Dieter Schaefer

Z9, 500PF Double-crested Cormorant

Owned that lens too - was doing fine on 12MP DX cameras - anything more and the lens showed its weaknesses. Owned each one of the AF-S lenses - they aren't optical gems to put it mildly. Allegedly, the older AF-D 24-85/2.8-4 is better optically (I never used one).

Seems straight forward to me: export from Capture One, import into PL, apply noise reduction and lens correction, export back to Capture One. I imagine that "Watch Folder" is one he has open in PL so that he can immediately select the exported images for processing. I got so used to my photoshop workflow that I have not tried others for quite some time. I use an action in photoshop to create a full-size JPEG without output sharpening and a reduced-size JPEG with sharpening for web-site posting applied. When Adobe came out with the subscription model, I was ready to dump photoshop altogether - but at about the same time, my wife got into digital photography and started using photoshop; could not persuade her to try anything else. So she and I got stuck with it. I know I cannot use Lightroom as the initial import drives me mad (I also don't like the catalog idea). Really need to have another go at PhotoLab and also Capture One (though I already decided not to continue upgrading the latter).

Though it appears that there are now more and better options to export from PhotoLab. It appears as if PureRAW is the standalone version of the Noise Reduction and Lens Correction portion of PhotoLab.

It does for me as I am not regularly using PhotoLab to process my images; I usually use ACR/photoshop. PureRAW allows me to get noise reduction (and with Version 3 lens correction) applied to the RAW image that then automatically opens in ACR (I wish there was an option to not have to save the file as DNG, JPEG, or (new) TIFF- though the option to keep the original RAW file as well as the corrected and de-noised DNG can be useful at times). I can also do a batch process. Blunt tool - maybe. But starting processing in PhotoLab and finishing in photoshop is a much bigger pain. I prefer the PureRAW workflow over using Topaz DeNoise AI which I can't use on a NEF file directly but usually have to start from inside photoshop.

Basic Guidelines: In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include "hand of man elements". Please refrain from images with buildings or human made structures like roads, fences, walls. Pets are not permitted. Captive subjects in zoos, arboretums, or aquariums are permitted, but must be declared, and must focus on the subject, not the captivity. Images with obvious human made elements will likely be deleted from the thread, with an explanation to the photographer. Guidelines are based on PSA rules governing Nature photography which also cover the Nature Forum. Keep your image at/under 1000 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Each member please post no more than just one image to this weekly thread per week. If the information is available, many members appreciate information on your approach to making the image and the names, both common and scientific, of the subject(s). However, while encouraged, these are not required as a component of your contributions. Pacific Brown Pelican

For DX, I quite liked the 18-140 f/3.5-5.6 VR lens though I exchanged it for the 16-80 f/2.8-4. For FX, I quite like the Tamron 35-150/2.8-4 VC even though I am missing out on the wide-angle range (I tend to at least carry the 20/1.8) along with the Tamron; or the 15-30/2.8 VC if I have the space in the bag).

There's the Sony A7 series of cameras to consider. Their 1st and 2nd generation cameras (A7, A7R, A7S; A7II, A7RII, A7SII) use very small batteries; carrying two is the bare minimum and I ended up carrying four per body. The 1st generation does not have IBIS (which was introduced with the 2nd generation). The A7S and A7SII are more geared towards video than still photography. I owned the A7, A7II and the A7RII and am currently using the much improved A7RIII. That's what I thought when I purchased my first DSLR (NIkon D70) in 2004. Even purchased a Nikon F5 the following year. Big mistake on my part - by 2006 I was shooting only digital and sold the F5 (and most of my other accumulated film SLRs). For nostalgic reasons, I kept the F3HP and the F100, both of which have become shelf queens. Using existing manual focus lenses had been my reason to get into mirrorless. Turned out to be another mistake as quite a few of my older lenses didn't play nice with digital sensors.

The only way I can use manual focus lenses is on mirrorless cameras; the "focusing" screens in AF film cameras and DSLRs don't work all that well when one tries to nail the focus. Used Df bodies are about twice the price of a used D4 or D750 (at around $1500). Cheapest full frame Nikon mirrorless is the Z5 at around $1000.

This is the additional weekly image thread for the Nature Forum. While images posted to this thread should still be nature in theme, it may contain a small amount of human-made objects and therefore less restricted than the Monday in Nature threads. Please see this discussion for more details: Alternative weekly thread in Nature forum Each participant please post no more than just one image per weekly thread. Many members will appreciate any information you are willing or able to provide regarding location, shooting process, exposure settings, equipment, and information on the subject(s), including scientific and/or common names. Pacific Brown Pelican

Thanks Joseph, downloading both now. PureRAW 3 is not a free upgrade, it costs $79 for registered users of PureRAW 2 and $129 for new users. Been waiting for that update as I find PureRAW very easy to use and to include in my workflow. I also like Topaz DeNoise AI but it isn't as convenient.

I only had a D800 beater for a short period and never compared it to the D810 in terms of noise performance. Even though it appeared to be a minor upgrade to the D800, it handled and performed better in every aspect.

