I paid just the customs fees to get 99% better images....of our very own sun! But when it comes to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, it all depends on the glass, not about the camera itself. You can take stunning shots with a 20 yr old DSLR compared to modern mirrorless, as long as you have some high quality glasses available in your bag. Without them, the camera is just a point-and-shoot device.
My step No 1 was D7000 with a very very old lens af 75-300. Now I use z6 ii with 500 AFS II (I’m a poor student can’t afford the newer version lol) which brings me a lot of pleasure.
Great content as always. One extra tool I ran across years ago was I met a landscape painter. In doing so I spent hours in discussion about the differences between the two crafts. It helped both of us to just learn from each other. Plein air painters if they are good completely digest a scene. It changed my outlook. So if you ever run across a painter that interests you spend time with them if you can.
Just need a strong back and deep pockets for those. FF and huge primes is not the only way to crack a nut. As you say, number one way to improve your images, time in the field and technique (in the field and on the computer).
Hey Nikon, there's a talented guy named Josh Bayou who makes inspiring videos and tries to convince himself that he doesn't need new gear. He's right, his actual photos are beautiful, but such motivation deserves the best gear. He would be a great ambassador in my opinion.
I was just introduced to the channel by the almighty algo . . . beautiful video, and the humble spirit is refreshing. Concerning focal lengths and crop sensors, I'm merely a serious amateur but I have looked into this matter with some interest. Crop sensors _do not_ provide any additional "reach" compared to full-frame sensors. The focal length conversions bandied about apply solely to field of view. For example, a 300mm lens on an APSC sensor offers about the same field of view (measured in degrees) as that provided by a 450mm lens to a full-frame sensor (it's all geometry . . . a narrower field of view projected onto a larger sensor). The smaller sensor simply crops the field of view that that 300mm lens would present to a full-frame sensor. Stated another way, would cropping an image produced with a 300mm lens offer the same detail as capturing the cropped portion (with the same body and filling the frame) with a 450mm lens? Obviously, no.
@@ianharrison7837 NICE set up Ian! I guess it should, great combo you have there. I’m jealous! Ha Ha. Ive been thinking of getting the 200-500 as Nikon has a big rebate on it currently. I am told it plays well with the D500. Happy Shooting!
Honestly I wouldn't completely dismiss crop. I started with a few Nikon APS-C bodies, moved to a D610 with a a few primes and 70-200 (I'm a landscape photographer), and have recently switchd to Micro Four Thirds and couldn't be happier. Brand new you can get a LUMIX G9 for about $1000 and a 100-300 (200-600 equiv) for about $600. So for $1600 new (or buy used like I did), you can get a pretty decent wildlife kit.
Thanks a ton! My wife gets all the credit for that cedar waxwing image. She spotted that scene and called me over as it was developing. that is my favorite image of the last 12 months. such a sweet moment!
Nice video, I have the Z7II right now and I wished it focused like the R5, I also just sold my D500 and Nikkor 500 f5.6 PF lens and probably will be buying the 100-400 S line which should be a fantastic lens. So for right now I'll get buy with my Nikkor 70-200 2.8 S lens and the 1.4 tele. But that Z9 sure looks sweet and from the teaser the AF seems to stick like glue.
Today I was out by a lake shooting Bald Eagles, there were 8 of them, some of them are the 3rd generation of birds in the same family. I know that because I have been going to that spot for years, every day. Across the lake was a Canon shooter, up on the hill a dude with a D850, we nodded, smiled at each other and it was on. The fight was over who had the best images, on that day, at that moment. Not a word was exchanged, my coffee was hot and my 2 border collies curled up under a pine tree next to me. At high noon we all knew the best light was gone and like Mr. Claus disappearing up the chimney, we all faded into the woods. My only thought driving home was what I captured on my memory card lightning in a bottle. I am home know, the fireplace is glowing red, my cinnamon laced coffee is hot and my dogs are curled up by the fire. There are 400 images on my card and 2 of them are magazine cover worthy, it was a good day.
Hi There! A very nice and honest video. I have started since a couple of years on primarily bird photography, I own a crop sensor camera D 7500. Since you mentioned to go for full frame camera in your video, please let me know the distinct advantages of it over crop sensor cameras. Thank you.
I enjoyed this video and thought you offered excellent advice. I might add to what you said and suggest a camera and lens combination the aspiring photographer would find comfortable to carry and accept the limitations or advantages that come from those decisions. I admire your 600mm f4 telephoto but there's no way my budget or back could handle that these days. I was surprised you didn't mention the Canon 100-500mm zoom after your R5 Canon excursion. Oversight? Always looking forward to your next video.
Definite oversight Bruce. that 100-500 makes beautiful images. my only concern with that lens is the low light capabilities. Only because of the 7.1 aperture. the experience may be different than the numbers convey. I do so much of my photography in really tough lighting conditions and the wide aperture lenses are a real luxury.
It’s all about the journey .. the experiences and learning … I started with D7200 and I loved it . Yes the 300mm f4 , still can’t let go for compactness … cheers
A great budget setup for birders in my opinion is the D500 and the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6....You can buy new and still come in under $3k with gas money left over or buy nice used for $2k....This is the setup I still use while I save for the D850 and 600f4....We went down a very similar road, I started with a D3300 and the 55-300 and then to the D7200 and the 200-500 and now i have been shooting the D500 and the 200-500 for about a year and a half...
that D500 is fantastic. I had it for about a year. It was great in good light but I really struggled with image quality when It got above 1600 ISO. i guess i was spoiled with the full frame low light performance.
@@BayouJosh The D500 has always been a balancing act between noise and brutal highlight clipping but it's a stellar action camera for the price - nothing else gives you 10 fps and that AF performance for what you can buy a D500 for today. I don't know if you have tried DXO Pure Raw in your workflow but it's amazing what it does to those ISO 6400 D500 files - I am reprocessing a bunch of older pictures and not only does noise go way down, micro contrast goes up and color accuracy is much improved. I used to be an avid Topaz Denoise AI users for those files that are beyond my skills, but I have completely switched to Pure Raw - it works better (no artifacts that I can see, better detail retention, better colors), and you retain a Raw file as the output.
Bass Angler, you’re sure right about that camera-lens combo. I follow a number of Nikon groups on Facebook. My unscientific survey of bird and wildlife images on those groups is more great images are posted from the D500/200-500 5.6 than any other combination. Other cameras and lenses that are well represented are the D850, D750, the 500 5.6 and, of course, the big fast primes. But images from the other combinations are much less represented than the D500/200-500, at least in my unscientific opinion. Interestingly, the Nikon mirrorless cameras are much less represented in wildlife images, except for some on the mirrorless camera forum itself. I think Nikon is playing catch-up and needs to seriously up its game for its mirrorless autofocus system. Hopefully, the Z9 and ensuing enthusiast bodies - the Z6iii/Z7iiis? - close the gap. I’m holding off my next lens until I see what they deliver.
@@brianlemke6017 I'm kind of laying back myself...to me Nikon's Z series are lacking but I'm hoping they get the AF right because I am interested in the Z mount 200-600mm
The problem we're facing is that Z-mount lenses are actually, measurably better than their matching F-mount lenses. This is causing F-mount lenses to lose value quite a bit whenever Nikon makes their matching Z-mount alternative. My F-mount 70-200 f2.4 (latest edition) like-new sold for only $1300. I think we're losing value on our gear the longer we wait to switch to Z-mount.
Yeah, F mounts are going for less in 2022 and I can finally afford them 😀 They are excellent, especially the gold ring pro lenses and the biggest improvement in image quality will come from better technique on my end.
You have summed up perfectly my own journey into wildlife photography. I began with a d3100 and then upgraded to d7200 and now d500. I wish someone had told me to beging with a better body as I quickly discovered the limitations. Fieldcraft and editing are definitely ways of improving your images ten-fold. Patience is the most valuable tool in any photographers kit bag.
It’s a great journey! Don’t get me wrong, if I had unlimited funds I would have gone straight to the full frame pro model with the most expensive lens I could buy.
