Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens !!

I will keep my 500PF but I am on the wait list for a Z9 - the 2 will make a nice combo

Looking forward to pairing my 600 f/4 AF-S with the Z9. That older lens could use the 2 stops of stabilization!

Well I made the leap! My friend had his name on the B&H waiting list for the Z9 but was able to get one somewhere else sooner and gave me his spot - and now I have it! Paired with the 500PF - even with the FTZ ll - it is amazing. The D500 + 500PF was a fantastic combination, the Z9 with the 500PF is phenomenal. There are still a few shots I don't get because the Z9 focuses on the background but by and large so many keepers! The 20 FPS is unreal. Here are a couple of recent shots and I can tell you I would probably not have been able to capture with the D500. The hummingbirds was through a window but a little bit of Topaz Sharpening made up for any loss in sharpness.

Wow!! Outstanding shots!

DocRoger wrote in post #19412031
Well I made the leap! My friend had his name on the B&H waiting list for the Z9 but was able to get one somewhere else sooner and gave me his spot - and now I have it! Paired with the 500PF - even with the FTZ ll - it is amazing. The D500 + 500PF was a fantastic combination, the Z9 with the 500PF is phenomenal. There are still a few shots I don't get because the Z9 focuses on the background but by and large so many keepers! The 20 FPS is unreal. Here are a couple of recent shots and I can tell you I would probably not have been able to capture with the D500. The hummingbirds was through a window but a little bit of Topaz Sharpening made up for any loss in sharpness.

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DocRoger wrote in post #19412031
Well I made the leap! My friend had his name on the B&H waiting list for the Z9 but was able to get one somewhere else sooner and gave me his spot - and now I have it! Paired with the 500PF - even with the FTZ ll - it is amazing. The D500 + 500PF was a fantastic combination, the Z9 with the 500PF is phenomenal. There are still a few shots I don't get because the Z9 focuses on the background but by and large so many keepers! The 20 FPS is unreal. Here are a couple of recent shots and I can tell you I would probably not have been able to capture with the D500. The hummingbirds was through a window but a little bit of Topaz Sharpening made up for any loss in sharpness.

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I'm very much on the fence about trying out the Z9: the shots that yourself and Phil are getting w/ the camera are gorgeous, and the eye tracking + 20fps silent shutter are game changing features that would easily take my bird photography to the next level... yet, your statement about it focusing on the background makes me pump my brakes and stick w/ my current setup. I think I just need to rent the camera and see how it behaves.

Been a while since I've visited this thread or been out birding, hope everyone is doing well!

We just returned from our yearly family vacation in northern Wisconsin, and I was able to get a few hours out in the woods for some birding along the Brule River, basically the middle of nowhere. The woodland vegetation in the area is so thick that I wasn't able to get too far in from the road, and short of the swampy areas in the southeast US (Florida, South Carolina, etc) I haven't seen anything this tangled. The best part is that there's no one out there, it's so quiet and secluded.

My goal was to spot the elusive Kirtland's Warbler (roughly ~2200 left, recently taken off the endangered list), but no luck there. After about 2-3 hours, I had seen absolutely zero bird activity and began to think that I'd be going home empty-handed, but eventually someone threw the switch and warblers started coming out of the woodwork (literally). It was unbelievable, species that I only get to see during migrations in the Spring/Fall were everywhere. To be able to live up in that area and see them on the regular all summer would be insane!


While I didn't get a Kirtland's, I did get a lifer bird that I thought I'd never see: a female Gold-winged Warbler! There were about 6-7 other species, but my photos of them aren't all that special, so I'm just sharing this one here:

MatthewK wrote in post #19417203
Been a while since I've visited this thread or been out birding, hope everyone is doing well!

We just returned from our yearly family vacation in northern Wisconsin, and I was able to get a few hours out in the woods for some birding along the Brule River, basically the middle of nowhere. The woodland vegetation in the area is so thick that I wasn't able to get too far in from the road, and short of the swampy areas in the southeast US (Florida, South Carolina, etc) I haven't seen anything this tangled. The best part is that there's no one out there, it's so quiet and secluded.

My goal was to spot the elusive Kirtland's Warbler (roughly ~2200 left, recently taken off the endangered list), but no luck there. After about 2-3 hours, I had seen absolutely zero bird activity and began to think that I'd be going home empty-handed, but eventually someone threw the switch and warblers started coming out of the woodwork (literally). It was unbelievable, species that I only get to see during migrations in the Spring/Fall were everywhere. To be able to live up in that area and see them on the regular all summer would be insane!


While I didn't get a Kirtland's, I did get a lifer bird that I thought I'd never see: a female Gold-winged Warbler!

