Nikon Z50 II First Photo Shoot Birds & Landscapes 180-600 and 16-50 Lenses!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Great work Phil. Im loving my Z50II so far. Been having so much fun with it.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian! I'm looking forward to trying this camera in the studio. I have a lens review I need to get started on soon. I have a feeling we may both be reviewing the same lens! :)

[@notjacknicholson2225]

I’ve really enjoyed both of your videos. I just received my Z50II, but I’ve been unusually overloaded with work lately. Taking a couple of minutes here and there to watch you birding with this camera before I get a chance to try it myself has been wonderful. It makes the wait much easier! Thanks for sharing guys.

[@BillWhitworth]

Always love tree photos. I think the damage side tree would look even better in a really contrasty B&W.

[@thomastuorto9929]

Agree!

[@thomasphillips5850]

Great video Phil, the herons and the thrush pix are my favorites. Keep up the good work. Thanks Phil.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Thomas!

[@lhd7105]

lovely shots of your fav tree and heron ^__^

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@Kellysher]

What a beautiful outing! It’s too cold and wet in OH to get out today, so I’m enjoying photography through you! Things are getting quiet here with the birds. Your hermit thrush shots are beautiful! I think I photographed him about 3 weeks ago here before his journey south! It’s Thanksgiving day today. I can honestly say that I’m thankful for your channel Phil! I so appreciate you sharing your work and your knowledge! Happy shooting!

[@PhilThach]

This is a wonderful comment. Thank you!

[@davidsaylors]

These fog photos are incredible Phil, well done. I also like the one that you like of the tree at the beginning of the video that was my favorite all-time photo today.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, David! I have gotten really lucky with fog this year. I believe I have done fog photography 4 times this autumn. Usually it is only foggy while I'm driving to work without a camera. LOL :)

[@JonnyPink65]

Phil - my favorites are the tree from damage side, the last blue Heron shot and the last thrush shot. Beautiful out there ❤❤

[@PhilThach]

@@JonnyPink65 thank you, JP!

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach Hope you tow have a FANTASIC thanksgiving! 🤗💖

[@JonnyPink65]

Happy after Thanksgiving. Hope you guys had an awesome time. 🤗

[@PamHaynes-oo3ck]

Thank you Phil and Heather, 🦃 happy thanksgiving. I love the foggy photos and I love the blue herons!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Pam!

[@Joe-n8w]

Phil its so good to see you again. I was worried when i hadn't seen your post for sometime. Especially your last post that i saw was from hospital bed. God bless you mr. Thatch. Take care of yourself. Ill be anticipating your next video. Oh have fun with your z50ll.

[@PhilThach]

@@Joe-n8w thank you for your concern! I have released 40 videos since the video from the hospital bed. The best way to not miss one is to subscribe and hit the notification bell. I hope to see you in the comment section of more videos after you make this change. 👍

[@leonfisher]

Always enjoy Nikon Wednesdays.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Leon!

[@MaverickMahesh]

Thank you for making this video. This gave an idea about the capabilities of z50 ii + 150-600mm combo.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@jalenobanphotography]

I was out just this morning with the fog out trying to capture some photos. Did get any worth sharing, but you sure did! Love that oak tree one with the square crop. Those fall colors in the fog are awesome! Beautiful images

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Jalen! I've been lucky with Fog lately. Looking forward to your next video!

[@stephenbolger5925]

Beautiful shot of the Hermit thrush 😊

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@stephenbolger5925]

@PhilThach How are you finding the Z50 II so far as a wildlife camera? Is it a good entry level body? 🙂

[@PhilThach]

Yes!

[@12w3hji123456789]

Wonderful shots. I am itching for the Z50II but mostly for video

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I plan to try it out for studio video use soon.

[@12w3hji123456789]

@ i am very interested in N-LOG video to try to improve HDR on 1080p material rendered as 1440P for a 1440p screen with HDR 400 support

[@clarkejones8090]

Lovely images.

[@PhilThach]

@@clarkejones8090 thank you!

[@antonoat]

Great photos of the Oak tree Phil, also the thrush images! Seems like this little camera shows promise and it's really quite cheap as Nikons go! Cheers.

[@PhilThach]

It is surprisingly good!

