Nikon 800PF Review For Wildlife Photographers (Official Discussion Thread)

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The one thing I see with PF lenses is odd amoeba-like specular highlights - particularly with backlit subjects (using the 500 PF). I have the 800 PF on order, but may be keeping my 600 f/4 for a while. The 600 f/4 has a very nice bokeh. We'll see how the 800 PF is with various compositions and backgrounds.
 
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JAS said:
In any case, my photgraphy hobby is less expensive than my wife's quilting hobby as a quality Bernina sewing machine with the required extras is about the same cost as a Z9/800mm f/6.3 PF combo.
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I've got a buddy whose wife buys looms for weaving…and you're right…they cost more than a photography hobby.
 
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Neil Laubenthal said:
I've got a buddy whose wife buys looms for weaving…and you're right…they cost more than a photography hobby.
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My wife was a weaver for many years. I literally had a heart attack carrying her last loom down the stairs with the help of the new owners. Very mild and I did not even know I had had one until I decided it was too weird not getting my wind back after three days and went to the hospital. They slapped me into a bed overnight and I had a stent put in the next morning. Thank goodness we had good supplemental insurance and all of you youngsters paying for our Medicare. The hospital bill came to around 90k and we paid about twelve hundred for our fair share.

Oops, back to the looms and yarns and stuff. I figure she was in close to 50k lifetime in looms. She gave away a LOT of very nice scarves, baby blankets, etc. She sold some of them too, but mostly for about enough to buy new weaving supplies. She made some incredibly soft and supple baby blankets that took over 200 hours to make. We only gave them to our grandkids when they were babies and to the babies of a very few good friends.

I guess I do not feel so bad about spending the money for the Z9 now. I am replacing my old D500 and I sold literally several millions of dollars worth of jewelry and sent at least one good picture with each piece sold, so even though I was not paid for the photography, those photos were clearly part of my business.
 
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gdecamp said:
Manual is ready for download now


Should ship any day. As mentioned on another thread several days ago I had heard April 22 as possible ship date. Looks like a good possibility now!
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I hope so!
I just called my LCS and gave them my card info (officially ordered and got my receipt 2 weeks ago, unofficially committed to it back in January lol)
I know, as of the day of the announcement at least, they had 4 orders in when I asked.
I got the receipt for payment emailed just now and below the line item for the 800mm they added a note "second" (I did receive NPS a week ago and added priority to it). The original receipt emailed to me on the 9th didnt have that note. So hoping that means I am slotted at #2 and that they get at least 2 lenses that first shipment :)
 
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DGettisNC said:
I hope so!
I just called my LCS and gave them my card info (officially ordered and got my receipt 2 weeks ago, unofficially committed to it back in January lol)
I know, as of the day of the announcement at least, they had 4 orders in when I asked.
I got the receipt for payment emailed just now and below the line item for the 800mm they added a note "second" (I did receive NPS a week ago and added priority to it). The original receipt emailed to me on the 9th didnt have that note. So hoping that means I am slotted at #2 and that they get at least 2 lenses that first shipment :)
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Im hoping to hear more soon too, was the only order at my local shop and am also NPS. The manual being out Id hope is a good sign.
 
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I just shed my guitar addiction. I kept my five favorites...of 51. It was fun for a while:cool:.
So...serious question...at what point does FL reach a diminishing return? If I have a subject that is a football field away, even if I have a 2000mm lens (just a random high number), isn't the atmosphere gonna take a giant poop on my image quality anyway. Lot's seem very excited about the 800, so that doesn't seem to be the ceiling. I don't think I want one at this point, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point. Anyway...how long would you think the cutoff would be?
 
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Jbear said:
I just shed my guitar addiction. I kept my five favorites...of 51. It was fun for a while:cool:.
So...serious question...at what point does FL reach a diminishing return? If I have a subject that is a football field away, even if I have a 2000mm lens (just a random high number), isn't the atmosphere gonna take a giant poop on my image quality anyway. Lot's seem very excited about the 800, so that doesn't seem to be the ceiling. I don't think I want one at this point, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point. Anyway...how long would you think the cutoff would be?
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I've had some success in really good conditions with 1000 and 1200. But I really feel that 800 (840) is what people should try to stay at or under. If you are needing more than 800 and still far away then adding focal length doesn't always turn out too well. My preference is to get subjects into the 500-600 range where I may have to crop 50% out of a 40-50MP FF sensor.
 
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Interesting. For me 500 seems to be perfect. My particular choice (Sigma OS Sport) very much likes tc's for times when a little more reach is needed; I can also hand-hold it easily with out without. I like the idea of 800, but that's a lot of $ for "like."
 
