Nikon Z9 First Impressions - Pelican Eats Shark - Nikon 500 PF

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[@JeffGeerling]

This video is better than any of the "ambassador" videos I've seen from Nikon, great images, and great stories. Always a great way to end my day.

[@cooljoan1309]

You are everywhere :)

[@wansonicful]

100% agreed! 😊

[@patricksmith2553]

All the Sony sellouts are now crawling back to Nikon! Just kidding Mark, love the video and you take great pictures with every camera. I knew your heart was Nikon and you only switched because Nikon was behind. I just had to think of a troll like comment. Great video!

[@randyschwager84]

WOW. Amazing images from both quality and content standpoint! As a retired person I will never be able to afford a Z9 to replace my D500…so these videos are driving me insane! I’m heading out now to buy some lottery tickets! Wish me luck!

[@sunking9050]

I was just amazed by the opening video. Probably one of the best I’ve ever seen. As you say, the clarity and rendering is superb. Excellent stuff !

[@TonyJohnsonPhotos]

I've been watching your vids forever. This was some of the most detailed and beautiful stuff yet. Super. Personally, I love the 500pf on the Z9. What a combo. Throw on the tc 14e III and it's super.

[@zhichengli3852]

agreed

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Wow, thank you!

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Mark, Just have to say this must be one of the best Z9 impressions video I have seen. It so good that you manage to get a second copy of the Nikon 500mm pf, as I do love mine. I have only order my Z9 in Jan so it will arrive when it get here. Supper work once more and thank you for all you do. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy the wildlife,

[@EastSideSurfFishing]

You bring life to an area I see often and you capture things people often miss. Thank you mark!!

[@stanpiper8158]

Stunning images and color. Amazing detail. It's nice to get a sense of what the Z9 and 500 are capable of. Your narration is a hoot.

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Thanks

[@BudBetz]

Mark, nice to see you return to Nikon. I totally understand why you switched but glad you're back. Some of us less experienced Nikon fans missed your shots and videos. I shoot a Z6 and have a Z9 on order (still waiting). Looking forward to future reviews and features. -Bud

[@Infinescape]

Fantastic video as always Mark! Incredible images and video, the Z9 footage is looking incredible!

[@mac7406]

Mark, with each video you churn out, you make it harder to come up with words to describe your talent! I am truly amazed!!

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Wow, thank you!

[@rjpg]

STUNNNINNNNING!!!! Can't wait for the extensive review. I think I'm your standard viewer, based on brand. Haven't seen your vids in a while (sorry) but as a Nikon owner, that's the vids of yours that I watch. I really miss your engaging comments and looking forward to more Z9 vids.

[@tihovo1981]

Great video! Watched it on my tv and the quality of the video and the pictures were super crisp!🙌 All the pictures are great and the shot of the pelican eating the shark is amazing.👏

[@dustinroberts5826]

Another awesome video !! People always talk about Canon color science, but the Nikon colors are incredible.

[@garydubberly6608]

Great shots & video. I just finished reviewing my photos from a trip with my wife to Black Point Rd in the Merrit Island Refuge last Friday. I was very pleased with my D500 & 500 PF results until I saw your great video for the Z9 & 500 PF. Now I have skill & camera envy. Thanks for sharing.

[@prabhubhoopathy7478]

Stunning... As usual Mark 👍🏻👌🏻 the detail of the pelican and baby shark was amazing... I never seen something like this in my life time ❤️

[@Thom_S]

Great review here Mark with some excellent content. Looking forward to your overall assessment of the Nikon Z9. Your insights and suggested camera settings, are always valuable.

[@wilteduk007]

Simply incredible images, you sure know how to get the best out of the Z9 + 500mm PF. That's a dream setup.

[@udowuchner-fotografie-coach]

Hi Mark, absolutly amazing images! I always loved the Nikon colours. The image and video quality looks very promising.

[@robertgates3258]

OK...now I want to see a white pelican eat an osprey. Always amazed by your talent. I didnt think your pics could get any better. But the Z9 may have upped your game even higher.

[@Chopperbob56]

I’ve followed you from the Beginning Mark when you were a mostly Nikon Shooter. The opening of this video is just absolutely amazing. The best yet !!