[@soumakbinduwildlife]

excellent shots

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@randallbrander8157]

Nikkor Z 12-28mm, Z 24mm f/1.7, 18-140mm All in one lens, plus the Kit 16-50mm & 50-250mm and all set for a small portable power house. Adding 1.4 & 2 Teleconverters to the 180-600mm and the Fun really begins. Still have the Z50 & Zfc and still on the fence on buying it. I do own extra batteries but wish it had the bigger one. Cheers! 🐎

[@PhilThach]

Cheers!

[@johnray424]

Nice outing there sir. Can't wait to see what else you capture with this little camera. Be interested in how it does with deer and if eye detect works. Keep up the great work!!! Waiting for the sandhills myself.

[@PhilThach]

@@johnray424 thank you!

[@lhd7105]

yay fog :) glad you found some fog :) first post!! j/k kekekeke :) gonna get some rest, and will come back to watch this one :) speaking of fog, i was just reading (for the second time, to high light the carp out of the book) Black and White Photography Field Guide (2013) by M Freeman, it's short and sweet, I liken it to a "Strunk & White The Elements of Black & White Digital Photography" or something! :) I hope I'll find more stuff to learn about black and white photography--digital or otherwise...

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@gnphoto21]

Nice photos! I was about to comment that my favorite shot was the blue heron at 8:34 but I like the (hermit thrush?) even better. Ever shoot B&W in the fog?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I have done some B&W fog but I kind of like the muted colors in fog photography better.

[@miroslavnedved2985]

Děkuji.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@grom5756]

I am 2 minutes in, great commentary in my opinion, I like that you pointed out the different images that you got and the thought behind it, I do the same, I don't have much experience, but in my mind, different angles and focal lengths are good when I check the images at home, because then I can see what was good and what was not. Cheers.

[@PhilThach]

@@grom5756 thank you!

[@grom5756]

@@PhilThach You're welcome, more subscribers are to come, just make content, videos are great.

[@CORSAIR001]

Same sensor as the D500, I know the performance of this sensor, I can see the image quality, it remains a wonderful sensor, surely my next camera especially for video. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@k26kv31]

Could you hear the energized transmission lines above you on the towers crackling in the fog? They seem to make a little more noise in the fog than on a clear day. We were moving an osprey nest off the top of a tower to a newly set pole a short distance away and I found 10-12 leg bands under the tower. Seems a falcon that was perching lower on that tower was picking off someone's racing pigeons...and many other birds by the pile of bones under that tower.

[@PhilThach]

That's an awesome story about the bands! I could not hear to transmission lines. There is a lot of noise from the nearby highway.

[@thomastuorto9929]

Some very nice photos. I guess there is some EVF blackout during burst shoots at this price point, Y/N?

[@PhilThach]

In mechanical shutter there is blackout, in silent mode or electronic shutter, it's almost not noticeable.

[@thomastuorto9929]

@ Thanks.

[@Kopetefish]

Love the thrush photos especially! Any experience with the 400mm 4.5 on z50?

[@PhilThach]

@@Kopetefish thank you! No, I don’t have the 400 4.5. Sorry.

[@JRodPhotoArt]

Looking good Phil. Fog shots are always fun. I did get my Z50ii and have it all setup! Lots of fun ahead! Some of those tree shots migth look good in black and white?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! And congrats on your new camera. I did look at them in black-and-white but honestly, I prefer the muted colors in fog photography.

[@MichaelAnderson-l3k]

spent yesterday morning in Cades Cove shooting some of the iconic trees in the mist. There is a hint of color left in some trees. If I had a dime for every time someone would stop to ask me what bear or deer I was shooting. The general publics seems to have zero grasp of landscape photography outside the Grand Canyon. haha. Wishing you two a warm and safe Thanksgiving!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I would love to shoot cades cove in the fog!

[@kevinhawkins82]

The photos look great! What is your Review of the Z50ii? What do you think of it? Pluses and Minuses? There is a new firmware update for the short DX Kit lens you should install from Nikon.

[@PhilThach]

@@kevinhawkins82 thanks for the firmware info!

[@richwoodham3296]

Nice work Phil!! I love the effect of the fog on “that old tree.” Beautiful indeed… 👍🏾 Is it safe to assume Heather is in full recovery? I pray that all is well with her 🙏🏾

[@PhilThach]

@@richwoodham3296 thank you! Yes, she is doing well. She had her cast removed today and is now able to do partial weight-bearing on the surgery foot and ankle.

