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

[Steve]

I was able to get out with the 800PF some over the weekend.
All shot with Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm.

1) Blue Grosbeak

2) Pass'n thru

3) One more, just chill'n

4) Dickcissel Chopstyx

5) RWBB - male

6) RWBB - female

7) Painted Bunting, hiding in the thicket

8) Just some Flowers

Wonderful set! #2 cracks me up

 

[G-FOTO.de]

I was able to get out with the 800PF some over the weekend.
All shot with Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm.

1) Blue Grosbeak


2) Pass'n thru


3) One more, just chill'n


4) Dickcissel Chopstyx

5) RWBB - male


6) RWBB - female


7) Painted Bunting, hiding in the thicket


8) Just some Flowers

thumbs up for #4
I like the separation with the mono green background and his feets

 

[Lance B]

I was able to get out with the 800PF some over the weekend.
All shot with Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm.

1) Blue Grosbeak

2) Pass'n thru

3) One more, just chill'n

4) Dickcissel Chopstyx

5) RWBB - male

6) RWBB - female

7) Painted Bunting, hiding in the thicket

8) Just some Flowers

Fantastic shots, Phil!

 

[PhilM]

Wonderful set! #2 cracks me up

Thanks Steve. It was like he was doing a lawn dart impersonation. Lol!!!!

thumbs up for #4
I like the separation with the mono green background and his feets

Thank you Guido. I was impressed by his ability to handle the giant chopstix! ;-)

Big wow factor here!

Thanks Hut, much appreciated.

Fantastic shots, Phil!

As always, I appreciate your feedback Lance.

 

[PhilM]

Here are two more from later Saturday. Still Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm

This a tree that my wife & used to watch. In fact, we watched it for several seasons worth of hatchlings. Sadly, two years ago, the majority of the top of the tree got blown off in a huge storm. This past Saturday was the 1st time we've seen the tree (what's left of it) populated.

1) I believe this is Mom, based on comparative size vs. the mate.

2) Jr. "holding down the fort" (shot from 25+ yards, the 800 really makes it look close!)

 

[NorthernFocus]

I was able to get out with the 800PF some over the weekend.
All shot with Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm.

1) Blue Grosbeak

2) Pass'n thru

3) One more, just chill'n

4) Dickcissel Chopstyx

5) RWBB - male

6) RWBB - female

7) Painted Bunting, hiding in the thicket

8) Just some Flowers

Wow. Nice set.

 

[PhilM]

Wow. Nice set.

Thanks Dan. We really had fun that morning.

 

[StefanSC]

Just as a fun observation:

I regularly check a few used photo gear sites here in Europe, usually looking for cheap and off-beat lenses and cameras.

Since the 800mm PF announcement, there has been an explosion of 600mm f4s and 800mm f5.6s on these sites ... From where they would have 1 or 2 every few months and they would be gone in weeks, now there are 4-6 in stock and they sit unsold for months at between 9000 and 13000 USD

 

[padrepaul]

Just got my 800 6.3 yesterday and ran out to try it at sunset.

First thoughts: the autofocus is great. I shot with the 800 5.6 adapted on it and it worked well, but struggled with the 1.25 TC. While i own the 1.4 TC for the Z system did not try it yet. My reaction was it seemed to lock on easier to the bird and the "stickiness" was a little better. It is also very easy to walk about with so instead of setting up the tripod and then having to shoot, I can grab it and get more shots, and as we all know birds can be flushed quickly. Excited to try it some more. Here's two warblers, palms, from last night.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[gdecamp]

Just got my 800 6.3 yesterday and ran out to try it at sunset.

First thoughts: the autofocus is great. I shot with the 800 5.6 adapted on it and it worked well, but struggled with the 1.25 TC. While i own the 1.4 TC for the Z system did not try it yet. My reaction was it seemed to lock on easier to the bird and the "stickiness" was a little better. It is also very easy to walk about with so instead of setting up the tripod and then having to shoot, I can grab it and get more shots, and as we all know birds can be flushed quickly. Excited to try it some more. Here's two warblers, palms, from last night.

View attachment 38044View attachment 38045

Congratulations on your new 800! I'm of the belief that there is a nice difference between adapted lenses vs an equivalent Z lens on the Z9. Again nice job!!

 

[padrepaul]

Congratulations on your new 800! I'm of the belief that there is a nice difference between adapted lenses vs an equivalent Z lens on the Z9. Again nice job!!

Thanks, excited to use it and can't wait to get out more.

 

[gdecamp]

Thanks, excited to use it and can't wait to get out more.

I don't blame you!!

 

[PhilM]

Here's one from my walk during lunch.

Z9, 800PF
(still trying to figure out how to insert so the EXIF data shows. :-/ )

 

[fcotterill]

Test of time, these two sets of test shots are footnotes compared to Steve's review over a month ago. The recent Cameralabs review is more thorough

 

[Ralph]

Here are two more from later Saturday. Still Z9 + 800PF, @ 800mm

This a tree that my wife & used to watch. In fact, we watched it for several seasons worth of hatchlings. Sadly, two years ago, the majority of the top of the tree got blown off in a huge storm. This past Saturday was the 1st time we've seen the tree (what's left of it) populated.