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Thanks

[@PanamaMLE]

Mark, your photography is astonishing-good stories and such gorgeous shots/videos. If a local news company can’t give you your monthly video show of nature on the wing, or dinner going down the gullet, maybe they can come up with a monthly guest show and showcase your inspiration. It’s a delight to see how you connect with the camera and nature!

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Thanks

[@hyselwatchandclockrepair1874]

Thank you for holding on to get all the light variations and the squabble among the Pelicans with great results of the winner of the little Hammerhead! Your dedication and determination set you so far apart from the bulk of photographers who stop at “good enough “ images which result in no interest whatsoever from serious photography. I truly appreciate your hard work where it is obvious that it is important to you to keep pushing your equipment as well as your own skills until you decide the is the best possible outcome we can get! Thank you so very much!

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@adammacsween3230]

That opening video of the Herron was absolutely stunning, oh and the pelican eating the shark was pretty cool as well.

[@DavidSchamis]

Amazing - the context and the drama are so well done and so real.

[@SocalBackyardNature]

You make every camera you touch the tool of an artist. Well Done!

[@porkster5924]

I used my Z9 and 500mm PF for the first time this weekend just gone and I was very impressed with the results I got. Both performed superbly and the animal tracking in 3D was faultless.

[@shotsbyscott6243]

Awesome video Mark. One of the things I am looking forward to the most with the z9 is to be able take videos. It would be useful if you did a session focused on z9 video settings and techniques how to get sharp and stable videos. Thanks!

[@johnd746]

Love your photography, and videos. The clarity is always awesome, but even more so on this one.

[@jonspoard8416]

Great film Mark and amazing capture. You gotta love those Nikon colous for sure.

[@NikCan66]

Great & thoroughly enjoyed watching as per usual

[@henrikw377]

Absolutely stunning!

[@Narmi804]

This is damn breathtaking!! This is real commercial stuff!! Love the details, Love the Nikon looks.

[@tamarawilliams9951]

You always get the best action for your shots. I’m thinking about a trip to Florida so I can see some of these birds. The White Pelican is of great interest to me. Some folks saw one a couple weeks ago at the Black Water National Wildlife Refuge in MD. I went down there but could not find it. Thanks for sharing another great video. I truly enjoy your work.

[@davidburchettephotography6513]

Another fun and beautiful video! Thank you Mark! Although I shoot Sony I am very interested in what you find with the Nikon Z9. I won’t be switching but I am happy that Nikon shooters have a new toy that looks like it’s caught up to the competition👏.

[@dkhawk5417]

Great video!!! Loved all the photos, especially the pelican with the shark! Looking forward to more videos…

[@ramdassadaye2670]

Beautiful video, Images and narration as always... making the things more interesting....

[@barunnitb]

OMG, This all captured made a beautiful story and the climax is super duper. Absolutely beautiful shots Smith.

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Thanks

[@emmiwaintalang2894]

Love this video, especially the opening video of the big bird so good. 👍

[@John-boy70138]

The colours are second to none they really are breathtaking

[@networm64]

Fantastic piece of art Mark! Happy to see all three brands are in your hands now and you are the very honest one to give us a good comparison about all 3 pros and cons. I kindda missed Nikon colors in the photos you show in your videos but for videos at least it was a bit too saturated to my taste.

[@kapilgautam7244]

Stunning footage and pictures.🙏

[@sapelesteve]

Great photography Mark & glad to see that you are spotlighting the Nikon Z9. 👍😉📷📷😉👍

[@kumarsheti1028]

Fabulous footage, Mark! Keep them coming, please!

[@davidshaw5979]

From the get go these images are fantastic. Wow. Thanks Mark.

[@victorlim5077]

Incredible images. Especially the Pelican and the baby Shark.

[@ginafriend1690]

Such the dare devil! Great video. Great shots. Great precise feathers! Cheers to you, Mark! 👍⭐️

[@stillsandvideo]

The video is stunning.... well done and thanks for sharing your z9 experience.

[@topilot]

That is one amazing video Mark! We are so looking forward to you being our guest speaker on July 27th in Stuart Florida. I also look forward to my Spoonbill trip on March 12th. I know you will be able to get more of our photo club members to book one of your bird tours when you come to speak to us.

