Bird Photography | Nikon D500 | 300mm F4 PF

[@wildbillgreen]

I’m glad the D500 is still getting love in 2023❤

[@Robert-Bishop]

I don't think there's a better crop sensor alternative yet, Bill. I expect there'll be a flagship DX Z body in the pipeline though. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@wildbillgreen]

@@Robert-Bishop I’m keeping mine until it breaks although I do like the idea of a dx version of the Z9

[@AndrewWaltonPhotography]

Great images Robert - good to see you finally got your Kingfisher! Looks like a great lens too although a bit out of my budget.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Cheers Andrew. It made a good end to the day - I just need to get back there and get a closer shot sometime soon. It is a pricey lens, but good used copies pop up for less than half the cost of a new one. Still expensive, but quite a saving.

[@johncoombes6231]

Informative video Robert, the NIKKOR 300mm F4E VR lens looks like an excellent piece of kit. Nice to see you got a fabulous capture of the kingfisher. Keep up the excellent work look forward to next video.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Cheers John. I was really pleased to see the Kingfisher, just a shame we weren't and to capture any video footage of it. We'll have to invest in a video camera with a bit more reach! 😊

[@jsprite123]

Thank you for posting the raw images along with the finished product. Most of the raw pics looked a bit soft and rather dull, not until some post-processing was applied that the pics became sharp and snappy. Was that perhaps the result of camera/lens/teleconverter combination? New tech makes wonders, but to think that a few decades ago while you had some latitude with negative film, you had basically none with slide film to get sharp, vivid pictures.

[@Robert-Bishop]

No, nothing to do with the lens or teleconverter. RAW always needs editing - it's not a finished file format, rather a dump of all the raw information that's ready to be manipulated. If you output in JPG, you're just letting your camera do the editing for you, so much better to work with the RAW and produce your own results. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@kathy2248]

Great video with clear and informative information about the lens. I've been considering this lens to use with my Nikon Z, or the Tamron 70-300 with my new found love of bird watching. Wanting something light and manageable. Thanks for sharing!

[@Robert-Bishop]

I haven't tried the Tamron, Kathy, so I can't say how the quality compares to the Nikon. In regards to practicality though, for me, the wider, constant aperture of the Nikon would be more useful than the zoom range of the Tamron. I do also use the Nikon 70-300mm DX lens sometimes, but usually find myself using the 300mm end all the time anyway, although it can be useful and easier to find your subject at the 70mm end and zoom in from there. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@robshipman7242]

Great video and photos . I also enjoy a walk around manvers

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks Rob. Yes, it's a nice walk and great for bird photography. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@paulcookphotography]

Congratulations on how well this video is doing after only one day! I don't see this replacing your big Sigma lens, but as you said, this looks like a great lightweight alternative where you want to be a bit more mobile. And the images look fantastic! My fav shot in this video was of that crazy looking duck at 12:15 - not sure what that kind is but he's a beauty! Great video as always Robert! Hope you are doing well and settling into 2023 nicely!

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks Paul - yeah, seems to be doing really well. Not sure what that duck is either. Thought it was a Mandarin duck at first, but I don't think so now. Thanks for watching mate. 😊

[@AndrewHamiltonPhotography]

Enjoyed the wander around the reserve Robert and especially the lens review which looks a super light and practical long lens ideal for wildlife . So glad you managed to capture the Kingfisher which has long eluded me and the favourite mandarin-esque looking bird at the end !

[@Robert-Bishop]

@@AndrewHamiltonPhotography Cheers Andrew. I feel the Kingfisher is a bit more predictable now than previous times I've visited, so I'm assuming to go back and improve my shot. Thanks a lot for watching and hope you're having a good 2023 so far. 😊

[@McSasch666]

@@Robert-Bishop Love this 300 pf lens. Nice shots❤ I'm pretty sure it's an 'Egyptian goose'. Cheers

[@Robert-Bishop]

@@McSasch666 Oh thanks! I'm going to have to Google that. 😊

[@stevemartin239]

