Z9 v Z6ii Handling with 500mm PF.

I was out shooting non-static dragonflies with my Z6ii and 500mm PF the other day and despite best efforts only got a few keepers, mainly due to poor focus. Mostly user, but sometimes camera caused, but that's another story.

However, the issue I had, after 45 mins or so, was that whilst constantly using the MF ring, left handed (!), my right hand was always being pulled/twisted down and to the left by the off centre weight. Maybe a bit nose heavy too.

Cradling the lens in the left hand and relying on AF has no such problems.

Cradling the lens and quickly adjusting the focus ring, at the same time, seems impossible for my smallish hands.

Question is, is the Z9 better or worse in that respect. It's not the weight, per se, but the apparent distribution.

If you look at the bottom of the Z6/Z7, the optical 'centreline' is very left of centre with the battery in the grip.

The Z9's battery is basically across the entire bottom.

Sure, I could go and play in a camera shop, but i'm after first hand (sorry!) experience in the field of extended usage time using hand-held MF on teles.

I never seemed to have an issue using my D3S and occasional focus ring use with my 300mm 2.8 VRI.... and that's a pretty weighty combo!

PS. Focus 'throw' with the 500mm PF might be an issue too?

Mike, I have not tried using my 500mm pf lens on my Z9 yet. But based on using the lens on my D500 and D850, both with battery holders added, hand holding means I use AF (Back button focusing for me) and not manual focusing.

And when I use the 500mm pf in the field I try and use it on a monopod with a Wimberley monopod head. This could allow for some tweaking of the focus using manual focus. If I knew that I would be using manual focus a lot, I would use my tripod.

On my Z9, I use the Z mount 100-400mm S lens hand held. I do use manual focus from time to time on this lens attached to the Z9. So far no real problems.