Josh: A well prepared video describing your journey. Some of your advice is right on the money. Fast primes for wildlife are certainly a bonus. Learn how to process! Yes. I teach post processing and am a firm believer in good processing is a critical digital skill. Here's where I think you missed. I teach and lead workshops. The VAST majority of clients are 60+. Duh... That shouldn't surprise anyone. That is the demographic with the time and the money to go on workshops and do a fully immersive photographic adventure. The number one complaint by a factor of at least 100:1 is "my equipment is too big and too heavy, it's hard to travel with". Yep. I get it. As a result their images suffer because they can't get in the right position, they can't carry the gear to the location, they are too tired when they get there.... and so on. I'm always seeing people struggle with the size of equipment. Anyone who has never seen a full frame 600 f/4 and tried to deal with it is in for a rude awakening when they begin to see the challenges it presents. Yes, great lenses, but.... I've used nearly every format for wildlife. APS-C, Full Frame and now Micro 4/3. My full frame lens of choice was my 500 f/4 with a 1.4x. Fantastic image quality and a fantastic lens. My camera of choice today is my Micro 4/3 system. I challenge you to go to my website and figure out which images in any of the galleries are from APS-C, Full Frame or 4/3. Here's the major difference. My wildlife lens is the Olympus 300mm f/4. With the 2x crop factor the field of view is the same as your 600 f/4. It weighs 3.25 pounds. Easily accepts 1.4x or 2.0x converters. Oh... and a new one is $2900. Or, when I want to carry a zoom option I use my 40-150 f/2.8 with or without any of the converter options. $1500 and weighs 1.67 pounds. Oh sure, I know all the full frame youtubers who scoff at 4/3. They have never used the system. Frankly I don't give a damn what camera people use, but I'm always disappointed in the UA-cam mantra of you need full frame. Here's a link if you care to take on my challenge: www.keithbauerphotography.com
Keith, thank you for weighing in on this. first of all, beautiful website. You make some gorgeous images! I may need to sit through one of your Lightroom workshops because your post processing is fantastic. (that sandhill crane shot with the backlit setting! awesome!) Second. I appreciate you pointing out the fact that full frame equipment is much heavier and it is certainly more difficult to get in good positions to get that good image. I'm not quite 50 and I can certainly appreciate that. I concur with everything you said with one additional note that I should have covered in the video. Low light. the biggest difference I noticed when moving over to full frame equipment is the ability to shoot later in the evening in lower light conditions. It certainly came at a cost. However, I would argue that some of my best images were taken in low light conditions and the APS-c and micro 4/3rd systems may have struggled in those settings. I really value your opinion and I thank you sincerely for offering up some advice. stay in touch. I may be looking you up the next time I make it to your neck of the woods. Have a great day!
@@BayouJosh Thanks for your kind words on my work. It would be great if our photographic paths crossed some day. Not sure which backlit sandhill shot you're referring to for sure. There are a few out there. If you do make a trip to New Mexico, please give me a shout!!
@@NatPhoto56 Your website is an inspiration! I just took delivery on a new E-m1 III yesterday. As much as I love Josh's channel andimages, at 72 yrs old with a bad back and knees, that just won't work for me. So m4/3 it is.
@@j16m02 Thank you for those nice words. Don't let anyone let you believe that you can't take ANY image with your EM1-III. A fine camera with a remarkable set of lenses. Even for high ISO night work, your EM1-III is a great solution. In the Colorado gallery under Places-Landscapes-Wildlife there are two recent images of the Milky Way over some mountains in Colorado. One of those is with the EM1-III, the other with the EM1-X. Congrats on your new camera.
Great video and all valid points! I really enjoyed the images you showed and what goes into it. Your images show the work you have put in to improve massively - more than any camera can help! Here are my thoughts about what to get in terms of value. I think the best "value" in wildlife photography today (assuming you do not need video capability) is a Nikon D500 with the stellar 200-500mm. The crop sensor gets you greater reach (very welcome), it's fast at 10fps with full size images and tracking, and it's very inexpensive when purchased used in good condition. I doubt you will get 10% better quality from anything you purchase above this. Full frame makes the biggest difference, but it is truly small for this type of photography. Should you "aspire" to it or start there? I think it depends on your budget. As for the rest of the possible 10% improvement, as Josh said, it's better glass. Again, depends on the budget.
This is exactly the journey I’ve been on. Been slowly upgrading from a Canon T7 and kit lens to now a R7 with the Canon 100-500mm L. I was hoping I was done but now I don’t know. 😆 You’re right about the resolution and clarity not mattering to anyone. My wife could care less. It’s all about the bird, colors and action in the photo. Some of my best and favorite pics do nothing for her. Lol. I guess in the end it’s just for me because im never going to be a pro.
I'm stuck in Nikon F-system. I will get a used D850 but I need to upgrade a 300mmF2.8 Screwdrive len used on a D300 (450mm on FF) that broke down. I use a D700 today. So I need a 400mm, 500mm or 600mm lens. Birds an animal photo in low light rader seldom I'm a landscape photographer on a limited budget only a few years to retirement
Excellent advice. I owned a D7200 for 7 years before getting my Z6ii last November. Never invested in the big glass since any travel I did required a more compact kit. In the new year my purchases will be slightly different-multifocal IOLs to replace cataract affected lenses. The laser surgery is not cheap but I’m looking forward to really enjoying photography and life without thick and heavy eyeglasses. Post-COVID, I hope to get out much more and enjoy life. Thanks for your lovely example photos!
I am with my D500 also! My keeper rate is higher with the D500 on birds in flight than with my D810 or my D850, but I get sharper images with the D850 on still birds and other wildlife.
Ten seconds in and already bad advice. Until the Canon R3 and the Nikon Z9 come out, there are no weatherproof mirrorless cameras. Would you take a leaky plastic camera to Alaska or Costa Rica? Better take a spare.
Your video sucks, you need to put better content, those images are horrible and cringy; where is the focal theme? I don't need to see those colorful and well balanced compositions with rich colors to take me and place me away from my office on this cloudy cloudy Friday. C'mon man, why did you make such beautiful short videos to make me want to get outside and look for birds.... Great video, thank you again for taking me away for 16mins to a better place.
@@BayouJosh thank you for making beautiful images. All your efforts do good in people's lives. Reminding us of the wonders of God's creation forgotten in the concrete pillars of our busy lives.
Josh, I am 63 and I do have a Nikon D500 and also a nikon D600, and still have my trusty D300.... in lenses a do have the Tamron 70-300 f4 to 5.6 VC and also have the Sigma 150-500 with image stabilization.... I am not rich by no means but with these equipment I do have equipment till my last day over earth. I might try mirorless in my next life, this one I will enjoy what I have. Have a great day, week, month, year and live!!!😎😎🤠
I am nowhere able to buy such high-end lenses. My best combo I could afford to was a 200-500m 5.6E (you mentioned about) and coupling with a Z6II and to get more reach I got an used D7200 to work as literally as a 1.5x converter. But it seems you wouldn't recommend to get a crop sensor so now I wonder.
Don't question your decision. you have a wonderful kit. the only limitations of the crop sensor camera is low light performance. the image quality above 1600-3200 iso with full frame is just noticeably better. However, these new software programs are really closing the gap. I don't use the Topaz product much but i've experimented with them and really noticed the value in cleaning up the noise in images.
I started with the D7000 with 70-300 5.6 , little by little I upgraded to a D850 with the 24-70 2.8 ,,,, 70-200 2.8 and the 200-500 5.6 I really love them, I would love to get the 400 2.8 but that cost an arm and a leg, thanks for sharing your videos!
Thanks for a great video. I'm a few paces behind you: I have a D810, which was a retirement present, but I'm about to buy some better glass - my lenses are previous generation D lenses - which were great in their day, but not designed for high resolution digital. In the last 18 months of lockdown I've been shooting a lot of macro in my backyard, but I've found some great bird-watching locations here in the centre of France, and I'm about to dive in. I loved your wisdom about learning the craft, and your images spoke for themselves. And thanks also for the low key music... Liked and subscribed!
You are very Kind Christopher. That old D glass still has a great quality about it. Don't discount it too much. that big 600mm is an AFSii-d lens and it still makes beautiful images. AF motors are a bit slower but I move at a slow pace. 😉
I don't know but I noticed the pictures of an old camera is more deeper and rich colours I've seen many old cameras it's surpass the new cameras in terms of rich true colours
Hi Josh, Thanks for great videos! Please Could you help with advice on whether to buy a Nikon Z6 or Z7, this month they are basically the same price in South Africa, quite a bit cheaper than the Z6II. I have a Nikon D500 and will be keeping it, just want to upgrade my Nikon Z50
In that case I would personally go with more Megapixels and get the Z7. You can use it in full frame or DX mode. It will have about the same pixels in DX mode as what you have in the Z50. Like owning two cameras in one.
Great video. I’m on early on in my progression. Started with Nikon d5600 crop sensor with the kit 300mm lense. Moved to a 150-600 Sigma 5.6 to 6.3 lense. Now with the z6ii and the same Sigma. Would love to go prime but will need to wait now till there’s a second hand prime z lense ! 100% agree that lense is 5he best investment. I would argue though, that a Crop sensor isn’t such a bad thing to start with, as it give you that extra reach for “free”… my sigma had an effective reach of 900mm on the D5600.
Great advice Josh!! I totally agree with you. Camera company's now days are trying to spec us to death, but the quality of the image isn't that much better. If the image already looks great with the camera you have, then it will look great 15 years from now.
After seeing this video I kinda regretted buying the Z6ll instead of an used D850... Selling it now would be a bit dumb now so I'd better accept my mistake
The Z6II makes awesome images. that D850 is just better for still though. Keep that z6 for video though. the D850 will make you pull your hair out if you ever decide to do video.
The big advantage you have with the Z6ii is the ibis, hands down. Even though the D850 is technically a sharper camera, the ibis will help you slow down your shutter speeds and keep you images sharp. Video is also much better than any Nikon DSLR. If you’re printing big or pixel peeping, then the D850 will be a noticeable difference.