I use the same set up & I love it! Looking to get a 500 pf though. Thanks for sharing.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Oh yeah, the 500mm looks great. It's on my list too! Thanks for watching Steve. 😊

[@aintright]

Very well put together video. Thank you. I've been using the PF 300mm for three years now, with the Series III x1.4 TC. I had issues with moisture and grit getting into the lens around the manual focusing ring and the autofocus stopped working. It cost £100 to get it fixed. As I don't use any of the controls on the lens itself, I now have the whole lens taped up with that low-tack handlebar tape. I also think the door to the card slots is a bit flimsy. They do sell a spare I think. The biggest issue I have is the lack of an articulating screen as it makes shooting video a bit of a pain. Otherwise, it's a great lens. Wish I could afford its big brother. 🙂

[@Robert-Bishop]

Well if it works, it works! It's amazing what a bit of duct tape can do. I'd love the 500mm too. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@LetsClickPhotography]

I must admit that when you revealed how short the lens was I was intrigued and opened an in-screen about it. I quickly closed it though as you made far more sense of how the glass works than the 'review' I had up on it, great graphics too....innovative stuff from Nikon. Well done on getting a capture of the kingfisher. I've one local to me that I've been trying to get since the summer, no luck yet apart from a few out of focus frames as it flies off every time! Great vid mate, happy new year

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks Dave. It's a well known fact that Kingfishers only materialise when you're not looking! 😁 I was well chuffed to see it, but need to go back and try to get a closer shot. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@MDO7250]

Great video, I have also recently been using the 300pf it’s a fantastic lens. I moved to it from the af-p 70-300mm. You can really notice the difference of f4 over f6.3 and the iq and colour rendition from the 300pf is far greater.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks. I have the AF-P 70-300 too. I actually think that's a fantastic lens for the money, but you're right, the 300mm f4 blows it away. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@kennylim136]

Hi Robert, I'm considering this lens especially second hand market price. Moving up from my Sigma 100-400 on D7000 body I'm hoping it helps in low light bird photography. Thanks for reviewing!

[@Robert-Bishop]

Well worth looking for a good used copy Kenny. You can pick them up for half the price of new in great condition. I've found it performs pretty good in low light and I've been able to find focus where it was hit and miss before.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

Hey! Good stuff! On my D750, D4s, D500 and the 300 PF, the TC-14E mk 1 works a dandy! Cheers!

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks, good to know that it works well on FX cameras too. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@tititatiti]

Thank you for another great video! Great to see the raw images too. As is often the case, good shots don't need much editing.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks. I usually find I do much less editing on bird and wildlife images compared to landscape etc. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@tmeeten3195]

Nice video. Thanks very much for the info on the teleconverter too. Kind of made me smile when you were talking about the black swan. We only have black swans except for a few rare white ones here in NZ so they are pretty common and photographed a lot here. I would love to see a white swan again now I am taking "proper" bird photos!!

[@Robert-Bishop]

Yeah, it's funny isn't it, how something can seem so common on one side of the earth and rare on the other. This is the first black swan I've ever seen in the UK though. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@tmeeten3195]

@@Robert-Bishop Oh wow first one - nice. There are loads 10 minutes down the road for me just to make you jealous!! It is funny we don't see all species in all countries. If only!!!

[@Audimann]

The PF is indeed a great lens but to put things in perspective the former ED-IF version is also still a great option. I even have the AF version from 1987 with the drop in filter. I did compare the three lenses and results were shocking. Center sharpness is almost the same, maybe the PF has a slight edge but not by much. On the edges the difference is more visible but the 1987 AF version does not fail on my D850. If you are on a budget and do not need VR the AF from 1987 is available around 300 bucks or so. One piece of solid metal. But always check the condition, especially the aperture blades which are not protected by a glass element at the rear end.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Sounds good - really highlights the build quality of these old lenses. Like you said, got to be careful you get a good copy, but there are definitely some bargains out there. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@warthog123]

Will this Auto focus on the d7100 or with the latest z bodies using ftz?

[@Audimann]

@@warthog123 if you mean the 1987 AF version it is a screwdrive lens so on a d7100 it will autofocus. However not with the ftz. All other 300mm versions I mentioned are fully AF compatible with every camera.