[@richwoodham3296]

@@PhilThach ... Amen Brother! Great to hear she is doing well! God bless you both.

[@toddfancher7400]

I agree. I like the composition for the 3rd shot of the tree. What are your thoughts on the Z50 II compared to the D500 for bird photography? Is it worth the money or would a person be better to wait for a mirrorless D500 equivalent for wildlife photography?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I think it’s worth the money. I’m skeptical about Nikon making a flagship style DX camera. D500 has better battery and tougher body but the Z50 II beats it in every other way. I haven’t tested the buffer but it seems really good.

[@toddfancher7400]

@@PhilThach Thank you for your response. I'm looking forward to more of your informative videos as you put the Z50 II through its paces. I'm currently a Nikon shooter but the Canon r7ii has my interest peaked if it has a stacked sensor and addresses some of the flaws of the current R7.

[@PhilThach]

@@toddfancher7400 Thank you, I'll buy the R7II if and when it is ever released.

[@ShwarcArnold]

@@PhilThach 5,7 kl/s vs 10kl/s for panning

[@marcklein9890]

Can you test it with the ftz and the old 200. 500 and discuss the viability and performance with the adapted lens

[@ses4vols]

Great shots! I really liked the Great Blue Heron shot. How do you compare the Z50ii to the Z8? I've been watching the Hiwasee Wildlife Facebook Page. I can't wait to get down there this year.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! They are similar in a lot of ways, but of course the Z8 blows it away. There hasn’t been much happening at the refuge yet. I’m hoping it starts soon. I was working in the blind this morning and heard a sandhill crane flying way overhead.

[@prairiepainter]

Thank you for the posting and great shots Phil…I read the Z50ii doesn’t have the ibis stabilization in it…is this a handholding issue or will the lens’s stabilization negate this?

[@PhilThach]

Handheld pictures were made for years with no stabilization whatsoever. Just use a little bit faster shutter speed and you will be fine. Most lenses have stabilization including the 16-50 but even lenses with no stabilization can be used handheld with no problems with a little bit faster shutter speed.

[@UKFR]

Wonderful shots, the fog adds such an ethereal light. The images are everything I love about the Z50 sensor - in your opinion Phil is the bird AF of the Z50ii now on par with say the Canons? If you recall I jumped from my Z50 to an R7/100-500 and am happy, but the Z50 will always have a place in my heart. I'm mulling over returning to a Z50ii and 180-600, but won't take a backward step with AF. Weirdly, the spot AF on the Z50 was way better than the R7 (which hunts a lot in low contrast, like car windshields etc). But every other focus mode on the Z50 sucks as you know.

[@PhilThach]

It's hard for me to measure which focus system is better. The R7 beats the Z50ii in many other areas besides autofocus such as Battery, Sensor Cover, Resolution, IBIS., and FPS. The Z50ii is an improvement, but it's no R7 unfortunately.

[@UKFR]

@@PhilThach Many thanks.

[@lisabrogdon8569]

I know these are still early days for putting the z50II through it's paces, but at this point would you recommend an upgrade from the z50 to the II? Serious hobbyist on a seriously limited budget😂. Shoot a bit of everything, but i photograph quite a bit of wildlife since i live close to cades cove.

[@PhilThach]

@@lisabrogdon8569 if you want bird eye detect, yes.

[@라피-n9f]

AF가 1세대와 비교하면 매우 크게 향상되어서 목적에 맞는다면 바꿀만한 가치가 충분합니다. 특히 저조도 AF는 상상 이상으로 좋아졌어요

[@lisabrogdon8569]

@@PhilThach, depending on how well the bird eye detect works, this is the main reason I'm thinking about the switch....that and the upgraded processor...

[@bigboi36]

@@PhilThach I guess what I am hopeful for is overall tracking improvements. The Z50 is temperamental but hopefully since it has Expeed 7 Sensor that the overall tracking has improved

[@bigboi36]

@@라피-n9f Wow really? That good?

[@DrZeeple]

Oh, I wanna know how the A6700 compares; can you do that one?

[@PhilThach]

I’d say the a6700 is better in many ways, battery, resolution, IBIS, etc. But it is much more expensive.

[@muttishelfer9122]

The A6700 is the better camera: newer Sensor, IBIS, larger battery, better AF etc. I really hoped for a D500 successor, but the Z50 II is more like entry level.

