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Thanks for all of Your Hard Work !! Fun stuff !!! Enjoyed the BTS, Seeing where You Live !!! I have an older GoPro8 I need to try doing what You did :) :) :)

Dalr be it film or digital versions have a "look" that mirrorless cameras can't replicate. I use Nikon FM2, Nikon D6 and N8kon z9 cameras

Don't ever sell that 35 F2D or the universe will turn against you! lol You cannot beat the 3D rendering that low element count lenses have.

Inspiring me to get my D700 out for a shoot! Thank you.

Love the D700, still rocking mine when you need a sense of reality. Mirrorless can be soulless after a while.

A very good lens, certainly when you consider the price. And when you go for larger animals, you can zoom out to include some surroundings as it doesn't need to be only portraits. Yes, it is a little slow, but then it will force you to keep your skills at a level

This has been VERY helpful! This is exactly the review I've been looking for. Comparing the actual pictures of the from both cameras...and considering used prices. I'm not a pro...I don't care about the fine details and pixels in the corner. I'm planning to upgrade my old D5600 to a mirrorless camera. I will be going on my trip of a lifetime on an African Safari in a few month and want to have my new camera by then. However, I've been going back and forth over a z6 vs z7 vs v6ii vs z7ii...I plan to buy a used camera. I was leaning towards the z7 because it had more megapixels...but I don't know that I need that many megapixels...and the z6 seems to be better in low light. I think I'm going to go with a z6 or z6ii and a the 28-400mm lens. Will be going to Italy and Greece later in the year and Galapagos early next year. So I think the 28-400mm with the low light capability of the z6 would be a good all around travel camera setup. Thank you!

Fantastic ambition and video 👍🙂

I wasn’t impressed by the 200-500 - decent IQ in fairness but very poor at acquiring focus (I used it on a D7500 - no slouch). My old 300/f4D + 1.4 TC was a better wildlife lens. I’m seeing the 400/f4.5 as the successor to the 300/f4 - light and effective.

I recently got a Nikon Zf and I'm looking to aquire a second backup body, that's affordable and takes my Z mount lenses. Honestly, I’m leaning towards the Nikon Z5 or Z6II. Nearly everyone I've spoken to who actually owns a Z6ii (or Z5), LOVES it. I love my Zf, but I want something that will act as a more ergonomic and compact backup, with similar menus. I shoot portraits and headshots and an occasional family session or engagement. No events, sports or wildlife. I don't need speed, and I don’t plan on doing video with this backup. I played with a Z5 and a Z6ii in the camera store recently and they both felt really nimble and great to use. In use, I couldn’t really tell much difference between the Z5 and Z6ii. Both really nice. Would you recommend the Z6ii as a backup to my Zf? If I get the Z5 I can afford more glass, but maybe the better body is a wiser choice? I would get a Z6, but I don’t want to go that far back and I want to get it relatively new or new.

I had both the 1.2 and 1.8. I find even at 1.8, the 1.2 is faster and better in lower light simply due to the larger glass. It was a very touch call between the two. So tough that I don’t feel the value for about $1300 USD more is there for the 1.2. If you’re on a tighter budget, don’t hesitate to get the 1.8. You won’t be missing anything except weight.

I’d venture to say if I was fortunate enough to own a Z 400mm F2.8 and a Z 50mm F1.2 - and doing pro event work - I’d already have a backup Z8 or at the very least a Z6 II - rather than get caught out having to buy an emergency Zf. Just my opinion 😊

I've had this for over a year now cos I couldn't afford the Nikon. Fantastic lens. Plenty sharp enough. Focuses well. This is smaller and lighter than the Nikon too.

You kinda missed the whole concept, its Chinese, they pay their workers nothing, yep, they can now make some good stuff, look at the car EV industry, they are basically screwing the world. If you want to support screwing the rest of the world then go for it. You only have to look very closely at what is happening economically in South East Asia, China is basically trashing everything. I saw new roading in Cambodia, literally falling apart as it was being built whereas the Japanese roading was still intact after 20 years. I saw miles of half built new builds abandoned, just complete trashing of the environment. There is a much bigger picture here if you care to look.

You might want to check the weight you have shown for the Z 400 f4.5 - not 2150gms but is 1245gms. Big difference! I used to own the F mount 400 f2.8E FL VR and used all the TC's with it with superb results. The 400 f2.8E FL VR is simply a stunning lens and works even better on the Z mount, again with all the TC's. However, it was getting a little heavy for me and sold it and now own the Z 600 f4 TC which is about 1 kg lighter when you add the FTZ, 1.4x TCIII to the 400 f2.8E FL VR for equivalence to the Z 600 f4 TC. That's a large weight saving! I found I was almost always using the 400 f2.8 + 1.4x TCIII and thus why I went with the Z 600 f4 TC.

@10:06 read the instructions. Its all there.

I love your laid back videos! What I would like to see is content for "limited budget" photographers, like"rediscovering" of older gear. F-lenses adapted on Z bodies, and other cheaper lens options. I enjoy all the videos you make, but as nature and wildlife became my primary interest a few years ago I have especially enjoyed Russ' journey with the 400/4.5 and then going for an F-mount 400/2.8E.

It's interesting to add Sirui 85 f1.4 to the competition

So, have you compared both these lenses?

Great review and yes, the AF-S 28 f1.4E ED was always a bit of a darkhorse but oh boy is it sublime. I just added it to my kit to be used on both my D6 as well as my Z9 with the FTZ II.

The comment on the S vs non-S - try the 50 1.8 S vs say the 50 1.4 ... I would take the 50 1.8 any day over the 1.4 for the price. The sharpness is insane.