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Jbear said:
I just shed my guitar addiction. I kept my five favorites...of 51. It was fun for a while:cool:.
So...serious question...at what point does FL reach a diminishing return? If I have a subject that is a football field away, even if I have a 2000mm lens (just a random high number), isn't the atmosphere gonna take a giant poop on my image quality anyway. Lot's seem very excited about the 800, so that doesn't seem to be the ceiling. I don't think I want one at this point, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point. Anyway...how long would you think the cutoff would be?
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800-1000 where I live a lot does have some issues; hot ground, low over water, up wind from a dusty road with traffic, high pollen counts and worst of all in and around hydrothermal features are all AF killers. OTOH, moderate temperatures, a high thin cloud layer, 5-10 MPH breeze and in the golden hours morning and evening and you can get fantastic images. Wildlife with snow on their backs, at high altitudes with a gentle breeze in good light are easy. If I lived in a place such as Jackson WY the 800mm would always have a camera mounted to it.

800MM requires some up front effort to know the lens so you are going to get the most out of it. If the 800 PF is your first 800 experience, I suggest you put it on a tripod and spend a few evenings harassing birds, cats and dogs to get a feel for it and see how sharp it is. Hand holding may be your thing, which is find, but you will be giving up some IQ while doing that you might as well see what that is early on. There are just not many mornings where f6.3, 1/2000 second and low ISO are a reality for more than a half hour.
 
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All of that makes sense. I do always try to spend a lot of time around the yard shooting whatever gear I get until using it becomes second nature.
I went from 100% tripod to 100% HH, and now I'm about 50/50. I shoot from a tripod unless time and circumstance don't allow it. I don't see 800 being a hand-held regular for me, but...it's gonna be awhile before I even think about going ML and that has to happen first.
 
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Jbear said:
...serious question...at what point does FL reach a diminishing return? If I have a subject that is a football field away, even if I have a 2000mm lens (just a random high number), isn't the atmosphere gonna take a giant poop on my image quality anyway. Lot's seem very excited about the 800, so that doesn't seem to be the ceiling. I don't think I want one at this point, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point. Anyway...how long would you think the cutoff would be?
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Long FL doesn't necessarily mean long shots. It depends on the size of the subject doesn't it? It's an issue of subject size vs field of view(FOV). The minimum focus distance for this lens is about 5m/16ft at which FOV is 6x9in. Double the range double the FOV, etc. So at 100ft FOV is nominally 3x5ft. Certainly it's not a lens to use on large mammals.
 
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Yes...I get that. I suppose a lot has to with how close you can typically get to certain subjects. I shoot a ton from kayaks and tend to be able to get very close to critters/birds that I never got anywhere near close enough to photograph on land. The 200-500VR is my favorite boat lens for that reason (along with ridiculously stable VR and wide-open sharpness). Would really like to try an 800, but can't say I need it (the first world version of "need").
 
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I am first NPS at the medium sized store in CA where I bought my Z6II and Z9. I expect to be able to crop less than with my 600 f/4E on the small birds I stalk out here in our sage brush steppe. I also photograph along the riparian cottonwood corridor zone along the Boise River ... water way to fast and rough for using a kayak or canoe for photographing birds. My favorite small ponds and lakes where it would be feasible do not allow water craft. I used to have a Hobie MIrage (peddle power) and it was good for fishing and could have been okay for water fowl but most of my land orieted targets would not have been accessible. My wife has decided the lens hood on my 500pf is to hard to put on and take off, with her small arthiric hands and I am frequently not there to help her do that She also decided while it produces great shots it is heavier than the lenses she normally uses Tamron 100-400 and 18-400 on her Z50 so I have the 500pf back in my arsenal. Still think I will hold off on selling 600 f/4E until I have the 800 in hand.
 
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My dealer here in Europe still doesn't know if Nikon will supply anything tomorrow or whenever. :rolleyes:
He is just hoping that he will get his 3 pieces till end of April.

Damn I am so excited. My Z6II is sitting and waiting here at home and I just have a tiny Z 24-50 to play with. 😁
And it also looks like that my new giant Benro Sherpa 800 backpack will arrive much faster from China than forecasted.
So come on Nikon hurry up!
 
Jbear said:
So...serious question...at what point does FL reach a diminishing return? If I have a subject that is a football field away, even if I have a 2000mm lens (just a random high number), isn't the atmosphere gonna take a giant poop on my image quality anyway. Lot's seem very excited about the 800, so that doesn't seem to be the ceiling. I don't think I want one at this point, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point. Anyway...how long would you think the cutoff would be?
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There certainly can be diminishing marginal returns for a longer focal length but IMHO there's no absolute limit to useful focal length. However the greater the distance (hence the desire for a longer focal length) the chances are greater for atmospheric disturbances wreaking havoc with the equipment's image quality. FWIW under ideal conditions the 600 GM runs circles around the stellar 100-400 GM but because of the increased working distance where I normally use the 600 I've noticed thermal distortion a lot more at 600mm than at 400mm.
 
