Hi Dan, Great little video. I went yesterday to the show (Tuesday - last day), and it was rather quieter. Like you I agree £18 is steep, but next year, go as a trade or pro. You will be seen as a pro, coz you get paid for some of your photo work. Then you get an advanced email offering car park at a cheap (cough cough) £12.95. I was really disappointed by the show thus year, seems so much smaller than usual, with many companies joining forces on a stand, to reduce costs I would think. Meant less stock, so less choice to look at. The big boys stands were good of course (Nikon, Canon, Sony, OM etc), but then they have the budgets. Some good talks, but far less available Tuesday. Nothing really for wildlife snappers, no 'non-photo' stuff, like hides, clothing etc. - hence I am driving back up the NEC on Saturday for the National Outdoor Show, which I am hoping will have more of the practical stuff to see. Anyway, great vid, well done and keep them coming!!
Thanks very much Clive, I’d not considered going as a pro but it’s definitely something that I will look into for next year. I think at times I suffer from imposter syndrome as I certainly don’t consider myself a pro. The outdoors show sounds very interesting and something I’m going to look into so I appreciate your suggestion there. All the very best 👍🏻
Decided not to go as I couldn't visit the show until Tuesday when most of the celebs (like Dan Willis) aren't there - but you two were sounding a bit like Janice and Ray at the end there, Dan (check them out on TH-cam). Made me laugh - £10 for a sandwich from Subway???????
😂😂😂 that made me giggle Geoff, my wife and me have just watched the bread less sandwich sketch 😂😂😂 I can definitely see the resemblance 😂😂😂 Cheers Geoff and thanks for making me chuckle, all the best
Hi Dan, not a place I would go I'm being ripped off enough by the government. You can take good photos if you're in the right place and know your equipment. If I wanted any advice I would ask Steve Perry he's a top photographer and a great bloke. But at 73 years old I just like to do my own thing no pressure.Love to watch you and Pops, I worked with my son it was great. I'm retired now. Glad to hear Pops has had is operation and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Thanks very much Malcolm. Some great advice from yourself and I also enjoy watching Steve Perry and think his information and guidance is spot on. Take care and all the best 👍🏻
Mate I didn’t recognise you without your hat on but was there the same time , think we gave each other a second glance whilst Rachel was speaking if I’d of known it was you I would of come and said hello 👍🏻
We most certainly did give each other a second glance and Pete (The Photographic Nomad) told me you were there. I’m sure we will cross paths in the future mate and I will definitely stop for a chat mate 👍🏻
Insurance is not something I’ve ever really considered but I am like you and would rather actually speak to someone. Didn’t go this year but always gone on the train as cheaper. 😃👍
If you book parking before hand it's £12.95 Also register as a professional, and as long as you pass their criteria, it's free entry. Take your own snap, the NEC is always a rip off for food
Keep the beard, it suits you better than the unshaven look you usually have. Bleedin norah. £18 for parking!!! I hope pops is well and say hello to him from me.
You are absolutely right and Rachel’s talk was amazing and worth the trip alone. We also caught Will Burrard-Lucas talking about his book which was fantastic. I think I was trying to portray the lack of exhibitions for wildlife photography like clothing or pop up hides. Overall the talks and meeting up with people was the highlight of the show for me 👍🏻
One thing I found on my last visit to the UK is that you have to pay for parking everywhere you go. And the toilets. In fact that is where the saying, "To spend a penny" came from. You mentioned you were without a camera at the moment. What happened to your Z9?
The Brits certainly know how to charge for all the small things! Unfortunately I dropped my camera and lens on a recent trip to Scotland breaking the mount on the camera body. It’s all replaceable but has cost quite a bit to get sorted out 👍🏻
Hi Mark, thanks very much for your response. I did visit your stand and had a chat with someone about your product. I hope I never need to use it but it’s a great piece of mind to know where I could go if I needed support for damaged memory cards 👍🏻
Thanks Dan! I was at the show yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The best thing, as you said, was being able to meet some of the people whose channels I subscribe to.
