mike_halliwell

https://www.nikon.com/company/news/2024/0327_imaging_01.html Ultimate single walkaround lens ?

😞 Nothing to do with the fact you can't get a lens cheaper than Nikon Official Price. Can't you get grey imports? Blame the EU not the UK. Here maybe? https://grandyscamera.com/products/nikon-z-400mm-f-2-8-tc-vr-s-lens?variant=42065245896843&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2022-11-25&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ImwBhBtEiwAFHDZx3_r2j2Cy3O2nL-ULjL0vhBxIG0UyZEUNiqPfz7wilV56Cu7amdqTxoCWSMQAvD_BwE

https://www.cotswoldcameras.co.uk/NIKKOR-Z-400mm-f-2-8-TC-VR-S-Lens-1 10K

Available grey here now for under 10k pounds...! If you say it fast enough, it almost sounds reasonable.. 😉

Yup, that's why the weighing up, rather than decided to.. 😂 If the Z400mm 4.5 (don't have) and the F500mm PF (do have) focussed a bit closer, i'd use them as a more walkaround nat. hist. lens, where'as the Z100-400mm does focus pretty close, but gets a bit slow at the long end. Oddly, the Z400mm 2.8 TC focusses the closest at 1:4, but short of selling EVERYTHING but my Z9, it's a lot of money! and of course becomes the 560mm f4 with the TC. ... and it's a kilo lighter than my 400mm 2.8 FL, which is handholdable for short stints. In hindsight (bad idea!) the Z800mm PF + Z600mm PF roughly equals the best grey price for the Z400mm 2.8 at about 10k.

I'm currently weighting up ditching the 500mm PF and getting the Z600mm PF. My D850 is getting very little, ie, no outdoor action, but I'll keep it for studio use, it still takes a very nice picture. I've a fair number of longer F mount lenses to trade in to soften the pocket pain 😂

Yup, too true. But it does work as a AF mode toggle. Spot, Custom Square and Auto. Although I got very confused the other day with my F 400mm 2.8 FL. The LFn kept resetting the focus; Doh, it's set to Focus Memory and not AF Mode. Must fix that soon!

Many of the Nikon promo images show handheld use of the Z800mm. I fact the Nikon UK promo page ONLY shows handheld use by a female photographer. There was some 'issue' about her holding technique I remember.

I tried EC on the Function Ring, but do get a bit messed up with Nikon's ring 'order' and the ability to reach lefthandedly. My Z8 and 800mm PF has AF acquisition problems when the target is well OOF and needs a MF nudge, again with the left hand. ...and then there's access to the Ln function buttons, which I've got set to cycle AF mode. For a lens designed for handholding, that's a lot of shifting for the left hand with a pretty weighty lens

Maybe.... 😉

Hummm, some of those example shots with settings are all over the place. The Gannet shot @ 1/3200th.. why, it's a static portrait? Spot on. Subject motion blur has killed more shots than anything else, usually when I've underestimated the bird's speed 🙁

Interesting reading on the photography life review. https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z-85mm-f1-8-s/2 This becomes relevant for the new 'wide-open' focusing option One thing to keep in mind is that the lens has a pronounced focus shift issue that can be easily seen when stopping down at all apertures from f/1.8 to f/5.6. To avoid focus shift completely, make sure to stop the lens down to the desired aperture before focusing. That’s what I had to do in order to properly measure the sharpness of the lens. Quite a difference 2 stops down makes. I'd intend to use this lens wide open.

They are currently the same price of about 500 UK pounds (no pound sign on US keyboard!) used v new. Anyone got any views? Obviously 1.4 v 1.8 but...IQ?

Z8 + Z100-400mm @ 400mm. ISO 280 f8 1/640. Honey Bee on Willow.

I was meaning using the Histogram at taking time, not processing time. 😉 Deliberate underexposure is severely reducing the info you are capturing in-camera. As long as the peak (s) remain between the 'ends', you never lose data. That's where you can drag the middle pointer to get the best midtone info. This is what happens when you use the full DR of your original posted JPEG pic, never mind the actual scene, bit overprocessed but you get the idea.