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Ken Miracle said:
I am first NPS at the medium sized store in CA where I bought my Z6II and Z9. I expect to be able to crop less than with my 600 f/4E on the small birds I stalk out here in our sage brush steppe. I also photograph along the riparian cottonwood corridor zone along the Boise River ... water way to fast and rough for using a kayak or canoe for photographing birds. My favorite small ponds and lakes where it would be feasible do not allow water craft. I used to have a Hobie MIrage (peddle power) and it was good for fishing and could have been okay for water fowl but most of my land orieted targets would not have been accessible. My wife has decided the lens hood on my 500pf is to hard to put on and take off, with her small arthiric hands and I am frequently not there to help her do that She also decided while it produces great shots it is heavier than the lenses she normally uses Tamron 100-400 and 18-400 on her Z50 so I have the 500pf back in my arsenal. Still think I will hold off on selling 600 f/4E until I have the 800 in hand.
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My 1.4TC lives on my 600. Quite a financial predicament when the 800 PF arrives. The fact that I use the hell out of my D6 is what will keep me from selling it. I'll likely replace that with the Z9II (or whatever it's gonna be). When that time comes I'll probably part ways with my 600.
 
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grossidm said:
My 1.4TC lives on my 600. Quite a financial predicament when the 800 PF arrives. The fact that I use the hell out of my D6 is what will keep me from selling it. I'll likely replace that with the Z9II (or whatever it's gonna be). When that time comes I'll probably part ways with my 600.
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I already sold my D6 when the Z9 was announced and Steve commented that he should have sold his sooner :) I kept the D850 for what turned out to be a long wait for the Z9 :)
 
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Ken Miracle said:
I already sold my D6 when the Z9 was announced and Steve commented that he should have sold his sooner :) I kept the D850 for what turned out to be a long wait for the Z9 :)
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It'll happen eventually, but for now I like it too much to let it go. To me, the files that come out of that camera are noticably better than the Z9. Color noise is cleaner and the images just seem crisper. Also, in my experience, the AF smokes the Z9 on initial acquisition. I'm still learning mirrorless though, I'm sure once I'm comfortable with the Z9 my thoughts will change. On a related note, I really like how they added the custom AF boxes on the Z9 like the D6 has. To boot they seem much more powerful on the Z9 given the subject detection and eye AF.
 
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grossidm said:
It'll happen eventually, but for now I like it too much to let it go. To me, the files that come out of that camera are noticably better than the Z9. Color noise is cleaner and the images just seem crisper. Also, in my experience, the AF smokes the Z9 on initial acquisition. I'm still learning mirrorless though, I'm sure once I'm comfortable with the Z9 my thoughts will change. On a related note, I really like how they added the custom AF boxes on the Z9 like the D6 has. To boot they seem much more powerful on the Z9 given the subject detection and eye AF.
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I agree just customized CF1 and 2 for the three shooting banks I have set up and did quick test outside on neighbors dog and a car. They are very nice. Now the rain is back. I am still setting up the Z9 so nothing but test shots for features indoors and between rain showers (much appreciated rain showers we are in a drought) so nothing for seriousness to evaluate against old D6 files. But I preferred my D850 files over the D6 except in the noise department if I pushed the ISO. Have not shot Z9 enough to get a good feel for initial acquisition compared to D6 but as I got used to the Z6II it is far closer to the D6 than I expected it to be. Z6II biggest challenge for BIF etc. is useable frame rate and the lag time in the viewfinder.
 
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Chris K said:
Congrats! We expect you to spend your time telling us all about it rather than shooting it. ;)
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LOL it just caused me to "try" and speed up my set up and testing on the Z9 ... With Easter I did not get started on that until Monday of this week and then yesterday and today along comes the firmware update for Z9 and Z6II and Light Room Classic and Nikon NX studio (which I had to do on my and my wifes macbook pros and my iMac. Next week my Mac Studio and Studio Monitor should be in at my apple retailer :) Not sure how so much I had been trying to get for months in some cases is all coming during a two week span !!! Now back to the Z9.
 
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Gee, what to test first, eh? You must be pretty excited to have a new telephoto and a new monitor to show it on!

I found the new firmware pretty easy to acclimate to. I do have a tendency to "pump" bursts to avoid making too many frames, which I had to un-learn when playing with pre-capture. Otherwise the new AF modes are really intuitive, and 120fps is a nice set-it-and-forget-it option.
 
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