600mm AF-S II or 500mm PF on Nikon Z9 ?

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Not sure why the Z50 or any lens other than the AF-S 600mm D II entered this discussion. But since last reply, my Z9/FTZ II has stopped working with both combinations of the 600mm D II with and without the TC-14E II. I also have move the manual aperture ring to several positions, locking at both the max and min. All combinations work with my D850 and I tried cleaning the leads of the 600mm just in case... Except for a short 2 minute time frame with the TC, its constantly comes up with the error message I provided above
Have you solved the problem? i have a 500mmf4D and i was thinking about the z9... thank you.
 
Something that muddies the water with the VR lenses is that the first model of a specific lens may be VR and introduced in 2008 and a new version of the lens may be introduced as having VR II when it is introduced in 2014 but there is no way to compare it to a newer lens like the 180-400mm VR in terms of its VR performance. With the cameras Nikon states which generation of Expeed processor is used in each model but it does not do this with regard to lens VR.

This is the case with the VR II 80-400mm that uses technology developed in 2012 which is an eon ago in digital tech years. AF-S provides some idea as to a new lens with enhanced performance but it would be better if one knew which generation of VR was used in any given lens. With an S lens at the present time one knows they are getting the lastest techology but that too will diminish over time as an indicator.
 
I have both lenses. It really depends on your expectations as far as image quality.

My 500 PF has never gone to Africa with me. The 600mm E FL f4 can take a tele and there have been many times I needed 840mm and more. Shooting wide open at f4 or a tele at f5.6, the 600mm just delivers excellent images. The 500mmPF is a compromise on cost and weight. It is slower and doesn't take a tele nearly as well. Nice walk around lens. But when I shell out the $$$ for a trip to Africa, I want to bring home the best possible images I can. That means I don't cut corners on my technique or gear. I do take a second body and use an 80-400 AF-s lens on it so that I cover 80mm to 840mm. On my next trip, the 100-400mm will replace the 80-400 AF-s for even better IQ in that focal range. YMMV...............
 
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Just wanted to update status of my 600mm D issue with the z9. Well its really was the FTZ and its design. Seems the D series have an outer tab that is associated with the aperture ring on the lens. The FTZ is designed so this tab with activate a switch on the adaptor but it can mis-align and in my case be missing altogether. See the attached photo and also ones in this link https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thr...-1jb0dSbgGaQANuICxMOggtJ0yVqHL8LXSh97zYy_BjJE

The funny thing is my D850 has no such tab to activate this switch and the 600mm lens works just fine, so there is some electrical interface that the 850 uses that has to substitute for this mechanical one. You think Nikon would try to use both methods to be redundant. (any one have any connection at Nikon?) But that also means today's engineers would have to think about double redundancy. Furthermore, even with the aperture error message... the AF still works. I hit AF ON and the lens will autofocus even though I can't see the center portion of the screen, you can see the outside edges in good focus. The camera just prevents the shutter from triggering.

Bottom line my 600d does not have any tab that activates this switch and so I get an error and locked out from firing the shutter. I can manually insert a small piece of plastic to activate the switch and all is then working. Nikon no longer supports the 600mm D and so I either have to DYI or find somewhere that may have cannibalized another lens.


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Just wanted to update status of my 600mm D issue with the z9. Well its really was the FTZ and its design. Seems the D series have an outer tab that is associated with the aperture ring on the lens. The FTZ is designed so this tab with activate a switch on the adaptor but it can mis-align and in my case be missing altogether. See the attached photo and also ones in this link https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thr...-1jb0dSbgGaQANuICxMOggtJ0yVqHL8LXSh97zYy_BjJE

The funny thing is my D850 has no such tab to activate this switch and the 600mm lens works just fine, so there is some electrical interface that the 850 uses that has to substitute for this mechanical one. You think Nikon would try to use both methods to be redundant. (any one have any connection at Nikon?) But that also means today's engineers would have to think about double redundancy. Furthermore, even with the aperture error message... the AF still works. I hit AF ON and the lens will autofocus even though I can't see the center portion of the screen, you can see the outside edges in good focus. The camera just prevents the shutter from triggering.

Bottom line my 600d does not have any tab that activates this switch and so I get an error and locked out from firing the shutter. I can manually insert a small piece of plastic to activate the switch and all is then working. Nikon no longer supports the 600mm D and so I either have to DYI or find somewhere that may have cannibalized another lens.


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Thank you Radman. I'm waiting for my Z9 and i will use with a 500mm f4D, so it's similar type of lens than yours.
How do you see the AF speed and accuracy with the 600mm, between Z9 y D850. ¿which one is best?. I will use then in BIF and it's something crítical...
 
