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philippe
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From everything I’ve read, that combo works really well.
I think that combination works very well. I’ve used the 500 mm PF and 1.4x TCIII on the Z9 quite a bit since I got my Z9 in early January. I think it works quite well, both for optical quality and AF. I’ve had no trouble following bald eagles, egrets, spoonbills, osprey, cormorants and the like in flight. Of course, the TC leaves you at f8 wide open. That has not been a big issue for me, but at times I have left the TC off in low light situations.
The combination also works well on the Z7II (and Z7 before it).
I also use the 1.7x TCII and 2x TCIII with the 500 mm PF if I need more reach. Work on the Z9 even for BIF (at least the species I mentioned above). You lose more light and a few more compromises. But still useful on the Z9.
The combination also works well on the Z7II (and Z7 before it).
I also use the 1.7x TCII and 2x TCIII with the 500 mm PF if I need more reach. Work on the Z9 even for BIF (at least the species I mentioned above). You lose more light and a few more compromises. But still useful on the Z9.
Works great. I did not notice any degradation in IQ or AF.
Same here; I've captured lots of excellent photos with this combo on the Z9 over the last couple of months, as well as with the 500pf and 2X TC.
Works fine from both an AF and quality standpoint. F/8 is the biggest issue.
abc123brian
Well-known member
I’ve been using that combination for about a month now. Like Steve mentioned, being at F/8 is the biggest negative. Early mornings, late evenings, overcast, or in a darker forest will cause the iso to get too high. Overall the focus speed is good and accurate. I notice it is a little slower and will occasionally get a little bit of racking before it locks on, but in most cases it’s barely noticeable. The IQ is good, but if you’re cropping really heavy, the IQ falls off faster. I’m very happy with the combo overall. i plan to add the 200-600mm when available. The 600mm F/4 lenses are great, but not for how I shoot.
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philippe
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Packability, handholdability and cost.
Reach, Low light, and that creamy bokeh.
Life is so full of give and takes....
Mmm, I want both.
Reach, Low light, and that creamy bokeh.
Life is so full of give and takes....
Mmm, I want both.
The 500 + 1.4x TCIII makes for a great combo and *very* useable on the Z9. I think that any softness issues with the 500 pf + 1.4x TCIII on DSLR's may be down to slow or inaccurate AF. No such problems on the Z9. I am *very* impressed with the results from the 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII on the Z9.
Many have been cropped, some quite considerably. Some at very high ISO's up to 11400. All shot wide open at f8. All used Animal Eye AF which worked perfectly.
EXIF intact. All are 2580 x 1900 pixels.
1) Scaly-breatsed Lorikeet. Uncropped.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso7200
2) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~20%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso5000
3) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~5%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1250
4) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~15%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso11400
5) Striped Honeyeater. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
6) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~40%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
7) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~35%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso400
8) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1100
9) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
10) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~25%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso9000
11) Pied Cormorant
Original shot
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
Cropped to how I wanted it
100% crop
12) Little Wattlebird. This was shot in a howling southerly wind and the branch was going up and down like crazy.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
Many have been cropped, some quite considerably. Some at very high ISO's up to 11400. All shot wide open at f8. All used Animal Eye AF which worked perfectly.
EXIF intact. All are 2580 x 1900 pixels.
1) Scaly-breatsed Lorikeet. Uncropped.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso7200
2) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~20%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso5000
3) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~5%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1250
4) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~15%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso11400
5) Striped Honeyeater. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
6) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~40%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
7) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~35%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso400
8) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1100
9) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
10) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~25%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso9000
11) Pied Cormorant
Original shot
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
Cropped to how I wanted it
100% crop
12) Little Wattlebird. This was shot in a howling southerly wind and the branch was going up and down like crazy.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
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philippe
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Marion Anstis
Active member
Gosh, pretty amazing detail, especially so if straight out of camera and no (or limited) post sharpening.
Thank you very much, Philippe!
Thank you very much, Marion!
These were all shot RAW. Post processed in Capture One Pro and then finish processing in Photoshop where a *very* minor amount of sharpening was applied with Power Retouche plug-in.
Coolbob
Member
My Nikon Z9 developed the dreaded "Error" message so I had to send it to Nikon/NPS, here's the problem with the camera.
A friend of mine lives on a large tract of land and a pair of bald eagles have nested there for three years now and she invited me to come photograph them with her two days ago. I knew we would be quite far from the nest so I was able to borrow a Z9 and TC14III from another friend. I was shocked by how fast my 500mm PF focused and how well it tracked the bald eagles in flight with the teleconverter. My keeper rate was lower than I'd prefer, not because of the equipment, but because of my inexperience with bird in flight photography and difficulty finding the eagle in my viewfinder and tracking them. The Z9, TC14III and 500mm performed beyond my expectations. I called my favorite camera store yesterday and ordered a TC14III for myself. This photo was cropped from a very small portion of the frame, I'm amazed at how well it turned out under the circumstances.