Stunning photos. We live in Boise, From your pics I am guessing we are neighbors. We elk hunt just outside the Sawtooths and are up there all the time and want to start videoing and photographing them from our glassing locations. We normally glass just below 10k w a 4 mile hike up. Range is normally 800-1000 yards. Considering P950 for lightweight max zoom. Also considering crop A6600 w sony 200-600 and 1.4TC. Adds 4 pounds to our pack over P950 but likely much better stills. You said avoid crop cameras, and that makes sense to me for relatively short ranges but I was thinking crop would help us fill the sensor with Elk. What would you recommend? Huge thanks Dan
Hi, Nice video! But do not skip DX Nikon D500!!! You get speed for AF and fps And lighter gear for exampel 400mm is the same as a 600mm white d850 👍 I have sold of D800, D810, D750 just to keep my D500 for birding! -Save some mony and go for D500 for birding!
The D500 has always been a weird one for me because everything you say is true except there is one thing that goes unmentioned all the time and that is the ISO performance. I can shoot earlier in the morning and later in the evening with a full frame High ISO kit than I could with the My old D500. It was awesome in great light. above 1600 ISO was just not good for me.
🙏 for the video Can you tell me more about using the Nikon Z6ii for wildlife, please? I hear autofocus isn’t as good as Sony, Canon and AF performance is what makes me want to upgrade from a little Fuji XT30. Nikon Z6ii waaay cheaper than Sony A74/ A7riii/ a7riv and Canon R6 in Australia. Loved my first DSLR which was Nikon - tough, love the design
All of that is true but it still makes the most beautiful images and I love it. It just takes a little work and know how. it is really no different than the cameras I've had in the past. I get some great shots and some not so great shots. I think that will be the case with any camera I buy. I love Nikon image quality. To me, that is what matters most.
I can certainly relate to your experience as a beginner in this wonderful hobby called photography. I was always looking to improve my cameras and lenses and I have spent a lot of money doing so, but I came to the realization that I do this just for fun and I really couldn't justify spending more money every time I wanted to upgrade. I don't sell my photos and post mostly on Facebook for family and friends to see and enjoy. If you are going to be making money from your photography by all means get the best you can afford. I use a Nikon D700 and a D7500 with the Tamron 150-600mm g2 for wildlife and I get great photos. Would I like a Z9 and all the great prime lenses, sure I would but I can't justify it. Just my two cents on the subject.
I've changed my thinking on that. if I owned a boat, I could justify spending $30,000 and I of course would not be making money on that. It would just be something I had for fun. this is my hobby and it is fun. I don't expect to have to make money to justify nice toys. I do like shiny new things.
All depends on your motives, I just got into wildlife so I'm not spending a ton on glass for it yet, though I have no reservations about buying better and better glass for landscape and event photography which are my main areas, shooting a Nikon dslr I'm also finding it easy to pick up high quality glass lately as people switch over to mirrorless. I don't make much off landscape photography, only ever sold a handful of prints.
I have some basic ones that I posted about 6 months ago. My first video ever actually. I have a workflow video coming out this friday. Field to computer. I don't go into a lot of image editing details but if you watch close you'll see my techniques.
hii. I am from india. You have a sense of reliability and genuity. i loved how you explain things. just need advice, i have nikon 200-500 lens, should i buy D500 or Z6. Will z6 withadaptor wud work better?
Superlative poignant message and wowee its as if birdies have been doing "bower-bird numbers" just for you .. stunning moments. @10:00 is a quiet beauty. I would so easily invest in the glass.. but my pulse and pocket has me on a precipice for choice invest this year. The tech evolve certainly drives us into crazy daisies with means & method possibilities [hybrid autofocus musts]. AND With Manufacturers driving into M-eco futures .. how long is the dlsr got play in the cam biome [concerns] ? Think it may be a while still Josh?
I noticed you went from budget $1000 to a $7000+ lens and over & $2500 for camera. Then much more money for lens. More money buys more opportunity and better images IMHO.
I have the Nikon d7500 and a Tamron 150-600mm (g1) as I am poor I bought the tamron for 400.00 broken and repaired it. I paid 685.00 for the used d7500. I dream of the d850 or z9 and the 600mm or 800mm f4's.
What do you use for your editing? Does Nikon have a proprietary software (this is a question coming from a Canon user). Or did you go into Lightroom or Photoshop? (this is a question coming from a photographer who has been thoroughly defeated by Lightroom) Or, when you focused in your summary on "editing" did you have some other ideas in mind? Thanks, and by the way, a neat video. I think we've all gone down your route in our own ways.
Thanks Ron, I don't have that camera anymore. Loved it when I had it but the mirrorless is so much better for video.
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Thanks for great video’s! I really enjoy them! I’m a z6ii shooter at the moment, and would like to start photograph birds. So I’m trying to learning about lenses on YT. I feel this video helped me. But I know that I should also get much better at editing my pictures. Do you have any tips for online courses, youtuber , etc that you would recommend to get better at editing ?
Yeah, Editing is huge part of the process. go to ua-cam.com/users/RayHennessy that is what he does for a living. I am sure he can help. I am just a regular guy that likes to photograph birds. 😃
Question from a newbie: I would like to create bird videos similar to this youtube example ( ua-cam.com/video/uUah6_-SKR8/v-deo.html ) by recording birds eating seed from my feeders and seed piles on stumps, branches, ect in my backyard. I was thinking of buying a Sony A7Siii and a Tamron 28-70 lens. Do you think these are the right tools to create the types of videos I want ? ( PS - I dont want to take photos nor use the setup for any other applications. I just want to record birds eating in stationary positions in my backyard where I live adjacent to a large forest and have dozens of feeders in my yard. The camera needs to be stationary for long periods of time with the lens pointed at one spot simply recording the birds coming and going ) I would be grateful for any suggestion on the camera and lens I would need for this purpose . Also, I would be grateful for any advice you can give on how far the camera needs to be from the bird seed so the birds are not afraid of the camera. Thank you very much.
Good video. i miss my D850/D750 but they couldnt do what my sony A1 can and that is video in 4k120fps or good video, nor can it do EYE AF for birds,. my prime gear is the Sony A1 with 200-600mm.
I have about 7 days with it. I thought I might want it so I rented it. I think it is great. I just decided to hold off and I bought a used 200-400 insead. I really like the 200-400f/4
DX is great for squeezing info on a smaller sensor and narrowing the frame of view. (not reach) smaller pixels and much noisier images. great to start with but the image quality is just better on full frame cameras. I've owned a few and it has always been my experience. I've owned the D500 which is the best of the bunch and it still struggled with noise and that is with them lowering the pixel count to 20mp to get larger pixels. great image quality in good light but still not as good as full frame. You can make beautiful images with DX bodies but once you go full frame, it is hard to go back. Like I said, I'm just a friend offering my opinion. I stick to full frame.
Getting ready to buy some new gear. The gear I have isn't bad and I am going to continue to use it but we are moving to Alaska and I want some higher end equipment. I am thinking of a nikon with the z mount and am wondering how the older lenses work using a z mount adapter
Great advise Josh and wonderful video. May I suggest that you went back to these old images with the knowledge that you have today with editing and re-edit say 5 or 6 images shot with different cameras? This way we'll be able to tell how much of a difference a great lens & Camera can make. In the images that you showed us I believe that we should factor into the equation your improved skills as editor (and of course as photographer). Re VR I don't think it will make much of a difference as a 600mm is so heavy that you're gonna have to mount it on a tripod anyway - at which point Nikkor lenses detect the tripod and will disable the VR (which often gives you softer images if one is shooting on a tripod). One last comment for sharp images: shutter speed is clearly imperative but this wasn't actually the comment I had in mind. Go shoot when it's cold, that will deliver the sharpest images possible (i.e. lack of humidity in the atmosphere) and will save you $$$...!!!
Good question. First camera 2013 on a Best Buy credit card with $500 credit limit got a lens and a camera. Used it for nearly a year. Traded it in on a used camera for $230. Use that for 2 1/2 years. Got a bonus from work spent about $1400 on camera gear all used. That was used for about three years. Kids eventually moved out, I got a better job. I probably spent just under $10,000 in the last 2 1/2 years. I maybe spent 13,000 over nearly 9 years. All the time growing with my equipment.
I am D850 guy. I do not shoot much video and this camera works for me. Your point about sharpening your skills rings true. Get better with what you already own before you decide to upgrade. In a previous video, your wife Katie talked about not devaluating what you have just because you want something different. She was talking about your your Ford Courier but it applies to cameras and lenses too.
You are right that there is a learnt art to shooting wildlife, and any other form of photography, but I am far from convinced that full-frame still takes the cake. Many years ago whilst we were still shooting film I made a conscious decision not to carry such heavy gear up hill and down dale. You have made the switch to mirrorless because it is better (whatever that is) but you are carrying one very expensive tree trunk, off-camera recording kit, tripod and dead cat. I switched to MFT over 10 years ago, manageable weight. The G9 and PL100-400 is a wildlife photographers dream. Hand-held at equivalent 800mm f/6.3? Absolutely no lack of detail.
