I returned home from a Princess cruise to Alaska over the weekend. The weather was pretty terrible the entire trip but I'm going through the images. Here are a few that I've processed so far.

Tamron 70-300 Z lens. It's a fairly new lens.

IMHO.. BIF are difficult even at times with the best gear you can purchase. I've shot them for many years. I own a Z50 (not for BIF) and even though you can capture a decent BIF image now and again with that camera, I'm not sure you have the proper lenses for that topic. There is no reason at all why you can't capture BIF with Nikon. NONE. There is no reason you can't with the Sony. NONE. As long as you have the proper lens and camera for the proper subject. I'm not suggesting you go back to a DSLR, but a Nikon D500 with the proper lens will get you stunning BIF images.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the proper equipment will get you more keepers with any subject, but REALLY knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your current gear will get you images of just about any kind. I'm sure I could get some good images of BIF with my Nikon Z50 and just about any lens if I really worked hard at getting the image. Would I get more keepers with a Z9 and 400mm lens, no doubt.

Money will buy you more keepers. Experience and understanding your gear will get more better results. Just my opinion. I'm just as guilty as anyone of thinking better gear will get me better results, it will sometimes. More times, learning my gear will get me more keepers too.

Mike

If you're into photography at all, you will want to take your camera. I've been once and am going again in about 30 days. I'm taking a Nikon Z7II, a 24-120 F4, 70-300 F4.5-6.3 and likely a 50mm F2 lens. If you're taking photos from the ship at sea, your phone will be to far to get a decent image after you crop. You will lose too much data. Same for whale watching. I'm sure you're phone can capture memories, it won't capture images. You have to decide which you want on your trip.

Mike

Both cameras will get you images. All the lenses you mentioned will get you memories. The only question would be what do you plan to do with them once you're home? I own a Z50 and a Z7II. For my taste printing anything beyond an 11X14 would look better with the Z6. If you want memories and nothing more, take the Z50. IMHO the Z6 with the S primes will get you superior results, you just have to decide if it's worth to you or not based on weight and how serious you want to be with the final images.

Mike

Loved Sha Na Na.

I'm considering selling my 50mm F1.8 S lens. I bought the Voigtlander and don't really need both lenses.
Mine is close to mint as possible. I have the original box and all the came with it. A reasonable but not low ball offer will be accepted.

thanks
Mike

I own the 24-200 and used it quite often. It is not a good portrait lens or one for sports, even small kids playing sports. It does jump to F6.3 quickly. It can be used for landscape and travel. It is a light lens compared to many others. Compared to some of my older F mount lenes, it compares nicely, even to what were considered the better lenses. It is sharp in the center and does fall off along the edges. If that is a concern for landscapes then you can always focus stack. Overall, it's a good value lens for the Z system and I don't regret buying one.

Mike

nice one

Processing is a big part of making the image yours. I would imagine you will get many different approaches, however for me, I think you're pretty close as is. I would possibly darken the top right corner more, the edges as well. I would maybe lighten the top of the stump a touch and maybe, though I would have to see it, the crown of the bird's head a bit more. Overall, I think you have done about as much as you can considering the bird's color and the background. It's a nice image and tweaking it too much might make it look too fake. IMHO.

Mike

yeah its so different now... sad in a way... but not much you can do

Ah yes, spring training. I've been photographing it since 1977 however never in Arz, only in Florida. The first year I went, a season ticket was $45. Now one game box seat is that or more. It's now so overpriced, IMHO.

As far as photography, I know in Florida, it has gotten near impossible. There is netting and security fences everywhere now. If you do sit in the OF for a game, try a wider angle shot with the pitcher in motion and the infielders all in proper position. However, getting along first or third base and getting the classic shot of the hitter striking the bat on the ball or right after a full swing and looking up at the ball is now tough with all the netting. I used to take a monopod, but no longer do that because of the IBIS in my camera and lenses. On sunny days, you're shutter will be plenty fast, even at ISO 64 or 100.

My advice depending on the stadium and what they allow or don't, go to the back fields before the regular game and watch practice. Even there they have put up extra security fences and even screens so that you cant see as much in certain parks but not all. I know even in the same facility, like the one in West Palm, the Astros side has much easier viewing positions than the Nationals side. The Nats put up green screens which make it tougher for photos than the Astros side. So it's almost as team dependent as much as the park.

The only time I had issues getting a camera in was soon after 911. The checked everything. Most places if not all still check camera bags but I've been never been turned away for a certain lens. Football yes, and at major league stadiums yes, but so far not spring training. But again, that can change at all time, so the advice to call is good advice.

In years past, yes, I'm old, I could sit on the same bench on a back field with Andre Dawson and Larry Walker and listen their chats during BP. I could watch coaches give instruction from only a few feet away while working on foot work ect for infielders, but those days are long passed.

However, at least in most places in Florida, the better access to players by far is on the back fields for photos. I have for the most part stopped going to the games. I go early in spring and watch intra-squad games or the better minor league games for free. Even after the major league games start, the minor league games are free on the back fields and many times you get the big league guys getting extra at bats in those games and bullpen pitchers getting work in. That's when you get much better access for photos, again IMHO.

Here are a few all taken on back fields in recent years. All were taken during practice on back fields over the years except for the Aaron Judge, which was before they put up the netting along the base lines. I have thousands of images from spring training and 90% of my best were during practice, not games. The access is much better there and not nearly as many people crawling around, though it has gotten far more crowded in recent years even in the back fields. After covid, they again did more security so it's nothing like it was even before Covid, but try the back fields if photos are what you're after. And you can still hear the banter with the players for your video.

Thanks for the memories. I was there once and it's still on the list to go again.

Mike

I have an S lens and Z lens I'll sell. I have the 105 S lens and the 24-200 lens.
Mike

Nice one. If it's the same bird that I've seen around there, it's usually in the backside of the park and sometimes sits on the stump in the northeast corner of the boardwalk.