Beautiful Gold-winged!!! Your trip sounds great - I love Wisconsin! As for the Z9 - even with the background focus issue I am still getting shots that I know I would never have been able to get with the D500. Just one example is that Bald eagle flying in with a fish shot I posted. That was just one frame of a burst of twenty with almost every shot in focus!! The keeper rate is insane. If you get a chance to test one - do so. If you ever make it to Northeast Ohio let me know you can try mine! You might want to think about coming here during spring migration. We had at least three Kirtland's show up! Here's a shot I took of a female (this was before I had the Z9). I love the D500 + 500 PF combo, and would still be shooting it if this opportunity to "cut in line" and get one early had not happened. Good luck!

Man, very fortunate to see the Kirtland's, nice capture! If I wasn't in the know, I'd most certainly mistake that for a Cape May female, they look so much alike. It's now got me second guessing all of my CM shots!

I'm definitely going to rent the Z9 now, you and Phil have me convinced. Now, just gotta source one (and a FTZ adapter).

While in Northern Wisconsin, we stayed at a lake house, so you'd expect there to be a good amount of bird activity, but that wasn't the case. Birds were actually tough to come by, with a lot of days being dead quiet. We had the regular breeding pair of Loons, and a set of Bald Eagles, but aside from these Lesser Yellowlegs (uncertain on that ID) there was zero shore/water bird activity. These were taken while out on a boat fishing for Large-mouth Bass and Northern Pike; I had actually come down with a nasty cold the night before, so was feeling rather rough this morning, but it wasn't enough to keep me from getting out on the water

Fall migration is picking up, and though I haven't seen anything too much as yet, the local birds have been getting more and more active. We've had a stretch of rainy weather the past couple of weeks, and that's just fine with me because I love shooting in storm light.

From my backyard, here's a Warbling Vireo and a Black-capped Chickadee. The vireo is a regular around here, but they're very shy (as opposed to their Red-eye cousins), so I haven't really ever gotten a clean shot of one. The Chickadee is a common, year-round resident, but for whatever reason this is another bird I just haven't really shot too much.

A different type of bird. The Navy Blue Angels on Labor Day 2022. Z9 + 500PF.

DocRoger wrote in post #19412031
Well I made the leap! My friend had his name on the B&H waiting list for the Z9 but was able to get one somewhere else sooner and gave me his spot - and now I have it! Paired with the 500PF - even with the FTZ ll - it is amazing. The D500 + 500PF was a fantastic combination, the Z9 with the 500PF is phenomenal. There are still a few shots I don't get because the Z9 focuses on the background but by and large so many keepers! The 20 FPS is unreal. Here are a couple of recent shots and I can tell you I would probably not have been able to capture with the D500. The hummingbirds was through a window but a little bit of Topaz Sharpening made up for any loss in sharpness.

DocRoger wrote in post #19412031
Well I made the leap! My friend had his name on the B&H waiting list for the Z9 but was able to get one somewhere else sooner and gave me his spot - and now I have it! Paired with the 500PF - even with the FTZ ll - it is amazing. The D500 + 500PF was a fantastic combination, the Z9 with the 500PF is phenomenal. There are still a few shots I don't get because the Z9 focuses on the background but by and large so many keepers! The 20 FPS is unreal. Here are a couple of recent shots and I can tell you I would probably not have been able to capture with the D500. The hummingbirds was through a window but a little bit of Topaz Sharpening made up for any loss in sharpness.

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These are GREAT Roger.
Looks like you're acclimating to the Z9 well. Trust me, it will only get better as you continue to learn it and customize it to your style and needs.

MatthewK wrote in post #19417203
Been a while since I've visited this thread or been out birding, hope everyone is doing well!

We just returned from our yearly family vacation in northern Wisconsin, and I was able to get a few hours out in the woods for some birding along the Brule River, basically the middle of nowhere. The woodland vegetation in the area is so thick that I wasn't able to get too far in from the road, and short of the swampy areas in the southeast US (Florida, South Carolina, etc) I haven't seen anything this tangled. The best part is that there's no one out there, it's so quiet and secluded.

My goal was to spot the elusive Kirtland's Warbler (roughly ~2200 left, recently taken off the endangered list), but no luck there. After about 2-3 hours, I had seen absolutely zero bird activity and began to think that I'd be going home empty-handed, but eventually someone threw the switch and warblers started coming out of the woodwork (literally). It was unbelievable, species that I only get to see during migrations in the Spring/Fall were everywhere. To be able to live up in that area and see them on the regular all summer would be insane!


While I didn't get a Kirtland's, I did get a lifer bird that I thought I'd never see: a female Gold-winged Warbler! There were about 6-7 other species, but my photos of them aren't all that special, so I'm just sharing this one here:

Congrats on the find! What a beauty.

