Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Links and Resources
Nikon 100-400mm Z Lens VS Nikon 500mm PF on the Z9 - Which Lens Is Best for Bird Photography PART 2
May 4, 2022 15:44:22   #
gwilliams6
 
Mark Smith:
Nikon 100-400mm Z Lens VS Nikon 500mm PF on the Z9 - Which Lens Is Best for Bird Photography PART 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eLiTkbe-v4

If you missed it, here is PART 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB1SHhIbXf8&t=2s

Cheers

Reply
May 4, 2022 16:05:37   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
Which lens is better for bird photography? The one you have with you!

Reply
May 4, 2022 16:11:03   #
Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx
 
I've been trying to decide on which Z lens is next. I think I'll go with the 100-400mm. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
 
 
May 4, 2022 23:46:20   #
gwilliams6
 
Strodav wrote:
I've been trying to decide on which Z lens is next. I think I'll go with the 100-400mm. Thanks for sharing.


You are welcome,

Reply
May 5, 2022 08:25:38   #
mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA
 
gwilliams6 wrote:
Mark Smith:
Nikon 100-400mm Z Lens VS Nikon 500mm PF on the Z9 - Which Lens Is Best for Bird Photography PART 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eLiTkbe-v4

If you missed it, here is PART 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB1SHhIbXf8&t=2s

Cheers

While I love Marks work, this video made no sense. He didn’t like the 500mm because he was too close to the subject matter.
A 100-400 gave him more flexibility and a shorter reach as you would expect.
This has little to do with which lens was better for birds. He often shoots with a 600mm Sony. Does this mean a 100-400 is better than that lens?
No, it’s just a matter of choosing the right tool for the job.

Reply
May 5, 2022 08:28:42   #
agillot
 
500 mm is the minimum for smaller birds , i use a 8oo on a crop sensor camera , and at time it could be longer .

Reply
May 5, 2022 11:35:31   #
gwilliams6
 
mikeroetex wrote:
While I love Marks work, this video made no sense. He didn’t like the 500mm because he was too close to the subject matter.
A 100-400 gave him more flexibility and a shorter reach as you would expect.
This has little to do with which lens was better for birds. He often shoots with a 600mm Sony. Does this mean a 100-400 is better than that lens?
No, it’s just a matter of choosing the right tool for the job.


If you really paid attention, Mark who is a top Wildlife shooter and longtime Nikon and Sony shooter showed that the 500mm struggled with focus at times, whereas the 100-400mm did not. That is the key take away from the comparison, not the fact that for some birds in certain areas the 500mm is too tight.

Mark often shoots with a 600mm f4 GM on his Sony A1 , A7RIV and A7SIII gear and it is perfect for other birds in other locations.

Cheers

Reply
 
 
May 5, 2022 12:10:06   #
Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx
 
I am still using the f mount glass with the Z9. I have a 200-500mm f/5.6, 150-600mm f/5-6.3 and 600mm f/4 G along with 1.4x Teleconverters. The Zooms are much more flexible than the 600 mm, so I tend to use them more than the 600mm even though the IQ and bokeh of the 600mm is superior. Moving around to frame the shot with a prime can scare off your subject and / or cause a less than desirable composition. The primes have their place, but I prefer the flexibility of the zooms for the majority of my shots. While waiting for the announced 200-600mm to come out, I’ll settle for the 100-400mm. Eventually, I’ll pick up the 800mm as I add more Z glass, but it is lower on my priority list.

Reply
May 5, 2022 13:38:30   #
mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA
 
gwilliams6 wrote:
If you really paid attention, Mark who is a top Wildlife shooter and longtime Nikon and Sony shooter showed that the 500mm struggled with focus at times, whereas the 100-400mm did not. That is the key take away from the comparison, not the fact that for some birds in certain areas the 500mm is too tight.

Mark often shoots with a 600mm f4 GM on his Sony A1 , A7RIV and A7SIII gear and it is perfect for other birds in other locations.

Cheers
. Speaking of paying attention, did you notice the 500mm struggled because once he backed up to get his composition, the birds were partly obscured by a sand dune.
When he switched to the 100-400 he was able to move closer and take the dune out of play, getting a clear look at birds.
Cheers

Reply
May 5, 2022 22:45:45   #
erickter Loc: Dallas,TX
 
mikeroetex wrote:
While I love Marks work, this video made no sense. He didn’t like the 500mm because he was too close to the subject matter.
A 100-400 gave him more flexibility and a shorter reach as you would expect.
This has little to do with which lens was better for birds. He often shoots with a 600mm Sony. Does this mean a 100-400 is better than that lens?
No, it’s just a matter of choosing the right tool for the job.

Correct. Felt like Nikon paid him to root for the 100-400 to pump sales, at expense of 500. Being too close has little to do with either lens quality. Simply a matter of best Focal length choice for the situation. Duh Mark! However, Focus issues between the two lenses may have been valid.

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Links and Resources
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.