[@kawaiiplants]

Wow this is amazing! Always enjoy watching your videos🥰

[@1Adventures2]

Thanks again for a wonderful beginning with this review process… outrageously and captivating imagery …. Best 2U

[@tuckerjeffrey]

Another awesome video. Up here in Steinhatchee Fl, we have herds of wildlife like this. Looking forward to you future videos

[@amitdutta8768]

Wonderful shots with a wonderful camera

[@chuckrudolph5507]

I’m very impressed, those are some amazing shoots. If I got one of those shoots, I would be so proud of myself. Thanks for sharing

[@RichardLaurence]

Wonderful photography. Thanks!

[@ungavaproductions]

Absolutaly fantastic ! Amazing images

[@nataliemcbryant2086]

Awesome video with very beautiful images! Thank you!

[@danielschmaderer]

This was an awesome video. Love or hate Nikon, their colors are very nice. That’s something I miss about shooting with Nikon. Great video as always.

[@johnduncanjdp7788]

Awesome video Mark. The opening scene, baby shark, do doo do dity doo ..saying goodbye, and all the other feathered friends. Hope to see lots more from the Z 9.

[@ralphliniado2404]

Most days, I wake up to the great white egrets and blue herons, but only on special occasions do the resident flock of white pelicans show up for a bit of fishing. They move slowly with purpose and are so graceful. Very different from brown pelicans in my experience. Lovely images, and great story. Please share your settings with the Z9.

[@normk58]

I take it the video was hand held, and it didn't look like you had a teleconverter on the camera. I got a Z9 two weeks ago, and I've been using my 200-500 f/5.6 with some good results. I miss the extra reach I was getting out of my D500, but the eye-detect autofocus on the Z9 is such a big improvement that I'll take the loss in reach. With almost double the resolution, cropping in post results in good quality photos. I haven't tried shooting in DX mode yet. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on using the Z9 with the 200-500. I'm also interested in hearing how you set yours up for BIF. As always, really great content. I truly appreciate the work you do. Thanks!

[@pedrord19]

So spectacular ... The Great Grey Heron shots are mesmerizinglly wonderfull !!!

[@lukes5533]

Great to see you back with a Nikon Mark , love it .👍

[@mzeeshanch]

"All hail Mark, he has been chosen"... Awesome video. One doesn't just gain knowledge, but is thoroughly entertained. Waiting for your review and comparison to the Sony and Canon...

[@seanmangan2769]

Superb pictures!!

[@BullitTom]

Brilliant video Mark, so sharp with the 500pf. I had one for 3 weeks over Xmas and new year, very impressed with weight and size compared with my 200-500. Looking forward to seeing how your 200-500 works on the Z9 now.

What a fascinating story! And great images!

[@johonew-EdD]

WOW! What a great video, Mark! Thanks for sharing an awesome shot of that pelican eating a shark!

[@robwasnj]

Oftentimes I see things on my wildlife photos that I didn't notice while taking them. Even with great amounts of study and an active birding community there's always that time we see something that hasn't been observed before. Imagine the acid in that Pelican's stomach to digest a whole shark like that with it's leather like skin! Something I noticed in this video was the pleasing colors, I don't know if it was just great light or scenery or perhaps the camera but without a lot of thought they stood out as being really beautiful. I like how you didn't pass judgement on this new camera until you have more time with it, having switched myself to Sony cameras it took me some time to take full advantage but now I'm extremely happy with them.

[@AjPakistan]

Is it the camera? No it is the photographer speaking to us through his lens. I love the colors though.

[@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse]

Amazing work! Thanks for sharing.

[@garypearson9756]

Great video Mark. I grew up on a large lake in Minnesota that was home to vast numbers of White Pelicans in the summer. Two things I learned about them: 1) When out in the boat and pelicans fly over, don't look up unless you want sh_t in your eyes and 2) A poem my father taught me - "A funny bird the Pelican, it's bill can hold more than it's belly-can." Can't wait for your next report on the awesome Z9.

[@MarkSmithphotography]

Lol

[@tanmay110]

Another outstanding video by you.

[@jazinzlaty4823]

Lovely shots and quality of the colours looks great! Can’t wait for more videos as I’m eagerly waiting for my z9. Looks like the bird eye autofocus works well. How was the eye autofocus working on the osprey in the flight Mark?

