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. Brandt's Cormorant

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

Z9, 800PF American Robin House Finch

If you need more space, ProDigital currently has a 41% discount on the single 650GB card - $455 instead of $770 as the Deal of the Day: https://shop.progradedigital.com/products/prograde-digital-cfexpresstm-2-0-memory-card-cobalt-1700?variant=31798214787149&utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=uFZ9_SqpUr1nXYBazTl6OGAb8nOONVgEEYNxftSSElE%3D.M4gRwE That's just a few dollars more than their 325GB card costs ($450). Still more expensive than getting two of the Delkins linked to above.

On the D810 using live view that should be a given - provided you don't press the DOF preview button as that will open the lens to full aperture. Though I don't know if there is an aperture value cutoff beyond which the lens is not stopped down further (like on some mirrorless which focus at working aperture down to f/5.6 or f/8 but then stay at that value even if the lens is stopped down further). Easy to check though by looking at the front of the lens when changing aperture. Of course, focusing manually at working aperture can be both a blessing and a curse. It certainly helps with field curvature and focus shift issues but because of the increased DOF is not optimum for achieving critical focus. I assume you use the longest shutter delay available on the D810 and EFCS to avoid vibration-induced loss of sharpness. Also, with f/11 you might be reducing sharpness slightly due to diffraction. In addition, looking at 1600% magnification is a bit of an overkill - but it could reveal that the tripod vibrations have not subsided completely. Are you close to a street with traffic? Or any motors, pumps etc. operating on the same floor. People walking while you are taking the shots?

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. Squirrel

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. American Robin

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. Sorry for the late opening of this thread - lost track of time. Cedar Waxwing

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. Pacific Brown Pelican

Zero as the announcement indicates that the lens will start shipping in August. And if the past is any indication, then you would have to have one on order already to get one then. Maybe rent a 100-400 for the trip and make a decision between 100-400 and 180-600 at a later time?

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. A brief visitor in my backyard yesterday - just passing through

If finances allow. In addition, I rarely walk around with both a prime and a zoom at the same time. Photographing pelicans and cormorants at La Jolla I had the 500PF on the camera most of the time and switched to the 300PF when the distances were shorter (and they can become really short at that particular location). A 100-400 would have been a better choice for some close-up shots but not for longer range ones as 400 isn't long enough when the situation calls for a longer focal length. Versatility increases a lot if one can afford to walk around with two cameras avoiding near constant lens changes. To me a 80/100-400 is a compromise I am willing to make when space in the bag is tight (travel, hiking) but it has very little use to me as a dedicated bird photography lens. keh currently offers $600 for an excellent condition copy - which is a little less than half its original asking prices and a bit more than half of its current price point. Holds its value a lot better than the AF-S 80-400, for which the offer is just under $500 (for a lens that still costs about $2100 new and was around $2700 when announced). EITHER being the key word here I suppose. Most of the time, I don't bother carrying a shorter focal length lens/zoom as I found - as Ilkka pointed out - that I don't spend much time and effort working with it. I can see myself carrying both the 500PF and 800PF in the field - it just depends on location and circumstances. Most locations in the past (in California) and all I've encountered in Maine so far, don't allow for many opportunities using focal lengths much shorter than 500 for wildlife/birds. Again, the best case scenario is two lenses and two cameras. Airshows are a different case - here a zoom is very handy. In fact, for some performances, even a 24-105/24-120 comes in handy. Of course, then one again needs to use at least two cameras in order not to miss the shots.

Both the Sony 100-400 and the 200-600 are G Master lenses and they are "only" $500 apart - which is half the difference between the Nikon 100-400 and 180-600. Canon's 100-500 comes in at about the same price as Nikon's and Sony's 100-400. It's a good thing that there's more choices within a similar price range with Nikon teles now. In particular, the 400/4.5 fills a niche that was unoccupied within the F-mount line-up ever since AF was introduced. I seem to be leaning more and more towards using tele prime lenses instead of zooms even though I am giving up quite a bit of flexibility in doing so. On the other hand though, I can possibly count the number of images shot with any other focal length than the maximum of the 200-500 on the fingers of one hand.

Only 70 degrees or thereabouts. The Achilles heel of many Nikon telephotos. Available in Sony E-mount for a while already - and highly regarded. If I needed a zoom in that range, I would definitely get that one over Sony's 70-200/4. No such choice to make within the Nikon Z-mount system yet. Why would the 100-400 cost so much more than the 180-600 when they appear to be optically quite similar (according to what I saw in Ricci's video)? What actually is the difference between S and non-S lenses? From Ricci's video it appears that focus speed isn't all that great - which was also an issue with the F-mount 200-500. I would need to have the tripod collar mounted to have a handle to carry the combo by - but it appears to be quite short. To mount on a tripod, an Arca-Swiss plate needs to be added - or a surely soon available replacement collar fitted. I still have the F-mount AF-S 80-400 and the F-mount 200-500 (both sitting in the closet) and hence won't be getting either the 100-400 or the 180-600. Mildly interested in the 400/4.5 but I already have and love the 500PF. Jan Wegener: Jared Polin:

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. Brandt's Cormorant

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

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. Brandt's Cormorant

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

Z9, 500PF

Yeah, I thought I recognized those rocks. I miss Coal Oil Point, Sands Beach, Devereux Slough, NCOS and even the sight of Platform Holly.