Nikon D850 | Photographing Sooty Oystercatchers

[@adrianalfordphotography]

FUN FACT: The aptly named Sooty Oystercatcher is Australia’s ONLY all black shorebird, easily distinguished from the Pied Oystercatcher by its all-black plumage, long red bill and bright red eyes 👀 🙏📸

[@denisesavage2382]

Beautiful Adrian - a lovely way to spend a morning.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching Denise. Enjoy your weekend 👍🙏

[@bbud8242]

Great intro! Short, dramatic and great music. Don’t change it! Ever!

[@jimgrantham6139]

Great video. My favorite combo for birds.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks so much for watching. Yes I agree, great combo 👍🙏

[@gewglesux]

Lovely captures!! Great job!! Handsome Birds also!!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching. They are very placid birds that just lope along the shoreline. It was a pleasure to photograph them. Have a great weekend, cheers 🙏📸

[@sharonhaasbroek7464]

One of my favourite lenses.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

I can easily see why. Currently on sale here in Australia for a smidge over $2K Awesome value for the money!

[@andy1or2]

You are a talented guy...great video ...

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Very kind. Thank you so much for watching, I really appreciate it. Enjoy your day 🙏📸

[@JohnHPettigrewFujishooter67]

Awesome piece of kit, and some amazing images, great video Adrian, thanks for sharing.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching John! I did enjoy this combo albeit a tad heavy. I'll try some other lenses out soon. Have a great week mate, cheers 🙏

[@apocalypsedude9392]

Beautiful shots! ❤

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@PhilThach]

I LOVE that lens! I'm glad you finally tried one. I enjoyed your photos!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks Phil, enjoy your weekend buddy 🙏📸

[@bvaldes8791]

Wow Adrian they are just beautiful to see, the colors of those birds are amazing and the photos are super sharp. Love the ones that are back lit. That combination of your D850 and that lens perfect match. Well my friend hope you have a wonderful week ahead. 🙏🏼📸👏

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching. It is indeed a very good combo for birds and wildlife. I had a lot of fun that morning. Have a great week my friend, cheers 🙏

[@GregJorgo]

Great work!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks Greg. Appreciate you watching 🙏

That's some lens Adrain, and good to know you can hire them - love the name of the Sooty Oystercatchers! Great capture of them and many thanks for sharing them and the info - have a great Sunday :)

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching Shaun. Glad you liked the video mate. Enjoy your day cheers 🍻 👍🙏

[@leod1671]

Hi Adrian, I agree the 200-500 is a very good lens, especially for the price. I have had mine since mid 2019 and still really enjoy going for nature walks with it attached to my D850 and it's grip. Great shots and thank you again your continued attention to the D850.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks so much for watching. I agree, for the price, you get a lot of bag for ya buck on this lens. Good to hear you are enjoying it. Have a great week cheers 📸🙏

[@christian.irmler]

Hi Adrian, oh yes, these long lenses are definitely heavy. I never shoot handheld with my Sony 200-600. Okay, okay, I'm focused on landscapes, but anyway... :) But a monopod seems to be a quite good idea for bird photography, as you stay flexible for your compositions but you anyway have that needed extra sturdiness. You got some fantastic results, Adrian. Difficult to pick a favourite, to be honest. Really a great video, buddy. And also the location looks just breathtaking! Enjoy your weekend, Christian

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching Christian. It's a very good lens for the price. At the moment it is on sale here for a little over $2K. But I would like to try some more lenses before I settle on one to buy. Glad you enjoyed the images buddy, have an awesome weekend 📸🙏

[@wingsofaustralia]

Stunning set of shots! Top work with that lens, I have heard it can get a bit heavy.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching. Enjoy your weekend, cheers 📸🙏

[@richardmccutcheon6399]

I enjoy your videos Adrian. Note that every one of your shots was at 500mm. I went initially down the route of a similar zoom lens (happened to choose the Tamron G2), but then realized the weight was an issue. I also noted that I was almost always at 500mm. So I tried a 500mm 5.6 PF and have never even remotely considered turning back. I use it between a D850 and a D500 and am very satisfied with it’s crisp images and easy to carry light weight. I have a feeling you’d love it.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching. I totally 100% agree re the 500mm PF. That will be one of the lenses I try out next. Have a great weekend, cheers 🙏📸

[@NikonDave]

Great set of images and clips. I personally always found the 200-500mm to be a bit soft. I think the KZbins makes me think more and more I just had a bad copy. The 80-400mm is usually all I need and is a great compromise of reach/sharpness and weight. I may well try renting/hiring another copy just to give it a second chance. Cheers!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks so much for watching. I have a video coming out very soon where I compare the 80-400mm vs 200-500mm. There were some surprising differences I wasn't expecting. Have a great weekend, cheers 🙏📸

