Nikon Z50 II Bird Photography with 180-600mm Lens

[@TomMusson-l5j]

Gorgeous head shot Phil, really like that blade of grass. Watched you for years, though along way away in New Zealand.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! You are the second person who has commented approving the blade of grass so I’m glad I didn’t try to remove it!

[@simplelife1151]

Fantastic video Phil. I regularly watch you and cherish your work. Regards from India

[@PhilThach]

Thank you very much! :)

[@TheNewRetiredMe]

I love those Sandhill cranes. So nice to get closer than you can at the refuge.

[@PhilThach]

I love them too. I wish we had them year round so I could space the Sandhill videos out a bit instead of all at once. Thanks for watching, Tim!

[@erkkisiekkinen286]

Very good shots. I got my z50ll last Friday. Is also raining in south Finland and all the snow is away. But Monday was a bright day a I photographed with my z 400mm f4,5 small birds at a feeding place and the results were very good and sharp with reasonable noise. Z50ll birds eye AF worked also very well. I also have this 180-600mm over one year but now is so horribly rainy and dark here that I will try it later with this body. Smallrig 4981 bottom plate makes this body sit better on my hands. Thank you for a nice video -Cheers

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I hear nothing but good things about the 400 4.5. I decided to go with the Z 100-400 because I needed the versatility of a zoom in that range. The 4.5 is certainly sharper and faster at 400 than my new 100-400. I'm hoping someone makes a full L bracket for the z50ii soon. I have the Three-Legged Thing "Zayla" L bracket for my original z50 but it doesn't fit the new camera.

[@johnyoung1606]

Beautiful Photos :) :) :)

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@ses4vols]

Looked like a cold day. I have a pair of fingerless gloves but I still get cold. I really liked the low down perspective shots.

[@PhilThach]

I think the blood thinners I'm still on after my heart attack make me cold easily. I laughed when I re-watched this yesterday because it has been so much colder than it was that day recently. I was better prepared for it.

[@ses4vols]

@@PhilThach You go out on more days than I do in the cold! 👏

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Nice work Phil

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian!

[@k26kv31]

Turn that heat up and warm up those toes and fingers! Our temps have been in the mid 20*s for the last two weeks here in the PNW, just off the Columbia River. You got some great shots despite the cold, wet weather!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! :)

[@JonnyPink65]

Beautiful photos. I like the blade of grass - for me, I am glad you left it. I keep a tripod in my car at all times and z little one in my backpack. Been there. Lol. Beautiful ❤❤

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I drive a demo car from work which I might have to quickly switch out of at any time so I keep a bare minimum in it. Once I retire and start driving my own car, I'll probably keep my tripod there too. :)

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach Gotcha!! Makes perfect sense. . 🤗

[@rip062]

NIce shots especially considering those slow shutter speeds with no IBIS. I was wondering if the camera got very wet in the rain without weather sealing and how that was.

[@PhilThach]

@@rip062 thank you! The camera did get a little bit wet, but I wasn’t worried about it and it continues to operate normally weeks later.

[@carlpollitt]

Phil here in Indiana was photographing Sand Hills a few days ago and the Temp was 2 below zero !!!

[@PhilThach]

@carlpollitt I rewatched this video yesterday knowing it was coming out today and laughed at my whining about it being cold in the upper 20s Just the other day. It was 8°F and I was still out shooting, but I was wearing a lot more clothes.

[@tommoodie-cy7dr]

Hi from Scotland. Enjoying you videos and expecting my Z50ii & z180-600 to arrive tomorrow 👍📷😁

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Congrats, I hope you enjoy it!

[@bobblair8482]

I just got my Z50 ll and 180-600 F6.3. It has amazing autofocus for camera that costs less than a 1000 dollars.

[@PhilThach]

@@bobblair8482 congratulations, I agree!

[@nikonmark37814]

Hello from Morristown, TN. Phil, I have muscular dystrophy and for me a stabilized sharp image is more important than using high iso's and noise. Just wanted to point out capturing image is more important. I don't yet own a mirrorless Nikon Z body but after watching your videos I'm considering one.

[@PhilThach]

@@nikonmark37814 I agree! I try to keep my ISO down as much as possible while still making sharp images.

[@clibourncreative3325]

Phil, I like your channel That lens looks amazing. Gave you a follow.

[@PhilThach]

@@clibourncreative3325 thank you! Have a great day. 👍

[@godistrueking5136]

How good is bird detection & tracking with Z50ii. ?

[@PhilThach]

@@godistrueking5136 it works very well. It is hampered by the slow readout speed of the sensor, so it’s not as good as the Z8 but it works well.

[@dgorenc66]

How do you protect your Z50ii in the rain ? If you could make a/short vid on that it would help us Z50 users a lot

[@PhilThach]

@@dgorenc66 I don’t think a video would help you very much because I usually just let it get wet if it’s raining a little bit. If it is a torrential downpour, I don’t shoot, but if it’s just a sprinkle, I let myself and my camera get wet. Perhaps this is not the best advice. 😂

[@yusufhalcol6553]

😍👌👏👏👏

[@PhilThach]

Thanks!

[@41stclair]

what -2 ??

[@PhilThach]

@@41stclair you’ll have to refresh my memory or give me a timestamp. I’m honestly not sure what you’re talking about.

[@guidlines]

@ <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="229">3:49</a>

[@PhilThach]

😂

[@ThroughJoesLens]

I always have a travel tripod in the back of my car just in case I’ve got my camera with me and need it. My larger tripod with a gimbal head stays at home and only goes out when I know I’ll need it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@PhilThach]

That's a good idea!