Dieter Schaefer

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. Osprey

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. One from the archives - 2007. Squirrel among ice plants with the Pacific Ocean as backdrop

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Z9, 800PF

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. Bird of Prey with prey. I believe this is a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. Flew over my head in my backyard with a squirrel in its talons and then settled in a tree by my garage to make a meal of it. Ran inside and grabbed the Z9 with the 800PF mounted - a bit too much lens for the occasion. Got a few shots, went back inside to trade for the 500PF - but when I returned, the hawk had left.

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. Reddish Egret

Some from the archives. D7200, AF-S 80-400, 2016 D500, 500PF, 2020 D850, 500PF, 2021

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. Got Fish! Still brought by her male parent at this point (September 19). By September 24, she was apparently observed to catch her own. Which seemingly was all it took for her to start on her journey South to somewhere in Central or South America. She won't be back for 1 1/2 years, scheduled to return as an adult bird in Spring of 2025. With her leaving, the male parent is now also free to journey South - which he most likely already did. The male parent just dropped of some fish for the female youngster.

I've never used the auto AF-tuning feature of the D500 (or D850 for that matter) and instead applied the "green dot" method to AF fine tune my lenses. Only found the need for fine tuning the longer ones though: 300PF (with and without TC-14E/TC-14EIII), AF-S 80-400 (don't bother with the TC here), 200-500 (with and without TC-14E/TC-14EIII), and 500 PF (with and without TC-14EIII). Used a lens-align target and a sturdy tripod in the quite lengthy process but got things nailed down fairly good (adding a TC to a lens with f/5.6 makes fine tuning a bit difficult though).

Correct, says so right at the end of the teaser.

Plena is a new trademark Nikon filed earlier this year: https://www.trademarkia.com/plena-97814887; it encompasses "camera lenses; digital camera lenses; cameras; digital cameras" Teaser on NIkon US: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/plena.page?utm_source=WWA&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-09-22_countdown_cs-z-9-22-2023&utm_content=btn&utm_term=WatchNow&ET_CID=4911193&ET_RID=904664720 Lens appears to be a NOCT-lookalike

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. Osprey, heading South any day now

I think the F2 Titan is a good looking camera: https://blog.mingthein.com/2013/07/23/fd-shooting-with-the-legends-the-nikon-f2-titan/ Agree. Maybe the viewfinder proportion is better with the non-HP finder though. Mine started out that way; I exchanged the viewfinder later (I wear glasses and the HP finder suited me better):

Marginally better than the entirely gripless FM/FM2/FE/FE2 etc bodies - but I had an MD-4 fitted to my F3 as quickly as possible (that combo still sits on my bookshelf today). I handled the Df a few times, can't recall whether or not I found the grip sufficient (likely not). Can't recall the difference between the D850 and the D810 - I have/had no issue holding either. The Z9 is a bit "fat" for me which creates some minor issues. The only Nikon DSLR I can remember having an issue with the grip depth/shape was the D7000 - which is why I never got one. On the D7100/D7200 the issue was more the length of the grip (or height of the camer body) - with longer, heavier lenses, I needed the battery grip. Similar issue with any Sony A7 Series body so far - the grip simply is too short. Retro-style cameras just aren't for me - I have no nostalgic longings back to the "good old film days". The Zf shows some interesting features though - which I hope will find their way into other camera bodies as well. Some hopefully with a firmware upgrade rather than with the need to purchase an entire new camera.

Well, the sensor can move - so it could be. To make more money? Off people who want the technology that's in the Zf and deal with the non-ergonomic design? Then add the Z6III as soon as it becomes available? How many people would not have purchased the Z9 had the Z8 been first? Smallrig already offers a grip to add onto the Zf to make holding it a bit easier; the grip has no electrical contacts so it does not add any functionality to the camera. I owned two FM2 bodies back in the day (and an FM had been my first camera) - I added the MD-12 battery grip just so I could hold those bodies more comfortably. While beautiful to look at (akin to Leica M bodies), the compromised ergonomics of the Df, Zfc, and Zf are sufficient grounds for me not to want either of them.

From 2021, D500, 500PF From 2020, D500, 500PF From 2016, D7200, 200-500

I don't have a Z8 but assume it wakes up as quickly as the Z9 from stand-by modus. If indeed so, then there's no speed difference to a DSLR at all (as there would be with a slower responding mirrorless like any of the Sony A7 models I have used so far. I also think that with subject detection on, there's a much higher chance of in-focus shots with the Z8 than with any DSLR. I have switched to back-button focus many years ago and can't imagine shooting any other way - I don't see a speed penalty, rather the opposite.

That's what I do ever since I got the D500. Which was also the most sensitive to moving the focusing area when the joystick was not pressed perfectly straight. The D850 was much less sensitive in that regard. I continue to have the same assignment on the Z9 - but it's different. Pressing initiates 3D-Mode AF while moving the stick changes the position of the AF area I have normally selected (Wide-Area L or Custom Area C1). This assignment has worked well for me for avian photography (and also air shows) - which is what I use the D500, D850, and Z9 almost exclusively for.

If for no other reason - aside from more reach and reportedly better optical performance - than the much shorter "zoom throw" to get from one end of the focal length range to the other - on the 200-500 that was impractical to do smoothly in one move. I found that I used the 80-400 and the 200-500 mostly at their longest focal length - so I was thrilled when "affordable" prime lenses became available promising better image quality. To me, the 80-400 still has some value as a travel lens but is not my first choice for bird photography. The 100-400 adds value because of it close-focusing capability - but it's a lot of weight to haul around for that purpose alone. My 300PF comes closest (about the same maximum reproduction ratio of about 1:4 as the 400/4.5; the 100-400 goes to 1:2.6). Strange how that mimics the F-mount 80-400 vs 200-500 performance. At least with my copies, the 200-500 is the clear winner in that contest. Both the 200-500 and the 180-600 appear to be good value for the money. Price jumps to the higher tier lenses are substantial.

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. Northern Harrier, February 2021

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. One from the archives; created 8/9/2016 with the D7100 and the just re-acquired AF-S 300/4E PF VR. I had purchased that lens 5 months prior but returned because of VR and soft focus issues. Was just testing the same copy after it had returned form Nikon - all clear; purchased two days later. It's been a favorite of mine ever since.

Z9, 500PF Z9, 800PF

The deal is on again - just for today. $199.99. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1702403-REG/delkin_devices_dcfxbblk325_325gb_black_cfexpress_type.html

Well, it's right there in the middle😏 APS_H film has even less to do with Canon's (and Leica's) digital APS-H format (which has a 1.3 crop factor). Nikon's DX is also a bit variable - some of the lower-tier bodies have crop factors of 1.53, 1.54, and 1.55 - when DX actually is 1.52. Close enough, I suppose. Someone started it and it stuck.

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. Another date that lives in infamy...

Full frame is double the area of half frame - ergo the crop factor is SQRT(2) - which is close enough to 1.4. APS and half frame film formats are not the same (the "classic" APS-C film is 25.1 × 16.7 mm vs 18 x 24 mm for half frame); the crop factor, however, is only marginally larger at 1.43. For digital, there's different APS-C formats: Canon chose 22.3×14.9 mm (1.6 crop factor), Nikon and others chose 23.5×15.6 mm (1.5 crop factor).