For aviation photography I use the Nikon z8 with the Nikkor z 180-600. Actually, the lens is also my sports and wildlife lens. This lens works best at golden hour light and beyond at f8 for its sweet spot. Not THAT heavy to hold with the z8 but at the end of the air show your arms are tired. Some airshows the flybys are close so 600mm is too much. Again, amazing at F8 how sharp this lens gets.
That lens is $20,000 here and very heavy. I chose instead the 800mm ($7,700) instead. It is a fraction of the weight (and cost). I use it handheld even with either TC (up to 1,600mm). To shoot hand held at 1,600mm is amazing. The IBIS in the Z9 is incredible. The 800mm is my new favourite wildlife & action lens. I normally take 2 lenses when shooting long. The 800mm and the 100-400mm. This gives me the 2 lens option of shooting from 100mm to 1,600mm (with TCs). The 100-400 is super sharp, and very small … the same physical size as the 70-200/2.8.
My shoulders are sore just thinking about hand holding that lens for an airshow. I'm with you that I will never be able to purchase that lens but I picked up the 180-600 last year and was surprised how good it is so if you are looking for replacement for your 150-600 I highly recommend it. I don't think I'd ever use a 600mm prime for air show but I can see how using that quality of a lens would be fun to shoot. A show I went to last year had the 800mm with him (secondary lens). Something about getting that close feels like it would be cool to try. You didn't mention it in your video (At least I don't think you did) was switching over to DX crop. I know you mentioned 4K. I actually have fn1 set to toggle between FX and DX and its nice to be able to punch in every now and then. Great video and I hope you get monetized soon.
Thanks! Ya it’s a beast to hold. You’re right, I completely glossed over doing crop mode in the camera 😂 I’m guessing that happened because I never do it and just crop after in Lightroom if needed.
I have been hitting a tidal creek looking for diving ospreys, (no luck so far) & there is a fair number of Nikon owners shooting with the lens featured here, the 8oopf & the 600pf are being used & they all love them. I see some really nice bird photos posted on a forum with the 600pf.
Brilliant review, thanks! I have two Sigma 150-600mm lenses because my first one looses AF until paired with an SLR which seems to reset it! This does beg the question, do you have the standard version of this lens, or the Sport version? Thx.
I wonder whether you had any issues related to heat distortion / heat haze and bad air quality? All of them negatively impact the image quality in a substantial way. I am in discussion with other nature photographers and they too experienced similar issues.
It wasn’t super hot yet in Texas yet but there was definitely some coming off of the heat on the runway. That will be an issue with any telephoto lens though as it’s an atmospheric effect and not something actually caused by the lens. It has to do with different densities in the air caused by the heat from the ground mixing with the cooler layer above. It’s going to be noticeable when taking images that are looking across the ground layer. But shouldn’t affect an image of a bird in flight or airplane that’s well off the ground. Concrete/asphalt will definitely be the worst culprit to cause it.
@@willchaneyphoto Aprt from the Sigma , What other long reach lense do you use . I still use a sigma tho will be changing it at some point . I found the USB Dock to be a waste of money . No no updates in 5 yrs
I’ll have to remember to pull the one I took of an Emirates A380 that flew over during the airshow. I never actually looked at it on the computer but I know I snapped a few.
Same conclusion for me , the Nikon Z 600 mm F4 is very expensive I have bought the Nikon Z 800 mm F 6.3 very easy to make pictures handhold , and in the Netherlands almost 9000 Euro's cheaper
For aviation photography I use the Nikon z8 with the Nikkor z 180-600. Actually, the lens is also my sports and wildlife lens. This lens works best at golden hour light and beyond at f8 for its sweet spot. Not THAT heavy to hold with the z8 but at the end of the air show your arms are tired. Some airshows the flybys are close so 600mm is too much. Again, amazing at F8 how sharp this lens gets.
