Z 7 w/ 500PF for Wildlife

[Justin Riney]

I’m considering adding a Z 7 to my kit and hope some of y’all can assist me with the decision. I currently shoot wildlife in Greater Yellowstone—everything from large mammals down to small BIF—with a D850 and 500PF as my primary rig. I love having the additional MP for wildlife so that I can crop when needed in post. Of course we’d all love to fill the frame every shot, but that is not always practical. I do print large for a client or gallery on occasion, so the additional MPs are an essential for me.

I’m hoping some of you have experience with the Z 7 and a 500PF (or any super tele) who can share your thoughts and perhaps some results from the combo. Have you enjoyed using a Z for wildlife? Do you use it as your primary or secondary rig? How does it do in the field with harsh weather and shooting conditions? And for those of you with a 500PF, how does the lens perform on this body? I’m concerned a little by the reports of the AF system not doing too well in continuous, but from what I’ve read lately it appears much of that is overblown, as well. Also, the EVF versus OVF debate is not a concern for me—I enjoy shooting with both.

Thanks in advance for your input. I’m hoping for a bit of a pleasant surprise here by adding this as a second body.

 

[Virtual Photon]

Ok, I haven't used the 500PF, just the 300PF, and as much as I love my Z7, I gotta ask just exactly where the D850 is letting you down?

The reason I ask is that I believe the real strength of the Z system lies in the expanding Z ecosystem of lenses - particularly the S line. If the Z glass isn't your goal, (and yes the Z's do have some mirrorless pro's and con's), I'm not clear why you want to go there. The D850 is an awfully good camera . . .

 

[copyfall]

Since you already have a working set up wait for next gen of Z7. Other than AF tracking Z7 is good for Wild life. Next gen camera may have better tracking so wait for next gen body

 

[lokatz]

I'm currently two-thirds into a five-week trip in South Africa with my D850, Z7, 500 PF and a few other lenses. I love both bodies and feel the same way you do about the resolution they offer.

The Z7 produces stunning results when shooting landscapes, larger mammals, etc., where I primarily use Z lenses or the AF-P 70-300 FX. The 500 PF, however, spent only one day on the Z7 and then quickly got re-glued to the D850 where it belongs. For birds, this simply isn't a contest, as my keeper rate is MUCH higher with the D850. The Z7 doesn't do terribly but hunts more and needs longer to get the shot, time you simply don't have with fast-moving birds. The difference gets even more pronounced when shooting at f/8 rather than f/5.6: in some cases, the Z7's AF seemed incapable of finding the small bird I knew I had directly in the center of the frame, although the light was fairly good.

As far as other aspects go, I love the EVF and yearn for having it on the D850, too (well, we can dream...). I occasionally feel a bit limited by the Z7's fewer controls, but I guess that's just the effect of being used to the DSLR ways of operating my bodies. The Z7 is laid out well nonetheless and a pleasure to shoot with.

Both are professional bodies with proper seals and protection. Cannot talk to the longevity of this, but neither have given me any reason for concern in spite of shooting in lots of adverse situations, especially plenty of dust.

So, my bottom line: get both if you can, but do not drop your D850 in favor of a Z7. You'd regret it.

 

[tommiejeep]

If you have become competent with using your D850 my thoughts are that you will probably have a drop in keeper rate (at least for sometime) using the Z7 for same shooting. That is with mammals, If talking birds , depending on size, flight habits and speeds, Z7 may, or may not come close. The idea of using both is very sound. Play to their strengths. I normally take out D500, Z6 and a7iii with three lenses, I do not really spend much effort on smal, erratic, fast birds with the Z6 but for sitting or large, slow birds it works on the 500 f4Gvr.

Edit: for some wildlife the silent shooting of the Z6 can really be great. Some years back my wife was able to shoot tiger with the EM1/40-150 2.8 +TC1.4 at very close range silently. At sunset so ISO of Z6 would have been a big plus.

--
Anticipate the Light and wing it when you get it wrong but always have fun
Tom
http://images.nikonians.org/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/165169

 

[hedleyw]

I'm currently two-thirds into a five-week trip in South Africa with my D850, Z7, 500 PF and a few other lenses. I love both bodies and feel the same way you do about the resolution they offer.