Hello, I have a question that maybe someone can help me with. I purchased a new Nikon 600mm f4 in my quest for perfection and have it paired with a D850. The lens is really soft. I also have a 500 f4 that is also soft. I understand that sometimes you have to “tune” the lenses with the camera. Is this only a dslr issue that won’t be necessary with a mirrorless body or will I have to adjust it with that as well? I’m really trying to be patient and hold off for the Z9 but its been a real trial! On a side note, my 180-400/f4 tc 1.4 lense is an absolute razor. Any advice would be helpful. I really enjoy your channel!
My 600 was soft on the D850 at first. I did have to fine tune it a couple of times and found the sweet spot. Mine is about 20 years old. I did not have to do that at all with the Z6II. I guess the computer in the camera figures it out and adjusts. razor sharp from day one.
This is only my second time watching one of your videos and I must say it has some excellent points, but theres a few things I don't agree with. I started doing photography in the mid 80s with a canon AL 1 and film. I have some photos from my film days that I am very proud of and have received countless compliments on. In the switch to digital I stayed with Canon and now use the canon 70d and sl3, both crop sensor. I may move up to the 90d at some time but not in the near future. What I have invested in is my glass a sigma 120 300 f2.8 sport and sigma 500 f4 sport. I purchased both from a local camera shop at half retail for being used. For me the full frame and now the mirrorless cameras are over rated and over priced for a working man or retired like me. I use skills I learned as a hunter and outdoorsman to take photos. I don't rely on the spray and pray 30fps. I attempt to calculate my shots as if I was still using film. It taught me to watch everything that could influence my photograph because if I was away from home it could be a week or longer to see my results. I'm sorry to say but technology has made anyone with a new camera or cellphone a "photographer".
Very Valid Points Guy. Experience is still King. Technology has made things much easier and the work involved in getting that premium shot is certainly less. However, you still have to put in the time in the field. Additionally, the real special shots come from persistence and patients. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
I'm fully satisfied with my Canon DSLRs and composite 600mm i.e., EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II + 2x III. No noticeable quality drop. If I buy MILC, that will be Canon EOS R6 and use all my EF lenses via Canon adaptors.
Josh that Sony is a baby powerhouse. It has almost 15 (14.7) stops of dynamic range. That’s amazing for a camera in that price point. And mega pixel as (you know) “mostly” just is useful (past a certain point) if you intend to crop or print a larger size. I had actually considered the a7iv I just didn’t like for 10 fps continuous AF that you have to drop down to 12 bit lossy. Which is fine for the most part I just didn’t like that, and if you want full 14 bit lossless you also drop way down to 5 of 6 frames per second. So that was what deterred me. So I’m sticking with my D500 and Z6II, I carry 1 on each shoulder when I shoot birds and landscape. However I just got my FUN camera in the mail a few days ago. Haven’t even unboxed it. It got the new Olympus (Om systems) Om-1 camera and 300 F4 pro IS lens. I can’t wait to try it out. Apparently the bird subject detection is really good, (not just for Olympus either). But yeah I liked what you said about trying more of you me gear out and forcing yourself you use it. I get stuck using mostly my 150-600 lens but also have some really great lenses that I want too use!
@@BayouJosh for sure brotha. I’m gonna take it out real soon may even upload a video on here about it. However I need to ask you a question? How does the Z9 do in low light? For fast moving birds on an overcast day for example. Since for BIF you need a fast shutter which is less light? I absolutely hate photos with too much noise mostly stemming from a higher ISO. I already took the Om-1 out for a spin yesterday and the AF is next level blows my d500 away. The bird subject detection and tracking may be as good as A9 II or other. It has really really clear blackout free and sharp viewfinder an easy to navigate menu system, super duper high frame rates especially in silent electronic shutter mode. It’s a speed demon. But, and it’s a big but, I wasn’t very impressed with the noise on my photos. I wasn’t impressed with my final Lightroom processed photos. Sigh. However Im 99% sure I made some rookie mistakes. Yes I did. I put a 2 X teleconverter on my 300 F4 which made it F8 right off the bat, and I put my shutter speed way too high like 2,000 - 3,200 on a completely very overcast day. I even forgot to drop the shutter speed down for my stationary “non moving” subjects. Thus when I went home and loaded the keepers into Lightroom I was a bit disappointed with the photos, the denoise just made the photos look like paintings instead of being super sharp and detailed as I want them too be. So on a good light I’m gonna take it out again and I will take off my teleconverter (I’ll still get 600 mm f4) and keep my shutter speed low “as possible/ as needed” then maybe manually control or watch my ISO like a hawk and or set a limit. Then come back and see how it did. Then when it’s overcast again (I live by the ocean, it’s overcast often) then I can find ways to manage it better. Even on my Z6II if I wasn’t careful noise could be a bad issue on a low light situation.
you say skip crop sensors and go straight to full frame. I currently have a m43 camera and getting the 100-400 which is like 800mm reach with full frame. If i was to get a full frame nikon and the 100-500 (looking into it) how does that compare to the 900mm reach of apsc(with a 150-600 say)and 800mm of a G9 and100-400 combo? As obviously you are giving up a lot of reach. Is the improved low light and ability to crop enough to bridge that gap?
So I guess you just have to get closer. I'm not very stealthy hence the need for more reach. I like the idea of better quality at the 500-600mm end but I've no idea how well you can crop with the average full frame camera.
How much should you pay to get 10% better images. I've spent thousands and I wonder if it has all been worth it!
Af performance is where I am willing to pay more most modern sensors are capable of great IQ and low light performance.
I paid just the customs fees to get 99% better images....of our very own sun!
But when it comes to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, it all depends on the glass, not about the camera itself. You can take stunning shots with a 20 yr old DSLR compared to modern mirrorless, as long as you have some high quality glasses available in your bag. Without them, the camera is just a point-and-shoot device.
My step No 1 was D7000 with a very very old lens af 75-300. Now I use z6 ii with 500 AFS II (I’m a poor student can’t afford the newer version lol) which brings me a lot of pleasure.
For me, it’s not just image quality but AF performance and lighter weight of big glass!
@@kurtkemnitzer man that lighter equipment sure is expensive.
Great content as always. One extra tool I ran across years ago was I met a landscape painter. In doing so I spent hours in discussion about the differences between the two crafts. It helped both of us to just learn from each other. Plein air painters if they are good completely digest a scene. It changed my outlook. So if you ever run across a painter that interests you spend time with them if you can.
Just need a strong back and deep pockets for those. FF and huge primes is not the only way to crack a nut. As you say, number one way to improve your images, time in the field and technique (in the field and on the computer).
truth.
Very good and informative video. Nice photos too.
Hey Nikon, there's a talented guy named Josh Bayou who makes inspiring videos and tries to convince himself that he doesn't need new gear. He's right, his actual photos are beautiful, but such motivation deserves the best gear. He would be a great ambassador in my opinion.
I was just introduced to the channel by the almighty algo . . . beautiful video, and the humble spirit is refreshing. Concerning focal lengths and crop sensors, I'm merely a serious amateur but I have looked into this matter with some interest. Crop sensors _do not_ provide any additional "reach" compared to full-frame sensors. The focal length conversions bandied about apply solely to field of view. For example, a 300mm lens on an APSC sensor offers about the same field of view (measured in degrees) as that provided by a 450mm lens to a full-frame sensor (it's all geometry . . . a narrower field of view projected onto a larger sensor). The smaller sensor simply crops the field of view that that 300mm lens would present to a full-frame sensor. Stated another way, would cropping an image produced with a 300mm lens offer the same detail as capturing the cropped portion (with the same body and filling the frame) with a 450mm lens? Obviously, no.
you are absolutely right. the language around the APSC sensors is misleading.
The best information ℹ have found bar none many thanks a fantastic help to me .
D500 coupled with any of this lenses is a beast combo.
exactly and it is DX! :)
INDEED !!! 👍👍👍✌🏻
D500 with 300pf + 1.4 III works well for me
@@ianharrison7837 NICE set up Ian! I guess it should, great combo you have there. I’m jealous! Ha Ha. Ive been thinking of getting the 200-500 as Nikon has a big rebate on it currently. I am told it plays well with the D500. Happy Shooting!
@@georgedavall9449 excellent lens but I don’t want to be walking with quite that much weight.
I have an D850 with the 200-500 f5.6 and I just love it
Great setup!
Honestly I wouldn't completely dismiss crop. I started with a few Nikon APS-C bodies, moved to a D610 with a a few primes and 70-200 (I'm a landscape photographer), and have recently switchd to Micro Four Thirds and couldn't be happier. Brand new you can get a LUMIX G9 for about $1000 and a 100-300 (200-600 equiv) for about $600. So for $1600 new (or buy used like I did), you can get a pretty decent wildlife kit.
Really great video Bayou. I'm a Fuji shooter and use a lot of vintage glass (I like the look) using adaptors. I'm glad I found your channel.
Thank You Matt. I am glad your are enjoying the videos. Fuji makes a great system.
Great advice... Thanks for your time and effort
Josh, you are CRUSHING IT with your Z6ii. These are among the loveliest bird pics I've seen. Those cedar waxwings ❤️❤️❤️ BRAVO!
