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

[fotogrob]

Beautiful shot Bob! Can’t wait to get my 800mm!

You will enjoy it.

 

[gdecamp]

The 500pf on the D500 has grown up to be an 800pf on the Z9, another match made in heaven combo!!

 

[Alexis]

Some of the shot done with the Z9 and the 800 PF:

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[BLev65]

Two from this weekend...
Now that I have 800mm w/ DX crop on my Z9 at my disposal, I wonder how I ever managed to photograph what I did at 500mm, 400mm, and 300mm. The extra 300mm allows me to watch my subjects at a more respectful distance and give them the opportunity to stay or go... there is a real calm that occurs when you sense that one's threat becomes a source of curiosity instead of fear.

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[Rookie Roy]

Some of the shot done with the Z9 and the 800 PF:
View attachment 55273View attachment 55274View attachment 55276View attachment 55277View attachment 55278

Nice shots! Love # 2!

 

[BLev65]

Nice shots! Love # 2!

Thanks Roy!

 

[Ralph]

SEOs did not cooperate today, so my mission to capture some more photos of them was mostly a failure (they eventually showed up when the light was basically gone, Z9 had no trouble tracking them in the dim light (the focus really improved in fw3.01)).

Got to see some other species though & also randomly met @eft in person.

Coyote by Luke S, on Flickr

Northern Harrier by Luke S, on Flickr

Northern Harrier by Luke S, on Flickr

Rabbit by Luke S, on Flickr

Short-eared Owl by Luke S, on Flickr

Luke, Awesome sightings and shots! Well done

 

[Ralph]

One of my biggest concerns in getting the 800 was the ability to capture the bird in flight (my favorite aspect of bird photography) in the frame. Happy to report I was able to follow this kestrel from the field to the perch. I came close to losing her at the end but just added a little canvas in PS.View attachment 55256View attachment 55257View attachment 55255

Beautiful Robert

 

[MatthewK]

Here's a Red Headed Woodpecker I encountered on a short outing today after work. Only a few miles from my house, so I'll def be returning when I have more time and light.

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[lukemeup]

Luke, Awesome sightings and shots! Well done

Thank you.

 

[Alexis]

Nice shots! Love # 2!

Thanks!

 

[Lance B]

Here are some first shots from my very own 800 PF that I received on Valentine's Day - and it wasn't a present from my wife!
Previous photos that I have posted were from an 800 lent to me by a friend who couldn't use it for a week when he first received it back in August and told me to use ot for a week. Some of you may remember.

Anyway, nothing special, just some birds to try it out on.

1) Java Finch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/125s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso3200

2) Black-faced Monarch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso1000

3) Black-faced Monarch - Juvenile

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso320

4) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso720

5) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso2200

6) yellow-faced Honeyeater

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso500

7) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

8) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

 

[thelordofthelight]

Awesome pics Lance! How do you find the MFD of this lens? I remember you used to photograph birds using 400 2.8 and be able to get much closer.

Here are some first shots from my very own 800 PF that I received on Valentine's Day - and it wasn't a present from my wife!
Previous photos that I have posted were from an 800 lent to me by a friend who couldn't use it for a week when he first received it back in August and told me to use ot for a week. Some of you may remember.

Anyway, nothing special, just some birds to try it out on.

1) Java Finch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/125s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso3200

2) Black-faced Monarch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso1000

3) Black-faced Monarch - Juvenile

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso320

4) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso720

5) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso2200

6) yellow-faced Honeyeater

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso500

7) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

8) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

 

[Lance B]

Awesome pics Lance! How do you find the MFD of this lens? I remember you used to photograph birds using 400 2.8 and be able to get much closer.

Thank you very much, Ganesh. Much appreciated!

There has been a bit of discussion about the minimum focus distance and at 5mts being too long. Yes, 5mts is a long MFD, but not in the context of the long focal length of 800mm. In reality, its not that different to other tele lenses in the line-up when you take into account their focal length.