The Z7 produces stunning results when shooting landscapes, larger mammals, etc., where I primarily use Z lenses or the AF-P 70-300 FX. The 500 PF, however, spent only one day on the Z7 and then quickly got re-glued to the D850 where it belongs. For birds, this simply isn't a contest, as my keeper rate is MUCH higher with the D850. The Z7 doesn't do terribly but hunts more and needs longer to get the shot, time you simply don't have with fast-moving birds. The difference gets even more pronounced when shooting at f/8 rather than f/5.6: in some cases, the Z7's AF seemed incapable of finding the small bird I knew I had directly in the center of the frame, although the light was fairly good.

As far as other aspects go, I love the EVF and yearn for having it on the D850, too (well, we can dream...). I occasionally feel a bit limited by the Z7's fewer controls, but I guess that's just the effect of being used to the DSLR ways of operating my bodies. The Z7 is laid out well nonetheless and a pleasure to shoot with.

Both are professional bodies with proper seals and protection. Cannot talk to the longevity of this, but neither have given me any reason for concern in spite of shooting in lots of adverse situations, especially plenty of dust.

So, my bottom line: get both if you can, but do not drop your D850 in favor of a Z7. You'd regret it.

+1 for this. I’ve tried my Z7 with my Sigma 500 f4, also with my Nikkor 300 f2.8 VRii. In both cases it was fine for static birds but far too often too slow to focus on fast subjects. Adding a converter made it worse. Frame rate is also too low.

95% of my gear and shooting is Olympus M43. I have a Nikon D500 for BIF which gives me a much higher keeper rate better than the E-MX, particularly in low light or with confused backgrounds. My Z7 is for landscapes if I don’t need to carry my gear around with me. Hopefully Nikon will produce a Z with better autofocus and frame rate next time around. Their first generation mirrorless is good, but along with a Canon they have some catching up to do.

 

[Justin Riney]

Ok, I haven't used the 500PF, just the 300PF, and as much as I love my Z7, I gotta ask just exactly where the D850 is letting you down?

The reason I ask is that I believe the real strength of the Z system lies in the expanding Z ecosystem of lenses - particularly the S line. If the Z glass isn't your goal, (and yes the Z's do have some mirrorless pro's and con's), I'm not clear why you want to go there. The D850 is an awfully good camera . . .

The D850 is easily the most capable camera I’ve ever owned or used. I am not replacing it with this purchase, simply looking to add a second body to my kit. I’d like this second body to mesh well with what I already own, specifically the 500PF. I definitely plan to invest in S glass as I go. It makes sense to me that I’ll have two systems for a few years while Nikon builds out the Z line.

 

[Justin Riney]

I'm currently two-thirds into a five-week trip in South Africa with my D850, Z7, 500 PF and a few other lenses. I love both bodies and feel the same way you do about the resolution they offer.

The Z7 produces stunning results when shooting landscapes, larger mammals, etc., where I primarily use Z lenses or the AF-P 70-300 FX. The 500 PF, however, spent only one day on the Z7 and then quickly got re-glued to the D850 where it belongs. For birds, this simply isn't a contest, as my keeper rate is MUCH higher with the D850. The Z7 doesn't do terribly but hunts more and needs longer to get the shot, time you simply don't have with fast-moving birds. The difference gets even more pronounced when shooting at f/8 rather than f/5.6: in some cases, the Z7's AF seemed incapable of finding the small bird I knew I had directly in the center of the frame, although the light was fairly good.

As far as other aspects go, I love the EVF and yearn for having it on the D850, too (well, we can dream...). I occasionally feel a bit limited by the Z7's fewer controls, but I guess that's just the effect of being used to the DSLR ways of operating my bodies. The Z7 is laid out well nonetheless and a pleasure to shoot with.

Both are professional bodies with proper seals and protection. Cannot talk to the longevity of this, but neither have given me any reason for concern in spite of shooting in lots of adverse situations, especially plenty of dust.

So, my bottom line: get both if you can, but do not drop your D850 in favor of a Z7. You'd regret it.