Thanks a ton! My wife gets all the credit for that cedar waxwing image. She spotted that scene and called me over as it was developing. that is my favorite image of the last 12 months. such a sweet moment!
It`s the man behind the camera, who takes the photos (not the gear)!
that about sums it up.
Absolutely. As Ansel said: “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!”
Or woman! 🥰
@@VisualizeHealing 🤣that`s right.
Not strictly true, in the world of optics and electronics you get what you pay for
Nice video, I have the Z7II right now and I wished it focused like the R5, I also just sold my D500 and Nikkor 500 f5.6 PF lens and probably will be buying the 100-400 S line which should be a fantastic lens. So for right now I'll get buy with my Nikkor 70-200 2.8 S lens and the 1.4 tele. But that Z9 sure looks sweet and from the teaser the AF seems to stick like glue.
Yes indeed. that teaser really got me exited. I can't wait to see what the future has in store.
Today I was out by a lake shooting Bald Eagles, there were 8 of them, some of them are the 3rd generation of birds in the same family. I know that because I have been going to that spot for years, every day. Across the lake was a Canon shooter, up on the hill a dude with a D850, we nodded, smiled at each other and it was on. The fight was over who had the best images, on that day, at that moment. Not a word was exchanged, my coffee was hot and my 2 border collies curled up under a pine tree next to me. At high noon we all knew the best light was gone and like Mr. Claus disappearing up the chimney, we all faded into the woods. My only thought driving home was what I captured on my memory card lightning in a bottle. I am home know, the fireplace is glowing red, my cinnamon laced coffee is hot and my dogs are curled up by the fire. There are 400 images on my card and 2 of them are magazine cover worthy, it was a good day.
That is a good day!
Hi There! A very nice and honest video. I have started since a couple of years on primarily bird photography, I own a crop sensor camera D 7500. Since you mentioned to go for full frame camera in your video, please let me know the distinct advantages of it over crop sensor cameras. Thank you.
I enjoyed this video and thought you offered excellent advice. I might add to what you said and suggest a camera and lens combination the aspiring photographer would find comfortable to carry and accept the limitations or advantages that come from those decisions. I admire your 600mm f4 telephoto but there's no way my budget or back could handle that these days. I was surprised you didn't mention the Canon 100-500mm zoom after your R5 Canon excursion. Oversight? Always looking forward to your next video.
Definite oversight Bruce. that 100-500 makes beautiful images. my only concern with that lens is the low light capabilities. Only because of the 7.1 aperture. the experience may be different than the numbers convey. I do so much of my photography in really tough lighting conditions and the wide aperture lenses are a real luxury.
It’s all about the journey .. the experiences and learning … I started with D7200 and I loved it . Yes the 300mm f4 , still can’t let go for compactness … cheers
A great budget setup for birders in my opinion is the D500 and the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6....You can buy new and still come in under $3k with gas money left over or buy nice used for $2k....This is the setup I still use while I save for the D850 and 600f4....We went down a very similar road, I started with a D3300 and the 55-300 and then to the D7200 and the 200-500 and now i have been shooting the D500 and the 200-500 for about a year and a half...
that D500 is fantastic. I had it for about a year. It was great in good light but I really struggled with image quality when It got above 1600 ISO. i guess i was spoiled with the full frame low light performance.
@@BayouJosh 👍
@@BayouJosh The D500 has always been a balancing act between noise and brutal highlight clipping but it's a stellar action camera for the price - nothing else gives you 10 fps and that AF performance for what you can buy a D500 for today. I don't know if you have tried DXO Pure Raw in your workflow but it's amazing what it does to those ISO 6400 D500 files - I am reprocessing a bunch of older pictures and not only does noise go way down, micro contrast goes up and color accuracy is much improved. I used to be an avid Topaz Denoise AI users for those files that are beyond my skills, but I have completely switched to Pure Raw - it works better (no artifacts that I can see, better detail retention, better colors), and you retain a Raw file as the output.
Bass Angler, you’re sure right about that camera-lens combo. I follow a number of Nikon groups on Facebook. My unscientific survey of bird and wildlife images on those groups is more great images are posted from the D500/200-500 5.6 than any other combination. Other cameras and lenses that are well represented are the D850, D750, the 500 5.6 and, of course, the big fast primes. But images from the other combinations are much less represented than the D500/200-500, at least in my unscientific opinion.
Interestingly, the Nikon mirrorless cameras are much less represented in wildlife images, except for some on the mirrorless camera forum itself. I think Nikon is playing catch-up and needs to seriously up its game for its mirrorless autofocus system. Hopefully, the Z9 and ensuing enthusiast bodies - the Z6iii/Z7iiis? - close the gap.
I’m holding off my next lens until I see what they deliver.
@@brianlemke6017 I'm kind of laying back myself...to me Nikon's Z series are lacking but I'm hoping they get the AF right because I am interested in the Z mount 200-600mm
The problem we're facing is that Z-mount lenses are actually, measurably better than their matching F-mount lenses. This is causing F-mount lenses to lose value quite a bit whenever Nikon makes their matching Z-mount alternative. My F-mount 70-200 f2.4 (latest edition) like-new sold for only $1300. I think we're losing value on our gear the longer we wait to switch to Z-mount.
Busy buying up f-mount stuff at great prices 👍🏻 happy days.
@@bivouacphotography4768 I hear ya , hoping to find a 400 mm f4 or bigger prime soon because my 200-500 f5.6 isn't cutting it
Yeah, F mounts are going for less in 2022 and I can finally afford them 😀 They are excellent, especially the gold ring pro lenses and the biggest improvement in image quality will come from better technique on my end.
It's great for us F mount shooters, picked up a bunch of stuff from a guy last week after he switched to a z7 ii and z9
@@PolishX same with my 150-600, bit slow
You have summed up perfectly my own journey into wildlife photography. I began with a d3100 and then upgraded to d7200 and now d500. I wish someone had told me to beging with a better body as I quickly discovered the limitations. Fieldcraft and editing are definitely ways of improving your images ten-fold. Patience is the most valuable tool in any photographers kit bag.
It’s a great journey! Don’t get me wrong, if I had unlimited funds I would have gone straight to the full frame pro model with the most expensive lens I could buy.
Josh: A well prepared video describing your journey. Some of your advice is right on the money. Fast primes for wildlife are certainly a bonus. Learn how to process! Yes. I teach post processing and am a firm believer in good processing is a critical digital skill. Here's where I think you missed. I teach and lead workshops. The VAST majority of clients are 60+. Duh... That shouldn't surprise anyone. That is the demographic with the time and the money to go on workshops and do a fully immersive photographic adventure. The number one complaint by a factor of at least 100:1 is "my equipment is too big and too heavy, it's hard to travel with". Yep. I get it. As a result their images suffer because they can't get in the right position, they can't carry the gear to the location, they are too tired when they get there.... and so on. I'm always seeing people struggle with the size of equipment. Anyone who has never seen a full frame 600 f/4 and tried to deal with it is in for a rude awakening when they begin to see the challenges it presents. Yes, great lenses, but.... I've used nearly every format for wildlife. APS-C, Full Frame and now Micro 4/3. My full frame lens of choice was my 500 f/4 with a 1.4x. Fantastic image quality and a fantastic lens. My camera of choice today is my Micro 4/3 system. I challenge you to go to my website and figure out which images in any of the galleries are from APS-C, Full Frame or 4/3. Here's the major difference. My wildlife lens is the Olympus 300mm f/4. With the 2x crop factor the field of view is the same as your 600 f/4. It weighs 3.25 pounds. Easily accepts 1.4x or 2.0x converters. Oh... and a new one is $2900. Or, when I want to carry a zoom option I use my 40-150 f/2.8 with or without any of the converter options. $1500 and weighs 1.67 pounds. Oh sure, I know all the full frame youtubers who scoff at 4/3. They have never used the system. Frankly I don't give a damn what camera people use, but I'm always disappointed in the UA-cam mantra of you need full frame. Here's a link if you care to take on my challenge: www.keithbauerphotography.com
Keith, thank you for weighing in on this. first of all, beautiful website. You make some gorgeous images! I may need to sit through one of your Lightroom workshops because your post processing is fantastic. (that sandhill crane shot with the backlit setting! awesome!) Second. I appreciate you pointing out the fact that full frame equipment is much heavier and it is certainly more difficult to get in good positions to get that good image. I'm not quite 50 and I can certainly appreciate that. I concur with everything you said with one additional note that I should have covered in the video. Low light. the biggest difference I noticed when moving over to full frame equipment is the ability to shoot later in the evening in lower light conditions. It certainly came at a cost. However, I would argue that some of my best images were taken in low light conditions and the APS-c and micro 4/3rd systems may have struggled in those settings. I really value your opinion and I thank you sincerely for offering up some advice. stay in touch. I may be looking you up the next time I make it to your neck of the woods. Have a great day!
@@BayouJosh Thanks for your kind words on my work. It would be great if our photographic paths crossed some day. Not sure which backlit sandhill shot you're referring to for sure. There are a few out there. If you do make a trip to New Mexico, please give me a shout!!
