Nice shot. FYI - I am pretty sure that is a hooded oriole.
Nikon 600PF - Share Photos & Discuss!!!
- Thread starter MatthewK
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Looks like it to me also; similar to what I posted in the Plena thread.
It is important to resist the GAS side effect called ‘second guessing’ equipment you already have. Small differences are just that. I remain very satisfied with my 180-600. I do use DXO Pure Raw4 on images I select. I do find the benefits of zooming back and locating the subject very useful. I never thought I woukd become such a fan of a zoom lens.
I have used the 800 Pf and although it is a fine lens, it isn’t something I would choose to buy. The 600 focal length is proving to be a very practical focal length. I do like prime lenses and the 600Pf would make a great addition to my collection. As I get older the combination of size, weight, and sharpness will move me away from the 180-600 and straight to the excellent 600pf.
Until then I will continue to enjoy the balance of the zoom lens. For me that means, good VR, nice price point, consistent sharpness across the frame at all lengths, ease of use, zoom flexibility and a programable function button. I have no interest in using a TC with the 180-600. If the bird is at a distance where a TC would be useful I just press Fn3 on the Z9 and take a couple of DX shots before bouncing back to FX.
Fiat
Active member
Northern Shoveler duck (z8+z600pf+TC1.4)
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maxxus46
Well-known member
No question the Nikon 180-600 is an excellent lens. I shot Sony for years with the venerable 200-600G, and that lens was not as good. Obtaining consistent AF with the Sony lens was an excercise in frustration. That's one thing often not discussed in reviews between those two Lenses, the Nikon 186 having far better AF motors and consistency
MatthewK
Well-known member
Shoot the 180-600 and be happy, it's a great lens. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it in place of my 600PF (I owned them both together for ~8 months).
At 257 feet to start with an owl snack. He needs to listen to his parents and not sit on that rock.
Backlit Curved Bill Thresher singing away. Loved the tongue.
Pile of finches high up a on a Saguaro.
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Backlit Curved Bill Thresher singing away. Loved the tongue.
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Pile of finches high up a on a Saguaro.
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Nice set!
beano
Well-known member
No photos to post just yet, as I just collected my 600 6.3 this afternoon. Has been procrastinating over this one for many months now, and well, saw a 800AUD price-drop yesterday, and decided to get it.
Actually surprised at the VR performance, tested it on a subject in-house ~8m /26ft away, 1/25th of a second and tac-sharp. Woah. Seems I got a good copy. Will take it out for a walk tomorrow and see if I can get my favourite Cormorant. More later
Actually surprised at the VR performance, tested it on a subject in-house ~8m /26ft away, 1/25th of a second and tac-sharp. Woah. Seems I got a good copy. Will take it out for a walk tomorrow and see if I can get my favourite Cormorant. More later
maxxus46
Well-known member
Enjoy it, it's an awesome lens. Im not aware of any copy variation with this particular lens, or it's quite rare. Chances are you have a very sharp lens. Mine has been great. TylNo photos to post just yet, as I just collected my 600 6.3 this afternoon. Has been procrastinating over this one for many months now, and well, saw a 800AUD price-drop yesterday, and decided to get it.
Actually surprised at the VR performance, tested it on a subject in-house ~8m /26ft away, 1/25th of a second and tac-sharp. Woah. Seems I got a good copy. Will take it out for a walk tomorrow and see if I can get my favourite Cormorant. More later
beano
Well-known member
Cheers. I will have a bit of fun comparing it to the 100-400, 180-600 and 400 4.5. Great collection, each useful in their own right. Just glad I finally got the 600 6.3, nice and light, will probably always have a spot in my bag. Together with the 100-400 and perhaps the 24-120, will be the ideal lightweight kit.
maxxus46
Well-known member
The 600PF pairs perfectly with the Z 100-400 & Z 24-120. That's my travel setup ..love it
Yesterday, I was going around checking my irrigation systems and saw several Swainsons Hawks when I came across this guy. He let me get closer than most do.
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beano
Well-known member
No photos to post just yet, as I just collected my 600 6.3 this afternoon. Has been procrastinating over this one for many months now, and well, saw a 800AUD price-drop yesterday, and decided to get it.
Actually surprised at the VR performance, tested it on a subject in-house ~8m /26ft away, 1/25th of a second and tac-sharp. Woah. Seems I got a good copy. Will take it out for a walk tomorrow and see if I can get my favourite Cormorant. More later
Ok, I had an early walk-about, before I need to take my Missus for her hair-do. My usual Mate wasn't at his regular spot, but I caught 2 other Cormorants and an Ibis nearby. Nice golden light, I might have to take a bit of saturation out though. Settings are straight out of camera raw, added a vivid profile, and nothing else. Switched NR off in camera, and haven't applied any in post, and running a relatively low shutter-speed, just wanted to see how good the lens can be
IMHO, it is plenty sharp, let me know how you guys see it? How does it compare to yours? Shots have been severely resized to upload them here, the originals have a fair bit more pixels /sharpness et al.
- Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON Z 8
- Lens: NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
- Focal Length: 600mm
- Shutter Speed: 1/250
- F/Stop: F/6.3
- ISO: 160
- Exposure Bias: 0
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beano
Well-known member
One thing I have noticed is that the fresnel element is causing some hassles wrt specular highlights, depending the angle of the light reflecting off a water-surface, for example. See the photo below, some weirdness in the out-of-focus background areas. I have a few more examples, shooting the Ibis with the water as a background....and the trees from the opposite bank penetrating into the water .....that part immediately behind and below it's beak is supposed to be water, similar to immediately behind its legs, but for some reason, the trees and foliage on the opposite bank finds its way to where it doesn't belong. Of course, it might be reflections in the water from the opposite bank, I suspect, but it doesn't look clean...
All good, I can work around it, it's also somewhat visible on the 400 4.5, bu not to the same degree....
This shot below at a slow shutter of 1/100th only, still passably sharp at that slow SS. I have to say, I am impressed by the VR of this lens.
All good, I can work around it, it's also somewhat visible on the 400 4.5, bu not to the same degree....
This shot below at a slow shutter of 1/100th only, still passably sharp at that slow SS. I have to say, I am impressed by the VR of this lens.
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bcgnz
Active member
the water looks kinda mushy?… was it actually like that?
beano
Well-known member
Yep, early morning, and it has been raining here, so it goes a bit muddy then - it’s a quite shallow wetlands-area
If using LRc to me this has been a pretty easy fix with a minor background mask to decrease texture and clarity and then a minor lens blur, if desired. Glad you are joining the fan club.
Gyalbo Bhutia
New member
I am happy that I ultimately purchased this lens 600z f6.3 over 500 f/4 AFS for my z8 &Zf and I was really in dilemma but I am happy now that I bought this lensIn one of my last posts I listed the reasons why I wouldn't invest in a 600TC, and even went so far as cancelling the order I had placed for one. Well, I reassessed my situation and went through with the orderI'm at a point in my life/career where I can responsibly handle the financial burden, but as for the physical burden... I'm quickly re-confirming that peak performance comes with some massive tradeoffs (literally), and why I had ultimately swapped my previous Canon 600 f/4 for the 500PF. Why am I posting this in the 600PF thread? Because for me, it reaffirms that the 600PF is a gem, a spectacular powerhouse in a tiny package that is TONS more fun to shoot, and has the performance to nearly match the big gun in most every category (IQ, AF prowess).
The 600TC is a major handful, and so far I'm finding it's not an enjoyable lens to handhold and employ while out in the field. It's requiring me to make compromises in how I shoot, imposing limits on my mobility and agility that the 600PF frees you of. I knew this going in, but it's still a stark wakeup call after years of handling these featherweight PF lenses. Eventually I'll adapt to these limitations and incorporate the new advantages the lens brings into my shooting process (the built-in TC is most definitely all it's cracked up to be), as there are definite use cases that I can now unlock that were previously more restrictive before due to aperture (early morning low light + shooting under shaded forest canopy where f/6.3 isn't ideal). I'm excited to give it a go at warblers here in the next few weeks!
Historically I would sell off lenses when I swapped to new ones, but this time around, the 600PF is going nowhere. It's my all-time favorite lens, and the addition of the 600TC won't change that.
View attachment 109526
MatthewK
Well-known member
Glad to see more people bringing this splendid lens into their lives!
Very nice!Ok, I had an early walk-about, before I need to take my Missus for her hair-do. My usual Mate wasn't at his regular spot, but I caught 2 other Cormorants and an Ibis nearby. Nice golden light, I might have to take a bit of saturation out though. Settings are straight out of camera raw, added a vivid profile, and nothing else. Switched NR off in camera, and haven't applied any in post, and running a relatively low shutter-speed, just wanted to see how good the lens can be
IMHO, it is plenty sharp, let me know how you guys see it? How does it compare to yours? Shots have been severely resized to upload them here, the originals have a fair bit more pixels /sharpness et al.
View attachment 111521View attachment 111522View attachment 111540View attachment 111524
- Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON Z 8
- Lens: NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
- Focal Length: 600mm
- Shutter Speed: 1/250
- F/Stop: F/6.3
- ISO: 160
- Exposure Bias: 0
From a recently hatched clutch of eggs - you see four, there's actually 9 under there....this was taking at 6 am on a typical Seattle spring morning (cloudy, wet, chilly) out by my pond...
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Thought I'd share a Northern Parula from yesterday. Cropped a small amount, maybe 20%.
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MatthewK
Well-known member
Nice one! Where are you located?
So excited for Spring Migration, it’s about to get good!
I’m in East TN. This was near a dam. I used Merlin to see what was around me and he was really close.