800PF vs. 500PF with 1.4 TC

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Krümelkraft

Krümelkraft

Well-known member
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My apologies if this has been discussed before.
I just got a 800PF and I have the option of returning.

Now you might ask: how could that dude want to return a 800PF lens?

The thing is: I have the 500PF and I also use it with a 1.4 TC, which is a pretty usable setup. I wonder if it is worth to spend 7k for a lens that offers 2/3 of a stop faster aperture and a slightly increased focal length, but on the other hand is significantly heavier and bulkier and not as easy to use when it comes to lens cap and lens hood.
Furthermore, I have no idea how I can hold that lens without bumping either focus, control ring or fn buttons.

I want to share with you some comparisons here (sorry, they are screenshots from DXO photolab, 100% magnification, no corrections applied, RAW).
Can you spot the difference? One is with the 800PF, the other is with the 500PF+1.4TC, both at fastest available aperture (6.3 and 8).
Judge yourself.

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I am quite surprized how close they are in terms of sharpness and resolution.
 
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My eyes see less sharpness in each photo 2. All photos are nice

Krümelkraft said:
I wonder if it is worth to spend 7k for a lens that offers 2/3 of a stop faster aperture and a slightly increased focal length, but on the other hand is significantly heavier and bulkier and not as easy to use when it comes to lens cap and lens hood.
Furthermore, I have no idea how I can hold that lens without bumping either focus, control ring or fn buttons.
Click to expand...
I'll sit on my money, just saying
 
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I have both the Z 800 mm PF and the 500 mm PF. Using them on my Z9 now and soon my Z8. I do a lot of bird photography. And other wildlife.

If you decide to keep the Z 800 mm PF, consider getting the Zemlin lens cap and hood (the Zemlin hoods comes in several lengths and one and two piece verions) for it. I think both are an improvement on the Nikon versions, especially the lens cap.

I'm keeping both lenses for now. Also have the Z 100-400 mm and Z 400 f4.5.

If 700 mm is enough for your situation, the 500 mm PF plus an 1.4x TCIII is a very nice combination. Once I switched to mirrorless (which I find handles TCs better than DSLRs), I generally used a 1.4x TCIII with my 500 mm PF most of the time. It's nice and small for hiking and use in a kayak/canoe. On mirrorless, you can also use the 1.7x TCII (850 mm, f9) and the 2x TCIII (1000 mm, f11) with pretty good results. The fact that I used the 500 mm PF much more often than not with one of the three TCs made me confident that I would like the 800 mm focal length

Why am I keeping the Z 800 mm PF? First, 800 mm is longer than 700 mm and enough to be noticeable. I can also use a Z 1.4x TC on the Z 800 to get 1120 mm f9. I have found that combination quite useful, even handheld. And I can even use the Z 2x TC to get to 1600 mm, f13 -- more compromises here, but good enough to be useful. I've only shot the Z 800 mm plus Z 2x TC on a tripod. Second, it is 2/3's of a stop faster at 800 mm than the 500 mm PF is with a 1.4x TCIII -- not necessarily critical, but nice. And third, I think the bare Z 800 mm PF is a bit sharper than the 500 mm PF plus 1.4x TC and more easily blurs the background.

It's possible I will sell the 500 mm PF, particularly if it gets displaced by the Z 400 mm f4.5, including with a Z 1.4x TC.
 
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When looking at that comparison, look at all the other lenses that are one stop different and the price someone is willing to pay. 24-70mm F/4 vs 24-70mm F/2.8 is one of many examples. What about 1 1/3 stop with a 400mm F/2.8 versus the 400mm F/4.5S. most of it is going to come down to what you value and the amount of light you shoot in. I’m on the fence about the 800mm F/6.3 and am taking more time to decide. If youre happy with F/8, I’d go with the lighter combo you already have. I find it too restrictive in many situations for myself.
 
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Easy to tell because the focal lengths are different…and at full frame they look pretty identical to me…and looking at 1:1 is mostly pointless to me because they’re not intended to be viewed that way. Outside of the obvious focal length issue…the size here on the forum is too small for anything that might be visible at 1:1 to show up…I’ve done similar testing myself with various combos of lenses, bodies, and TC and at screen display output resolution…they look the same IQ wise unless the output is extremely cropped… ut even then it’s mostly a ‘different a bit’ and not a ‘better’ thing. So far…with the 560 I get out of the 400/4.5 and TC and the 840 if I switch to DX…I’ve not found enough situations where the 800 would be the best lens for the job to make the weight and loss of other things in the field worthwhile to me. I’m still holding my 800 money until I decide differently even though affordability isn’t really a decision difference maker for me.
 
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