Good to pop in & see ya'll are doing well. Theresa & I finally got f'ing COVID. She was 1st, about two weeks ago and I was about 3 days behind her. We are both recovering well and are back at work now, but I really get tired easy. Gotta get this further in the rearview soon. We are headed to FL in about a month for some more Osprey, BE, & Burrowing Owl photography.

MatthewK wrote in post #19417449
Man, very fortunate to see the Kirtland's, nice capture! If I wasn't in the know, I'd most certainly mistake that for a Cape May female, they look so much alike. It's now got me second guessing all of my CM shots!

I'm definitely going to rent the Z9 now, you and Phil have me convinced. Now, just gotta source one (and a FTZ adapter).

You just let me know when you're about ready to try one out. I'll send you an FTZ so you can mount the 500PF & go!
Don't waste timing pumping the brakes, the Z9 is the real-deal. Technique is slightly different so it take a little time to relearn and fix the muscle-memory. The upside is so big that you really have to experience it to believe it.

Ditto what Roger said - if you ever get back down my way, I'm happy to let you take my Z9 for a spin too.

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19425387
Congrats on the find! What a beauty.

Good to pop in & see ya'll are doing well. Theresa & I finally got f'ing COVID. She was 1st, about two weeks ago and I was about 3 days behind her. We are both recovering well and are back at work now, but I really get tired easy. Gotta get this further in the rearview soon. We are headed to FL in about a month for some more Osprey, BE, & Burrowing Owl photography.

You just let me know when you're about ready to try one out. I'll send you an FTZ so you can mount the 500PF & go!
Don't waste timing pumping the brakes, the Z9 is the real-deal. Technique is slightly different so it take a little time to relearn and fix the muscle-memory. The upside is so big that you really have to experience it to believe it.

Ditto what Roger said - if you ever get back down my way, I'm happy to let you take my Z9 for a spin too.

Getting sick is never fun, impressive how far you made it without catching it. At least now you don't have to "look over your shoulder" every time you catch a cold or wake up feeling lousy. Myself, since my oldest started pre-school last year, we were sick from like Sept-April, and I'd be willing to bet there was some covid mixed in there at some point, but after a while I couldn't tell where one sickness ended and the other began.

I most certainly appreciate you fellas offering up your gear, but that won't be necessary... I randomly called my old faithful camera store out in Virginia to check what they're wait list looked like, and turns out that they just got some Z9 + FTZII in stock! They hadn't updated the website yet, and I was able to snag one before it went live! This is crazy, taking the plunge like this! I'll be using the 500PF for the time being, until my wallet recovers from the utter ground-and-pound it just sustained from that order, and I can order the 800PF.

MatthewK wrote in post #19425897
Getting sick is never fun, impressive how far you made it without catching it. At least now you don't have to "look over your shoulder" every time you catch a cold or wake up feeling lousy. Myself, since my oldest started pre-school last year, we were sick from like Sept-April, and I'd be willing to bet there was some covid mixed in there at some point, but after a while I couldn't tell where one sickness ended and the other began.

I most certainly appreciate you fellas offering up your gear, but that won't be necessary... I randomly called my old faithful camera store out in Virginia to check what they're wait list looked like, and turns out that they just got some Z9 + FTZII in stock! They hadn't updated the website yet, and I was able to snag one before it went live! This is crazy, taking the plunge like this! I'll be using the 500PF for the time being, until my wallet recovers from the utter ground-and-pound it just sustained from that order, and I can order the 800PF.

Sorry to hear about your covid or possible covid illness, Matthew. The limited virus season of my youth is history, we are now facing a year round virus season. I believe they call it "endemic".

Also, bird flu has been a true horror this year, especially in north western europe. It was só bad in my country, e.g. wiping out 90% of an 8000 population of sandwich terns within a week, that I have completely stopped birding. I guess I am surpressing the impact of the horrors of the bird flu to simply get on with the rest of my life. Otherwise I would likely get depressed. That is not because I cannot face the bad sides of life, but because I just know that intensive poultry farming has a large part of the responsibility in this massacre, in the rise of such a vicious and lethal string of the virus. In the wild such high pathogenic mutations do not occur with bird flu. I guess I wish I had not read that, and would have simply believed it to be a blow dealt by nature instead of by humans, or more specific, by their way of dealing with animals.

That aside, because there is no solution in lamenting and I don't want to rain on your Z9 purchase! !!!
I am on a pre-order list for the Z800PF, but for obvious reasons not in any hurry. I hope to get it by the time the horrors of the bird flu have abated and bird life can go back to normal, especially for the migrating colony birds that I love so much. For now, it is uncertain that that will happen, and for some species, that breed in close knitted colonies, extinction is a real possibility.

Enjoy the Z9 and please post images, your birds that are mostly in the woods are not at high risk I believe...