@@NatPhoto56 Your website is an inspiration! I just took delivery on a new E-m1 III yesterday. As much as I love Josh's channel andimages, at 72 yrs old with a bad back and knees, that just won't work for me. So m4/3 it is.
@@j16m02 Thank you for those nice words. Don't let anyone let you believe that you can't take ANY image with your EM1-III. A fine camera with a remarkable set of lenses. Even for high ISO night work, your EM1-III is a great solution. In the Colorado gallery under Places-Landscapes-Wildlife there are two recent images of the Milky Way over some mountains in Colorado. One of those is with the EM1-III, the other with the EM1-X. Congrats on your new camera.
Insane photos! Especially the hummingbirds are mind blowing good.
I definitely see a Nikon Z-9 in your future or even better the soon to be announced Z-9 II LOL.
😄
Great video and all valid points! I really enjoyed the images you showed and what goes into it. Your images show the work you have put in to improve massively - more than any camera can help!
Here are my thoughts about what to get in terms of value.
I think the best "value" in wildlife photography today (assuming you do not need video capability) is a Nikon D500 with the stellar 200-500mm. The crop sensor gets you greater reach (very welcome), it's fast at 10fps with full size images and tracking, and it's very inexpensive when purchased used in good condition.
I doubt you will get 10% better quality from anything you purchase above this. Full frame makes the biggest difference, but it is truly small for this type of photography. Should you "aspire" to it or start there? I think it depends on your budget. As for the rest of the possible 10% improvement, as Josh said, it's better glass. Again, depends on the budget.
This is exactly the journey I’ve been on. Been slowly upgrading from a Canon T7 and kit lens to now a R7 with the Canon 100-500mm L. I was hoping I was done but now I don’t know. 😆 You’re right about the resolution and clarity not mattering to anyone. My wife could care less. It’s all about the bird, colors and action in the photo. Some of my best and favorite pics do nothing for her. Lol. I guess in the end it’s just for me because im never going to be a pro.
I'm stuck in Nikon F-system. I will get a used D850 but I need to upgrade a 300mmF2.8 Screwdrive len used on a D300 (450mm on FF) that broke down. I use a D700 today. So I need a 400mm, 500mm or 600mm lens. Birds an animal photo in low light rader seldom I'm a landscape photographer on a limited budget only a few years to retirement
I'm happy wirh my Nikon D3300 and coolpix p-1000
Hi friend, great video.
My middle of the road budget,
Nikon D4, 300mm PF , 600mm Ais 5.6 manual focus only
Excellent advice. I owned a D7200 for 7 years before getting my Z6ii last November. Never invested in the big glass since any travel I did required a more compact kit. In the new year my purchases will be slightly different-multifocal IOLs to replace cataract affected lenses. The laser surgery is not cheap but I’m looking forward to really enjoying photography and life without thick and heavy eyeglasses. Post-COVID, I hope to get out much more and enjoy life. Thanks for your lovely example photos!
I’m very happy with my D500. My photos have improved through just getting out there and shooting.
I am with my D500 also! My keeper rate is higher with the D500 on birds in flight than with my D810 or my D850, but I get sharper images with the D850 on still birds and other wildlife.
D500 with the 200-500 and 300 mm f4 D are killer combos
Is nikobn D500 perfect for video wildlife shooting?
For budget conscious guys d 7500 is also fantastic choice..
I maybe can sell a kidney for this gear…😂
I just bought a Canon 500/4 mk1 to My Canon 1Dx camera, Steps Up from Canon
400/5.6 Wich is also a very Good lens🙂
Great Video!! I use the D500 and D850 with the 500pf. Both cameras are an excellent combination with the 500pf.
Totally agree!
Ten seconds in and already bad advice. Until the Canon R3 and the Nikon Z9 come out, there are no weatherproof mirrorless cameras. Would you take a leaky plastic camera to Alaska or Costa Rica? Better take a spare.
Your video sucks, you need to put better content, those images are horrible and cringy; where is the focal theme? I don't need to see those colorful and well balanced compositions with rich colors to take me and place me away from my office on this cloudy cloudy Friday. C'mon man, why did you make such beautiful short videos to make me want to get outside and look for birds.... Great video, thank you again for taking me away for 16mins to a better place.
😂 you had me nervous there for a second. I thought I lost you! thanks as always my friend.
@@BayouJosh thank you for making beautiful images. All your efforts do good in people's lives. Reminding us of the wonders of God's creation forgotten in the concrete pillars of our busy lives.
Hello. I want to change D500 to Z9. Main lens 200-400 f4. Will it work just as well on a mirrorless camera?
Josh, I am 63 and I do have a Nikon D500 and also a nikon D600, and still have my trusty D300.... in lenses a do have the Tamron 70-300 f4 to 5.6 VC and also have the Sigma 150-500 with image stabilization.... I am not rich by no means but with these equipment I do have equipment till my last day over earth. I might try mirorless in my next life, this one I will enjoy what I have. Have a great day, week, month, year and live!!!😎😎🤠
Good info here also your video production keeps getting better. Keep it up
thank you so much Jake.
I am nowhere able to buy such high-end lenses.
My best combo I could afford to was a 200-500m 5.6E (you mentioned about) and coupling with a Z6II and to get more reach I got an used D7200 to work as literally as a 1.5x converter.
But it seems you wouldn't recommend to get a crop sensor so now I wonder.
Don't question your decision. you have a wonderful kit. the only limitations of the crop sensor camera is low light performance. the image quality above 1600-3200 iso with full frame is just noticeably better. However, these new software programs are really closing the gap. I don't use the Topaz product much but i've experimented with them and really noticed the value in cleaning up the noise in images.
Great video. How bout that editing advice?
I have a small playlist outlining editing some editing tips if you'd like to check it out. ua-cam.com/video/wjk0gee6uaQ/v-deo.html
Go for something with bird eye-AF if you can afford it. Gives you more time to compose your image
you just crushed the excuse. it's not the gear but the photographer...
I started with the D7000 with 70-300 5.6 , little by little I upgraded to a D850 with the 24-70 2.8 ,,,, 70-200 2.8 and the 200-500 5.6 I really love them, I would love to get the 400 2.8 but that cost an arm and a leg, thanks for sharing your videos!
I am at your D7200 stage as I have a D7500. Still learning.
DB50 is still the DSLR beast for birding
Thanks for a great video. I'm a few paces behind you: I have a D810, which was a retirement present, but I'm about to buy some better glass - my lenses are previous generation D lenses - which were great in their day, but not designed for high resolution digital. In the last 18 months of lockdown I've been shooting a lot of macro in my backyard, but I've found some great bird-watching locations here in the centre of France, and I'm about to dive in. I loved your wisdom about learning the craft, and your images spoke for themselves. And thanks also for the low key music... Liked and subscribed!
You are very Kind Christopher. That old D glass still has a great quality about it. Don't discount it too much. that big 600mm is an AFSii-d lens and it still makes beautiful images. AF motors are a bit slower but I move at a slow pace. 😉
I don't know but I noticed the pictures of an old camera is more deeper and rich colours I've seen many old cameras it's surpass the new cameras in terms of rich true colours
That is a good Point. some of these new cameras make what I call steril images.
Hi Josh, Thanks for great videos! Please Could you help with advice on whether to buy a Nikon Z6 or Z7, this month they are basically the same price in South Africa, quite a bit cheaper than the Z6II. I have a Nikon D500 and will be keeping it, just want to upgrade my Nikon Z50
In that case I would personally go with more Megapixels and get the Z7. You can use it in full frame or DX mode. It will have about the same pixels in DX mode as what you have in the Z50. Like owning two cameras in one.
Great video. I’m on early on in my progression. Started with Nikon d5600 crop sensor with the kit 300mm lense. Moved to a 150-600 Sigma 5.6 to 6.3 lense. Now with the z6ii and the same Sigma. Would love to go prime but will need to wait now till there’s a second hand prime z lense ! 100% agree that lense is 5he best investment. I would argue though, that a Crop sensor isn’t such a bad thing to start with, as it give you that extra reach for “free”… my sigma had an effective reach of 900mm on the D5600.
Great advice Josh!! I totally agree with you. Camera company's now days are trying to spec us to death, but the quality of the image isn't that much better. If the image already looks great with the camera you have, then it will look great 15 years from now.
Thank you. Truth. "spec us to death" yeah. so true.
Great video!
After seeing this video I kinda regretted buying the Z6ll instead of an used D850... Selling it now would be a bit dumb now so I'd better accept my mistake
The Z6II makes awesome images. that D850 is just better for still though. Keep that z6 for video though. the D850 will make you pull your hair out if you ever decide to do video.
The big advantage you have with the Z6ii is the ibis, hands down. Even though the D850 is technically a sharper camera, the ibis will help you slow down your shutter speeds and keep you images sharp. Video is also much better than any Nikon DSLR. If you’re printing big or pixel peeping, then the D850 will be a noticeable difference.
