I have the Nisi system for the 14-24. I use the polarizer, 6 stop and occasionally, the 10 stop. The first 2 are my go to for water falls and 10 stop when I want smooth water in big bodies of water. If I lived closer to the ocean, I would be using this lens more. I love the perspective it gives but needs that strong foreground. I used it for Northern Lights when I had that opportunity a few years back. I keep thinking I will get out more to do night sky...but I am still working (to fund my obsessions) and just don't do well without sleep anymore. I am kind of kicking myself I didn't use it more in the UP this fall.
I appreciate your feed back, based on the diverse results of your images deserves respect, you certainly have the eye for composition and I see the passion and effort you put in.
I found getting so many different lenses and cameras and changing all the time just had to stop, it was all wrong, $ wise, depreciation, obsolescence, weight, to many choices, all brought on an Epiphany moment, I was loosing focus on photography, I needed to stop, look at the archives, see what I do go back to basics, this was helped due to a couple of friends who had old cameras D2X D3X and 3 lenses (24-70 80-200D, 150-500 Sigma) that did everything they needed and was blowing away people with all the high end gear and a room full of exotic lenses. I sold the D4s D5, bought 2 D850 bodies.
I now only have, 16mm fish eye 2.8 (amazing used well, it was designed for astronomy but just dose amazing landscapes and street photography) 14-24, 24-70, Insanely good 70-200 FL now the work horse, 200-500. I still have my 300 2.8 VR II presently sadly gathering dust as the 70-200 FL is becoming more my go to lens for the mid range 50mm to 300mm easily covered on the D850 one step back or one step forward, old school that works LOL.
I sold the 600 f4, to big heavy and represented 5% of my images.
I found going out to a shoot I constantly umed and ared about which lens and it became a pain so I took more than I needed all the time, Now I just grab 2 lenses 14-24, 70-200 done, one body and go. I walked around Cradle mountain in Tasmania nothing like what you have of course, I was more than happy with the 14-24 and a lightweight tripod, it just made me stop and think of composition rather than whic les now, I use the Schneider CinemaScope glass filters 4mm thick heavy but brilliant, I inherited the filters then added some, I need only half the filters as they do both GND and ND as the glass is that big, I mean I had these 15 years ago when glass wasn't even thought of main stream and everyone was using resin filters. I find polarizers don't like the range under 24mm unless things have changed.
I was very surprised at the D850 over the D5 with the 500 PF. I always fine tune my lens on a tripod and it was unmistakable the differences. I just don't know why the D850 seemed to render more detail. It also beats out the D500 that everyone loves with the 500 PF. Maybe those 2 are soulmates....??? Making stuff up now.
Agree, I see so many people end up going back to the D850.
I have seriously considered selling the 70-200 f4 for the f2.8 FL version. Defiantly a great move, I find TCs dont do it for me that much, though on the FL it certainly would be better than the F4. I just found with the FL I need less iso and shutter speeds, it certainly gathers light well and is very sharp. Awesome colour and is a genuine 70-200mm as it has no focus breathing.
I use it with a TC when I need a mid range zoom with BIF or mammals. Lately I have become disenchanted with the IQ on the f4. When I travel, it is a stretch to get everything into my already large camera bag...to say nothing of the weight. And at 64, I'm not gettin any younger. Ugh. Yoga and hiking 6 days a week so I can but for how much longer. Older people problems. I am a whisker older than you, I have put on a few pounds to much weight and it is really notably effecting what I do, my girlfriend says I have been in a good paddock a little to long this season, so 2021 has seen me embark on a diet, I am very strong in will power...…...my girlfriend is a Yoga Guru so to speak, she is fit and strong and not into photography, but supports everything I do as she loves traveling in our bus, bush walks and is a beach bunny at heart, we are very much beach water people given where we live.
Primes just ruin everything where budget is concerned. The more you know, the more discerning you become. I wonder if anyone has ever done a real cost when moving to primes...because it causes an upgrade in every other part of the kit....just sayin. How do you mean upgrade everything else ?
I find we lease a car for $30,000 why not gear if its your passion and hobby, at least you have good resale, the issue is will you take better photos or simply take a trip on a merry-go-round, hiring some for a week may make the decision easier for those contemplating. I set up a business name initially and wrote things of in Tax saving around 30%, to me the cost of photography is in the cost of the trips and in time, then what do we do with the images we take. Only a thought. On a computer of forum will the images be that much better, I see lots of people with the biggest lenses and greatest cameras and sadly technically they are great but really are in cases poor compositionally.
I have always felt No amount of money can ever buy good composition, composition and powerful story telling evoking emotion in the viewer is more powerful than any piece of gear, or any amount of detail and sharpness. The old formula LOL 20% gear 80% photographer
Great Chatting, Keep well and safe,
I thought 2020 would give me everything I wanted,
2020 now makes me appreciate everything I have.
OZ down under
