600mm PF or 800mm PF???

[Snapshot2020]

I have and 100% love both the 600PF and the 800PF. Primarily a Raptor photographer with the abundant Eagles in the area which I reside. When I walk a local Estuary trail it's the 600 PF attached to the Z8 for the lighter kit. The 800PF sits on the Z9 and is used for Osprey and Bald Eagle Photography Nesting sites where a Tripod is used. The Z8 & 600PF get the most time in the Field.

 

[macwalter]

I can’t handhold a 5+ pound lens. So f9 at 840 is the best I will likely use. I have found in “normal” light it works well enough and usually in lower light my subjects are closer. So the 600pf is my go to lens most often.

 

[Wrogu]

I would definately go for 800 and add 180-600 sooner/later. At the moment the 800 PF is the only cheaper way on the market to get 600f4+TC results. 840/5.6 should give similar results to 800 6.3. Of course it is quite a specific lens, so a shorter one is a must to suplement it's both weakness and strength - the very long focal length.

 

[Chappy]

When I am shooting wildlife, i keep the 600pf on one of my Z bodies and the 100-400 on the other z body. The 600pf gives me the reach I desire while the 100-400 gives me the versatility and short focusing distance I sometimes need. I looked closely at the 800pf and probably 2/3 of the year I get too much heat distortion issues for the lens in this dry and arid environment in the panhandle of Texas.

 

[macwalter]

I shoot most with the 600pf and on my 2nd z8 either a wide angle,100-400 or 400f4.5 depending. I often shoot small birds in my backyard with the 600pf and the 1.4tc. I can still focus about 13ft and it gives me a bigger bird.

 

[Calson]

With the 800mm PF I can use it hand held for fast moving small birds in the trees or with a monopod when out in the open or with a ground pod setup for shorebirds.

For me the 100-400mm plus 1.4x TC is a more versatile setup than a 600mm PF prime. I dislike overcropping of larger birds where their environment is cropped from the frame. With the 100-400mm I have found that the Z9 could not focus at 300mm but could at 400mm and then I would go back to 300mm for the framing I wanted.

 

[macwalter]

I would say if you can handhold the 800 go for it. I cannot. So the 600pf is the longest lens I can comfortably handle. I don’t use a monopod and if I were to go to a stabilizer I would go for a tripod and a more static style of photography. I can say the 100-400 with the 1.4 tc is more versatile for sure and if you have the 800pf that is a good call. I will also say that the image quality between the 600pf and the 104 with 1.4tc is very noticeable and the 600 also does well with the 1.4tc in decent light. Not a low light setup with the tc. I will travel with the 600pf,104, 24-120 and both tcs. Of if I don’t see much close up options for larger wildlife I will use the 400f4.5 instead of the 104 as it does well in low light and does a decent job with the 1.4tc.