Is 70 - 300mm is ok for begginer for bird photography and pls tell D5300 and 70 -300 mm is a best combo for beginner bird photographer pls reply
That is a wonderful beginner combo.
@@BayouJosh thank you sir for your advise
@@BayouJosh sir have you know about Nikon p1000 camera hows it for birding ??.As it has supertelephoto zoom of 3000mm
Stunning photos. We live in Boise, From your pics I am guessing we are neighbors.
We elk hunt just outside the Sawtooths and are up there all the time and want to start videoing and photographing them from our glassing locations. We normally glass just below 10k w a 4 mile hike up. Range is normally 800-1000 yards. Considering P950 for lightweight max zoom. Also considering crop A6600 w sony 200-600 and 1.4TC. Adds 4 pounds to our pack over P950 but likely much better stills. You said avoid crop cameras, and that makes sense to me for relatively short ranges but I was thinking crop would help us fill the sensor with Elk.
What would you recommend?
Huge thanks
Dan
that 950 would be perfect.
Hi, Nice video!
But do not skip DX Nikon D500!!! You get speed for AF and fps And lighter gear for exampel 400mm is the same as a 600mm white d850 👍
I have sold of D800, D810, D750 just to keep my D500 for birding!
-Save some mony and go for D500 for birding!
The D500 has always been a weird one for me because everything you say is true except there is one thing that goes unmentioned all the time and that is the ISO performance. I can shoot earlier in the morning and later in the evening with a full frame High ISO kit than I could with the My old D500. It was awesome in great light. above 1600 ISO was just not good for me.
🙏 for the video
Can you tell me more about using the Nikon Z6ii for wildlife, please?
I hear autofocus isn’t as good as Sony, Canon and AF performance is what makes me want to upgrade from a little Fuji XT30.
Nikon Z6ii waaay cheaper than Sony A74/ A7riii/ a7riv and Canon R6 in Australia.
Loved my first DSLR which was Nikon - tough, love the design
All of that is true but it still makes the most beautiful images and I love it. It just takes a little work and know how. it is really no different than the cameras I've had in the past. I get some great shots and some not so great shots. I think that will be the case with any camera I buy. I love Nikon image quality. To me, that is what matters most.
I can certainly relate to your experience as a beginner in this wonderful hobby called photography. I was always looking to improve my cameras and lenses and I have spent a lot of money doing so, but I came to the realization that I do this just for fun and I really couldn't justify spending more money every time I wanted to upgrade. I don't sell my photos and post mostly on Facebook for family and friends to see and enjoy. If you are going to be making money from your photography by all means get the best you can afford. I use a Nikon D700 and a D7500 with the Tamron 150-600mm g2 for wildlife and I get great photos. Would I like a Z9 and all the great prime lenses, sure I would but I can't justify it. Just my two cents on the subject.
I've changed my thinking on that. if I owned a boat, I could justify spending $30,000 and I of course would not be making money on that. It would just be something I had for fun. this is my hobby and it is fun. I don't expect to have to make money to justify nice toys. I do like shiny new things.
All depends on your motives, I just got into wildlife so I'm not spending a ton on glass for it yet, though I have no reservations about buying better and better glass for landscape and event photography which are my main areas, shooting a Nikon dslr I'm also finding it easy to pick up high quality glass lately as people switch over to mirrorless. I don't make much off landscape photography, only ever sold a handful of prints.
Josh,
Thanks...very good information.....how about a video helping us with our editing? Tips and tricks.
I have some basic ones that I posted about 6 months ago. My first video ever actually. I have a workflow video coming out this friday. Field to computer. I don't go into a lot of image editing details but if you watch close you'll see my techniques.
I jumped from Nikon D90 to D4 after one year
hii. I am from india. You have a sense of reliability and genuity. i loved how you explain things. just need advice, i have nikon 200-500 lens, should i buy D500 or Z6. Will z6 withadaptor wud work better?
D500 if you don't plan on doing much video
Superlative poignant message and wowee its as if birdies have been doing "bower-bird numbers" just for you .. stunning moments. @10:00 is a quiet beauty. I would so easily invest in the glass.. but my pulse and pocket has me on a precipice for choice invest this year. The tech evolve certainly drives us into crazy daisies with means & method possibilities [hybrid autofocus musts]. AND With Manufacturers driving into M-eco futures .. how long is the dlsr got play in the cam biome [concerns] ? Think it may be a while still Josh?
It is a lifelong hobby. seasons change and I'm sure something will come along that works for ya. Thank you my friend.
I noticed you went from budget $1000 to a $7000+ lens and over &
$2500 for camera. Then much more money for lens. More money buys more opportunity and better images IMHO.
that is absolutely true. It makes things easier for sure.
I have the Nikon d7500 and a Tamron 150-600mm (g1) as I am poor I bought the tamron for 400.00 broken and repaired it. I paid 685.00 for the used d7500.
I dream of the d850 or z9 and the 600mm or 800mm f4's.
Been there brother. Time and effort.
I found it after a long searching ✌🏼❤
What do you use for your editing? Does Nikon have a proprietary software (this is a question coming from a Canon user). Or did you go into Lightroom or Photoshop? (this is a question coming from a photographer who has been thoroughly defeated by Lightroom)
Or, when you focused in your summary on "editing" did you have some other ideas in mind? Thanks, and by the way, a neat video. I think we've all gone down your route in our own ways.
thank you Sir. Nikon has a program but I find Lightroom to be the best for my workflow.
Excellent video. Could you make a video of your D850 settings for wildlife photography?
Thanks Ron, I don't have that camera anymore. Loved it when I had it but the mirrorless is so much better for video.
Thanks for great video’s! I really enjoy them!
I’m a z6ii shooter at the moment, and would like to start photograph birds. So I’m trying to learning about lenses on YT. I feel this video helped me.
But I know that I should also get much better at editing my pictures. Do you have any tips for online courses, youtuber , etc that you would recommend to get better at editing ?
Yeah, Editing is huge part of the process. go to ua-cam.com/users/RayHennessy
that is what he does for a living. I am sure he can help. I am just a regular guy that likes to photograph birds. 😃
Question from a newbie: I would like to create bird videos similar to this youtube example ( ua-cam.com/video/uUah6_-SKR8/v-deo.html ) by recording birds eating seed from my feeders and seed piles on stumps, branches, ect in my backyard. I was thinking of buying a Sony A7Siii and a Tamron 28-70 lens. Do you think these are the right tools to create the types of videos I want ? ( PS - I dont want to take photos nor use the setup for any other applications. I just want to record birds eating in stationary positions in my backyard where I live adjacent to a large forest and have dozens of feeders in my yard. The camera needs to be stationary for long periods of time with the lens pointed at one spot simply recording the birds coming and going ) I would be grateful for any suggestion on the camera and lens I would need for this purpose . Also, I would be grateful for any advice you can give on how far the camera needs to be from the bird seed so the birds are not afraid of the camera. Thank you very much.
I would recommend a longer focal length to get farther away from the subject. Perhaps a tamron 100-400 and set it up about 12-15' away.
Great video Bayou, I am just starting to do wildlife photography, any recommendation of a telephoto lens on a budget for canon ef?
Currently I shootNikon D500. Would you go D850 or Nikon mirrorless of similar price? PS…I love your work!!!
If you don’t plan on taking video….d850 all the way.
Z6 + Nikkor 500/5.6 Great option!
Good video. i miss my D850/D750 but they couldnt do what my sony A1 can and that is video in 4k120fps or good video, nor can it do EYE AF for birds,. my prime gear is the Sony A1 with 200-600mm.
Indeed Rob. that A1 is on another planet. definitely a luxury combo. have a great weekend.
@@BayouJosh thanks Josh
Interesting test for a budget system.
Nikon Z6ii or Z7ii, Megadap ETZii and Sony 200-600 lens.
that would be interesting.
Your photo's are fantastic. The cardinals, egrets and herons make me want to go back and visit the mid west.
3:55 that sparrow needs its nails trimmed!
Or about a compact 500mm lenses ?
You mentioned the 500mm f/5.6 e pf ed vr lens. Have you spent much time with that lens. How do you rate the lens. Is it worth the price?
I have about 7 days with it. I thought I might want it so I rented it. I think it is great. I just decided to hold off and I bought a used 200-400 insead. I really like the 200-400f/4
I have the canon 90d and my big lens is the tamron 150-600
"stay away from those crop..." - NONSENSE! DX is GREAT for reach!
DX is great for squeezing info on a smaller sensor and narrowing the frame of view. (not reach) smaller pixels and much noisier images. great to start with but the image quality is just better on full frame cameras. I've owned a few and it has always been my experience. I've owned the D500 which is the best of the bunch and it still struggled with noise and that is with them lowering the pixel count to 20mp to get larger pixels. great image quality in good light but still not as good as full frame. You can make beautiful images with DX bodies but once you go full frame, it is hard to go back. Like I said, I'm just a friend offering my opinion. I stick to full frame.
