D850 Great Blue Heron: Upgraded to the D850 this past week and spotted a Great Blue Heron at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia on New Years Day. Impressed with the faster focus...

jamacq Loc: Virginia

Upgraded to the D850 this past week and spotted a Great Blue Heron at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia on New Years Day. Impressed with the faster focus (compared to D750) and was able to capture one of my first bird-in-flight images that I was happy with. Taken with Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6 @500mm.

Jeff

(Download)

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Nioce shot, but, a D750 could do that.

Dr J Loc: NE Florida

I use the same combo.... you will love it. BTW, great shot!👍🏻

jamacq Loc: Virginia

phlash46 wrote:

Nioce shot, but, a D750 could do that.

Agree, but I've had less success with fast focus with the 750.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I can't think of a better combination for birds in flight and wildlife in general than the D850 and the Nikon 200~500 f5.6. I have been using this combo for the last @6 weeks and I'm getting the best shots of my life. The D500 with the 200~500 is nothing to sneeze at either. Great shot and you will have many more.
ps. the D850 and D500 focus system is FAR superior to the D750.

jamacq Loc: Virginia

Thanks. And I see by your username that we share a common background. Proudly wore the anchors as well. Retired as a LCDR, but glad to have become a Chief first.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Outstanding capture, Jeff!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

jamacq wrote:

Thanks. And I see by your username that we share a common background. Proudly wore the anchors as well. Retired as a LCDR, but glad to have become a Chief first.

People were trying tp get me to go LDO. If I had I wouldn't have been able to claim that I worked for a living when I was in the Navy.

I was an Aviation Electronics Tech '72 to '92.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Very nice. It's tough hand-holding a D850 because of the resolution it provides. You did a nice job.

jamacq Loc: Virginia

kpmac wrote:

Very nice. It's tough hand-holding a D850 because of the resolution it provides. You did a nice job.

Thanks. Ended up at 1/5000s f/8 iso 800. Not sure how fast would have been needed in that situation. He was fairly close and moving quickly. Pure luck because the iso was set a bit high as I was shooting him in the shade a few seconds earlier.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

jamacq wrote:

Thanks. Ended up at 1/5000s f/8 iso 800. Not sure how fast would have been needed in that situation. He was fairly close and moving quickly. Pure luck because the iso was set a bit high as I was shooting him in the shade a few seconds earlier.

The herons do not have the wing flap rate of the tiny birds so you are plenty high enough there. Typically at 500mm to 600mm 1250 is plenty for the slower larger birds, especially if you have plenty of light. This means you could shoot this one at f/11 and still have a very acceptable iso, especially on a D850. f/11 will give you a better depth of what's in focus. Hummers you definitely want to be at 1/5000 or higher. Hope that helps.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

jamacq wrote:

Upgraded to the D850 this past week and spotted a Great Blue Heron at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia on New Years Day. Impressed with the faster focus (compared to D750) and was able to capture one of my first bird-in-flight images that I was happy with. Taken with Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6 @500mm.

Jeff

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

I would be very, very happy if I had taken that shot. Very nice image.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Nice catch. My shots of herons are usually of their derrière as they are flying away from me.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good capture, Jeff.