Nikon Z8 and 800mm 6.3 PF lens.....INCREDIBLE - Wildlife Bird Photography

Summary

In this video, the host shares their experience testing the Nikon 800 mm 6.3 PF lens at Lake Hayes, contemplating a switch from Fujifilm to Nikon for wildlife photography. They discuss the lens's performance, battery life, and autofocus capabilities, while capturing various bird species like the crested grebe and New Zealand scaup. The video showcases the lens's reach and color contrast, emphasizing its suitability for New Zealand's birdlife and the importance of battery life in fieldwork.

Takeaways

• 📹 The video is set at Lake Hayes, where the speaker is testing out a Nikon 800 mm 6.3 super telephoto lens.
• 📷 The speaker is considering switching from Fujifilm to Nikon for still photography but will likely stick with Fujifilm for video.
• 🌄 They have already spotted and filmed a variety of bird species, including the crested grebe and the Australasian coot, enjoying the autumn colors reflected in the water.
• 🎥 The setup involves a tripod partially in the water to capture low-angle shots with bird reflections.
• 🔍 The speaker is testing the new Nikon Z8 firmware 2.0 and is working on mastering subject detection and autofocus.
• 🎞 The location is acting like a photo blind, allowing for close-up shots of birds unaware of the photographer's presence.
• 🔋 Despite only having one battery for the Z8, the speaker has been able to shoot a lot of 4K video and high burst rate images without running out of power.
• 👀 The speaker is unsure of identifying a juvenile cised G bird and asks for help in the comments.
• 🌟 The 800 mm lens is praised for its prime lens pop, providing great contrast and color, and for its ability to track subjects well.
• 🏞 The speaker values the reach of the 800 mm lens for photographing small birds in New Zealand, where there isn't much big game.
• 📚 The video also covers the behavior of the New Zealand scoters, which dive underwater to avoid threats and possibly feed.
• 🙌 The speaker concludes by expressing satisfaction with the Nikon 800 mm 6.3 PF lens for its lightweight design, ergonomics, and performance with full-frame sensor.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to test the Nikon 800 mm 6.3 PF lens and decide whether to switch from Fujifilm to Nikon for wildlife photography and videography.

Where is the video being filmed?

The video is being filmed at Lake Hayes.

What type of wildlife has the narrator already observed at the beginning of the video?

The narrator has observed the crested grebe, the Australasian coot, and possibly a New Zealand scaup.

Why does the narrator position the tripod half in the water?

The narrator positions the tripod half in the water to get a low angle that captures the autumn colors in the water with birds in the background.

What new firmware is being tested on the Nikon camera?

The new firmware being tested is the Nikon Z8 firmware 2.0.

What is the narrator's concern regarding the camera setup?

The narrator is concerned about the battery life of the Z8 camera, as they only have one battery for the day.

What feature of the Nikon 800 mm lens does the narrator appreciate?

The narrator appreciates the lightweight design, ergonomics, and the reach provided by the 800 mm lens, which is particularly useful for photographing small birds in New Zealand.

What is the narrator's strategy for conserving battery life?

The narrator turns off features like Bluetooth that are not used to conserve battery life.

What bird behavior does the narrator observe and find interesting?

The narrator observes the New Zealand scaup's behavior of diving under the water to avoid threats and possibly feed.

What is the narrator's final verdict on the Nikon 800 mm lens?

The narrator loves the Nikon 800 mm lens for its lightweight design, ergonomics, and the reach it provides on a full-frame sensor, which is great for capturing small birds in New Zealand.

What is the narrator's decision regarding the camera brands?

The narrator is still considering whether to stay with Fujifilm, migrate to GFX, or switch to Nikon Z8 cameras, and will share the decision in future content.