[@sporthighlights951]

nice video, landscape image was super as well as the birds, how is the autofocus on birds?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! The auto focus on birds reminds me a lot of my Z8 but maybe a little bit slower.

[@sporthighlights951]

@@PhilThach sir i want to upgrade my gear from nikon d5600, which one will be best z50ii or sony a7iii. please suggest me

[@Postosuchus]

How has rolling shutter been (both for electronic shutter stills and video) compared to your other APS-C cameras? I’ve read/watched tons of reviews but the few that even address this potential issue at all only give it a passing mention at most.

[@PhilThach]

It has rolling shutter about the same as my other cameras. I don’t really have a way to measure it.

[@cesarm8811]

Hi Phil, I own the Z50 with both kit lenses. I was considering upgrading to the new Z50II, but the battery life on the Z50 is awful. Did you notice on the Z50II with the en25A battery is the battery life better or worse on then the Z50.

[@PhilThach]

@@cesarm8811 battery life is about the same.

[@LOLA6ifyable]

The photos seem Tack-sharp (and fantastic!) Seems like the Z50 II is pretty capable, did you struggle with it?

[@PhilThach]

@@LOLA6ifyable thank you! No major issues.

[@mikeymike4366]

Hi Phil, thank you for the video. How do you compare the autofocus to the Canon r6 mkii? What’s faster and more reliable? Thank you 🙏

[@PhilThach]

I’d say the Canon is more reliable but it also costs over 250% what this camera costs. It is not 250% more reliable.

[@George182Stuff]

Hi, I own a D7500, are you consider the z50 ii it's a great upgrade? Specially for sport photography and portraits mainly. Thanks 👍

[@PhilThach]

I think so.

[@carlmcneill1139]

How is the screen blackout in burst mode with the z50 II? I heard the zf was better than the z6 II. I think I wasn't to wait and see if a d500 comes out but I wouldn't mind having a fast crop camera. I saw a comment on someone else's video about this camera is more like the d7500 than the d500 because it only has one card slot. I think they have similar focus systems. I think there's some Sandhill cranes at wheeler. Someone in one of my groups posted a pic of a shopping crane the other day. I may run over there this week and see.

[@PhilThach]

The blackout isn't bad in electronic shutter mode or silent mode as it's called in the Z50 II menus. I don't mind the camera only having one card slot. My cameras that have two slots have only 1 card installed 99% of the time. I don't shoot weddings. :) I'm hoping the cranes show up in mass soon!

[@carlmcneill1139]

@PhilThach so the blackout is better with the expeed 7 processor than what the z6 II has? I have complete blackout while I hold the shutter button down even with electronic shutter. That's why I bought the z8. Have you tried one of the red dots for the hot shoe yet? They say it helps when using a long focal length and when you have blackout. Nikon even makes one that collapses down when not in use.

[@PhilThach]

@@carlmcneill1139 Blackout doesn't bother me enough to invest in a red dot thingy. I'm glad it is helpful to some.

[@bobjohnson9597]

When you say 600mm are you really saying 900mm in apsc? And if so please specify.

[@PhilThach]

I always give the actual focal length which does not change because the sensor is smaller. The field of view changes, the focal length does not. If you want full frame equivalent field of view, multiply the actual focal length the I give you by 1.5. Thanks!

[@w9fcc]

Are you shooting in JPG? It appears Lightroom doesn’t yet support the Z50 ii RAW files so just wondering how you’re dealing with that.

[@PhilThach]

@@w9fcc I’m shooting raw and the newest version of Lightroom does support the raw files from this camera.

[@w9fcc]

@@PhilThach I did a little more research and they say that Lr can’t deal with RAW High Efficiency files. But the RAW Lossless Compression files work. I set my Z50 ii to that and will verify it. Probably will work.

[@w9fcc]

@@PhilThach Yup, setting the camera for "Lossless Compression" works fine in Lightroom.

[@paulg6268]

Don't drop this one......okay??

[@PhilThach]

Good plan! I hope to be able to accomplish it. 😂

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

It looks Awfully Humid, I wouldn't take any Camera with a Sensor out in that kind of Weather, unless I wanted Permanent Contamination on the Sensor, and Mold-Fungus in the Air-pumping Lenses made these Days

[@PhilThach]

You baby your gear too much. If you want the best photos, you must get out in the weather. Thanks for watching!