Thanks Ash, networking with like minded people is definitely the best part about the show and the main reason why I will be returning next year. All the best 👍🏻
Nice to get a look inside the exhibition. Never sure about going to such shows due to the reasons you mentioned...how specific to wildlife photography is it is. I think you answered the question which is useful. By chance did you see anything about the Canon R5 mkII? I'll never be able to afford it but think it'll be an incredible camera 😀
To be honest, being a Nikon shooter I didn’t really spend much time on the Canon stand which was the largest stand in the show so quite possibly had the R5 mk2 👍🏻
Well done for keeping the content coming. Be interested to hear what particular insurance company piqued your interest, and why. Also, what did you feel the differences between the Z400 & Z600 TC were, given the roughly 300g difference..
Two great questions! The insurance companies were interesting and there was a big range of quotes and in turn what they are offering. As always it’s down to the small print and ensuring that the cover is fit for purpose. The 600 was an insane lens and I was really impressed with just how light and handholdable it was. I would say that for bird photography it’s perfect. However the 2.8 aperture on the 400 and its low light capabilities make it a great choice for me 👍🏻
Also managed to have a chat with Phil Gould on Saturday , very interesting and was keen to learn more...thoroughly enjoyed the show , I also managed to miss some of the speakers I would have liked to hear but overall same experience as yourself...great informative vide as always
Hi Dan going Monday, by train £29 return from preston,straight to NEC,your spot on about wildlife equipment stands/hides etc not catered for.But will take the cheque book for a sandwich. Thanks again Andy.
Next time park at the railway station about the same walk but always half the price to park there than the nec parking, hope you get your z9 back soon, love mine.
Hi Dan, not able to go this year, heading up to Northumberland so going in the wrong direction! 😂 Cracking video tho and I’ll definitely make the effort next time round. I think we should all jump on the buy me a coffee page to help subsidise your parking mate! 😂
Nice little video Dan and would love to have been there but my wife is going through chemo currently and I daren’t risk bringing infections home. Trick to avoid parking is to stay overnight in Birmingham- really vibrant city with great restaurants and amazing street art - train out to the NEC is buttons. Hope to bump into you one day soon.
Thanks very much Clive, I really appreciate your advice on how to improve my visit to the show for next year. I’ve not been into Birmingham city before so that’s a great idea. All the best and I hope that your wife’s chemo goes smoothly, please give her my regards 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography thanks for the good wishes Dan - if you do decide to go to Brum then let me know as I can give you some recommendations on great places to stay and tell you where the best of the street art is. If you like a curry then I can also point you in the direction of a fabulous curry house (off the beaten track) just around the corner from an excellent real ale pub (if you like a beer).
Parking defo advance booking recommended a lot cheaper mate if you go again. Shame I didn’t spot you around too I was there Saturday. Agree on the wildlife side of stuff too watched a couple of talks and spent a fortune on a new lens but mega saving over all with what I got so was a happy photographer
I went to the show today and trust me your video is way better than what I got. Parking at the NEC is always ridiculously expensive. I always book it in advance and you save quite a bit (around £6). The noise at these events is alway really bad. We go to Gardeners World Live every year and it's just as bad if not worse than the noise there today. I had a first look at some sony camera's today and boy was I impressed with the performance of those beasts. I've always been a Canon fan but with the 3rd party RF ban if I buy new kit then it's going to be Sony
Really interesting to read your take on the show and in particular your thoughts on Sony. I must admit Sony is the only other brand that tempts me away from Nikon 👍🏻
Thanks to your video I booked a workshop with Rachel Bigsby in July when I am in the UK for my son's graduation. 🍷
That sounds amazing. Could is ask you to mention the channel to Rachel and also let me know what you think of the workshop 👍🏻
Hi Dan,
Great little video. I went yesterday to the show (Tuesday - last day), and it was rather quieter. Like you I agree £18 is steep, but next year, go as a trade or pro. You will be seen as a pro, coz you get paid for some of your photo work. Then you get an advanced email offering car park at a cheap (cough cough) £12.95.
I was really disappointed by the show thus year, seems so much smaller than usual, with many companies joining forces on a stand, to reduce costs I would think. Meant less stock, so less choice to look at. The big boys stands were good of course (Nikon, Canon, Sony, OM etc), but then they have the budgets.
Some good talks, but far less available Tuesday. Nothing really for wildlife snappers, no 'non-photo' stuff, like hides, clothing etc. - hence I am driving back up the NEC on Saturday for the National Outdoor Show, which I am hoping will have more of the practical stuff to see.
Anyway, great vid, well done and keep them coming!!