That lens is $20,000 here and very heavy. I chose instead the 800mm ($7,700) instead. It is a fraction of the weight (and cost). I use it handheld even with either TC (up to 1,600mm). To shoot hand held at 1,600mm is amazing. The IBIS in the Z9 is incredible. The 800mm is my new favourite wildlife & action lens. I normally take 2 lenses when shooting long. The 800mm and the 100-400mm. This gives me the 2 lens option of shooting from 100mm to 1,600mm (with TCs). The 100-400 is super sharp, and very small … the same physical size as the 70-200/2.8.
My shoulders are sore just thinking about hand holding that lens for an airshow. I'm with you that I will never be able to purchase that lens but I picked up the 180-600 last year and was surprised how good it is so if you are looking for replacement for your 150-600 I highly recommend it. I don't think I'd ever use a 600mm prime for air show but I can see how using that quality of a lens would be fun to shoot. A show I went to last year had the 800mm with him (secondary lens). Something about getting that close feels like it would be cool to try. You didn't mention it in your video (At least I don't think you did) was switching over to DX crop. I know you mentioned 4K. I actually have fn1 set to toggle between FX and DX and its nice to be able to punch in every now and then. Great video and I hope you get monetized soon.
Thanks! Ya it’s a beast to hold. You’re right, I completely glossed over doing crop mode in the camera 😂 I’m guessing that happened because I never do it and just crop after in Lightroom if needed.
I carry around 2 stone of gear on my back . And it's unbearable .. having to reduce weight .. n gear
I have been hitting a tidal creek looking for diving ospreys, (no luck so far) & there is a fair number of Nikon owners shooting with the lens featured here, the 8oopf & the 600pf are being used & they all love them. I see some really nice bird photos posted on a forum with the 600pf.
Great review 👏
Brilliant review, thanks! I have two Sigma 150-600mm lenses because my first one looses AF until paired with an SLR which seems to reset it! This does beg the question, do you have the standard version of this lens, or the Sport version? Thx.
Thanks! I’ve got the contemporary. I’ve always wondered how it really compares to the sport.
Nice photos & review..
Great review!
Thanks!
Nice video, how was the video Hand held shaky?
Asking why it’s shaky or if it was shaky? It was definitely shaky…so hard to keep a lens steady by hand at 840mm while chasing a shot on a jet 🤣
@@willchaneyphoto Thanks, lol
I wonder whether you had any issues related to heat distortion / heat haze and bad air quality? All of them negatively impact the image quality in a substantial way. I am in discussion with other nature photographers and they too experienced similar issues.
It wasn’t super hot yet in Texas yet but there was definitely some coming off of the heat on the runway. That will be an issue with any telephoto lens though as it’s an atmospheric effect and not something actually caused by the lens. It has to do with different densities in the air caused by the heat from the ground mixing with the cooler layer above. It’s going to be noticeable when taking images that are looking across the ground layer. But shouldn’t affect an image of a bird in flight or airplane that’s well off the ground. Concrete/asphalt will definitely be the worst culprit to cause it.
It's refreshing to see a review of a lense that features various subjects not soley Birds
It be good to see how the tc is capturing ships far offshore
Wish I still had it! I’m actually in Croatia right now and would have been great to give that a try.
@@willchaneyphoto Aprt from the Sigma , What other long reach lense do you use .
I still use a sigma tho will be changing it at some point . I found the USB Dock to be a waste of money . No no updates in 5 yrs
0:39 to avoid this, do what I do, when my wife ask how much the lens cost, I only mention the taxes.
;o)
How good is the clarity of images when capturing Jets at 35,000ft etc
I’ll have to remember to pull the one I took of an Emirates A380 that flew over during the airshow. I never actually looked at it on the computer but I know I snapped a few.
I love the slip in filters but I'd prefer the 600 PF - lighter and much more practical ... 🦘
Heavy. I use heandhold my 600PF. Good with a tripod and Z9.
Same conclusion for me , the Nikon Z 600 mm F4 is very expensive I have bought the Nikon Z 800 mm F 6.3 very easy to make pictures handhold , and in the Netherlands almost 9000 Euro's cheaper
You need a caddie to carry that for you.
15k is what I don’t like 😅