Getting ready to buy some new gear. The gear I have isn't bad and I am going to continue to use it but we are moving to Alaska and I want some higher end equipment. I am thinking of a nikon with the z mount and am wondering how the older lenses work using a z mount adapter
Older lenses definitely work. Depends on the Z body you get. Lenses work better if you get a Z9
Great advise Josh and wonderful video. May I suggest that you went back to these old images with the knowledge that you have today with editing and re-edit say 5 or 6 images shot with different cameras? This way we'll be able to tell how much of a difference a great lens & Camera can make. In the images that you showed us I believe that we should factor into the equation your improved skills as editor (and of course as photographer).
Re VR I don't think it will make much of a difference as a 600mm is so heavy that you're gonna have to mount it on a tripod anyway - at which point Nikkor lenses detect the tripod and will disable the VR (which often gives you softer images if one is shooting on a tripod). One last comment for sharp images: shutter speed is clearly imperative but this wasn't actually the comment I had in mind. Go shoot when it's cold, that will deliver the sharpest images possible (i.e. lack of humidity in the atmosphere) and will save you $$$...!!!
How do u define “broke”? You discussed buying over $30k of camera gear to shoot birds. Birds!
Good question. First camera 2013 on a Best Buy credit card with $500 credit limit got a lens and a camera. Used it for nearly a year. Traded it in on a used camera for $230. Use that for 2 1/2 years. Got a bonus from work spent about $1400 on camera gear all used. That was used for about three years. Kids eventually moved out, I got a better job. I probably spent just under $10,000 in the last 2 1/2 years. I maybe spent 13,000 over nearly 9 years. All the time growing with my equipment.
I am D850 guy. I do not shoot much video and this camera works for me. Your point about sharpening your skills rings true. Get better with what you already own before you decide to upgrade. In a previous video, your wife Katie talked about not devaluating what you have just because you want something different. She was talking about your your Ford Courier but it applies to cameras and lenses too.
Katie is the smart one in the family. She is so wise.
Nikon 200-500 , just my opinion from use not a very sharp lens above 300mm, I returned mine
I'm not a bird shooter, still I'm enjoying your shots and pleasant video, and listen to your advice too, just in case
thank you my friend.
I flew somewhere ... from your photos
Which camera by in under 1.5k in wildlife best combo
I'd find a used Nikon D500 and used 300mm f/4
You are right that there is a learnt art to shooting wildlife, and any other form of photography, but I am far from convinced that full-frame still takes the cake. Many years ago whilst we were still shooting film I made a conscious decision not to carry such heavy gear up hill and down dale. You have made the switch to mirrorless because it is better (whatever that is) but you are carrying one very expensive tree trunk, off-camera recording kit, tripod and dead cat. I switched to MFT over 10 years ago, manageable weight. The G9 and PL100-400 is a wildlife photographers dream. Hand-held at equivalent 800mm f/6.3? Absolutely no lack of detail.
Interesting.
Dont knock crop cameras.
The 7D mk 2 canon is awesome. Hook it to a 70-300L zoom and you're set to go.
My point is once I went to full frame. It was tough to go back and use crop sensor cameras. Low light performance is incredibly important to me
Hello, I have a question that maybe someone can help me with. I purchased a new Nikon 600mm f4 in my quest for perfection and have it paired with a D850. The lens is really soft. I also have a 500 f4 that is also soft. I understand that sometimes you have to “tune” the lenses with the camera. Is this only a dslr issue that won’t be necessary with a mirrorless body or will I have to adjust it with that as well? I’m really trying to be patient and hold off for the Z9 but its been a real trial! On a side note, my 180-400/f4 tc 1.4 lense is an absolute razor. Any advice would be helpful. I really enjoy your channel!
My 600 was soft on the D850 at first. I did have to fine tune it a couple of times and found the sweet spot. Mine is about 20 years old. I did not have to do that at all with the Z6II. I guess the computer in the camera figures it out and adjusts. razor sharp from day one.
@@BayouJosh thanks for the info. I do appreciate it!
Thank you very much. I watched it all. What do you think about the R5 in the 100 to 500?
That set up is fantastic! However, understand low light conditions limit that Lens F/5.6 and below really helps in low light conditions.
D500 is fantastic for birds
This is only my second time watching one of your videos and I must say it has some excellent points, but theres a few things I don't agree with. I started doing photography in the mid 80s with a canon AL 1 and film. I have some photos from my film days that I am very proud of and have received countless compliments on. In the switch to digital I stayed with Canon and now use the canon 70d and sl3, both crop sensor. I may move up to the 90d at some time but not in the near future. What I have invested in is my glass a sigma 120 300 f2.8 sport and sigma 500 f4 sport. I purchased both from a local camera shop at half retail for being used. For me the full frame and now the mirrorless cameras are over rated and over priced for a working man or retired like me. I use skills I learned as a hunter and outdoorsman to take photos. I don't rely on the spray and pray 30fps. I attempt to calculate my shots as if I was still using film. It taught me to watch everything that could influence my photograph because if I was away from home it could be a week or longer to see my results. I'm sorry to say but technology has made anyone with a new camera or cellphone a "photographer".
Very Valid Points Guy. Experience is still King. Technology has made things much easier and the work involved in getting that premium shot is certainly less. However, you still have to put in the time in the field. Additionally, the real special shots come from persistence and patients. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
I'm fully satisfied with my Canon DSLRs and composite 600mm i.e., EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II + 2x III. No noticeable quality drop. If I buy MILC, that will be Canon EOS R6 and use all my EF lenses via Canon adaptors.
My suggestion, don't touch an R5/R6 unless you have great self control.
Thanks. But unclear.
Nikon 200-500 is light? Hmmm first time I EVAR heard that.
Lighter than a 600f4. That’s my comparison 🤣
Josh that Sony is a baby powerhouse. It has almost 15 (14.7) stops of dynamic range. That’s amazing for a camera in that price point. And mega pixel as (you know) “mostly” just is useful (past a certain point) if you intend to crop or print a larger size. I had actually considered the a7iv I just didn’t like for 10 fps continuous AF that you have to drop down to 12 bit lossy. Which is fine for the most part I just didn’t like that, and if you want full 14 bit lossless you also drop way down to 5 of 6 frames per second. So that was what deterred me. So I’m sticking with my D500 and Z6II, I carry 1 on each shoulder when I shoot birds and landscape. However I just got my FUN camera in the mail a few days ago. Haven’t even unboxed it. It got the new Olympus (Om systems) Om-1 camera and 300 F4 pro IS lens. I can’t wait to try it out. Apparently the bird subject detection is really good, (not just for Olympus either). But yeah I liked what you said about trying more of you me gear out and forcing yourself you use it. I get stuck using mostly my 150-600 lens but also have some really great lenses that I want too use!
That OM series is really impressive. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. 😀
@@BayouJosh for sure brotha. I’m gonna take it out real soon may even upload a video on here about it. However I need to ask you a question? How does the Z9 do in low light? For fast moving birds on an overcast day for example. Since for BIF you need a fast shutter which is less light? I absolutely hate photos with too much noise mostly stemming from a higher ISO. I already took the Om-1 out for a spin yesterday and the AF is next level blows my d500 away. The bird subject detection and tracking may be as good as A9 II or other. It has really really clear blackout free and sharp viewfinder an easy to navigate menu system, super duper high frame rates especially in silent electronic shutter mode. It’s a speed demon. But, and it’s a big but, I wasn’t very impressed with the noise on my photos. I wasn’t impressed with my final Lightroom processed photos. Sigh. However Im 99% sure I made some rookie mistakes. Yes I did. I put a 2 X teleconverter on my 300 F4 which made it F8 right off the bat, and I put my shutter speed way too high like 2,000 - 3,200 on a completely very overcast day. I even forgot to drop the shutter speed down for my stationary “non moving” subjects. Thus when I went home and loaded the keepers into Lightroom I was a bit disappointed with the photos, the denoise just made the photos look like paintings instead of being super sharp and detailed as I want them too be. So on a good light I’m gonna take it out again and I will take off my teleconverter (I’ll still get 600 mm f4) and keep my shutter speed low “as possible/ as needed” then maybe manually control or watch my ISO like a hawk and or set a limit. Then come back and see how it did. Then when it’s overcast again (I live by the ocean, it’s overcast often) then I can find ways to manage it better. Even on my Z6II if I wasn’t careful noise could be a bad issue on a low light situation.
Funny, I got some awesome pics of Canada Geese in flight today.
They're really fun to photograph.
I switched from the D850 to a sony A7Riii and found pictures better, but thats just me.
Sony cameras are fantastic too!
You are the world most greatest wildlife photographer.I love your photography .In your adventures photography is rarest
you say skip crop sensors and go straight to full frame.
I currently have a m43 camera and getting the 100-400 which is like 800mm reach with full frame.
If i was to get a full frame nikon and the 100-500 (looking into it) how does that compare to the 900mm reach of apsc(with a 150-600 say)and 800mm of a G9 and100-400 combo?
As obviously you are giving up a lot of reach.
Is the improved low light and ability to crop enough to bridge that gap?
for me it is.
So I guess you just have to get closer.
I'm not very stealthy hence the need for more reach.
I like the idea of better quality at the 500-600mm end but I've no idea how well you can crop with the average full frame camera.