This is great feedback, thanks lokatz. Yes, that’s how I envision using the Z 7, as well—more of a complimentary second body. Just got to thinking about how it handles the 500PF in case it’s ever called up for action. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[ToRemembertheStory]

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www.naturalart.ca

You may find the above helpful.

The Z7 works for me

 

[DerKaiser]

I've used my 500 PF on my Z6 and D500. The lens handles and performs great on the Z6+FTZ, and is suitable for backyard birding and more static wildlife. I switch it to the D500 when I expect more movement and when I need the reach. There are certainly some here who have used the long telephotos on the Z bodies for BIF with some success.

 

[Paul Richman]

I’m considering adding a Z 7 to my kit and hope some of y’all can assist me with the decision. I currently shoot wildlife in Greater Yellowstone—everything from large mammals down to small BIF—with a D850 and 500PF as my primary rig. I love having the additional MP for wildlife so that I can crop when needed in post. Of course we’d all love to fill the frame every shot, but that is not always practical. I do print large for a client or gallery on occasion, so the additional MPs are an essential for me.

I’m hoping some of you have experience with the Z 7 and a 500PF (or any super tele) who can share your thoughts and perhaps some results from the combo. Have you enjoyed using a Z for wildlife? Do you use it as your primary or secondary rig? How does it do in the field with harsh weather and shooting conditions? And for those of you with a 500PF, how does the lens perform on this body? I’m concerned a little by the reports of the AF system not doing too well in continuous, but from what I’ve read lately it appears much of that is overblown, as well. Also, the EVF versus OVF debate is not a concern for me—I enjoy shooting with both.

Thanks in advance for your input. I’m hoping for a bit of a pleasant surprise here by adding this as a second body.

I have shot with Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, and Leica. I have used the D800e And D810, but now shoot exclusively with a Z7. Personally I much prefer mirrorless Systems now. Not because they’re better, But because they are more fun for me. I find that the Z7 works great with the 500 PF lens.



View attachment 521c6fa2186b4b12a679222bf4ba07c4.jpg




Marmots at play



Above are some examples of a pika and marmots shot with this combo. This light combination worked great well trying to catch this elusive little critter. You can see other examples in my Z7 gallery on my website.

--
Paul Richman
Pixels By Paul
http://pixelsbypaul.com
"There's a good picture nearby. Find it. Take it. Share it."

 

[Doug Greenberg]

I use both the D850 and Z7 for birds and wildlife both with the 500PF and with larger lenses. Each has its strong points. the D850 is better at tracking and its continuous shooting speeds are higher. It also provides instant "startup" when you begin viewing your subject, whereas the Z7 has a momentary delay. There is no shutter lag with the D850, either. With the D850 you don't have to add the FTZ adapter--not a big deal but it does add a bit of length to the rig. The AF is slightly faster, but the difference is inconsequential as far as I am concerned.

The Z7 is lighter and provides an exposure preview through the EVF. It also is better in terms of the preview you get of cropped images, i.e., the EVF adjusts to fill the full EVF window rather than setting a boundary around the uncropped area.

I don't feel all that dependent on "focus tracking speed" for some reason. I am not claiming I am any kind of photographic maven, I just track birds without being dependent on "continuous tracking," which tends not to stay fixed on a bird's eye in any event. The Z7 autofocuses just fine with the 500PF.

Both cameras provide superb image quality. I confess that being able to see the exposure levels through the viewfinder is a big plus for me favoring the Z7.

I guess if I needed to pick one or the other I would still pick the D850 for birds. But on my recent trip to Africa I took the Z7 with the 500PF to save bulk and weight and I was not sorry.

Doug Greenberg, Berkeley, CA

 

[Jeff Klofft]

Since you already have a working set up wait for next gen of Z7. Other than AF tracking Z7 is good for Wild life. Next gen camera may have better tracking so wait for next gen body

I have both the Z6 and Z7 and have been using them in wildlife and BIF situations (along side my D500 as I've sold my D850). And while I agree the D850 and D500 acquire focus faster, with good technique I find the Z series tracks much better. Just my experience.

