Nikon Z8 600mm PF Ducks & More Bird Photography!

[@Kellysher]

Beautiful shots! In a gated wetland close to my home in OH, we have mallards and wood ducks that stay all year and have no fear of people. The migrating ducks like a Mergansers, blue teal, green teal, shovelers are super skiddish. The second they see you, they Nope right out of there! But it’s SO rewarding if you can get a shot of one in good light. The colors on wild ducks are just amazing.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I would love to have access to a wetland like that!

[@GarrickGillettePhotography]

Beautiful work Phil!!

[@PhilThach]

@@GarrickGillettePhotography thank you, Garrick!

[@ses4vols]

Nice variety of ducks!

[@PhilThach]

@@ses4vols thank you! It’s the hooded Merganzer that I love the most though.

[@ses4vols]

@ I agree, hopefully one day I’ll see one!

[@SkylarkFields]

Super video, thanks for sharing, and great to see the birds you have over there. A few years ago a single ring necked duck visited my local reserve here in the UK! It was there a short while and attracted a lot of attention. I don't recall seeing it, but I have it ticked in my little book so I guess I must have done!

[@PhilThach]

@@SkylarkFields thank you!

[@TheTennfisher]

I'm green with envy Phil. Beautiful video and stills. Thanks for sharing.

[@PhilThach]

@@TheTennfisher thank you!

[@TheNewRetiredMe]

Great shots! You found a great location!

[@PhilThach]

@@TheNewRetiredMe thanks, Tim!

[@JonnyPink65]

Green bump!! Love the photos. We would shoot those at the King Gillette ranchnpond but it is almost or completely dry now...nothing there the last time I was there. Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@PhilThach]

@@JonnyPink65 thanks, JP! I hope you’re doing well.

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach Surviving! LOL Love looking forward to your photos. 💖🤗

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Beautiful work as always Phil. Wish I could be there in the cooler weather. So hot in our summer here 🙏👍

[@PhilThach]

@@adrianalfordphotography thank you, Adrian! This morning it was -12°C here. 🥶

[@woodymallory9058]

A duck here a duck there..they are everywhere...thanks Phil

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Woody!

[@leonfisher]

One up top and one down here. 👍

[@PhilThach]

@@leonfisher 👍

[@aslamhaniffa7240]

Now you must be planning to get 800 pf, 😅. Nice video. ❤

[@PhilThach]

@@aslamhaniffa7240 thank you! I’d like to get one someday.

[@PhotoGearFun]

Those Mergansers are so fun to watch and you captured them very well with the video. We are lucky enough to have them every winter at my local lake and we can get pretty close at times.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Phil!

[@Ron.Durant]

Nice video capture Phil. Are you using any kind of support while doing video or are they handheld?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I brought a tripod and gimbal heads this time. On my first visit to this pond, I set the tripod foot on the concrete wall that is on one side of the pond. I wasn't able to get as low this time but my movements were smoother.

[@Gowtham_Babu]

Hello Phil, 0:08 may I know the location of this. I will head that way today..

[@PhilThach]

It's on Amni Cola highway.

[@Gowtham_Babu]

Oh, ok. Thanks, Phil 😊

[@Mr09260]

Love your 600 pf Lens >> My Next life maybe Lol

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! It's a little sharper and lighter than the 180-600 but it is less versatile.

[@Dashbshots]

I like the hooded mergansers. Hard for me to get the eye clear. They are always swimming away, I've had better luck with the common. At one location I go down below the dam so my eye is at the water level. The ducks then fly in towards the dam and me to land. But only one location here is good for that. I am wondering if you miss your 500 f/4? Does the stabilization with the Z8 work better with a Z lens than a dslr? I don't have any Z lenses yet. If the Z8 sensor is 45.7 megapixels, how many megapixels is it in the cropped setting? Is it better than the D500? I often keep my D500 on my 600mm f/4 for reach and the Z8 on my 500 f/5.6 PF for birds in flight. And I don't see the Snowy listed in Texas anymore. There are a couple SEO's listed at Cades Cove. I'm always searching the ebird site. Looking forward to Spring and checking nests owls were using last year.

[@PhilThach]

My 500 f/4 would almost always miss focus on my Z6 and Z50. This is part of why I sold it. I don’t have that problem with other F mount lenses adapted to my Z cameras.

[@jarrodswackhamer]

Hey Phil, love the videos! Hypothetical question: if you could only use one setup between the Nikon 500 PF adapted to the Z50 II or the Sony A6700 with the Sigma 500 5.6 which would you choose?

[@PhilThach]

@@jarrodswackhamer if those were my only choices I might get the Sigma and the a6700. If I were buying a PF lens for the Z50ii, I’d get the Z 600 PF, not the adapted F 500 PF.