Photographing Robins | Nikon 500mm PF & Nikon D850

Went out photographing today and saw loads of European Robins! Using the Nikon D850 and 500mm f/5.6E PF VR.
Gear used in this video (Amazon links):
Nikon D850 (main camera): amzn.to/2IfoZPs
Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF lens: amzn.to/2Bz6LT3
DJI Osmo Pocket (tiny gimbal camera I use for vlogging): amzn.to/2DuXmMA
Nikon 300mm f/4E PF (Sue's lens): amzn.to/2I6in5J
Nikon D5300 (Sue's camera): amzn.to/2GmfThJ
Sandisk Extreme Pro (memory card I recommend): amzn.to/2DyBGyW
Sony G Series XQD (XQD card I recommend): amzn.to/2TIvdbN
My Flickr: www.flickr.com...
Sue's Flickr: www.flickr.com...

[@grantedmonston1]

Some brilliant images. I also love capturing the Robin, so easy to photograph, such a friendly and cheeky wee bird. :)

[@freddyacosta2358]

You can always pop the ISO and shutter speed. 1/60 for that little fast bird did not freeze motion. It’s noticeable. You can always take care of the noise in post.

[@beegee2234]

It's easy to imagine that you need the latest mirrorless camera and only z "s" rated glass to take a good photo. It seems DSLRs and F mount glass can ( at least in Rob's hands) take stellar shots.

[@goodvideos69]

Excellent video, good editing, good music, beautiful places and bird.

[@thomaskeler4020]

Lovely Pictures, nice music. As we can see here, the „Little“ things can be so interesting.

[@SwanSycorax]

Very nice. That golf course reminded me of one I played near Chichester??? Like the results you are getting from the 500 PF. I have the 300 PF and the 200-500 and thinking of replacing the latter with the 500PF.

[@birupakshyamitra3825]

Rob, want some more videos like this. Would love to see some flight & freeze shots by this lens. 😊

[@Derbyshire_bird_tours]

Nice video Rob & some lovely photos too.

[@andietanadi5625]

Yes , robin is just cute bird! nice story

[@nicks231988]

I thoroughly enjoyed the video. Fully satisfied 😀😀

[@bradena.1194]

Nice ambiance and feel to your video. It's a nice way of sharing. Thank you. Hamish

[@RobBlight]

Thanks! Much more to come...

[@albertnebe8795]

really nice edited! i like how the music from the intro comes back at the end :)

[@YAMAHAFS1R]

The bird is wonderful. I had a wonderful time.

[@HabeebRWildlifePhotography]

Superb video rob.

[@B0bbe1e]

Beautiful shots Rob, you did a great job.

[@keithmitchell6548]

Some cracking images there.. well done!

[@UAP_888]

Love your videos Rob..

[@miguelperez7482]

Beautiful pictures Rob! I noticed that you are using group focus instead of single point, is there a reason? Thank you.

[@clivejepsen4078]

It`s a nice video. Thank you. Greetings from germany.

[@LiquidTurbo]

Neat video!

[@naturfilms4213]

Wonderfull video and some of your picture are realy beautifull

[@andreaanpa664]

Thank you

[@PraveenKumarPku]

Amazing Video !!

[@mooreons]

Nice photos! I am a new owner of the D850 and soon to be an owner of the 500mm PF. I am wondering why you use group focus and not single point focus on your stationary bird shots?

[@RobBlight]

I use single point. Even with group area AF enabled, I can still focus with single point (by holding front function button on the D850).

[@RyanHooGeek]

So cute! ;-O

[@rgav388]

Nice, super sharp images seen from the 4K resolution. How do you find the lens? I am trying to get owner's opinions about it cause i am interested in one.

[@RobBlight]

It's great, I will have a video up very soon with some of my thoughts and comparisons to the 200-500.

[@swapnanilborah9497]

@@RobBlight following :)

[@rgav388]

Waiting for that. What settings did you use on these photos?

[@skyboy123454321]

@@rgav388 From what i've heard, the VR is slightly dissappointing, and the AF is not up to part with other supertele prime lenses. However, these are from people with very high expectations. Overall, the lens is still very impressive with great image quality and definitely something worth considering

[@rgav388]

@@skyboy123454321 well, i don't expect to be as fast in autofocus as the 500 or 600 because it is a third of the price, but i've watched almost all videos with the 500PF and i've seen some positive thoughts about it. Hope not all are sponsored, but i don't believe that. There is also a video in which the autofocus is compared with the 600f4 and 200-500 and it seems that it has similar autofocus speed with the 600. Anyway, i am expecting the autofocus to be between the 200-500 and 600 because it's still a prime and if the 300PF received so many good reviews, this one for sure it will be better. For the price it has it is nothing in the market like this flexible and small.