Got to put the £ in the equation

Love u to try new nikon z50 ii what a smashing little camera really nice to use still love my z8 great show boy's

The Godox is fantastic, but in Nikons, their own TTL equipment, lights better, based on the camera’s meter and lens zoom.

Thanks for the video, I'm looking at getting the 400 f4.5. On an unrelated note, just wondering which lens you're using for your talking head portion of your videos? I quite like the separation you get from the background.

Sold my D850 last year and nearly all of my lenses. Feeling the need for another digital camera I picked up a D700 for $400 AUD with shutter count of 9450. Fits nicely with my Nikon F100. What more does anyone need. 😀

I just picked this up on marketplace for a steal. Can't wait to test it out for Astro.

So It's 2 Years later and I bought the tamron 150-600mm G2 f/5-6.3 and also use the Nikkor 500mm PF ED VR f/5.6 and I think this is a better combination for the Nikon D500. Now I also do own the Nikon Df & D610. D500 & Df are classics and both are refurbished which are brand new. Df was barely used. So I rarely use the F Glass with the Z cameras that I own and these F Mount Cameras are mainly to shoot Photos. I use the Optical Viewfinder and am Happy with the results. Cheers!

Great video. Coincidentally, I own all three lenses mentioned in this video. The 105 f/1.4E is the only F mount glass I still own and I'll probably never sell it. I mainly shoot portraits and my clients always respond positively to images from this lens. It's the only reason I haven't been tempted to purchase the 85 f/1.2 S. The 85 f/1.8 S is my backup portrait lens when I don't have enough real estate to work with the 105. I need a heck of a lot of room to work with the 70-200 f/2.8 S at 200mm. I only use it for tight headshots.

CF cards are great. I don't have any cameras that use them anymore, but I have four 256GB CF cards, a 128GB, and even an old 2GB card. Maybe I should get a D700 just to put them to use.

I love my Viltrox 40mm and 85mm, I actually prefer the 40mm to Nikon's version, and the 85 isn't far behind the Nikon at all. I think they will be one of the top lens makers in a few years, it's amazing how good the small/cheap ones are for the money, and the pricier ones compete with the very best on the market. I'm very open to Yongnuo, Samyang, 7Artisans, Sirui etc though - they all make some cracking lenses!

Thanks Russ, Enjoyed your sharing the learning experience when you dive into a new genre of photography! I've had a z8 for a year, having moved up from a z5, as I wanted to try out wildlife photography after many years as a landscape photographer - steep learning experience on both camera and genre, so your story resonates! Cheers from Oz.

Thank you, i will stick to my 35mm 1.4 gm and 70-180 2.8 Tamron.

NO camera is designed for the 50mm f1.2. In fact ......it's a lens that makes zero sense.

28-70 doesnt have 24 mm therefore dead in the water for me

I'm 81 years old and shot film for 40 years before switching to digital (well, I still shoot some film) about 20 years ago. Since then, I've had a variety of DSLRs and Mirrorless. About 7 years ago I finally got the D700 I'd wanted since 2008 and will never let it go. I sold my Fujifilm XT-2, XH-2, Nikon D850, D500, etc., but I will NEVER sell my D700! The legend lives!

Great to hear your opinions, keep up the good work.

The newer Neewer CA079 grip includes a thumb grip! Paid like 45 euros for it. Helps immensely with picking up and holding (not shooting per se) the Zf for shorter amounts of time, depending on the weight of the lens (for example, it's perfect withe the 40mm f/2 but not so much with the 24-120mm f/4).

I love watching your videos, but it seems a bit strange that you stand in that park and talk, and when you're going to show us some gear, it has to be picked up from the lawn !!! It wouldn't hurt if you moved inside. But maybe you think it's become your trademark to stand outside? But I'll follow you, no matter where you record your videos.

How about a Nikon Zs rangefinder for next year.

Loved the video--thanks you!

Hot off the press

Keep up the great work! Thanks for sharing so many interesting topics! Best wishes, Marina 🎉🙌🏻🙌🏻

Just found your channel! I can't make up my mind between the Zf and the Z6iii. My only criteria is low light, high ISO performance in taking pictures of our 4 and 7 year old grandkids in a challenging indoor situation. I have a Fuji X-H2, which I really like, but I think that a full frame Nikon may be better for my needs. I was strictly a Nikon user for many years, and still have my D750 and D300 with some lenses in a stored camera bag. I realize that the Z6iii has better video capabilities, but that's not really a consideration for me. Any definitive suggestion would be highly appreciated!

Keep going ..... love the 'chats'.

Thanks for another good year of your chatter and reviews. I always look forward to your commentary as much as the specs. Happy New Year from the colonies.

I’m waiting for my dropped 35mm 1.8s to get back from the shop and I’m waiting for the 35mm 1.2 to come out! I’m not a 35mm fan but for events the 35 and 85 team on two cameras is the go to. I shoot the way you do Russ with my Zf and my Z8. My colors seem to match but maybe it because I’m shooting in gyms and not using flash. I’m like Loz in that I can’t justify any more gear but I might trade in my Z6ii for a Z7 because I like the “mega-pickles” for landscape. See y’all in 2025! 💪🏽👍🏾

You are more talented than Morten Himmler. I am breathtaken!

Love your videos chaps and really enjoy how you interact. Looking forward to 2025 and wishing you all the best. You deserve so many more subscribers!

Happy New Year to you both and looking forward to what you have in store for us. And yes, the format is great and what make this channel unique-it’s not always about being Nikon “fanboys” but the reality of things (case in point: Loz has a Z8 but still prefers his Z6ii since it is still great). Looking forward to the anniversary and the promised story telling of how you two got mixed in to this together 😊