Stuff
The pelicans returned to La Jolla en masse on Tuesday morning after an unexpected two-day lull. I enjoyed Day 4 with the SONY gear and continue to learn more each day. Patrick Sparkman has been working hard on fine-tuning the best settings for SONY A9 bird photography. In addition, with more help from Patrick and Arash’s Capture 1 e-guide, I have started doing some conversions in Capture 1. Arash’s guide will be available in the BAA Online Store in a few days. And the best news? Patrick Sparkman and I will be collaborating on a SONY A9/100-400 GM OSS e-Guide for bird photographers that will include practical Capture 1 tips as well. It should be available in four to six weeks, perhaps sooner.
Nikon Gear for Sale
Nikon D5 DSLR camera body with Dual XQD Slots
Arthur Morris is offering a barely used Nikon D5 in excellent to near-mint condition for the BAA record-low price of $5,496.95. The sale includes the original box and everything in it including the front lens cap, and insured ground shipping via United Parcel Service.
Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 (please leave a message if no answer).
You can save a cool $1000 by grabbing Nikon’s blazingly fast, top of the line professional digital camera body right now. It was the D5 autofocus that switched me from Canon to Nikon in point three seconds … artie
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens
Yours truly is offering a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens in excellent plus condition for only $1799.00. The sale includes the original product box and everything that came it including the front and rear caps along with insured ground shipping via United Parcel Service.
Please contact me via e-mail or on my cell at 863-221-2372.
The 80-400mm VR lens served as my main lens on both the Emperor Penguin and Falklands trip. Focus fine-tuned with both of my D850 bodies it produced some of the sharpest images I have eve seen. artie
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens (with a great and necessary extra)
Price Reduced $100 on January 18, 2019.
Price Reduced another $100 on January 30, 2019.
Still loving and keeping my much more expensive Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens, I am offering my Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens in pretty close to near-mint condition for only $1199.00 (was $1399.00). The sale includes the original product box and everything that came in it, the crappy original tripod collar, the RRS Collar Foot Package for Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens (a $250 plus the shipping value), and insured ground shipping via UPS.
Please contact me via e-mail or on my cell at 863-221-2372.
This is the lens that hooked me on Nikon and its great AF system. It is sharp and versatile and though AF is a bit sluggish away from the center AF point with a teleconverter, I made some great images with the TC-E14. This lens sells new right now for $1,396.95 with only the crappy original tripod collar … artie
Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II
Arthur Morris is offering a rarely used Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II in near-mint condition for a BAA record low price of $299.00. The sale includes the original product box and everything that came in it including the front and rear caps, and insured ground shipping via United Parcel Service.
Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 (please leave a message if no answer).
I successfully used this 1.7X TC with both my 500 PF and with the 600 VR. It sells new for $ 396.95 artie
Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III
Arthur Morris is offering a rarely used Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E II in near-mint condition for a money saving of $349.00. The sale includes the original product box and everything that came in it including the front and rear caps, and insured ground shipping via United Parcel Service.
Please contact artie via e-mail or on his cell at 863-221-2372 (please leave a message if no answer).
I successfully used this 2X TC with the 600 VR. It sells new for $ $ 496.95 artie
The Latest What’s Up With Nikon and SONY and BIRDS AS ART
I ordered my SONY A9, a 100-400mm GM OSS lens, and both teleconverters yesterday. I have decided work with two systems at least for now and will be keeping the following Nikon gear:
My Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens.
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens.
My main and back-up Nikon D850 DSLR Camera bodies.
Two Nikon AF-S Teleconverters TC-14E III, one focus fine-tuned for my 500 PF, and one focus fine-tuned for the 600 VR.
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR lens just for gannet boat trips. 🙂
My Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens for scenics and bird-scapes.
The Sigma APO Macro 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens for Nikon F for flowers and more.
Why Two Systems for Now?
- #1: While I like the color of my A9 image filess, image quality with the Nikon D850 files is expectedly superior to image quality for files created with the SONY A9. At some point in time I will likely test the 42MP Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital camera Body and compare the files with D850 files.
- #2: The functionality and image quality with the Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter remains a question mark. I hope to get a SONY 400 f/2..8 to test some time early this spring.
Hi Art, I was wondering with the Sony gear if you still employ the exposing to the right method?
Thanks
Hi Steve,
With digital we always want to expose to the right. SONY has and amazing feature called Zebra that is essentially in-viewfinder blinkies. Patrick and I are experimenting with the settings and with correlating the zebras with the resulting RGB values. It is a simply amazing feature. We will share everything that we learn in our new A9 Bird Photography and Capture 1 tips e-guide.
With love, artie
Artie: Is the Sony system (camera body plus lens) lighter than the Nikon and Canon equivalents?
It is pretty much a myth that the mirrorless stuff is much lighter. With the grip, the A9 is probably a few ounces lighter than the 5D Mark IV. And the weight of the lenses is about the same.
with love, artie
I read that Sony’s new firmware upgrade offers a Gen2 Eye AF that is incredible and Sony hopes to have Eye AF functioning with wildlife subjects.
Me too. Thanks 🙂
with love, artie
ps: it is hard to believe that the AF could be any better …
Artie,
I am renting a Sony 400mm f2.8. It arrives today. I will let you know my thoughts on how well it works with A9 and A7RIII, including how it compares to the Canon 600mm II f4 and the 400 DO II with Metabones adapters + 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters if you are interested.
Have you and Patrick been using the “Register Custom Settings” feature of the camera whereby you can specify 10 common shooting variables for instant recall via a button press? I think this is one of the best features of the A9 and A7RIII.
Best,
Mike
Great. Looking forward to hear about it.
Yes, Patrick set that up on the body we have been sharing.
with love, artie
I know Denise is also having Sony Set up. I use Capture1 exclusively now and you will like it as well.