A friend of mine lives on a large tract of land and a pair of bald eagles have nested there for three years now and she invited me to come photograph them with her two days ago. I knew we would be quite far from the nest so I was able to borrow a Z9 and TC14III from another friend. I was shocked by how fast my 500mm PF focused and how well it tracked the bald eagles in flight with the teleconverter. My keeper rate was lower than I'd prefer, not because of the equipment, but because of my inexperience with bird in flight photography and difficulty finding the eagle in my viewfinder and tracking them. The Z9, TC14III and 500mm performed beyond my expectations. I called my favorite camera store yesterday and ordered a TC14III for myself. This photo was cropped from a very small portion of the frame, I'm amazed at how well it turned out under the circumstances.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
aolander
Well-known member
You say in your YouTube video, "this is not what I would expect from a professional camera". Sorry to say, but there are brand new cameras, professional or not, that are faulty and need repair or replacement. As they say "stuff happens".
Coolbob
Member
@aolander I avoid buying the first year of a newly produced car for exactly this reason. Lots of problems get sorted out by the second year of a redesigned car's production.
I have never applied the same strategy to buying new Nikons. Before I retired recently I was the Director of Photography at an SEC university for 33 years and an NPS member since 1984. My office purchased three of every Nikon 'pro' film camera as soon as a new model was released starting with the D3. We bought three of every Nikon 'pro' digital camera starting with the D1. We never had a single problem with any of the cameras, except for when one of my staff photographers damaged a camera.
Just my luck that I buy one Z9 (with my money) and it turns out to be a dud. The NPS folks who have been my friends all these years have retired or were laid off recently. I emailed NPS and Nikon on the problem with my Z9 and they didn't respond so I made the video and posted it online. Upon seeing my video I was contacted by an NPS Sr. Manager who sent me a shipping label to return my Z9 to him to look at. I was elated and requested that NPS ship a replacement camera or at least a loaner. UPS delivered my camera to NPS on March 11th and I haven't heard a word from them since. I emailed the Sr. Manager on March 18th and received an auto-reply saying he would be out of the office until March 7th.
Sorry, I didn't intend to hijack the thread on the Z9 + 500mm PF + TC1.4. I've been a Nikon shooter since 1981 and despite my Z9 experience, I just ordered a Nikon TC1.4 III.
I have never applied the same strategy to buying new Nikons. Before I retired recently I was the Director of Photography at an SEC university for 33 years and an NPS member since 1984. My office purchased three of every Nikon 'pro' film camera as soon as a new model was released starting with the D3. We bought three of every Nikon 'pro' digital camera starting with the D1. We never had a single problem with any of the cameras, except for when one of my staff photographers damaged a camera.
Just my luck that I buy one Z9 (with my money) and it turns out to be a dud. The NPS folks who have been my friends all these years have retired or were laid off recently. I emailed NPS and Nikon on the problem with my Z9 and they didn't respond so I made the video and posted it online. Upon seeing my video I was contacted by an NPS Sr. Manager who sent me a shipping label to return my Z9 to him to look at. I was elated and requested that NPS ship a replacement camera or at least a loaner. UPS delivered my camera to NPS on March 11th and I haven't heard a word from them since. I emailed the Sr. Manager on March 18th and received an auto-reply saying he would be out of the office until March 7th.
Sorry, I didn't intend to hijack the thread on the Z9 + 500mm PF + TC1.4. I've been a Nikon shooter since 1981 and despite my Z9 experience, I just ordered a Nikon TC1.4 III.
aolander
Well-known member
No, I don't expect them to fail, but to think an electronic device won't or shouldn't fail is not realistic.
aolander
Well-known member
I wasn't judging, just pointing out that things do fail out of the box. Let's leave it at that.
jhorsch
Active member
Great shots Lance B. Good to see this because the Z9/500PF/1.4TC is the combo I've elected to go with. Now if I can just get the damned Z9 delivered to me (waiting on B&H since November 17)...
Roy
Well-known member
The 600mm f4 works reasonably well with a TC so the 500mm should also.
But I only carry TCs as a backup for reach and hardly ever use them...
Thank you very much, JHorsch!
I have been waiting on B&H since 10-28 (8:30 PM mountain 10:30 eastern). I have two FTZII , 500 pf and 1.4TC, 600 f/4 and Z100-400 with Z1.4TC ready and waiting for the Z9. So in the meantime using them on D850 and Z6II.
Wonderfull images Lance !!!
O
Well-known member
So whats wrong with these shots, i mean what else do you want, very nicely done.The 500 + 1.4x TCIII makes for a great combo and *very* useable on the Z9. I think that any softness issues with the 500 pf + 1.4x TCIII on DSLR's may be down to slow or inaccurate AF. No such problems on the Z9. I am *very* impressed with the results from the 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII on the Z9.
Many have been cropped, some quite considerably. Some at very high ISO's up to 11400. All shot wide open at f8. All used Animal Eye AF which worked perfectly.
EXIF intact. All are 2580 x 1900 pixels.
1) Scaly-breatsed Lorikeet. Uncropped.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso7200
2) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~20%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso5000
3) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~5%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1250
4) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~15%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso11400
5) Striped Honeyeater. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
6) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~40%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
7) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~35%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso400
8) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1100
9) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~30%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1000
10) Zebra Finch. Cropped ~25%
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/320s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso9000
11) Pied Cormorant
Original shot
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
Cropped to how I wanted it
100% crop
12) Little Wattlebird. This was shot in a howling southerly wind and the branch was going up and down like crazy.
Z9 + 500 f5.6 PF, Z9 + 500 PF + 1.4x TCIII, 1/500s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso160
It puts testament to sharpness doesn't just come for the gear it comes from YOU
Only an opinion