Thank you Radman. I'm waiting for my Z9 and i will use with a 500mm f4D, so it's similar type of lens than yours.
How do you see the AF speed and accuracy with the 600mm, between Z9 y D850. ¿which one is best?. I will use then in BIF and it's something crítical...
I still have yet to go and work with the Z9 and 600mm as I just discovered yesterday about the little switch that needs to be activated. I did find out I can use the TC14E-II and it actually has a lever which I can activate with my finger and so I may go and try working with it. I don't see a real difference in speed between the D850 and Z9 using my 500 PF but the animal eye recognition has got me shots that I would never have got without the extra AF automation. I recently came upon an egret and he took off immediately as I was lifting up the camera, I basically sprayed and prayed and most of the shots were in reasonable focus. Never would have happened with any other camera I've tired.

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I still have yet to go and work with the Z9 and 600mm as I just discovered yesterday about the little switch that needs to be activated. I did find out I can use the TC14E-II and it actually has a lever which I can activate with my finger and so I may go and try working with it. I don't see a real difference in speed between the D850 and Z9 using my 500 PF but the animal eye recognition has got me shots that I would never have got without the extra AF automation. I recently came upon an egret and he took off immediately as I was lifting up the camera, I basically sprayed and prayed and most of the shots were in reasonable focus. Never would have happened with any other camera I've tired.

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Thank you. This are good news. Lets see hoy it works with older lens... with and without TC!.
Perhaps i will receive the Z9 this or next week... that is what they told me in the shop. Can't wait any more...
 
I still have yet to go and work with the Z9 and 600mm as I just discovered yesterday about the little switch that needs to be activated. I did find out I can use the TC14E-II and it actually has a lever which I can activate with my finger and so I may go and try working with it. I don't see a real difference in speed between the D850 and Z9 using my 500 PF but the animal eye recognition has got me shots that I would never have got without the extra AF automation. I recently came upon an egret and he took off immediately as I was lifting up the camera, I basically sprayed and prayed and most of the shots were in reasonable focus. Never would have happened with any other camera I've tired.

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Gorgous transulcence and reflections
 
Agree with this.
That depends on your budget, and if you think an extra stop of light at dawn is useful. As I reported my 600 D II has its issues with the Z9, but I purchased it used, a while back, and its worked well with my D850s and the glass is excellent. I believe I've figured out how to make it now work with my Z9. Plus the money I saved this way just might also allow me to buy the new 800mm PF.
 
That depends on your budget, and if you think an extra stop of light at dawn is useful. As I reported my 600 D II has its issues with the Z9, but I purchased it used, a while back, and its worked well with my D850s and the glass is excellent. I believe I've figured out how to make it now work with my Z9. Plus the money I saved this way just might also allow me to buy the new 800mm PF.
I agree with this.
I go birding with my friend, who has a D750 + Z6 + 500mmf4D + Sigma 150-600mm Sport. I have a D850+500mmf4D + Sigma 150-600mm Sport. For us, to have 5 or 6 years ago a 500mm D lens, was a great jump in quality. And we couldn't afford a G VR lens new. Besides the VR, there was no much improvement. For birds in flight, the D850 is the best, then the D750 and in last place de Z6. If the Z9 behaves with the 500mm D as fast and precise (or similar at last) than with the D850, it will be also a big jump. Of course that the Z 400mf2.8 will be another jump, but it's really expensive. And after having a prime fixed lens AMD a f4... the zooms are not the same.
The D850 and 500mmf4D has been a great combo this years... and if the Z9 works fine with the 500mm will be an option, because it has a lot of improvements, incluiding video. If not... it's too much money to upgrade at the same time all the lens and all the camera.
Some pics with this combo...

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I agree with this.
I go birding with my friend, who has a D750 + Z6 + 500mmf4D + Sigma 150-600mm Sport. I have a D850+500mmf4D + Sigma 150-600mm Sport. For us, to have 5 or 6 years ago a 500mm D lens, was a great jump in quality. And we couldn't afford a G VR lens new. Besides the VR, there was no much improvement. For birds in flight, the D850 is the best, then the D750 and in last place de Z6. If the Z9 behaves with the 500mm D as fast and precise (or similar at last) than with the D850, it will be also a big jump. Of course that the Z 400mf2.8 will be another jump, but it's really expensive. And after having a prime fixed lens AMD a f4... the zooms are not the same.
The D850 and 500mmf4D has been a great combo this years... and if the Z9 works fine with the 500mm will be an option, because it has a lot of improvements, incluiding video. If not... it's too much money to upgrade at the same time all the lens and all the camera.
Some pics with this combo...
Those are great shotsI! t looks like you are doing great with that combo. If another camera improves those shots, I want it now! If I could get those with my gear, I'd be very pleased with the results! As it is, I'd need to shoot a lot more to get that accomplished!
 
I watched a documentary about Jonathan and Angela Scott who have spend decades in the Mara area and was struck by how close pride of lions would pass by their vehicle. A 80-400mm or shorter zoom would have been needed to photograph the lions.

But there is so much variation in the circumstances in Africa that I would want to get recommendations from the tour or lodge operator and if possible, from their photographers. Often I see recommendations that are meant to be inexpensive for their visitors and far from ideal considering the total cost of such a trip.
 
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