Nikon Z8 Migratory Bird Photography 180-600mm Lens!

[@bigboi36]

Great shots again Phil! That Z8 is a sweet combo. I still will be shooting with my z50 to start this weekend doing some Wildlife Photography. Kudos!

[@PhilThach]

@@bigboi36 , thank you! There is nothing wrong with using the Z50. I hope you get some good ones!

[@NoClocks.NoCalendars]

Love the low angle on the rabbit.

[@PhilThach]

Thanks! I did too. I was especially happy when it looked at me without running off!

[@JonnyPink65]

Beautiful shots of amazing little creatures - thank you for sharing. The little yellow ones are similar to the lesser Goldfinch we have here - Beautiful. My favorite bird shots are when they are buried in the leaves and all you can see is the eye or part of the face - love it. ❤❤

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, JP! Have a great day.

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach Heading to Arizona in the morning for hummingbirds! 🤗

[@PhillipRPeck]

Those shots at the end in the pine tree were really cool. The needles made such neat patterns around the birds

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@Gulfbayphotography]

@@PhilThachwhat autofocus area are u using? Wide area small, large something else? Vr on or off? Any of them stabilized on tripod or gimbal?

[@PhilThach]

@@Gulfbayphotography, I often use single point with bird eye detection on for birds in a thicket. I was shooting from the car window in this video.

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Nice work Phil. You captured some great shots 👍

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian!

[@Kellysher]

Phil, thanks for sharing your work. I do like the shots that are partially obscured too, as long as the eye is in focus. I think it shows the habitat too. I know you’re used to mockingbirds, but I was thrilled this weekend to get 3 together. I think that they were migrating. Even if 1 was molting terribly! Catbirds are common in OH, and are also mimickers too. I had one hang out in the woods by my house this summer and I was just amazed at the number of different songs he would sing! I can’t wait to retire so I can get out more. Work is an 8 hour inconvenience in the middle of my day!!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Mockingbird are very common here, but I still enjoy photographing them because they have so much personality. I’m very much looking forward to retirement as well.

[@joyadams507]

Great pictures, from my favorite spot to get bird photography!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Joy! :)

[@Beaver-be8vk]

These are the videos I’ve been waiting for. Small birds with that Nikon setup. Great shots as usual. I love the foreground bokha in a few of those. Adds depth to the shot.

[@PhilThach]

@@Beaver-be8vk thank you! I hope to make more like this soon. I’ll have many videos from Canada using Canon gear first.

[@ses4vols]

Great shots! I really liked the brown thrasher shot with the pine needles.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I’m always happy to photograph a brown thrasher. They are very beautiful and I love those yellow eyes.

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always Phil 🤗

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Miguel!

[@yonishperling1531]

3:26 so beautiful

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@robroyig-robroyphotography9225]

Hey Phil, great video! Thanks for sharing your settings and really nice shots! I havent tested my Z8 yet for much wildlife as im saving up for the 180-600. Seems like a great lens. Loved my D500, but looking forward to using Z8 in this. Quick question for you. On the shots where you got the bird sharp and foreground was blurred, what autofocus setting were you using? Assuming AF-C, but were you using the bird subject detection and let it hit the eye? Those are great shots. I always tend to lose the bird focus and it hits the foreground branches, etc

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I was definitely using AF-C. I made a single point sized custom focus area that also has bird eye detect. The single point sized area lets you focus on the bird through the brush and then eye detect will pick up the eye once you get the bird in focus.

[@randyayscue3098]

Thanks Phil. Always enjoy your videos. I’m hoping to visit a reservoir near me soon to get some song bird shots. Waterfowl too hopefully.

[@PhilThach]

@@randyayscue3098 thank you! Good luck!

[@PamHaynes-oo3ck]

How are you and Heather? I love your shots.

[@PhilThach]

@@PamHaynes-oo3ck we are doing well, thank you!

[@D33pActual]

Beautiful images. If possible, can you make a short video on the editing steps for the image at 6:12 mark. Thank you, and truly appreciate your work!

[@PhilMakesVideos-r2v]

Thank you! I really did not do much to that image at all. In adobe Lightroom classic, first I cropped for composition, then I corrected the white balance using the Auto function. Boosted the exposure by +0.40, lowered the highlights -17, raised the shadows +23 then I ran the image through Topaz Denoise AI on its default settings.

[@stephenbolger5925]

I'm feeling under the weather today Phil, so your video cheered me up alot! Do you much prefer the Z8 and 180-600 lens over the R7 and 100-500 lens?

[@PhilThach]

@@stephenbolger5925 thank you! I hope you feel better soon. I love both of those camera/lens combos. I’d give the Nikon rig the edge because it has virtually no rolling shutter issues that the R7 suffers from in electronic shutter mode.

[@stephenbolger5925]

@@PhilThach I agree with you on that Phil, the internal zoom on the 180-600 lens is awesome. Hopefully when the R7ii comes out it might have a stacked sensor. That would be a great advantage. I love the light weight of the 100-500 lens but the fact that it has to be extended to 300mm to fit a teleconverter is a big disadvantage. Thank you for your good wishes and hope you are very well too 🙂

[@isotechimages.9130]

Unlike most of us l know you were most unhappy wth the rf200/800 so the Z8 & 180/600 is a great combo for you & hopefully when you have financially recovered you could get the Z800mm 6.3pf lens oh l would love that lens.😊

[@PhilThach]

Yep! The Canon RF 200-800 was a contributor for me buying back into Nikon. I would love to get the Z800 6.3 PF for sure!!

[@loonytoongonemad8304]

Im curious how long do you patiently wait to get all of these bird shots? Are you usually in your car waiting? Do you find this lens has enough F stop to get what you’re looking for? Karen V

[@PhilThach]

Hi Karen. There is definitely some waiting involved. Working from the car is great because the birds are much less afraid of a car than a person. I could always use a brighter aperture but 6.3 is fast enough most of the time. I could buy the Nikkor Z 600 f/4 but it costs $15,499. The brighter aperture would be nice but that is a LOT of money!

[@L.LGodwill]

Thanks, Nature is amazing, I liked birds hiding behind leafs photos . . . Another thing is a suggestion, To make a visit to a nearby factory, or laboratory or research center ; not focusing on people, but on a little , And a big things , Etc

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! And I like your suggestion.

[@L.LGodwill]

@@PhilThach Thank you, People are amazing, Just i want to keep their privacy , unless they don't mind 🙋

[@mariadombrow-rq2xv]

Haben SIe die R6 II und das RF 200-800mm verkauft?

[@PhilThach]

No, I still have all of my Canon gear.

[@HitEmUpru]

Sadly you didn't show on photos info (on what mm was taken photo)

[@PhilThach]

I read the settings, ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, and Focal Length on every photo in this video.

[@HitEmUpru]

@@PhilThach watched video, great! Usually i just don't listen video and forwading to photo samples haha

[@frankgrau8219]

Are your bird shots normally hand held or from a tripod

[@PhilThach]

In the blind I use a tripod, out in Wild I shoot handheld unless I’m someplace where I’m not moving and then I use a tripod.