I’ve never been a fan of 2x converters. While 1.4x works great with many lenses, 2x just seems to loose a lot of acuity. But we photograph in a new world now; the sharpness of new mirrorless lenses way surpasses older versions. I have been very happy using the new Z 1.4x on my 100-400mm Read More
Gear Talk
Nikon 400mm F2.8 Z 1.4x
I’ve been holding off writing a review of this lens until I really had a chance to use it…a lot. I’ve shot over 40,000 images with it over the last month, extensive shooting in Texas at bird blinds and just home from a bird photography workshop in Nome Alaska. Yes, this is one of the Read More
Do I need a Polarizer?
I did an online presentation last night for Singh-Ray on filter use in my photography. I have used their filters my entire career, and they open up creative possibilities I wouldn’t have otherwise. After the show I had a question from a viewer who asked ‘do you really need to use a polarizer in the Read More
Nikon 800mm F6.3
I just returned from 10 days of photographing in the south Texas bird blinds, and the shooting was so good I took over 30,000 images. Crazy, right? Migrants and colorful nesting birds kept the action going all day long. While I was there I got a note my new Z 800mm F6.3 lens was ready Read More
Six Autofocus Tips
I just returned from two weeks of photographing in Costa Rica. We had a great trip, took thousands of images, and I can’t wait to return. I had a chance to shoot nearly 20,000 images with the Z9 in some of the toughest autofocus conditions you can imagine. We also had Canon R5s, Sony A1s, Read More
Best Lightweight Luggage
During our travels each year we often fly in small planes, which means luggage and weight restrictions. Africa, Costa Rica, Alaska…we often are working with 40lb weight limits for both camera gear and clothes. My photo gear generally comes in around 20 pounds or so, which leaves another 20 for clothes. Many people travel with Read More
Mounting camera for landscapes on a gimbal head
I often travel with two tripods. One is my larger RRS TFC 3 with a large gimbal head; the other is my Ascend -14L with head built into the tripod column. But sometimes while using my telephoto lens on my gimbal head I want mount my landscape camera onto the tripod. If I attached the Read More
My Z9 Settings
I have had so many questions on Z9 settings that I decided to do a blog post on it. The Z9 menu system is the most extensive on any Nikon camera, so there are a ton of options. Also, because you can customize so many buttons and modes there are lots of ways of setting Read More
Z9 shooting in subzero weather
It was -9 degrees the other day at our house, so I thought that would be a great first trial of the Z9 in cold weather. Not Fairbanks cold, but cold enough that snow was crunching and feathery ice crystals were on our windows. I spent 7 straight hours with the camera outside each day, Read More
Z9: Best Autofocus mode for wildlife
I just came in from our backyard bird blinds shooting my favorite wildlife combo…600mm F4E FL and the Z9. I have been photographing birds and deer near my house for the last few days, and I think I have a few observations that will help Z9 users figure out the incredible autofocus options on the Read More