Thanks very much Clive, I’d not considered going as a pro but it’s definitely something that I will look into for next year. I think at times I suffer from imposter syndrome as I certainly don’t consider myself a pro.
The outdoors show sounds very interesting and something I’m going to look into so I appreciate your suggestion there.
All the very best 👍🏻
Pleasure - hope to catch you face to face at some point!
Decided not to go as I couldn't visit the show until Tuesday when most of the celebs (like Dan Willis) aren't there - but you two were sounding a bit like Janice and Ray at the end there, Dan (check them out on TH-cam). Made me laugh - £10 for a sandwich from Subway???????
😂😂😂 that made me giggle Geoff, my wife and me have just watched the bread less sandwich sketch 😂😂😂 I can definitely see the resemblance 😂😂😂
Cheers Geoff and thanks for making me chuckle, all the best
Hi Dan, not a place I would go I'm being ripped off enough by the government. You can take good photos if you're in the right place and know your equipment. If I wanted any advice I would ask Steve Perry he's a top photographer and a great bloke. But at 73 years old I just like to do my own thing no pressure.Love to watch you and Pops, I worked with my son it was great. I'm retired now.
Glad to hear Pops has had is operation and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Thanks very much Malcolm. Some great advice from yourself and I also enjoy watching Steve Perry and think his information and guidance is spot on.
Take care and all the best 👍🏻
Mate I didn’t recognise you without your hat on but was there the same time , think we gave each other a second glance whilst Rachel was speaking if I’d of known it was you I would of come and said hello 👍🏻
We most certainly did give each other a second glance and Pete (The Photographic Nomad) told me you were there.
I’m sure we will cross paths in the future mate and I will definitely stop for a chat mate 👍🏻
Insurance is not something I’ve ever really considered but I am like you and would rather actually speak to someone. Didn’t go this year but always gone on the train as cheaper. 😃👍
Thanks Ian, the train is definitely something I would consider next year mate 👍🏻
If you book parking before hand it's £12.95
Also register as a professional, and as long as you pass their criteria, it's free entry.
Take your own snap, the NEC is always a rip off for food
Like Gordon Says ...
Thanks very much Gordon, some great advice 👍🏻
Always pre-book online for car park. We paid £ 13.
Thanks that’s a great tip, all the best 👍🏻
Keep the beard, it suits you better than the unshaven look you usually have. Bleedin norah. £18 for parking!!! I hope pops is well and say hello to him from me.
Thanks very much Andrew, appreciate it mate 👍🏻
Hi dan, when I looked there at least 5 talks on wildlife photography.
You are absolutely right and Rachel’s talk was amazing and worth the trip alone. We also caught Will Burrard-Lucas talking about his book which was fantastic.
I think I was trying to portray the lack of exhibitions for wildlife photography like clothing or pop up hides. Overall the talks and meeting up with people was the highlight of the show for me 👍🏻
Enjoyed the video, but I think you need a bank loan to park 😅
Thanks Sheila, if you start saving now you should be good for next year 😂
One thing I found on my last visit to the UK is that you have to pay for parking everywhere you go. And the toilets. In fact that is where the saying, "To spend a penny" came from. You mentioned you were without a camera at the moment. What happened to your Z9?
The Brits certainly know how to charge for all the small things!
Unfortunately I dropped my camera and lens on a recent trip to Scotland breaking the mount on the camera body. It’s all replaceable but has cost quite a bit to get sorted out 👍🏻
Looks like fun :)
Well worth a visit 😊
Hi Dan, Great review. Did you pop by the NANDOFF Data Recovery stand? We spoke to so many pros like yourself, its hard to remember everyone 🙂
Hi Mark, thanks very much for your response. I did visit your stand and had a chat with someone about your product. I hope I never need to use it but it’s a great piece of mind to know where I could go if I needed support for damaged memory cards 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography ah cool.
Will have been either myself or my wife you spoke to.
Here to help anytime.
@@NANDOFFDataRecovery I think it was your wife 👍🏻
Great video again Dan. Beard suits you. You look like a film star. Some good advice once again. We are in Florida so unable to make it.
Thanks very much guys. Very jealous of your Florida trip, a place I would love to go to photograph birds 👍🏻
Great video, but as always these shows rip people off.