The 400 f2.8E FL VR has a MFD of 2.6mts. Double the focal length to get to 800mm and you have 5.2mts. In other words, if you moved in to be twice as close, it would not really give you any extra subject size other than the slight differences in "reproduction ratio" which are all similar as well. The 500 f4E FL VR has an MFD of 3.6mts - (800/500) = 1.6 x 3.6 = 5.76mts. The 600 f4 has a MFD of 4.4mts - (800/600) = 1.33 x 4.4 = 5.86mts. The 800 f5.6E FL VR has a MFD of 5.6mts - case closed!

There is a bit of getting used to the 5mt MFD as it is not a normal thought to be that far away as I am used to shorter lenses and my first thought is to get closer, whereas the 800 it is almost a rethink to get further away! This is quite a thing to change as you are conditioned to one thing and I now have to do another. With the 400 f2.8E FL VR, if I had a TC on it, the MFD was still the same MFD of the bare lens, which is 2.6mts, which means that even if I had the 2x TC on it, I could still focus very close. I ended up with lots of close up portrait shots of just the bird's head etc and then I would have to slowly edge away to get the bird in the frame. The 800 makes you change that mindset. As I have outlined above, it isn't really an issue as far as filling the frame with small birds as it is really no different to other super teles.

 

[Syllog]

Here are some first shots from my very own 800 PF that I received on Valentine's Day - and it wasn't a present from my wife!
Previous photos that I have posted were from an 800 lent to me by a friend who couldn't use it for a week when he first received it back in August and told me to use ot for a week. Some of you may remember.

Anyway, nothing special, just some birds to try it out on.

1) Java Finch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/125s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso3200

2) Black-faced Monarch

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso1000

3) Black-faced Monarch - Juvenile

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso320

4) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso720

5) Golden Whistler

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso2200

6) yellow-faced Honeyeater

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/250s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso500

7) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

8) Southern Emu-wren

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/800s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso180

Seems like it is working OK Lance

 

[Lance B]

Seems like it is working OK Lance

Thank you very much, Syllog. Much appreciated!

 

[arbitrage]

Thank you very much, Ganesh. Much appreciated!

There has been a bit of discussion about the minimum focus distance and at 5mts being too long. Yes, 5mts is a long MFD, but not in the context of the long focal length of 800mm. In reality, its not that different to other tele lenses in the line-up when you take into account their focal length.

The 400 f2.8E FL VR has a MFD of 2.6mts. Double the focal length to get to 800mm and you have 5.2mts. In other words, if you moved in to be twice as close, it would not really give you any extra subject size other than the slight differences in "reproduction ratio" which are all similar as well. The 500 f4E FL VR has an MFD of 3.6mts - (800/500) = 1.6 x 3.6 = 5.76mts. The 600 f4 has a MFD of 4.4mts - (800/600) = 1.33 x 4.4 = 5.86mts. The 800 f5.6E FL VR has a MFD of 5.6mts - case closed!

There is a bit of getting used to the 5mt MFD as it is not a normal thought to be that far away as I am used to shorter lenses and my first thought is to get closer, whereas the 800 it is almost a rethink to get further away! This is quite a thing to change as you are conditioned to one thing and I now have to do another. With the 400 f2.8E FL VR, if I had a TC on it, the MFD was still the same MFD of the bare lens, which is 2.6mts, which means that even if I had the 2x TC on it, I could still focus very close. I ended up with lots of close up portrait shots of just the bird's head etc and then I would have to slowly edge away to get the bird in the frame. The 800 makes you change that mindset. As I have outlined above, it isn't really an issue as far as filling the frame with small birds as it is really no different to other super teles.

But that is the limitation...if we compare other ways to get to 800mm like 600/1.4TC and 400/2.0TC those offer more magnification than the 800PF. I run into MFD issues even with my 600/4. So that is why I do love using my 400/2.8 with 1.4TC to shoot 600 (560) as I don't run out of MFD with the 400. But as you say, at a given shooting distance there isn't much difference between magnification of the lenses. You have to get closer than the MFD of the longer lens to realize the extra magnification of the shorter lenses with TCs. In a lot of situations for birds that isn't possible but I know you have situations (as I do) where we can easily get much closer than 5.2m.