[@tonychan9987]

lovely bird! and I want to get this lens

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

I have been waiting just under two months for the 500 PF to be shipped, but I am looking forward to it. I am curious as to which camera you shoot your videos with. Greg

[@RobBlight]

Hi Greg, thanks for your comment! I shoot the wildlife footage with my D850, the "vlog" footage with my Osmo Pocket.

[@klackon1]

Nice shots. If I still owned a Nikon system I would certainly have purchased the 500mm PF ED VR. I owned the 300mm f4 PF ED VR + Nikkor TC14EIII and it was a fabulous lens. I also owned a Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6, which I actually preferred. I would have sold them both for the new 500mm PF, though. It would have been brilliant on my D500. Fortunately, however, I now own a Sony A7III + A7II and a Sony 100 - 400mm G Master, so it's not all doom and gloom.

[@RobBlight]

Hey Pete, I hear the Sony A7III and 100-400mm G-Master are both very good, sounds like a great combo. Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.

[@rhyswearne9308]

Rob Blight how are you finding the Sony combo in comparison to the D500 + lenses? I’m currently a Sony shooter but I am very tempted to switch to Nikon simply because the Sony range of telephotos are both non extensive and very expensive! Do you think sticking around and getting the 100-400GM will be worth it?

[@klackon1]

@@rhyswearne9308. I cannot deny the D500 system I owned was brilliant for wildlife photography. I actually owned two systems, the other being an Olympus EM1 mark II + Olympus 300mm f4 + 1.4TC and an Oly 12 - 100mm f4. I actually preferred my Olympus system (I always used them side by side). In my hands, the EM1 mark II was a better and far more versatile camera: and my 300mm f4 was optically equal to my Nikkor 300mm. The issue with my Nikon system was one of weight. It became too much over a distance of 15 miles a day, 5 days a week. Had it not been for the weight I would still be using it (the 500mm PF ED VR was not even touted at the time). As to my Sony system: in my opinion, my Sony 100 - 400mm is superior to those lenses I have previously mentioned. I would put it on a par with my old Canon 300mm f2.8L IS. Given the choice of a D500 + Nikkor 500mm PF ED VR or my current Sony system, I would keep my Sony system. Given the choice between the new Olympus EM1 X and the forthcoming Olympus 150 - 400mm f4 and my Sony system is a different matter. In reality, I will not move from Sony. I find the A7III to be superlative, but I will change my A7II for either a used A9 or the A6500 replacement.

[@Zeppy007]

Great video Rob! Do you feel the images are sharper with the D500 or the D850? Thanks, Jeff

[@RobBlight]

I used to own a D500, but traded it in after getting the D850. If you can get close enough to take advantage of the full frame sensor, then yes the D850 undoubtedly is much sharper. It's also just a vastly better camera imo.

[@Zeppy007]

Rob Blight Thanks for the quick reply Rob!

[@plantman6245]

Pretty hard to fill frame with songbirds….

[@Zeppy007]

@@plantman6245 LOl This post is 5 years old. I have the Z9 and all the big glass now 800mm as well. Mirrorless is the way to go now! Z glass blows all f mount glass away! Rob just quit kinda sad!

[@berndneumann9952]

Nice video - do you shot in the manual modus, iso automatic, or what do you prefer exatly

[@RobBlight]

Hi Bernd, I prefer manual mode with auto ISO. So while shooting I'm mainly thinking about shutter speed and if I want a brighter or darker image I use exposure compensation.

[@Zeppy007]

Sweet clicks Rob :-)

[@aussie8114]

Pretty little birdy

[@christiesemmens-niehaus527]

What were your setting for speed and iso?

[@mistervanderstone]

Goede video 👍🏻

[@planoie1]

nice video bravo

[@vladimirivanov6353]

Do you have instagram....fantastic lens ,but too expensive!

[@RobBlight]

Yes, my Instagram is in the video description or on my about page!

[@enricomarconi8358]

You might want either increase your shutter speed or calibrate your lens (AF fine tuning) as the 500mm PF is far sharper than these shots portray on this video...

[@SuperFucdat]

Just subscribed, great video. Robbins are awesome little birds which came through in your photos. Keep it going.