[@warthog123]

@@Audimann Still thinking about whether to get the 300pf, which is 800usd, or a z50 with 50-250 (almost same price). I have a z6 and ftz. But primarily looking at reducing the load.

[@Audimann]

@@warthog123 The PF is quite lightweight so for 800 bucks it sounds good.

[@robertdavis1255]

Thanks Robert for sharing your experience with great results & comments.... great combination of camera & lens....I have the D500 but only the 70-300mm lens....I get reasonable results but never tried the 300mm prime... cheers from Australia 😀

[@Robert-Bishop]

Cheers Robert. I have the 70-300 too - still a good lens, but the prime focuses much faster and seems to more consistently get accurate focus. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@SuperStephendunn]

hi: great video! I am using the D500 with the older version of 300mm f4, it won't take the 1.4 converter but it will take the 2 x Nikon III, I use a monopod with the Wimberley MH-100 MonoGimbal Head for Monopods, I purchased all used on forums kind regards

[@mccann82]

Putting the non edited photo up is a nice touch. Not many if any at all do that.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks. I don't always do it, but as long as it's not going to make the video too long, I pop them in there. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@adam-qu6dh]

Hello Robert, new to the channel and really enjoying the recent videos. Do you have one where you walk us through the settings of the D500 too and not just the lenses? Ta!

[@Robert-Bishop]

That's great Adam, thanks. I have this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/in3SmquZd6uoopY which covers all the basic D500 settings for bird photography. I'm planning to do one on now advanced features at some point too. 😊

[@joanneabramson2645]

I found your video as I was considering buying a 300 PF to use with my Nikon D500. I already own the 500PF which is an exceptional lens. Adding the 300 PF would have benefits in places like Botanical Gardens or areas where the wildlife is close and stepping back to use the 500 PF is not possible. Also, places like wildlife parks and zoos might benefit from this lens. The exceptional quality of the 500PF makes me consider the 300PF seriously. Thanks for this video. I adore my D500 body. I have not made the switch to mirrorless as I am producing amazing photos with the D500.

[@Robert-Bishop]

I'm very jealous - I'd love a 500pf! The 300 is a definitely good focal length for things like gardens and woodland walks. The D500 is still my main body for wildlife, although I have considered selling both my Z7 and D500 and getting a Z8 for everything. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@joanneabramson2645]

@@Robert-Bishop I want to give some time for the dust to settle on the Z8. I understand the advantages over the D500 in the WYSIWYG, and animal eye detection etc. I am cooling my heels until the recalls, software updates, and instruction books are out. I doubt I would sell my D500. It takes fantastic photos. I picked up my 500PF and the forthcoming 300PF used. The 500 PF is fantastic, and now my Nikon 200-500 is collecting dust.

[@RajagopalanRamaprabhu49]

I want to see some one comparing D500 and Nikon z8 with same 300 F4 PF for wildlife and BIF. That will be liked by many.with reference to auto focus and keeper rate etc@@Robert-Bishop

[@DerekLB]

Just my opinion, but monopods are great for taking pictures under 1000 fps. Even with VR, at slow FPS you still get camera shake or blurring. The monopod helps to stabilize and improve shots. In good light when shutter speeds can be pushed high it may not be needed, not in low light I love mine.

[@Robert-Bishop]

They definitely have their benefits, Derek. I use one with my Sigma 150-600. The main downside for me, is that it's not easy to get higher or lower with the monopod, so you're limited to around the same height. If the birds are still though, as you say, very useful in low light. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@bowstobourbon]

Fantastic video. I currently have the 70-300 5.6 with a d500. Would you spring for this or the 200-500. Looking to mainly capture wildlife. Thanks!

[@Robert-Bishop]

It's difficult to compare the two. The 200-500 has the range and the ability to zoom, which is really handy sometimes. But the 300mm is so light and easy to use, has the constant f4 aperture and probably has the superior optics. These days I find myself using the 300mm more than my Sigma 150-600. But I do take a 1.4x teleconverter with me too for when I need that little bit extra reach. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@bowstobourbon]

@@Robert-Bishop great thanks so much, decided to go with the 300mm and the tele 1.4. Cheers!