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Amazing shots!

[@user-hg1es4dm4y]

Wow! 🤩 very beautiful picture!

[@the_king0749]

Awesome Video ! Love them shots !

[@Bikash_Jana]

Beautiful photos and videos

[@TheReillyDiefenbach]

Nice work, Mark!

[@janinacooper4199]

Super fun video! Thank you!

[@rockyrock104]

I was considering to buy the 500mm PF lens. I think I got my answer after seeing this video! Just amazing!!

[@brucegraner5901]

Another great catch, for you and the pelican. I think if I were that bird I'd be concerned that shark might eats its way out once it went down. From the look of all these photos I'd say THIS copy of the 500mm PF is a keeper. Always curious to see what photographers like yourself have to say about the different gear you try. Reserving judgement until you become more familiar with the camera is probably good advice. Any issues I've had in the field with a camera are usually resolved by reading the instruction manual again and adjusting the program running behind the viewfinder:) As usual, the video was great. I always look forward to seeing your work.

[@markrigg6623]

I think it was only with moving subjects Mark's previous 500 PF was not sharp.

[@brucegraner5901]

@@markrigg6623 I think you're right but that certainly doesn't seem to be a problem for his new PF.

[@markrigg6623]

@@brucegraner5901 Its just he didn't do heaps of in flight shots but yes hopefully it's all good now. He will no doubt discuss this in the full review.

[@TexasPelican]

Another brilliant video, thank you so much!!!

[@nimuil]

Z9 is a great camera, but most important depending on who uses it. Great video, always!

[@Chris-13]

Great video Mark , really look forward to your next video on the Z9 . Thank you . I cannot believe the pelican swallowed a shark 😱😱

[@peterbowler6524]

As always Mark super stuff I mean really top rate. I do hope Nikon is successful with the Z9.

[@jbilly24]

All cameras have strengths and weaknesses. It’s our job as photographers to work in the cameras “happy zone”. At the end of the day, it’s about bringing home keepers and I think it’s fair to say that the flagships from the big 3 can each deliver the goods. It’s a great time to be a photographer!

[@cristianandreica5665]

Amazing video!

[@jp3270]

Great video, thanks Mark

[@youuuuuuuuuuutube]

Great video, looking forward to your comparisons.

[@allisgood60]

Great, I think the Nikon mirrorless came up to my standards. I'll wait for the z6iii to join the change!!! Thank you for the video Mark :D

[@adiapte9575]

Another great video Mark… Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻😊 Request you to do the comparison of AF/Image quality between A1 / A74 and Z9

[@todabrilla]

I met a really nice gentleman this past weekend who told me he was a friend of yours and had recently sold you his old 500 PF.

[@waynearchibald3920]

Wow! Cool video Mark! 👌

[@butchfermil8213]

Hi Mark. Another great video and photography. Nice combo of Z9 and 500mm pf. I've seen some images from other photogs with these combo with a tc 1.4 III and 1.7 and still produced very good quality images but never seen a video coverage with TC. Also, I'm curious what lens foot is used with your 500mm pf, that's a pretty long one. Thanks Mark. My eyes on you and your excellent coverages. BTW, where's your eyeglasses. Lol.

[@hakamsoufan]

great work .. I watched one of your videos one day and bought a Nikon D850.. Now I'm thinking of buying a Nikon Z9.. You have to be an ambassador for Nikon

[@Bazzasphotolife]

Amazing video. Have ordered but not committed to the Z9 (shooting D850 + 500mm PF) so any insights into the Z9 + comparisons to the A1 and R5 will be very helpful! Thanks, Mark. Next time in Toronto!

[@gilpatmore4312]

incredible pics! thanks

[@blakecook7469]

Great vidio Mark, Thanks for sharing!

[@mikedavis1110]

Looks like a another GREAT Nikon and the stills were fantastic in the detail! Video quality was great and a good short intro video to Z9 Abilities! What AF settings did you use the most in the stills?

[@jameshogg7842]

Thanks for some great pictures, teaching and Info. I've heard re the Z9 that the IBIS image stabilisation works much better with the new Z mount lenses than with the old F mount lenses. What did you find?

[@Karkawry1970]

Very interested to hear about this as well!