 

[Jeff Klofft]

I'm currently two-thirds into a five-week trip in South Africa with my D850, Z7, 500 PF and a few other lenses. I love both bodies and feel the same way you do about the resolution they offer.

The Z7 produces stunning results when shooting landscapes, larger mammals, etc., where I primarily use Z lenses or the AF-P 70-300 FX. The 500 PF, however, spent only one day on the Z7 and then quickly got re-glued to the D850 where it belongs. For birds, this simply isn't a contest, as my keeper rate is MUCH higher with the D850. The Z7 doesn't do terribly but hunts more and needs longer to get the shot, time you simply don't have with fast-moving birds. The difference gets even more pronounced when shooting at f/8 rather than f/5.6: in some cases, the Z7's AF seemed incapable of finding the small bird I knew I had directly in the center of the frame, although the light was fairly good.

I've had a different experience. Which AF mode were you using?

As far as other aspects go, I love the EVF and yearn for having it on the D850, too (well, we can dream...). I occasionally feel a bit limited by the Z7's fewer controls, but I guess that's just the effect of being used to the DSLR ways of operating my bodies. The Z7 is laid out well nonetheless and a pleasure to shoot with.

Both are professional bodies with proper seals and protection. Cannot talk to the longevity of this, but neither have given me any reason for concern in spite of shooting in lots of adverse situations, especially plenty of dust.

So, my bottom line: get both if you can, but do not drop your D850 in favor of a Z7. You'd regret it.

 

[lokatz]

For birds, this simply isn't a contest, as my keeper rate is MUCH higher with the D850. The Z7 doesn't do terribly but hunts more and needs longer to get the shot, time you simply don't have with fast-moving birds. The difference gets even more pronounced when shooting at f/8 rather than f/5.6: in some cases, the Z7's AF seemed incapable of finding the small bird I knew I had directly in the center of the frame, although the light was fairly good.

I've had a different experience. Which AF mode were you using?

Mostly single point and occasionally Wide-S. I wasn't shooting BIF, so dynamic tracking wasn't much of a concern on that day.

 

[G Pik]

Not convinced about focussing on a birds eye when t is flying! It would either have to be a very, very big bird or very, very slow flying.

One disadvantage with the Z7 if you are walking about is that unless you change the settings for Power Off Delay then it can take too long to 'warm up' and shots can be missed If you set the Stand By Timer to No Limit then it will use a lot of battery power.

Z7 is fine for static or slow moving subjects whereas, in my opinion, the D850/D500 is best for wildlife.

 

[Justin Riney]

Appreciate everyone’s input on this. For now the D850 + 500PF will continue to be my primary wildlife rig, but I’m getting antsy to try the Z series. Might give it a month or two to see if there’s any Nikon developments, especially after this recent Canon R5 announcement. Maybe we get a teaser update to the Z 7 here soon.

 

[SethG]

I bought a Z7 last year, and I'm going on a photo safari in April. I'll be renting a second Z7, and the 500PF. So ask me when I get back. ;-)

Hey, slightly off-topic, but can anyone recommend an arca-swiss compatible plate for the 500PF foot?

 

[lokatz]

Leofoto LF-200 works very well on mine and is fairly inexpensive, unlike RRS and similar. The knob is well designed and, together with the safety lock, holds the foot on the lens firmly.

 

[breivogel]

Appreciate everyone’s input on this. For now the D850 + 500PF will continue to be my primary wildlife rig, but I’m getting antsy to try the Z series. Might give it a month or two to see if there’s any Nikon developments, especially after this recent Canon R5 announcement. Maybe we get a teaser update to the Z 7 here soon.

If you want to play around with mirrorless and the 500PF, You might consider getting the Z50. A lot cheaper and gives about the same pixel density as the Z7 - but is, of course, a crop camera. The IQ is similar to the D850 under most conditions (as the pixel size is similar).

Here is an example of that combination.


Sandhill Cranes, Sauvie Island Refuge, Oregon.



The Z50 is also smaller and lighter than the Z7. I don' t think it works as well as the D850 for BIF, though - especially for smaller and fast moving birds.