If you could buy only one lens…

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Bill G.

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Assumptions:
  • On Nikon Z9
  • Primarily for bird photography
  • Below lenses are already available for purchase (I know wishful thinking but please humor me😊)
  • Lens options:
    • Z 100-400 f/4.55-5.6 VR S
    • Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
    • Z 800mm PF f/6.3 S
    • Rumored Z 200-600 VR S
    • Others?
Which lens would you buy and why?

Thanks!
 
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I would say it depends on where you live and how close you can get to the birds in your area. I decided on the Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S but I do have the 500pf and have had it from the day it came out so will keep that unless later I decide to sell it for something else.

The 400/2.8 gives you a 400mm f2.8 lens naturally but also a 560/f4 and of course a 800/5.6 (with a 2x) all of which will be extremely good and it weighs 6.5lbs. Of course it is the most expensive! I'm waiting for mine, hopefully will have it in a few weeks!
 
Last edited:
Bill G. said:
Assumptions:
  • On Nikon Z9
  • Primarily for bird photography
  • Below lenses are already available for purchase (I know wishful thinking but please humor me😊)
  • Lens options:
    • Z 100-400 f/4.55-5.6 VR S
    • Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
    • Z 800mm PF f/6.3 S
    • Rumored Z 200-600 VR S
    • Others?
Which lens would you buy and why?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Do I have other lenses already in this scenario, or I'm only allowed one to carry for everything? If the latter then the 200-600 for the versatility. If the former, what other glass do I already have?
 
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I'm waiting to see the specs on the 200-600. Until then, I'm using a 500pf and 600EFL. The 400S looks very nice but I can't justify the cost. I want to keep my current exotics as I still have and will continue using my dslrs.
 
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400 f.2.8 with the TC. That lens can just do it all, is nice and lightweight and nice and short to pack.
Of course if the upcoming 600/4 has built in TC then I would be back to flipping coins to try and decide just like I've done many times over the years (and the 600 has always won).
 
Member's gallery
Bill G. said:
Assumptions:
  • On Nikon Z9
  • Primarily for bird photography
  • Below lenses are already available for purchase (I know wishful thinking but please humor me😊)
  • Lens options:
    • Z 100-400 f/4.55-5.6 VR S
    • Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
    • Z 800mm PF f/6.3 S
    • Rumored Z 200-600 VR S
    • Others?
Which lens would you buy and why?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you have the budget, 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. Add the 1.4 x and 2x tc’s and you get lots of options, a 400;f2.8, a 560 f4 and a 800 f5.6
 
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Given my F mount lenses work happily across all my Z bodies (Z50, Z6, Z9) I'd have a hard time deciding on a wish list.....if primarily for birding then the 800 6.3, but my 600 f4g + 1.4TC III perform quite well on my Z9.... :D
 
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gdecamp said:
I would say it depends on where you live and how close you can get to the birds in your area. I decided on the Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S but I do have the 500pf and have had it from the day it came out so will keep that unless later I decide to sell it for something else.

The 400/2.8 gives you a 400mm f2.8 lens naturally but also a 560/f4 and of course a 800/5.6 (with a 2x) all of which will be extremely good and it weighs 6.5lbs. Of course it is the most expensive! I'm waiting for mine, hopefully will have it in a few weeks!
Click to expand...
Very interested how this lens performs with TC for bird in flight shots.
 
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Bill G. said:
Assumptions:
  • On Nikon Z9
  • Primarily for bird photography
  • Below lenses are already available for purchase (I know wishful thinking but please humor me😊)
  • Lens options:
    • Z 100-400 f/4.55-5.6 VR S
    • Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
    • Z 800mm PF f/6.3 S
    • Rumored Z 200-600 VR S
    • Others?
Which lens would you buy and why?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I'm not a fan of variable aperture lenses like the 100-400 or 80-400.
The 400mm f2.8 looks fantastic but I already have a 600mm f4 G lens so I cant justify the price.
As I expect it to be an upgrade from the 200-500 G lens - I almost certainly will be buying the 200-600 Z lens.
I might also buy the 800mm Z lens as well.
BTW there is a cheaper 400mm Z lens on the Nikon roadmap.🦘
 
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Still waiting on Z9 just got Z6II. I have done primarily bird photography for the last 7 years or so.

What would I want ... most likely the 800 PF .... already have the Z100-400 and it is a great lens and plays great with the Z1.4TC on the Z6II ... I also have a 500 pf and the 1.4 TCIII and that combo worked great on the Z6II. I also have a 600 f/4 E and have used it with the 1.4TCIII on D850 and D6. So hoping what I have fills the bill but the 800 pf sounds intriguing and the Z 1.4 TC should also work on it.
 
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500mm PF would be my choice as it provides enough image magnification and is not too long a focal length for general use. I have found a 600mm too long in situations and this will be even more likely with the 800mm. When I owned the 200-500mm zoom lens I often woud use my 80-400mm lens instead as the 200mm minimum focal length provided too restricted a field of view.

While owning the 500mm PF and the 80-400mm and the 600mm f/4 lens, the one I use by far the most for bird photography is the 500mm PF and it never comes off one of my cameras.

In a place like Florida it would be the 100-400mm lens as approaching wildlife is not a problem and with larger birds it is preferable to a longer focal length where the bird entirely fills the frame.

For it makes more sense to decide on which two lenses work the best and for me it is the 500mm PF along with the 100-400mm.
 
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I love my 500 f5.6 pf on my D500 and will be looking forward to putting it on my Z9 when it arrives. I have the TC 14 III to go along. I recently acquired the Nikkor 100-400 f4.5-5.6. It is incredibly sharp, like the 500. It will be my all in one on my Z9 when I don't know what might come along. It does landscapes on the low end and wildlife at the long end. Remember you can switch to DX mode with the Z9 at 19.5 mpx, for a 150-600. That is a lot of versatility for one lens. We're doing the Alaska Marine Highway ferries from Billingham, Wa. to Kodiak Island. The 100-400 will be my primary for seabirds to whales, and landscape shots.
 
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jcgamble said:
I love my 500 f5.6 pf on my D500 and will be looking forward to putting it on my Z9 when it arrives. I have the TC 14 III to go along. I recently acquired the Nikkor 100-400 f4.5-5.6. It is incredibly sharp, like the 500. It will be my all in one on my Z9 when I don't know what might come along. It does landscapes on the low end and wildlife at the long end. Remember you can switch to DX mode with the Z9 at 19.5 mpx, for a 150-600. That is a lot of versatility for one lens. We're doing the Alaska Marine Highway ferries from Billingham, Wa. to Kodiak Island. The 100-400 will be my primary for seabirds to whales, and landscape shots.
Click to expand...
Lots of folks are definitely recommending at least 2 lenses for the flexibility and variety of circumstances.
 
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