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

That's gorgeous, Robert.
And I love female cardinals!

Yes a great read indeed.Read it few months ago,not long after he,and artie switched to Nikon.I always bought his e-guides,and set up my canons for BIF,according to his settings! Even Greg Downing from Nature scapes switched over for the superior Autofocus!

After 6 weeks of pure awesome, Fall migration has abruptly come to a close. Easily the best I've experienced in the short time I've been birding (4 years), I've come away with a lot of shots that I'm so happy with, saw a bunch of new species, and learned a great deal about what works/what doesn't. Now we're on the descent into winter, back to shooting Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Hermit Thrush (my favorite), Nuthatches, Kinglets, and the random Owl/Hawk.

Concerning the gear: this was the biggest test for which setup I'd be more successful with in my environment, and the D500PF was fantastic. I wasn't certain that it'd do well for small birds, but it turns out that the reach is more than adequate if i did my job and got close enough. That's the key right there, and it's why I eventually put the 90D + 600 f/4 away: too much reach, too heavy. Plus, when you have a herd of warblers in the tree above you and the slightest movement will scare them off, the feather-light D500PF is able to be held rock-steady for a really long time in the shooting position, giving you a fighting chance at getting a shot. With the 600, I'd have to regularly drop the rig down to rest, and the big movement arc would be enough to startle the birds.

Going in to the Fall, with no leaves on the trees, it'll be easier to get clear shots, but harder to get close since they can see you coming from farther out. Thus, the 600 might come back into play, but keep in mind there's always the 1.4 extender to use on the Nikon kit

Anyways, just thought I'd reflect and share. Hope everyone is had, or is having, a good time with the migration.

Wanted to re-submit this shot in this thread, as I made some edits to it for more better-ness, and feel it belongs in here. This was literally the last fall migrant photo that I captured this season.

MatthewK wrote in post #18946752
After 6 weeks of pure awesome, Fall migration has abruptly come to a close. Easily the best I've experienced in the short time I've been birding (4 years), I've come away with a lot of shots that I'm so happy with, saw a bunch of new species, and learned a great deal about what works/what doesn't. Now we're on the descent into winter, back to shooting Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Hermit Thrush (my favorite), Nuthatches, Kinglets, and the random Owl/Hawk.

Concerning the gear: this was the biggest test for which setup I'd be more successful with in my environment, and the D500PF was fantastic. I wasn't certain that it'd do well for small birds, but it turns out that the reach is more than adequate if i did my job and got close enough. That's the key right there, and it's why I eventually put the 90D + 600 f/4 away: too much reach, too heavy. Plus, when you have a herd of warblers in the tree above you and the slightest movement will scare them off, the feather-light D500PF is able to be held rock-steady for a really long time in the shooting position, giving you a fighting chance at getting a shot. With the 600, I'd have to regularly drop the rig down to rest, and the big movement arc would be enough to startle the birds.

Going in to the Fall, with no leaves on the trees, it'll be easier to get clear shots, but harder to get close since they can see you coming from farther out. Thus, the 600 might come back into play, but keep in mind there's always the 1.4 extender to use on the Nikon kit

Anyways, just thought I'd reflect and share. Hope everyone is had, or is having, a good time with the migration.

Wanted to re-submit this shot in this thread, as I made some edits to it for more better-ness, and feel it belongs in here. This was literally the last fall migrant photo that I captured this season.

Hosted photo: posted by MatthewK in
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forum: Nikon Lenses

Great write up on the 500PF. Jealous of your migration....if we get one here in upper east TN I never see them.
I predict the 600/4 will continue to sit. I'm sure it's a fantastic lens (outta be for the outlay) but the weight/wieldability of the 500PF is as you know priceless.

MatthewK wrote in post #18946752
After 6 weeks of pure awesome, Fall migration has abruptly come to a close. Easily the best I've experienced in the short time I've been birding (4 years), I've come away with a lot of shots that I'm so happy with, saw a bunch of new species, and learned a great deal about what works/what doesn't. Now we're on the descent into winter, back to shooting Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Hermit Thrush (my favorite), Nuthatches, Kinglets, and the random Owl/Hawk.

Concerning the gear: this was the biggest test for which setup I'd be more successful with in my environment, and the D500PF was fantastic. I wasn't certain that it'd do well for small birds, but it turns out that the reach is more than adequate if i did my job and got close enough. That's the key right there, and it's why I eventually put the 90D + 600 f/4 away: too much reach, too heavy. Plus, when you have a herd of warblers in the tree above you and the slightest movement will scare them off, the feather-light D500PF is able to be held rock-steady for a really long time in the shooting position, giving you a fighting chance at getting a shot. With the 600, I'd have to regularly drop the rig down to rest, and the big movement arc would be enough to startle the birds.

Going in to the Fall, with no leaves on the trees, it'll be easier to get clear shots, but harder to get close since they can see you coming from farther out. Thus, the 600 might come back into play, but keep in mind there's always the 1.4 extender to use on the Nikon kit

Anyways, just thought I'd reflect and share. Hope everyone is had, or is having, a good time with the migration.

Wanted to re-submit this shot in this thread, as I made some edits to it for more better-ness, and feel it belongs in here. This was literally the last fall migrant photo that I captured this season.

Hosted photo: posted by MatthewK in
./showthread.php?p=189​46752&i=i190088478
forum: Nikon Lenses

Nice writeup and very telling! Seems like we also saw a rapid weather change this year!

