the same conditions.
I was shooting in good to great light, no haze, distances varying from 8 to 50 meters, wide open.
I miss the kind of texture I get with my 180-500TC or even with the Z800 (not to mention the 600FL)...
AF Speed was flawless, no doubt. Colors are as expected (similar or the same as with the Z800), but...
Here a couple of examples (dowsized to 2048 on the long side):
First picture: ISO 560 with the amount of light I had? Really?
1/1600s - ISO 1800 ....
1/1600s - ISO 2000... really? (BTW, I'm using Spot - Highlight measuring to avoid burning the whites and get a lower ISO value. Even so, ISO 2000 seems kind of high, right?
Original files can be seen here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAWRVQ
To obtain these results, I had to give a good run for the money to Topaz AI... So, long story short: I kept my solid performer 180-400 f/4 TC FL and I passed the 180-600 to a good friend that was on the waiting list.
I honestly had higher hopes for this one (I wouldn't have bought and pay for it if it wasn't the case)... My plan was to sell the 180-400 and cashe in the difference but no luck for me.
Besides, the weight and size would have been great for travelling but I know me and would have been cursing myself (with or without logic) during my next safari in Dec/Jan... So, I'll be taking again the same gear I took in June: The 180/400 on one Z9, the Z800 on the other Z9 and the 24-120 f/4 on one D6 and deal with the weight (again)...
If you are seeing some errors in my settings or comments, I'd love to learn about it to try getting better pics overall. Thank you!
Brgds, Marcelo
I'd love to see som lab testing : what is the light transmission % (T-stop) on this zoom?
I suspect that on the 180-600 is on the lowish side. It looked to me (at least on my unit) that the ISO was 1 stop higher than what I usually see in (roughly) the same conditions.
I was shooting in good to great light, no haze, distances varying from 8 to 50 meters, wide open.
I miss the kind of texture I get with my 180-500TC or even with the Z800 (not to mention the 600FL)...
AF Speed was flawless, no doubt. Colors are as expected (similar or the same as with the Z800), but...
Here a couple of examples (dowsized to 2048 on the long side):
First picture: ISO 560 with the amount of light I had? Really?
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
1/1600s - ISO 1800 ....
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
1/1600s - ISO 2000... really? (BTW, I'm using Spot - Highlight measuring to avoid burning the whites and get a lower ISO value. Even so, ISO 2000 seems kind of high, right?
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Original files can be seen here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAWRVQ
To obtain these results, I had to give a good run for the money to Topaz AI... So, long story short: I kept my solid performer 180-400 f/4 TC FL and I passed the 180-600 to a good friend that was on the waiting list.
I honestly had higher hopes for this one (I wouldn't have bought and pay for it if it wasn't the case)... My plan was to sell the 180-400 and cashe in the difference but no luck for me.
Besides, the weight and size would have been great for travelling but I know me and would have been cursing myself (with or without logic) during my next safari in Dec/Jan... So, I'll be taking again the same gear I took in June: The 180/400 on one Z9, the Z800 on the other Z9 and the 24-120 f/4 on one D6 and deal with the weight (again)...
If you are seeing some errors in my settings or comments, I'd love to learn about it to try getting better pics overall. Thank you!
Brgds, Marcelo