Anyone using a 600PF or 800PF Lens ? (1 Viewer)

[Jimmy534]

Was looking at these recently as a potential first lens with Nikon. I have used Canon and Fuji over the years but thought I would give Nikon a go with some longer glass for birds here in the UK. Wasn't sure if anyone else had tried them ?

Apparently the 600PF is quite light and doable as a walk around lens. The 800PF has a lot of favourable reviews but looks a bit heavy and would probably need a tripod / monopod etc.

Some chatter about the 800 being too long but with the tiny birds we have here, I would have thought the 800PF might do well.

I would be looking to use one of these with a z8.

 

[Montereyman]

The advantages of these two lenses is when used with the Nikon Z8 and Z9 cameras with their excellent subject detection and autofocus. I use the 800mm PF lens hand held on the Z9 camera with small birds. The subject detection results in the camera focusing on the birds' eyes and not on branches around them. That the Z9 can lock focus in seconds make it practical to use hand held. A monopod is another option with this 5.2 lb lens (plus weight of the camera).

The 800mm PF provides an image size that is 77% larger than the 600mm PF so quite a difference with small birds. For quick shooting I bought the 600mm PF that I can have with a camera on my lap while driving through areas and using my truck as a blind.

You will need a Z8 or Z9 camera to take advantage of these two lenses.

 

[Jimmy534]

I like your solution… buy both 🙂. I would do but my bank account doesn’t agree with me 🥺So I am going to have to pick one. My logic up to this point is start with the 600 as it will be the only lens I will have initially for the camera. Then get the 800 when I have recovered a bit. I wish I could get to a store to hold them but no-one around here seems to have them in stock.

Did you start out with the 800pf and then get the 600pf later or the other way around ? I hear the 1.4x teleconverters work well with them too…

 

[Montereyman]

A number of people have had good results with the 600mm PF in tandem with the 1.4x teleconverter. Being mobile and not needing a tripod allows one to get slower to your subjects before they fly away. Also easier to get down on the ground and shoot from the eye level of the bird(s).

I have like the results of the Nikon 100-400mm with the 1.4x TC for a140-560mm zoom lens.

 

[Jimmy534]

100-400 is a good suggestion I was thinking I would need a flexible zoom too I will add it to the list 👍I will try and post some pics to the forum when it all arrives and I have it setup 🙂

 

[QOT0m]

When I have owned and used 600mm f/4 lenses much of the time I used them with a 1.4x teleconverter attached for a 840mm f/5.6 setup. Now I own the 800mm PF and it is half the weight of my older 600mm lenses and so I use it without need of a tripod and a gimbal head for a reduction in my load of about 10 pounds.

I like to use Adobe Bridge to create a summary of the focal lengths used with images in a folder and get a good idea of which are used and how much of the time they are used. I tend to use focal lengths of less than 500mm or greater than 800mm most of the time. I find the 800mm PF along with the 100-400mm (with a 1.4x TC) to be a good combination.
The 400mm f/2.8 TC lens would be good for most people but it is too heavy for me to shoot hand held.

 

[The BulbMogul]

Here in Mannar Sri Lanka I have and love using my 800PF on the Z9 and quite honestly it is a hand hold able lens for long periods of time but here i was videoing Pink Flamingos…

 

[The BulbMogul]

When I have owned and used 600mm f/4 lenses much of the time I used them with a 1.4x teleconverter attached for a 840mm f/5.6 setup. Now I own the 800mm PF and it is half the weight of my older 600mm lenses and so I use it without need of a tripod and a gimbal head for a reduction in my load of about 10 pounds.

I like to use Adobe Bridge to create a summary of the focal lengths used with images in a folder and get a good idea of which are used and how much of the time they are used. I tend to use focal lengths of less than 500mm or greater than 800mm most of the time. I find the 800mm PF along with the 100-400mm (with a 1.4x TC) to be a good combination.
The 400mm f/2.8 TC lens would be good for most people but it is too heavy for me to shoot hand held.

I own both the 400 and 600 T/C lenses and not much difference then using my 800 PF

 

[Jimmy534]

That tripod head looks ideal 👍I think a lot of the “oh that must me heavy” is based on the sheer size of the lens 🙂 but it’s a bit misleading as I think it’s roughly the same weight as the Z180-600 which I have held and I could definitely hand hold that one for periods.

 

[capdegat]

I have the Z8/600pf combination as the lightest long range system I can carry . Very happy with it