Lewis that was truly an amazing video photos and video footage was brilliant , really impressed with your Z8 180-600 getting fabulous shots with it keep the videos coming.
Advancing years has stopped me hand holding my Z8 and 180-600 which is slightly lighter than my previous combo (D500 with 200-500) but still heavy. A monopod or tripod with Gimbal head (new K+F concept which, when the weather improves will get a day out) is now essential which is a shame as it spoils the spontaneous shots that often present themselves. Keep them coming
Nice video. I have the same setup. I was surprised how heavy the lens was and find it pretty tiring to handhold. Recently picked up the Manfrotto 502ah head, so I'll try out that sometime soon.
Brilliant video. I love photographing kingfishers and this year upgraded from a Z50 to a Z8 the bird detection is a game changer….. just need to save up for the lens now. Looking forward to more videos.
Great images, Lewis. It looks like you had a nice variety of birds at that location. I've yet to get any photos of Kingfishers, and the ones here in the US aren't as colorful as the European variety. I'm of two minds on the 180-600mm lens. I pre-ordered one 3 days after it was announced, and it finally shipped exactly 5 months later. However, had I known the 600mm PF was coming out, which was announced like a week before my 180-600mm was delivered, I'm not sure if I would have ordered the 180-600mm. The 600mm PF is sharper and lighter. Granted, the 600 PF is much more expensive and the 180-600mm gives you a lot of flexibility, but I already had the 100-400 f4.5 so I think that would have been a better combo for me. So, I may sell the 180-600mm. It's hardly been used. But you can't beat the price of it for what you're getting, especially if you don't have other large telephoto lenses, which is why it's such a popular lens and a great successor to the f-mount 200-500mm.. Yeah, the battery life on the Z8 is a bit of an issue, and unfortunately, the battery grip for the Z8 doesn't fit the EN-EL18 battery (nor does it really fit the body all that well). That's what I like about my D810 and D850 - the grip is designed to accept the EN-EL18 battery, plus it retains the EN-EL15 within the camera body so that combo lasts a real long time. With my Z9 the single EN-EL18 will last me an entire weekend of heavy shooting easily. It will be interesting to see how the next generation of the Z8 may improve on the battery life. But I'm strictly a stills shooter, so maybe it's not too bad for that application.
I see what you mean, as to have the 150-400 4.5 you're kind of covered aren't you so the timing was unlucky for you there, I guess it depends on the budget aswell, can't knock it in terms of value for money for sure though. The Battery scenario is what it is for me I don't do photography full time (only in my dreams) but if I did and I spent day after day having to keep spares charged frequently it would become an annoyance I suppose. Thanks for your thoughts! 😊
I think you may have mixed up the info @14:04. The image shows the Z8 w/180-600mm and the Z6II w/FTZ + 200-500mm, but the text lists it the other way around. I'm assuming the Z8 w/180-600mm is 460mm in length. The images also clearly indicate that it is shorter than the 200-500mm @500mm w/FTZ.
Yes you're right I have mixed the bodies up, the lengths tie in with what was said in the video with Z8 and 180-600mm being the smaller compared to fully extended 200-500, thanks for spotting it because I certainly missed it 😅
Lewis that was truly an amazing video photos and video footage was brilliant , really impressed with your Z8 180-600 getting fabulous shots with it keep the videos coming.
Glad you enjoyed it, I'm still learning the ropes with the Z8 but it's quick to learn after using the Z6ii. Thanks for watching 👀 🙂
Advancing years has stopped me hand holding my Z8 and 180-600 which is slightly lighter than my previous combo (D500 with 200-500) but still heavy. A monopod or tripod with Gimbal head (new K+F concept which, when the weather improves will get a day out) is now essential which is a shame as it spoils the spontaneous shots that often present themselves.
Keep them coming
Nice video. I have the same setup. I was surprised how heavy the lens was and find it pretty tiring to handhold. Recently picked up the Manfrotto 502ah head, so I'll try out that sometime soon.
Brilliant video. I love photographing kingfishers and this year upgraded from a Z50 to a Z8 the bird detection is a game changer….. just need to save up for the lens now. Looking forward to more videos.
Great images, Lewis. It looks like you had a nice variety of birds at that location. I've yet to get any photos of Kingfishers, and the ones here in the US aren't as colorful as the European variety.
I'm of two minds on the 180-600mm lens. I pre-ordered one 3 days after it was announced, and it finally shipped exactly 5 months later. However, had I known the 600mm PF was coming out, which was announced like a week before my 180-600mm was delivered, I'm not sure if I would have ordered the 180-600mm. The 600mm PF is sharper and lighter. Granted, the 600 PF is much more expensive and the 180-600mm gives you a lot of flexibility, but I already had the 100-400 f4.5 so I think that would have been a better combo for me. So, I may sell the 180-600mm. It's hardly been used. But you can't beat the price of it for what you're getting, especially if you don't have other large telephoto lenses, which is why it's such a popular lens and a great successor to the f-mount 200-500mm..
Yeah, the battery life on the Z8 is a bit of an issue, and unfortunately, the battery grip for the Z8 doesn't fit the EN-EL18 battery (nor does it really fit the body all that well). That's what I like about my D810 and D850 - the grip is designed to accept the EN-EL18 battery, plus it retains the EN-EL15 within the camera body so that combo lasts a real long time. With my Z9 the single EN-EL18 will last me an entire weekend of heavy shooting easily. It will be interesting to see how the next generation of the Z8 may improve on the battery life. But I'm strictly a stills shooter, so maybe it's not too bad for that application.
I see what you mean, as to have the 150-400 4.5 you're kind of covered aren't you so the timing was unlucky for you there, I guess it depends on the budget aswell, can't knock it in terms of value for money for sure though. The Battery scenario is what it is for me I don't do photography full time (only in my dreams) but if I did and I spent day after day having to keep spares charged frequently it would become an annoyance I suppose. Thanks for your thoughts! 😊
I think you may have mixed up the info @14:04. The image shows the Z8 w/180-600mm and the Z6II w/FTZ + 200-500mm, but the text lists it the other way around. I'm assuming the Z8 w/180-600mm is 460mm in length. The images also clearly indicate that it is shorter than the 200-500mm @500mm w/FTZ.
Yes you're right I have mixed the bodies up, the lengths tie in with what was said in the video with Z8 and 180-600mm being the smaller compared to fully extended 200-500, thanks for spotting it because I certainly missed it 😅