1) I believe this is Mom, based on comparative size vs. the mate.

2) Jr. "holding down the fort" (shot from 25+ yards, the 800 really makes it look close!)

Excellent Phil! Well done

 

[Ralph]

Just got my 800 6.3 yesterday and ran out to try it at sunset.

First thoughts: the autofocus is great. I shot with the 800 5.6 adapted on it and it worked well, but struggled with the 1.25 TC. While i own the 1.4 TC for the Z system did not try it yet. My reaction was it seemed to lock on easier to the bird and the "stickiness" was a little better. It is also very easy to walk about with so instead of setting up the tripod and then having to shoot, I can grab it and get more shots, and as we all know birds can be flushed quickly. Excited to try it some more. Here's two warblers, palms, from last night.

View attachment 38044View attachment 38045

Beautiful Paul!

 

[fcotterill]

First tests with Z-Teleconverters on the 800 f6.3S PF

TC14 1:1 crop - distance ~6m 1120mm

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TC14 uncropped - distance ~12m 1120mm

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TC2 uncropped - distance ~20m 1600mm

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No TC uncropped - distance ~20m 800mm for comparison

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[Chris K]

Has anyone with the 800PF also shot with the 500PF, and can compare AF performance on a Z9?

I shoot my 500PF with a TC14 frequently, so I’m most interested in the 500PF+TC14 performance versus the 800PF, but I realize that’s a bit of an ask, so I’ll take whatever opinions I can get.

I’m trying to decide if I can really justify 800/6.3 for the extra weight and cash, when I‘m already pretty happy with my “700/8.0”.

 

[fcotterill]

The 500 & TC14 was one of my favorite optics on the Z9, until I was fortunate to receive my 800 PF last week. I hardly notice the extra weight of the 800 PF handholding, and it's sharper obviously besides being a 2/3 stop faster.
I also appreciate the extra focal length, with the ZTC14 especially. The 800 pairs well with the 500 PF

 

[DaveR]

The 500 & TC14 was one of my favorite optics on the Z9, until I was fortunate to receive my 800 PF last week. I hardly notice the extra weight of the 800 PF handholding, and it's sharper obviously besides being 2/3 faster.
I also appreciate the extra focal length, with the ZTC14 especially. The 800 pairs well with the 500 PF

I use the 500pf + 1.4III tc + ftz on the Z9 like you. So pleased to hear you found such an improvement in AF performance. I hoping for and anticipating such an improvement so it's great to have that confirmed. I was also considering getting the Z 1.4tc to use with the 800mm on the few ocaisions when I would need a bit of extra reach. But I was thinking it might be better to go all Z mount and get the 400pf to pair with the 800mm instead of the 500pf. It would depend on the max aperature of the 400pf but it would be nice to go all Z mount for the improvement on AF performance it should bring.

 

[gdecamp]

A shot from last week - Z9, 800pf not cropped

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[Chris K]

The 500PF’s fine performance with a 1.4, and the upcoming 400PF’s assumed fine performance with the (apparently much-improved) 2x are the only things making me question the 800PF.

As great as the 800PF seems to be, it’s pretty attractive to save 2lbs and a few inches if the only major cost is 2/3rds a stop. The 500PF has given me a taste of that option, and I’m expecting the 400PF to be even better, being native, newer, and with the better Z TC’s.

I put a lot of value on weight, which is why I’m all over these PF optics to begin with. I’ve handheld a 6lbs tele before, and while I’m OK with it, I sure am loving this 3lbs lens…

I guess I’ll find out when my 800PF shows up. I just wish Steve had his 800PF to do the traditional AF speed demonstration he does in his reviews!

 

[zule11]

SUPER TELE REVIEW - Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3​

 

[Chris K]

Geez, these guys and their 800mm portraits! This is the second reviewer I've seen attempting this. I can't tell if they're serious or not at this point!

I applaud them for experimenting, but I had a heck of a time shooting portraits with a 300/2.8 due to the amount of camera movement you need to affect the background and the difficulty communicating.

Does anyone here shoot portraits with anything longer than a 300/2.8? Do you find you're really getting something you can't get from the typical 105/135/200 options?

 

[NorthernFocus]

Geez, these guys and their 800mm portraits! This is the second reviewer I've seen attempting this. I can't tell if they're serious or not at this point!

I applaud them for experimenting, but I had a heck of a time shooting portraits with a 300/2.8 due to the amount of camera movement you need to affect the background and the difficulty communicating.

Does anyone here shoot portraits with anything longer than a 300/2.8? Do you find you're really getting something you can't get from the typical 105/135/200 options?

They're not wildlife photographers. Simply shooting what they know best. Just reviewing the lens to generate internet traffic/income.