[@paulconnors2078]

Hello Adrian: Having both the D850 and the 200-500 f5.6 made me gravitate to this video and appreciate your content on the camera and lens even more. Well done and much appreciated, as always.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching Paul. Have a great weekend, cheers 🙏📸

[@kendall6030]

You are so fortunate to have an abundance of wildlife and scenery nearby. Beautiful photography as always. I've learned so much from you within the last few months. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thank you very much for watching. I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos on my channel. Really appreciate your kind comment, cheers 🙏📸

[@laurelb8372]

It is a great lens, have been able to hand hold in short bursts. Always get gorgeous shots from it, coupled with Z7II with ftz adapter. I forgive it for being heavy as images are so good and the price very reasonable compared to some others in Nikon range.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Yeah I agree. For the price and image quality it’s pretty good value.

[@AgileRiver]

Recommend looking at the 500pf. So much lighter and great to hand hold

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thank you for the recommendation. That is definitely a lens I'll be trying out next, cheers 🙏

[@SteakOSaurier]

2:22 but don't we see a beautiful birdy in the upper left corner?😜 Great Video as always Adrian! If you wanted to buy a D850 right now, would you search on the second hand market or would you get one brand new? Also, what would be the maximum Shutter Count for you? Cheers!

[@slimbirdy]

Wow! What a stunning morning out by the beach. So many fantastic shots, but my favourite was the one with sunlit droplets behind them at 3:33. Looks like you can work your magic with any lens in your hands! Beautiful to watch.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Glad you enjoyed it! Have a great weekend and thanks for watching 📸🙏

[@peterviragphoto]

This was awesome mate! Some killer shots in this one. Loved the colours, light & those oystercatchers are so cool!😀 also enjoyed the footage of them foraging! Great work Adrian, thanks for sharing!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching Peter. They're really placid birds, don't get too phased by what's happening around them. Was fun to photograph them. Never used that lens, but had heard some good things, so was keen to check it out. Have a great weekend mate, cheers 📸🙏

[@davidmonro-jones4191]

Thank you so much for this video, Adrian. I have the D850 (which is still relatively new and begging to be used more) as well as the 200 - 500 lens. I agree with your comment regarding the weight, which I found out on here deer photography day. I also had the added weight of the battery grip. Could I ask which camera strap you recommend? The photographs you have taken are outstanding and I am encouraged to get out and use my equipment more (recovering from surgery) in a few weeks’ time. I live close to the North Sea, so not as warm but plenty of birds. I find all your videos inspirational and educational. Your channel has become my go to for all things D850 alongside some mentoring from the Nikon school. On a final note, I am considering the Nikon 500 F5.6 lens as a milestone birthday present for myself. If you have any thoughts, they would be welcomed. Take care and stay safe. I look forward to your next video. David

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Thanks for watching. The 500 pf lens is very good so that would be a good birthday gift for you. I think once you have that you’d never touch the 200-500mm again. The camera strap I bought off ebay. Not sure where I got it. Had it for ages. There’s so many camera straps on ebay you’re bound to find one.

[@davidmonro-jones4191]

😀

[@dennisfrederick9304]

I've been shooting Egrets and Little Blue Herons this spring with a D850 and the 200-500mm lense with excellent results. Nice to see someone like you still using a DSLR from time to time. Nice video and you do have a target rich environment.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Many thanks for watching. Have a great weekend 🙏

[@ambrosechiu2338]

i saw the Sooty Oystercatcher at Toorbul back in April.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

That’s good to hear. Thanks for watching mate, have a great weekend 👍🙏

[@ambrosechiu2338]

@Adrian Alford Photography you have a great weekend too Adrian 😀 😊

[@JanetMPackham]

I love this video, I noticed even in sunlight your ISO was quite high, were you using auto ISO and if so what did you set the highest and lowest ISO. Thanks.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Probably cause I was shooting at a high shutter speed in case of flying shots. ISO 64-6400

[@janetpackham703]

Thank you for the quick reply I have recently got the Nikkor 200 500 lens using on my D850 and take bird photos in the UK we have a lot of grey days so find I have to push up the Iso.

[@offbeatvandals6072]

I would love to see a comparison and your thoghts between a Z8 and a D850

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Just as soon as I can get my hands on one I’ll do that for sure 👍

[@nickramundi8378]

Hi Adrian, i know you have a Z7,,, could you tell me if it has a focus stacking facility? like the Z7II?

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Yes absolutely the Z7 can focus stack aka focus shift 🙏

[@nickramundi8378]

@@adrianalfordphotography Thank you very much Adrian.