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Hmm, yeah, I've convinced myself it is too cumbersome. In Studio NX, I need to change the size as saved, but I actually use TIFF16, not JPEG normally, so all this changes the default for future use that I then forget to revert. Poor excuse I know but thanks for this suggestion.
Let me try to explain why I would do it but I feel it is not a priority. The first copy was faulty, let's just trust the Nikon staff member saying that. What are the odds for the second one to be faulty? Close to zero in my book.
DX shot with horizontal dimension of 5532 was turned into 3577 for the pheasant crop. I would estimate the distance as no more than 30 m. The focus box was small but displaced a little bit down from the eye so that the eye ended up on the upper edge of the box.
At 3577 pixels and the pheasant at only 30m, that shot should be wáy sharper. To be clear: I don't use Nikon at the moment, I transitioned from the D500 to the Sony A1, but intend to add a Z8. So I can only reason from my own frame of reference, but the pheasant at 30m would be pin sharp in even, overcast light without any thermal activity, with the 600/4.
Thanks, this is something to puzzle out for sure with a cool head. Late time for me 22:44 in the UK so I'll say goodnight for now. Thanks again!
I sincerely hope you get it sorted out, and find a chance to get the best out of the 800PF, so that you can make the right decision.
Overcast per se isn't a problem, in fact I prefer overcast light. The problem arises when the overcast sky is a substantial part of the background as it is when the bird is high in the tree, which also means the light on the side of the bird facing the camera is much dimmer. It is a rare lens that can control flare and internal reflections well enough in this situation to not affect the colors and detail on the bird. If you cannot find a way to get on the same level as the bird (to get a background that isn't so bright) this may be the best you can hope for particularly when cropping.
My point precisely and this results in the subject being relatively underexposed without proper compensation. Moreover, the resultant image against a bright, overcast background will likely be less than satisfying. Shooting in these conditions not only challenges the lens but the sensor as well.
Whilst not quite an apples to apples comparison, PL tested the 800 5.6 F mount against the Z800 6.3 & found the sharpness of the former to be measurably superior (see link below). Obviously, as you note, it’s always a compromise with these things & I hope things work out for you. I have an older 600 f4 g vr & a 500 pf, and I often find myself using the pf more often simply because it is significantly easier to carry around. However, there is a noticeable difference in quality/rendering between the two in favour of the former in my opinion (I cannot quite articulate it, but amongst other things the colour, the background & the sharpness).
I don't need a baseline using methods that don't impact a typical shoot. I take the lens out, I shoot it, I check the results. That's my baseline. If I don't shoot with a tripod, then that information does me no good.
Keep the lens only if you think you can use it effectively. Your 5th point is the most important with regard to practice and improving the skill set. There is no substitute for understanding light (quantity, quality, temperature, atmospherics, etc.) and how the camera interprets it. I appreciate that you want to "get the shot" at all costs and sometimes that's ok when one wants to shoot to work on other aspects of photography such as AF, tracking, framing, etc. Recognize how these factors will impact your image and utilize your knowledge and experience to leverage better results. You mentioned that the bird shots were, "done under pressure". What does that mean? Nearly every WL shot (and most photography) involves some degree of "pressure" namely timing, lighting, composition, physical environment, and other limitations. Gaining comfort in those circumstances and understanding how to best manipulate those factors given the situation are most important. Even with a degree of mastery, at times the outcomes will be less than ideal.