 

[lukemeup]

Had it for 1.5 weeks now and I'm getting more comfortable with the focal length. Walked 5-6 miles yesterday visiting a bunch of locations,

Some of the photos I got yesterday with it. All shot handheld (I'll be test driving monopod with mh-100 soon, if I'm in the same spot for a longer time, but I'm more of a 'run & gun' opportunist).

Dunlin by Luke S, on Flickr

The Stare by Luke S, on Flickr

Purple Finch by Luke S, on Flickr

Shoveler by Luke S, on Flickr

Golden-crowned Sparrow by Luke S, on Flickr

Northern Harrier by Luke S, on Flickr

Short-Eared Owl by Luke S, on Flickr

The last one - while shot through some branches (couldn't get a better angle and the whole situation lasted maybe 10 seconds) is a SEO mantling (shielding the prey with the wings in an apparent attempt to hide it from a Norther Harrier that tried to steal the meal)

Defending The Dinner by Luke S, on Flickr

 

[Lance B]

But that is the limitation...if we compare other ways to get to 800mm like 600/1.4TC and 400/2.0TC those offer more magnification than the 800PF. I run into MFD issues even with my 600/4. So that is why I do love using my 400/2.8 with 1.4TC to shoot 600 (560) as I don't run out of MFD with the 400. But as you say, at a given shooting distance there isn't much difference between magnification of the lenses. You have to get closer than the MFD of the longer lens to realize the extra magnification of the shorter lenses with TCs. In a lot of situations for birds that isn't possible but I know you have situations (as I do) where we can easily get much closer than 5.2m.

And using a TC on a shorter super tele's was always an advantage I had promoted and one of the reasons I went for the 400 f2.8 instead of getting the 600 f4.

 

[Charlie Lasswell]

Had it for 1.5 weeks now and I'm getting more comfortable with the focal length. Walked 5-6 miles yesterday visiting a bunch of locations,

Some of the photos I got yesterday with it. All shot handheld (I'll be test driving monopod with mh-100 soon, if I'm in the same spot for a longer time, but I'm more of a 'run & gun' opportunist).
Dunlin by Luke S, on Flickr

The last one - while shot through some branches (couldn't get a better angle and the whole situation lasted maybe 10 seconds) is a SEO mantling (shielding the prey with the wings in an apparent attempt to hide it from a Norther Harrier that tried to steal the meal)

Defending The Dinner by Luke S, on Flickr

Great shots! That last one looks a lot like a LEOW.

 

[lukemeup]

Great shots! That last one looks a lot like a LEOW.

Now that I look at it again you're likely right. It's probably great horned owl that happened to be hunting in the same field as the SEOs and Harriers (50m away). More variety in a single day = I can't complain.

 

[Kip Cotter]

A few Z9 + 800PF shots. Need the duck varieties to roll back through Michigan the next two months. Been pretty quiet in my neck of the river.

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[arbitrage]

Now that I look at it again you're likely right. It's probably great horned owl that happened to be hunting in the same field as the SEOs and Harriers (50m away). More variety in a single day = I can't complain.

Actually yeah, you are correct....that is probably GHO now that I look more closely. Regardless we don't see those on the wing too often either!!

 

[MatthewK]

A few Z9 + 800PF shots. Need the duck varieties to roll back through Michigan the next two months. Been pretty quiet in my neck of the river.

View attachment 55747

This is a beautiful portrait, just love the texture in the neck, and the color contrast of the eye ring and bill against the sandy colored plumage. Bet this would look amazing printed!

 

[DavidT]

Played with the 800PF and Z9 today while out shooting. Nice lens, well balanced, fast AF, quiet and clearly a good value for the money. Someone needs to make a Nikon to Sony mount like they did for Sony to Nikon and I’d likely buy one. Wouldn’t replace my 400 or 600 but a lens that has a place in the kit.