Great write up Matthew!
I,m way north of you,and I can say there,s still lots of stuff coming down.Still kinglets,hermit thrush,winter wrens,and tons of sparrows.Heading out now,as Fox sparrows have arrived here,and hoping to get better shots of them.Tough one to get perched!
Wifey,s in Vegas next week,so I,ll be using her P.F,, all week!

markesc wrote in post #18946834
Nice writeup and very telling! Seems like we also saw a rapid weather change this year!

Man, did it ever change fast. It was nice and warm up until this past Monday, when we got a huge front come through and dump 3” of rain. After that, very “Fall-like” chilly weather; one benefit is that it’ll kick start these leaves to finally change.

mandokid1 wrote in post #18946889
Great write up Matthew!
I,m way north of you,and I can say there,s still lots of stuff coming down.Still kinglets,hermit thrush,winter wrens,and tons of sparrows.Heading out now,as Fox sparrows have arrived here,and hoping to get better shots of them.Tough one to get perched!
Wifey,s in Vegas next week,so I,ll be using her P.F,, all week!

Thank you for the advanced notice, I’m definitely keeping an eye out for the non-Warbler migrants. Fox Sparrows are a rarity here, very challenging bird. Hope you get some good looks with the better half’s PF

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18946779
Great write up on the 500PF. Jealous of your migration....if we get one here in upper east TN I never see them.
I predict the 600/4 will continue to sit. I'm sure it's a fantastic lens (outta be for the outlay) but the weight/wieldability of the 500PF is as you know priceless.

Thank you, Robert. Its the small highlight of my birding year, and now that it’s come to a close, it’s sort of a down feeling.

Yeah, the 600 is going into storage for now, though if I’m feeling like I want a dose of frustration I’ll take it out on the EOS R.

MatthewK wrote in post #18946901
Thank you, Robert. Its the small highlight of my birding year, and now that it’s come to a close, it’s sort of a down feeling.

Yeah, the 600 is going into storage for now, though if I’m feeling like I want a dose of frustration I’ll take it out on the EOS R.

That's hilarious!!! I remember seeing a saying somewhere online re photography "If you're not frustrated, you're not challenging yourself"

markesc wrote in post #18946928
That's hilarious!!! I remember seeing a saying somewhere online re photography "If you're not frustrated, you're not challenging yourself"

If I get bored over the winter, I just might just take that challenge and see if I can make something happen

Until then, 500PF for the win. This morning was one of those times where you just aren't feeling it... there were a ton of birds (at one point 15-20 Kinglets in the tree beside me!), but I just felt like I lost my mojo. After I got a briar thorn stabbing me in the thigh like a dagger, I gave up and went home. Will get back out and try again tomorrow. Here's my only decent shot... stick in the way, it was that type of day.

MatthewK wrote in post #18946981
If I get bored over the winter, I just might just take that challenge and see if I can make something happen

Until then, 500PF for the win. This morning was one of those times where you just aren't feeling it... there were a ton of birds (at one point 15-20 Kinglets in the tree beside me!), but I just felt like I lost my mojo. After I got a briar thorn stabbing me in the thigh like a dagger, I gave up and went home. Will get back out and try again tomorrow. Here's my only decent shot... stick in the way, it was that type of day.

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Sometimes ya gotta change it up, and nothin wrong with a movie day/reading day to maybe hatch up new ideas

Nice details though! These guys are always a challenge,and so are the tiny winter wrens!Got a few keepers this morning,but nothing special! BTW,tons of sparrows,kinglets,yell​ow-rumped warblers,waxwings,rust​y blackbirds,etc….still coming through up here!

mandokid1 wrote in post #18947033
Nice details though! These guys are always a challenge,and so are the tiny winter wrens!Got a few keepers this morning,but nothing special! BTW,tons of sparrows,kinglets,yell​ow-rumped warblers,waxwings,rust​y blackbirds,etc….still coming through up here!

Did I mention I have Cardinals

Well, had an outing with the combo yesterday,and it was a pleasure to use.hooked up to a black rapid strap,i didn,t even know it was there,compared to the day before,where I hauled the canon 600mm f/4,tripod,gimball for 1 1/2 miles!Was nice to have lens up ready to shoot around skittish birds.Got several species.Now I,m not a Nikon shooter,so I struggled with the ergonomics.For instance,i use back button focus,very easy on canon.hold focus,adjust exposure.With Nikon,have to drop focus,before adjusting exposure,and reacquire.No big deal.Left focus on shutter button,and to make things even easier I used auto ISO,shot wide open,and set a decent shutter speed.
A few Kinglets from yesterday.

mandokid1 wrote in post #18948242
Well, had an outing with the combo yesterday,and it was a pleasure to use.hooked up to a black rapid strap,i didn,t even know it was there,compared to the day before,where I hauled the canon 600mm f/4,tripod,gimball for 1 1/2 miles!Was nice to have lens up ready to shoot around skittish birds.Got several species.Now I,m not a Nikon shooter,so I struggled with the ergonomics.For instance,i use back button focus,very easy on canon.hold focus,adjust exposure.With Nikon,have to drop focus,before adjusting exposure,and reacquire.No big deal.Left focus on shutter button,and to make things even easier I used auto ISO,shot wide open,and set a decent shutter speed.
A few Kinglets from yesterday.

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forum: Nikon Lenses

That lighting and background is quintessential autumn, love it! Great clear shots of the Kinglets as well, very challenging birds.

My biggest ergo challenge w/ the Nikon: the reversed direction to mount the lens. It gets me every time still

What are you talking about when you said you need to drop focus before adjusting and reacquiring?