Cheers Mark 👍🏻
Thanks Dan! I was at the show yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The best thing, as you said, was being able to meet some of the people whose channels I subscribe to.
Thanks Ash, networking with like minded people is definitely the best part about the show and the main reason why I will be returning next year.
All the best 👍🏻
Nice to get a look inside the exhibition. Never sure about going to such shows due to the reasons you mentioned...how specific to wildlife photography is it is. I think you answered the question which is useful.
By chance did you see anything about the Canon R5 mkII? I'll never be able to afford it but think it'll be an incredible camera 😀
To be honest, being a Nikon shooter I didn’t really spend much time on the Canon stand which was the largest stand in the show so quite possibly had the R5 mk2 👍🏻
Well done for keeping the content coming. Be interested to hear what particular insurance company piqued your interest, and why. Also, what did you feel the differences between the Z400 & Z600 TC were, given the roughly 300g difference..
Two great questions!
The insurance companies were interesting and there was a big range of quotes and in turn what they are offering. As always it’s down to the small print and ensuring that the cover is fit for purpose.
The 600 was an insane lens and I was really impressed with just how light and handholdable it was. I would say that for bird photography it’s perfect. However the 2.8 aperture on the 400 and its low light capabilities make it a great choice for me 👍🏻
Also managed to have a chat with Phil Gould on Saturday , very interesting and was keen to learn more...thoroughly enjoyed the show , I also managed to miss some of the speakers I would have liked to hear but overall same experience as yourself...great informative vide as always
Thanks very much Phil, sounds like you had a very similar experience to myself 👍🏻
Hi Dan going Monday, by train £29 return from preston,straight to NEC,your spot on about wildlife equipment stands/hides etc not catered for.But will take the cheque book for a sandwich. Thanks again Andy.
Cheers Andy, I appreciate your advice and I will definitely be looking into the train on my next visit.
Hope you had a great day today 👍🏻
Next time park at the railway station about the same walk but always half the price to park there than the nec parking, hope you get your z9 back soon, love mine.
Thanks Tony, great piece of advice I appreciate it 👍🏻
Hi Dan, not able to go this year, heading up to Northumberland so going in the wrong direction! 😂
Cracking video tho and I’ll definitely make the effort next time round. I think we should all jump on the buy me a coffee page to help subsidise your parking mate! 😂
😂😂😂 I think that sounds like a great idea Sean 😂😂😂
Thanks and all the best mate 👍🏻
Nice little video Dan and would love to have been there but my wife is going through chemo currently and I daren’t risk bringing infections home. Trick to avoid parking is to stay overnight in Birmingham- really vibrant city with great restaurants and amazing street art - train out to the NEC is buttons. Hope to bump into you one day soon.
Thanks very much Clive, I really appreciate your advice on how to improve my visit to the show for next year. I’ve not been into Birmingham city before so that’s a great idea.
All the best and I hope that your wife’s chemo goes smoothly, please give her my regards 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography thanks for the good wishes Dan - if you do decide to go to Brum then let me know as I can give you some recommendations on great places to stay and tell you where the best of the street art is. If you like a curry then I can also point you in the direction of a fabulous curry house (off the beaten track) just around the corner from an excellent real ale pub (if you like a beer).
Lovely insight Dan, I’m off tomorrow 👍
Have a great trip Andy, all the best 👍🏻
Parking defo advance booking recommended a lot cheaper mate if you go again.
Shame I didn’t spot you around too I was there Saturday.
Agree on the wildlife side of stuff too watched a couple of talks and spent a fortune on a new lens but mega saving over all with what I got so was a happy photographer
I saw your post of your new lens, very very nice 👌🏻
Thanks for the advice Vicky, shame I didn’t bump into you 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography can’t wait to get out now just waiting on a lenscoat for it now it’s a bit white 🤣
I went to the show today and trust me your video is way better than what I got. Parking at the NEC is always ridiculously expensive. I always book it in advance and you save quite a bit (around £6). The noise at these events is alway really bad. We go to Gardeners World Live every year and it's just as bad if not worse than the noise there today. I had a first look at some sony camera's today and boy was I impressed with the performance of those beasts. I've always been a Canon fan but with the 3rd party RF ban if I buy new kit then it's going to be Sony
Really interesting to read your take on the show and in particular your thoughts on Sony. I must admit Sony is the only other brand that tempts me away from Nikon 👍🏻