Nikon D500 Bird Photography 200-500 Lens!

[@tcstu90]

Great images with the 'old' D500 + 200-500 combo. Have the same myself. Best bang-for-the-buck setup I know of for birding and large field outdoor sporting events. Thanks for sharing!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@ronaldlee3537]

Even though I am not a wildlife photographer, I still use my Nikon D7500 & D500. In low-light the D7500 is superior to the D500, in dim light my D500 hunts or can't focus; even though the D7500 has annoying white light focusing aid, it has never failed me in dim light. In dim light, the D7500 also beats my Sony A6700 even with focusing light.

[@PhilThach]

Maybe the white light is what makes the 7500 superior. Thanks for watching!

[@dennisjones5579]

Well done. I still have my D500, which has been replaced with a Nikon Zf. I still use it occasionally and don't believe I'll ever part with it. Loved your bird photos.

[@PhilThach]

@@dennisjones5579 thank you!

[@stephenbolger5925]

I still use the combination too Phil and I love it! So easy to use and so dependable! Please Nikon give us a mirrorless D500 with a 45mp sensor!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Stephen!

[@dengueberries]

gee that'd be swell

[@thomasphillips5850]

That is a great combo D500 and Afs 200-500. I have always been a fan of the 200-500, put your 850 on there oh my lord. Thanks great video Phil.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I think I will make another video with the 200-500 and D850 sometime soon.

[@JeffandLeslie]

Nice shots Phil. I shot the D500 and 200-500 combo for about 6 years. Excellent wildlife setup.

[@PhilThach]

I agree! It’s fun to get it back out every once in a while. I still prefer my newer cameras, but I do love the D500.

[@jlm300185]

Great video as usual Phil still use my D500 and still happy with it in 2024 everytime I use it I’m shocked with the results it can achieve

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I agree, it will always be a great camera.

[@davidgifford8112]

Setting the mirror slap aside, I consider the D500 ideal tool for telephoto expedition shooting. I’m an eclipse chaser luckily, so noise isn’t an issue. The DX crop lowers the size of the glass without compromising images. I’ve noticed that birders and eclipse chasers who use D850s or Z8s mostly use them in DX crop mode. The Z50ii is still an entry level mirrorless, Nikon still needs to bring out a flagship crop Z.

[@Eli4Bill]

Great shots Phil. The ones of the male red bellied woodpecker are excellent!👏

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I had really perfect light for those shots. 😎

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Some great shots Phil. D500 is such a good camera 👍

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian! I always enjoy getting that camera back out from time to time.

[@billr6983]

Great shots, even the ones you thought were sub standard. You have a chipmunk stealing all the food, with me it's Blue Jays and a squirrel. lol As always an enoyable video, thanks for sharing.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Bill!

[@ses4vols]

Great shots! Still a great combo.

[@PhilThach]

@@ses4vols thanks!

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks for sharing another wonderful video like always

[@PhilThach]

@@MrTmiket0007 thank you!

[@andywesselsphotographyart]

Hi Phil, just found your channel and love what I am seeing!! I bought me D500 and 200-500 lens during the pandemic. I live in coastal South Carolina and at that time I knew little about birds and bird photography. That Nikon combo got me hooked and I still used it on a very regular basis....... not only to take photos in my backyard (having the same visitors as you capture in this movie) but also in the various WMA's and Plantations in the area etc. After a lot of research, I have also decided to move up to the Z8 somewhere in the near future.......(also for landscape stuff). Cheers !!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@Dashbshots]

Nice chickadee background. I bought a Z8 a while back. It sat in it's box for a while. I just recently got it out and used it a little. I also have different D models and the D500 is my favorite. I don't mind the shutter sound. Sometimes Ringneck pheasants will walk towards the clicking. I don't know what the Z8 sounds like. Baby wheezy toots? (farts) Now I'm trying to update programs so I can view the Z8 photos.

[@PhilThach]

That’s interesting about the pheasants walking towards the sound. I think you will enjoy your Z8 once you get used to it. Thanks for watching!

[@dstg62]

Thanks!

[@dstg62]

Still a great workhorse. Thank you Phil for taking the D500 out..

[@PhilThach]

@@dstg62 thank you! 🙏

[@nineoneten]

Nice photos there Phil, you are lucky to have a good hide and some willing birds real close by. A big shame Nikon didn't replace the D500 in the Z range. I have a D7200 and a D300S and both work nicely with the N300F4PF lens. The D300S is good for it's age and is a very solid workhorse although with only 12MP cropping in isn't an option. The D7200 is nice but the cameras grip is lacking in size and isn't a match for the 'pro' bodies. It also lacks the buffer capacity of the D500. Keep the shots rolling in. Rob in the UK.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Rob!

[@PamHaynes-oo3ck]

Hi Phil, I enjoyed seeing the birds. Thank you 🌞

[@PhilThach]

@@PamHaynes-oo3ck thank you!

[@stevefaucette]

Really nice video and great bird shots too

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@almanthor4696]

Great video. Thanks, Phil. What's your shooting mode?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I usually use manual mode with auto-ISO turned on.

