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

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19048025
Congrats Chris. I'm eager to see your work with it.

On my Z6, I was able to program a "button + wheel spin" to scroll through the various image areas - FX, DX, 1:1, etc.

Can't recall off the top of my head how, but it was pretty simple while looking at the customization menu.

Custom function F2 is what you were looking for I think

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19048025
Congrats Chris. I'm eager to see your work with it.

On my Z6, I was able to program a "button + wheel spin" to scroll through the various image areas - FX, DX, 1:1, etc.

Can't recall off the top of my head how, but it was pretty simple while looking at the customization menu.

Thanks, I am happy I bit the bullet!

Lot's of customizing options, especially the two fn buttons are nice. Switching AF area and going into tracking mode is now really easy, good thing I waited for firmware 3 to arrive.
Just shooting around the house, with the 1.4tc on, I am impressed. I actually bought the EOS-R and used it with the 400DOII, but was not too happy with the loss of contrast, no idea if that was the sensor or whatever. But with the Z7, IQ is really nice and AF spot-on, even on e.g. a backlit tree, where the Sony A7RII with the 400DOII would clearly struggle, although that is an older body.
I know, this is no action combo, but I am curious how the tracking mode will do on wading shore birds!

smythie wrote in post #19048343
Custom function F2 is what you were looking for I think

Turns out the Z7 offers a lót of cutomization options for various buttons, also assigning image field. The F2 button has white balance assigned, I will drop that!

Chris1966 wrote in post #19048516
Thanks, I am happy I bit the bullet!

Lot's of customizing options, especially the two fn buttons are nice. Switching AF area and going into tracking mode is now really easy, good thing I waited for firmware 3 to arrive.
Just shooting around the house, with the 1.4tc on, I am impressed. I actually bought the EOS-R and used it with the 400DOII, but was not too happy with the loss of contrast, no idea if that was the sensor or whatever. But with the Z7, IQ is really nice and AF spot-on, even on e.g. a backlit tree, where the Sony A7RII with the 400DOII would clearly struggle, although that is an older body.
I know, this is no action combo, but I am curious how the tracking mode will do on wading shore birds!

My guess is that the tracking will be serviceable on bigger, slower subjects like shore birds. Spend a little time and get familiar with how the tracking works. It's not obvious at first, but once you understand it, the changes added in the V3 firmware make it quite usable. I believe you can set FN2 to initiate Tracking Lock and then all ya need to do is keep the subject in the frame.

Also, on the Image Area setting, I configured the red record button on top (not used in still photography) so that if I press & hold it and spin the back wheel, it will scroll thru FX, DX, 1:1, etc. Very qucik & easy.

Finally, something larger than a bee...

Each of the past three years now, I've met this Northern Parula in the same exact spot at one of my favorite birding spots. He's not afraid of me, it's pretty cool! A birdwatcher stopped by for a few minutes to see what I was focused on, and she says "I swear, you must have him trained, Parulas are usually very timid!". I think I may have a new yearly tradition!

Edited to add: the birdwatcher who I chatted with while taking the photo informed me that the tree in the first photo is a PawPaw Tree. Come to find out, the PawPaw produces the largest edible fruit of any tree in North America, which reportedly tastes like a cross between a mango and banana. I’m definitely looking for some of these when they ripen in the fall!

MatthewK wrote in post #19049331
Each of the past three years now, I've met this Northern Parula in the same exact spot at one of my favorite birding spots. He's not afraid of me, it's pretty cool! A birdwatcher stopped by for a few minutes to see what I was focused on, and she says "I swear, you must have him trained, Parulas are usually very timid!". I think I may have a new yearly tradition!

Edited to add: the birdwatcher who I chatted with while taking the photo informed me that the tree in the first photo is a PawPaw Tree. Come to find out, the PawPaw produces the largest edible fruit of any tree in North America, which reportedly tastes like a cross between a mango and banana. I’m definitely looking for some of these when they ripen in the fall!

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Beautiful sots, Matt. I am SOOO jealous of these. We have yet to capture a Northern Parula. They do migrate through southern TX, and some do even stay in Big Bend area but we've never seen them. Take good care of your buddy.

I've been spending so much time with the Z50 & Z6 lately, that I had almost forgotten just how GREAT the D500 is. Imagine that! Ahhhh, FAST, accurate focus (even in low light), life it good.

It's a rainy day in our neck-o-the-woods. At least I had a few visitors today.

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19049431
Beautiful sots, Matt. I am SOOO jealous of these. We have yet to capture a Northern Parula. They do migrate through southern TX, and some do even stay in Big Bend area but we've never seen them. Take good care of your buddy.

I've been spending so much time with the Z50 & Z6 lately, that I had almost forgotten just how GREAT the D500 is. Imagine that! Ahhhh, FAST, accurate focus (even in low light), life it good.

It's a rainy day in our neck-o-the-woods. At least I had a few visitors today.

Nice to see you back in the saddle, Phil! Believe it or not, I rarely see House Finches (or is that a Grosbeak?), and have never had a photographic opportunity with one. I see Jays all of the time, but still can count on one hand the number of photos I've gotten LOL

You seeing any Painted Buntings yet?

After you've had more time with the Z50, how would you compare it to the D500?

Before the Parulas, I met this Green Heron, sitting in the fog, catching the first rays of the morning sun.

MatthewK wrote in post #19049331
Each of the past three years now, I've met this Northern Parula in the same exact spot at one of my favorite birding spots. He's not afraid of me, it's pretty cool! A birdwatcher stopped by for a few minutes to see what I was focused on, and she says "I swear, you must have him trained, Parulas are usually very timid!". I think I may have a new yearly tradition!