You mean D850? And yes, the D850 does better at higher ISOs than the D810 - by about a stop. Like others, my FX path has been D700, D810, D850. I only purchased the latter for wildlife photography, the D810 is still my goto camera for general photography. Like Ilkka, I don't think it is worthwhile getting a Z body and use F-mount glass on it - except (like in my case) for special applications. I use the 500PF on a Z9 for bird photography - it is by far the best performing Nikon camera for that purpose and does very well with the F-mount 500PF on a FTZII adapter. I only have one Z-mount lens (24-70/4) - mostly so that I have a native lens to mount when setting up the camera and familiarizing myself with its operation. I have currently no plans to replace my F-mount cameras and lenses with Z-mount as the cost for the exchange is prohibitive. Parallel to my Nikon DSLR system, I build a small Sony mirrorless system; initially with manual focus adapted lenses but now with native E-mount glass to create a 4-lens system for travel. Swapping that one for a Z-mount system also does not make financial sense at this point in time. Awaiting the appearance of the Z8 before making any decisions regarding system consolidation.

Z9, 500PF

Basic Guidelines: In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include "hand of man elements". Please refrain from images with buildings or human made structures like roads, fences, walls. Pets are not permitted. Captive subjects in zoos, arboretums, or aquariums are permitted, but must be declared, and must focus on the subject, not the captivity. Images with obvious human made elements will likely be deleted from the thread, with an explanation to the photographer. Guidelines are based on PSA rules governing Nature photography which also cover the Nature Forum. Keep your image at/under 1000 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Each member please post no more than just one image to this weekly thread per week. If the information is available, many members appreciate information on your approach to making the image and the names, both common and scientific, of the subject(s). However, while encouraged, these are not required as a component of your contributions. Double-crested Cormorant

A female kestrel is about 9 inches tall and my estimate is that the kestrel fits vertically about twelve times into the frame - which amounts to 108 inches or 2.74m. The horizontal FOV dimension of a 800mm lens at 94.4m distance is 2.82m. So it appears that the distance reported by the camera's EXIF is certainly in the ballpark. I believe we had a discussion about the distance reported by Nikon's EXIF a while back. I agree with Ilkka, the measure is likely quite approximate. The subject might be a meter or two closer or farther away and the reported distance could be 94.4m for all of those cases.

This is the additional weekly image thread for the Nature Forum. While images posted to this thread should still be nature in theme, it may contain a small amount of human-made objects and therefore less restricted than the Monday in Nature threads. Please see this discussion for more details: Alternative weekly thread in Nature forum Each participant please post no more than just one image per weekly thread. Many members will appreciate any information you are willing or able to provide regarding location, shooting process, exposure settings, equipment, and information on the subject(s), including scientific and/or common names. Pacific Brown Pelican I hope that soon I'll be able to photograph some local birds and wildlife as spring approaches.

Nope, I think two is sufficient for the time being.

I knew I should have waited buying that 2nd battery 🙁

Pacific Brown Pelican coming in for a landing in the rain. Z9, 500PF

Basic Guidelines: In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include "hand of man elements". Please refrain from images with buildings or human made structures like roads, fences, walls. Pets are not permitted. Captive subjects in zoos, arboretums, or aquariums are permitted, but must be declared, and must focus on the subject, not the captivity. Images with obvious human made elements will likely be deleted from the thread, with an explanation to the photographer. Guidelines are based on PSA rules governing Nature photography which also cover the Nature Forum. Keep your image at/under 1000 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Each member please post no more than just one image to this weekly thread per week. If the information is available, many members appreciate information on your approach to making the image and the names, both common and scientific, of the subject(s). However, while encouraged, these are not required as a component of your contributions. Pacific Brown Pelican

This is the additional weekly image thread for the Nature Forum. While images posted to this thread should still be nature in theme, it may contain a small amount of human-made objects and therefore less restricted than the Monday in Nature threads. Please see this discussion for more details: Alternative weekly thread in Nature forum Each participant please post no more than just one image per weekly thread. Many members will appreciate any information you are willing or able to provide regarding location, shooting process, exposure settings, equipment, and information on the subject(s), including scientific and/or common names. Pacific Brown Pelican

Pacific Brown Pelican, Z9, 500PF

Basic Guidelines: In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include "hand of man elements". Please refrain from images with buildings or human made structures like roads, fences, walls. Pets are not permitted. Captive subjects in zoos, arboretums, or aquariums are permitted, but must be declared, and must focus on the subject, not the captivity. Images with obvious human made elements will likely be deleted from the thread, with an explanation to the photographer. Guidelines are based on PSA rules governing Nature photography which also cover the Nature Forum. Keep your image at/under 1000 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Each member please post no more than just one image to this weekly thread per week. If the information is available, many members appreciate information on your approach to making the image and the names, both common and scientific, of the subject(s). However, while encouraged, these are not required as a component of your contributions. Pacific Brown Pelican

This is the additional weekly image thread for the Nature Forum. While images posted to this thread should still be nature in theme, it may contain a small amount of human-made objects and therefore less restricted than the Monday in Nature threads. Please see this discussion for more details: Alternative weekly thread in Nature forum Each participant please post no more than just one image per weekly thread. Many members will appreciate any information you are willing or able to provide regarding location, shooting process, exposure settings, equipment, and information on the subject(s), including scientific and/or common names. Brandt's Cormorant