[@Wykertak]

I'm currently considering moving from Nikkor 200-500mm to Nikkor 300mm PF with TC14E mk II due to the size difference (I like to hike). I just hope that this combo can give me AT LEAST the same image quality as I get now with the zoom. I have to admit, I'm really surprised that you didn't notice any sharpness or AF performance drop when using a teleconverter, because people usually report that sort of thing.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Yes, I was surprised too. I haven't used it extensively with the teleconverter because I like having the f4 max aperture, but when I have used it, I didn't really notice a difference. I got mine for when I didn't want to carry my Sigma 150-600 around, and it has certainly done a good job - the image quality is very good.

[@Wykertak]

@@Robert-Bishop That's great to hear and really gives me hope for this setup! Thank you

[@SteveMorris1964]

Hi Robert, I've also got the Sigma 150-600mm on my Z series cameras, but I'm desperate for the Nikon Z 100-400mm lens, it looks fantastic, I do like my Sigma though and the shots you managed to get with Nikkor 300mm were great, my favourite was also the crazy looking duck :)

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks Steve. What I'd really like is the 400mm 2.8. But then there's the small matter of the 13k price tag! 😂 Thanks for watching.

[@RajagopalanRamaprabhu49]

nice video. I have same set up. Nikon D500 with Nikon 300 F4 PF. Do you think it is as good as modern Nikon z8 ?. Do you prefer Nikon D500

[@Robert-Bishop]

I would imagine the Z8 blows it away to be honest. I've been thinking about getting rid of my Z7 and D500 and getting the Z8 to do everything. D500 is still great though.

[@rb6725]

Hello, great video. Just wondering where did you purchase the camera wrist strap from?

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks. It was just from Amazon. amzn.eu/d/hnMd0Li 😊

[@rb6725]

@@Robert-Bishop Thanks Robert.

[@andrewbell8964]

Thinking of buying this setup for a hobby beginner to wildlife photography. Is this a good option or is there something newer on the market for a similar price you’d recommend?

[@Robert-Bishop]

By Nikon? Not in the same price range, no. The Z8 and 400mm 4.5 would be a similar(ish) upgrade over this setup, but considerably more expensive. I'm not familiar enough with other camera brands to make any suggestions there though. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@DanielRodriguez-fg5ll]

nice useful video. I have this one and the 500mm f4, and maybe I should put the 500mm aside and try this one for a change. it is very versatile. btw, did I miss them or you did not show the kingfisher shot?

[@ganainm5113]

It's at 6:58 in this video. 🙂

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thank you Daniel. The 500mm f4 looks like quite a lens! Personally I'd be interested in trying out the 500mm f5.6 PF - I might need to start saving for that one though! 😁 I did show the Kingfisher, yes. I see Gan has kindly linked it for you. 😊

[@DanielRodriguez-fg5ll]

or at least, that is the one I have photographed around my house. is kingfisher different from belted kingfisher?

[@Robert-Bishop]

@@DanielRodriguez-fg5ll Yeah, they look quite different. I haven't seen a belted one myself.

[@pranisha59]

Just upgrade from nikon 200-500 to 300 with tc pls reply

[@ganainm5113]

I'm glad you saw the kingfisher and I like your shot of the pied wagtail. Looks like a nice lens.

[@Robert-Bishop]

Thanks Gan. I'm going to head back soon, and hopefully will be able to get a bit closer to the Kingfisher. Seems like a great lens so far. Thanks for watching. 😊

[@dr.normanklack9111]

Putting the teleconverter makes it a 5.6 and you were talking about the Sigma being 6.3. In the end it's almost the same except the Sigma has more range. Your argument only works without the teleconverter being F4 has a huge advantage over 6.3,

[@Robert-Bishop]

The advantage is the size and weight, Norman. I have the Sport version of the 150-600mm, which is just over 2.8kg. the combined weight of the 300mm and teleconverter is less than 1kg. The latter is also around the same size as a 24-70mm 2.8 lens.