Edited to add: the birdwatcher who I chatted with while taking the photo informed me that the tree in the first photo is a PawPaw Tree. Come to find out, the PawPaw produces the largest edible fruit of any tree in North America, which reportedly tastes like a cross between a mango and banana. I’m definitely looking for some of these when they ripen in the fall!

Beautiful. I particularly like the top one in full song. Certainly an attractive bird.
Lovely composition.

Papaw, papaya. Magnificent fruit, but I expect the wildlife will cherish it too.
Unripe and its tasteless, but ripe....
Enjoy them

MatthewK wrote in post #19049468
Nice to see you back in the saddle, Phil! Believe it or not, I rarely see House Finches, and have never had a photographic opportunity with one. I see Jays all of the time, but still can count on one hand the number of photos I've gotten LOL

You seeing any Painted Buntings yet?

After you've had more time with the Z50, how would you compare it to the D500?

Thanks Matt. It sure is nice (not to mention relaxing) to be able to photograph some birds, even if they were just in the yard.

I really like the Baby Z (Z50). It's an excellent compliment to the D500. The Z50 can produce sharper images, in the right circumstance(s). As long as you're not trying to lock onto a moving (particularly small) subject, the Z50 does extremely well. Once you get a lock on your subject, it also does quite well. If you add a TC (1.4, 1.7, or 2x), and you have to conditions mentioned above, the Z50 will regularly produce better results. I think that's fundamentally a mirrorless characteristic in general.

Having said all that, I've been shooting the Z bodies "primarily" for the last couple months and have become accustomed to their nuances. However, when I sat out with the D500 this weekend it was like a swift slap in the face. "Instant" AF acquisition & lock. The different is huge and obvious when you go from one to the other, after being used to which ever the previous one was. I know that's kinda rambling, but I hope it makes sense.

I dig them both and enjoy them both. I can get results with both too.

If a D500 "equal" ever comes out MILC format, it will be a HUGE HIT!

EyeSpyEagle wrote in post #19049562
Thanks Matt. It sure is nice (not to mention relaxing) to be able to photograph some birds, even if they were just in the yard.

I really like the Baby Z (Z50). It's an excellent compliment to the D500. The Z50 can produce sharper images, in the right circumstance(s). As long as you're not trying to lock onto a moving (particularly small) subject, the Z50 does extremely well. Once you get a lock on your subject, it also does quite well. If you add a TC (1.4, 1.7, or 2x), and you have to conditions mentioned above, the Z50 will regularly produce better results. I think that's fundamentally a mirrorless characteristic in general.

Having said all that, I've been shooting the Z bodies "primarily" for the last couple months and have become accustomed to their nuances. However, when I sat out with the D500 this weekend it was like a swift slap in the face. "Instant" AF acquisition & lock. The different is huge and obvious when you go from one to the other, after being used to which ever the previous one was. I know that's kinda rambling, but I hope it makes sense.

I dig them both and enjoy them both. I can get results with both too.

If a D500 "equal" ever comes out MILC format, it will be a HUGE HIT!

Feels great to "stretch the legs", right? It's beyond therapeutic, and I'd argue that for people like us (photographers in general), not having this as an outlet is a huge challenge to our mental wellbeing.

Thank you for your insights, and not to worry, you made perfect sense. Similar experience when I had been shooting with the EOS R for a bit, and then the 90D came in for a trial run... even though the 90D's AF ended up not being as accurate as I'd hoped, it just felt so much more urgent and purposeful. You're absolutely spot on too, once they bridge this AF gap w/ DSLRs, it's going to be an epic new shooting experience. Are you intending on keeping all of them around then, the DSLRs and MILCs?

Thank you very much, and I'm with you, Richard, Parulas are striking little birds. Their yellow throat/chest is such a vibrant gold when the sun catches it. This guy was a singer, no question, I could hear him belting out tunes an hour later as I came back on my return trip to the car.

(I normally don't upload portrait orientation photos because I feel that the uploader wrecks the detail vs. landscape, but here goes another attempt. Hopefully it's as crisp to you all as it is here on my iMac!)

MatthewK wrote in post #19049331
Each of the past three years now, I've met this Northern Parula in the same exact spot at one of my favorite birding spots. He's not afraid of me, it's pretty cool! A birdwatcher stopped by for a few minutes to see what I was focused on, and she says "I swear, you must have him trained, Parulas are usually very timid!". I think I may have a new yearly tradition!

Edited to add: the birdwatcher who I chatted with while taking the photo informed me that the tree in the first photo is a PawPaw Tree. Come to find out, the PawPaw produces the largest edible fruit of any tree in North America, which reportedly tastes like a cross between a mango and banana. I’m definitely looking for some of these when they ripen in the fall!

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Wow shots both!

MatthewK wrote in post #19049591
Thank you very much, and I'm with you, Richard, Parulas are striking little birds. Their yellow throat/chest is such a vibrant gold when the sun catches it. This guy was a singer, no question, I could hear him belting out tunes an hour later as I came back on my return trip to the car.

(I normally don't upload portrait orientation photos because I feel that the uploader wrecks the detail vs. landscape, but here goes another attempt. Hopefully it's as crisp to you all as it is here on my iMac!)

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forum: Nikon Lenses

Woah! Even nicer.
Agree, beautiful bierds. Maybe someday one will get blown off course and come to my mountains.