What about Nikon AF-S 80-400 VR ?
Are you going to sell that lens or keep it ?
My understanding is that she still uses Canon for her bird photography. I forgot to list the 80-400 VR. I e-mailed you on WED morning.
with love, artie
Art,
I have same setup, 2 Nikon 850 bodies, 600 F4 e FL, 500 PF, 300 PF, Sony A9, A7riii, 100-400 GM and 400 F 2.8 GM. I have been using this system for more than years and been very happy with it. I am still holding on to Nikon because Sony hasn’t released the 600mm prime yet, but hopefully that will change soon.
The AF of A9 is great, work perfect with 1.4 and 2X tC without any issue, however with A7R3, the 2X TC does impact the AF speed. The image quality of the A7Riii is great, as good as D850 . The 400mm f2.8 GM is sharpest Tele lens I have ever used, the AF speed is amazing, much faster that any of my Nikon telephoto primes. You are able to Prefocus lens on 400mm prime but for 100-400 GM, not so sure, try “DMF” Af mode and see if that works, I personally never needed it so not sure about it.
I am waiting for the new firmware updates for A9, due to release this summer, which should make this fantastic camera even more functional for wildlife and sport photography.
Also, about the ergonomic, if you are coming from Nikon and Canon world, it take some time to get used to by the Sony ergo but once you do get comfortable, it is hard to go back to bigger DSLR body, for me, after more than year of use, Sony feels for comfortable than any of my Nikon body. The weigh factor alone makes the Sony more enjoyable for long hike, never though that I can hike with 400mm F2.8 lens for hours before I got Sony A9 and 400 GM.
I have been Nikon user for 30+ years and after using A9 for while, I am thinking to completely change over to Sony once they release the 600mm lens.
Art, I love your blog, especially the details and your comment associate with each image you publish, does help great deal. Hope to shoot with you some day.
thank you for publishing the great blog.
Regards,
Mukesh
Thanks for leaving a detailed comment. Great minds think alike. I will be holding off on the 400 f/2.8 at least for a while. How does it AF with the 2X and the A9??? How is AF accuracy with the A7RIII and the 100-400 as compared to AF with the A9? The A9 already feels natural to me. Thanks also for your kind words about the blog. And YAW.
with love, artie
Artie,
thanks for the response. Here is my obeservations;
– The 400Gm + A9, focus accuracy and speed are great, I have been shooting eagles at Conowingo dam without any issue. As you may know, with A9, AF perform flawlessly up to F/11 and for A7Riii , it is F/8. that may be the reason why the 400 GM slow dow a bit with 2X tc when used with A7Riii.
– The focus accuracy and image quality are same with 100-400 GM and 400 prime. no issue. Only the drawback with A7Riii, the viewfinder (EVF) has blackout and you see slideshow effect but it does not affect the AF accuracy or the Image quality. For reference, image quality of A7Riii and Nikon D850, it is hard to distinguish.
– Bottom line, the A7Riii works great with both lenses with 1.4 TC without any issue.
– The 400MM is one a kind lens when it comes to AF, the AF speed from distant to closest is very high and image quality does not suffer with 1.4X and 2X TC. I use A7Riii and 2X TC at 800mm lens for wildlife and very happy with it.
Hope this help, please, feel free to ask any questions you have.
Regards,
Mukesh
Thanks for answering my questions Mukesh. I do have three more questions for you at this time:
1- Which Nikon TC-Es do you use?
2- Why are you still using the Nikon 600 VR if you are good to go at 800mm with SONY?
3- Do you hand hold the SONY 400 f/2.8?
with love, artie
Good questions Artie, I ask the same questions to my self and here is my reasons:
1- Which Nikon TC-Es do you use?
I use all three, TC14 VII, TC 14 VIII, TC 17 VII ( there is no Version 2), and TC20 VIII. Both TC14 and TC 17 works great with primes, TC 20 does slow down the AF quite bit and see good 20% on image quality reduction.
2- Why are you still using the Nikon 600 VR if you are good to go at 800mm with SONY?
My main interest is Bald Eagles in flight, fight and catching fish, having 600 E FL+ 1.4X and D85o gives me good tracking and crop ability. For same, I have to use A7RIII + 400MM Prime + 2X @ F/5.6, this does impact the AF speed which is no no for eagles in flight. This is not a problem, if I use the same setup with A9 but then I lose the crop ability. That is the reason I decided to hold on to Nikon gears till Sony releases 600 F/4 GM, should be out before the Tokyo olympic games.
I do use the 400 GM + 2X with A7Riii for light action and bird in flights, just not for Bald Eagles in action.
3. Do you hand hold the SONY 400 f/2.8?
If I be honest to you, I have never used the 400 F / 2.8 GM on tripod or the monopod, I love the flexibility of handholding and with light weight and well balanced lens center point does makes handholding very easy, I personally think that is more pleasure to use than 100-400 GM with A9 or A7III.
The Image quality and sharpness of the 400 GM is outstanding, with my experience, it’s sharper than 600 E FL and 500 PF, it’s all subjective and no scientific experiment is conducted so please, don’t quote me on this, just my humble opinion.
Hope I answered your questions.
Best regards,
Mukesh
Thanks Mukesh. Do consider the spoonbill boat IPT, Fort DeSoto this spring, or San Diego next JAN (the latter TBA soon). Better yet, LMK if you want to go to the Galapagos on the best trip ever this summer 🙂
with love, artie
If you kept any of your Canon lenses, you can use them with a Sigma MC-11 converter. I use it with my Sony A7s with good results.
Thanks Naomi. I am not looking for good results; I am looking for mind-boggling science fiction like results. That is why I am using the SONY 100-400 GM OSS lens with my A9 🙂
with love, artie