[@scrptwic]

I use Pentax DSLR'S for bird photography a K3 Mark iii with two lenses a Pentax 50 -300 4.5 - 6.3 or a Pentax 150- 450 4.3- 5.6 . My back up camera is a Pentax K3-11 both APS-C cameras and lenses are weather sealed . I photograph mostly shore birds ( Pelicans, Osprey, Perican Falcon ) at the local wetlands

[@PhilThach]

@@scrptwic nice!

[@leonfisher]

Nice shots. Do you feel 8 years younger when using this camera?

[@PhilThach]

LOL 😂 thank you, Leon!

[@JohnDoranski]

I have an ask. Can you share a behind the scene of your backyard setup. I have my stumps and branches, but would like to see your setup before I place my items. Thanks.

[@PhilThach]

@@JohnDoranski I pretty much did that at the beginning of this video. It’s just branches screwed onto the handrail of my porch.

[@JohnDoranski]

Thanks. I was watching on my phone in the sun and missed this scene. Upon rewatching, there it is. Time for me to get busy. Thanks again.

[@woodymallory9058]

I didn't get any photos of the northern flickers so far this fall...could hear them all over the yard but could not see them to take a photo

[@PhilThach]

Over the years, I have rarely gotten a good photo of a flicker, so I was happy to see and hear one.

[@rDigital2A]

Nice beaks!

[@PhilThach]

@@rDigital2A thank you!

[@stevefaucette]

I have 2 d500s and I also use a 200-500 lens I get great shots

[@PhilThach]

@@stevefaucette it is excellent gear!

[@loodusfoto3099]

Sadly, I'm still using DSLR for birding. If I'm photographing birds in the garden who come to the feeder, it really does not matter how loud the camera is or if autofocus fails sometimes. Even if some get spooked, more will come shortly. However if I'm waiting hours and hours in the forest for rare birds or animals and get only one shot, because of the loud shutter.. or autofocus jumps on body/wings and eye is blurry .. that dissapointment has led me to save money for a new hybrid.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks for watching. I hope you get your new camera soon.

[@patriciablyler6484]

I love the titmice and the chickadees! You have a very nice bird photography studio.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Patricia!

[@pleclere]

Great pictures. Still, while you used many years a DSLR to take great pictures, now you question whether you can take decent pictures with your D500. Yes, I understand that the hybrid cameras are better, and out of focus pictures are much harder to achieve while animals are not scared away as is the past, but DSLR can also mean more fun as you have to work harder to have great pictures. It becomes so boring in many videos where it is more about the latest gear. Now photographers can even start to prerecord so, if you missed the real action, it may still be recorded up to a minute before pressing the shutter. Enjoy whatever gear you have, including those from the past that work great. Keep shooting 📷 and posting

[@JonnyPink65]

Phil, beautiful shots❤ I find that using a DSLR, I have completely think about each shot and it is fun. It used to be second nature. Lol and how many times did you go to review in the eyepiece that is not an EVF? Beautiful shot shots. You are fortunate ❤

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Yes, I always try to review a picture in the view finder at least once when I go back to a DSLR lol thanks for stopping by, JP!

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach I think we all do LOL. 🤗

[@jonz_wildlife]

Hello! Can i ask what autofocus settigs u used fr these shots? I.e. af single point/group/dynamic

[@PhilThach]

@jonz_wildlife hello! I used single point for these perched birds.

[@jonz_wildlife]

@@PhilThach thank you! Must have been tough moving the focus points around 🤣

[@stevefaucette]

There is a place not far from me called the nut house which has several bird blinds and places set up for birds You pay so much for four hours of time and you can switch to another bird blind He puts out meal worms and has seed out too

[@PhilThach]

Sounds like an awesome place!

[@stevenmccaughan2752]

I see no reason to get rid of my D500 use it for auto racing and air shows my D500 sits on my refrigerator so I can the get the deer, bears and birds I have a Eagle that fly’s off the moment I pick the camera up

[@PhilThach]

@@stevenmccaughan2752 we should all keep our D500! 🤓

[@garydubberly6608]

@@PhilThachI’m keeping mine along with the 500 PF even though I have switched primarily to OM Systems & Panasonic Leica cameras and lenses for travel and birds. I still enjoy the Nikon kit. I never seem to regret using it. The wading birds are increasing in number along with the ducks and Spoonbills at Blackpoint. Soon the White Pelicans will arrive. Thanks for the video, always enjoy your narrative and photos.

[@antoniomolinero8573]

It's not noise, it is music as a Ferrary or a Harley Davidson.

[@PhilThach]

@@antoniomolinero8573 I will admit it does have a nice shutter sound.

[@stevefaucette]

There is a place not far from me called the nut house which has several bird blinds and places set up for birds You pay so much for four hours of time and you can switch to another bird blind He puts out meal worms and has seed out too why not use adobe AI to fill in parts of the bird if you only get part but not all of it

[@PhilThach]

I don’t usually use AI to fill in missing parts of a bird, but it is a great idea. It’s just not the way I want to go.