Ultimate Lens Showdown at RSPB Old Moor
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- čas přidán 21. 10. 2023
- 📸 Get ready for an epic bird photography showdown as Pops and I venture to the stunning RSPB Old Moor to put two exceptional Nikon lenses to the test! In this video, we compare the Nikon Z 800mm PF lens against the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 lens paired with a 2x teleconverter. Who will come out on top in capturing the elusive Bearded Reedlings?
🔍 Which lens will deliver the sharpest and most stunning bird photography shots? Will the Z 800mm PF's compact and portable design outshine the versatility of the Z 400mm f/2.8 combined with a teleconverter? We're about to find out!
🌿 RSPB Old Moor provides the perfect backdrop for our birdwatching adventure, offering a diverse range of bird species and picturesque landscapes. Join us as we showcase the beauty of this nature reserve while sharing our insights and experiences using these exceptional Nikon lenses.
📢 Don't miss out on this exciting head-to-head lens comparison, packed with tips and tricks for bird photography enthusiasts, camera gear enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike. We'll discuss image quality, focusing speed, portability, and more!
👍 If you're a photography enthusiast, a Nikon shooter, or just someone who loves the great outdoors, make sure to hit that like button, subscribe for more exciting content, and ring the notification bell to stay updated on our latest adventures and camera gear reviews!
📷 Gear used in this video:
- Nikon Z 800mm PF Lens
- Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 Lens
- Nikon 2x Teleconverter
- Nikon Z9 Camera Bodies
📍 Location:
RSPB Old Moor, UK
#NikonPhotography #BirdPhotography #NikonLenses #WildlifePhotography #RSPBOldMoor #CameraGearComparison #PhotographyTips #NaturePhotography #LensShowdown #BeardedReedlings #YourPhotographyJourney
Brilliant! It is great to see you out with your Pops.
Thanks very much Jon, we try to get out together as much as possible 👍🏻
Brilliant images from both, very jealous. Thanks for the heads up and very informative blog.👍
Thanks very much Albert, really appreciate it 👍🏻
Hi fellas, glad to see Pops got some Reedling images, doesn't take much to keep us old chaps happy. As usual lovely footage and banter, I saw a lone male in the reeds at a local pond that is at the side of the A1 near the Gateshead Metro centre, that was 20 years back but a great tick for the local list, cheers guys 👍
Thanks very much Derek, really appreciate your comment and glad it sparked a memory of your own Bearded Reedling experience.
All the very best 👍🏻
Great blog Dan, looking forward to meeting Pops...😊😊
Thanks Keith, I’m hoping to join him when he comes up to you 👍🏻
Hi Dan n pops shame about the wait shame I didn’t know you where there you could have called in for a coffee. Great video keep up the great work
Thanks very much Rob, we’d have loved to Pop in for a coffee mate 👍🏻
Lovely video Dan - great to see your dad being so happy with the beardies! I really must get round to photographing them soon, stunning little birds
Thanks very much Marc, always appreciated. They’re such a little charismatic bird and very photogenic 👍🏻
Great video Dan, Rspb St Aidans in west yorks also great for Beardies, plus bitterns, marsh harrier, Hobby, barn owl, short-eared owl, Red kites and your usual birds.
Thanks very much mate. St Aidans sounds like a cracking reserve and somewhere I definitely visit in the future.
All the best 👍🏻
Great video, Dan, and good to see Pops there too. Beautiful images from both of you.
Thanks very much Debbie, really appreciate your comment 😊
Stunning images love it, thank you for sharing.
Thanks very much, I appreciate it 👍🏻
Fantastic film guys, really happy pops got to see some bearded reedling, what a thrill! 👏👍😀
Thanks Anton, really appreciate your comment and support. Pops was over the moon.
All the best 👍🏻
Awesome adventure gentlemen! Beautiful photos and video - you guys are rock stars.
Thanks very much Freeman, always appreciate your comments 👍🏻
Pop's you have done it now my *Dot-sight EE-1* is arriving tomorrow in your next video I will be looking for some tips and tricks from you, no pressure.
😂😂😂😂 that’s brilliant, I’ve told Pops that he needs to put an instructional video together 👍🏻
Great video dan and pops 😁 love all your videos brilliant keep it up.
Thanks very much Mike, really appreciate it 👍🏻
Fantastic video and beautiful images! The subject isolation from the background is quite striking, given the setting.
Thanks very much I really appreciate that 👍🏻
Great photos and videos Dan. Very inspirational and nice locations in the UK. Many thanks for sharing ❤
Thanks very much Ezhil, very much appreciated 👍🏻
Fantastic shots well done guys.
Thanks very much John 👍🏻
Great video Dan, great to see you on one of my regular reserves and really pleased you & pops got some great Beardie images. It's been an exceptional Autumn for them. It's a good reserve for Wader migration and the Spoonbills were also excellent in the Summer. I would also suggest the surrounding satellite reserves for photography, particularly Adwick washlands in Spring when the Avocets turn up end of March, early April plus other waders. You can access them any time. Thanks again 👍
Thanks very much Paul, it was an absolutely fabulous reserve and somewhere we will definitely be returning to. A number of people have suggested surrounding sites to visit so I definitely feel like we’ve only just scratched the surface of the area.
All the best 👍🏻
Well done again Dan. Very nice video- keep them coming. May I suggest video ideas for you - Sizergh Castle carpark in Kendal; I believe there are Hawfinch still around.
Also Drumburgh Moss ( CA7 5DR ) for possible sightings of Short Eared owls, Hobby, and Peregrines in Autumn, the chance of roosting Hen Harriers in Winter.
Thanks very much Paul for both your comments and your great suggestions. They are definitely places that we will check out in the future.
All the best 👍🏻
Love the photos and videos the best place I’ve been for the beardies is alkborough flats near Scunthorpe. Last September there must have been upwards of 300 along the main footpath from bottom to top .
Thanks very much Dominic, Alkborough Flats sounds very interesting and somewhere I will look into next Autumn.
All the best 👍🏻
Great video as always Dan, although I did notice one of you great pictures had 400mm +2xtc at f4. I guess it was a small typing error as I have that same lens and doubler. Keep up the good work, it’s great you visit all these places as it gives us a good insight on what to expect.
Thanks very much Bob, definitely a typo 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Appreciate your continued support, all the best 👍🏻
Lovely video as ever Dan and some super shots.
Thanks very much Clive, really appreciate it 👍🏻
Have you done Kingfishers?
@@cliveingram9840 I’ve never done kingfishers at a commercial hide, mainly because I get kingfishers on the mill pond in front of my house. I definitely think it’s something I will do though as Pops has done two now and has some incredible images 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography try the hide near Market Drayton I had a lovely day there a few weeks ago and despite the rain and poor light got some images I was pleased with. Hoping to return for some diving shots. Have a great day. Clive
@@cliveingram9840 thanks for that Clive 👍🏻
Amazing as per usual Dan & Pop’s! A friend of mine is a warden on that site! I’ve never been but going there & peak district ( mountain hares) early January hopefully they will still be around
Best take my 800,
Once again thanks for a very informative video
Thanks very much Andy, always appreciate your comments. It’s definitely worth visiting, there are usually spoonbills in the lakes too as well as many other waterfowl. We’ll be out and about for the mountain hare in the Peaks so might cross paths at some point 👍🏻
Another fascinating video Dan.There are other sites in the Dearne Valley close to Old Moor should you arrive early - Edderthorpe Flash, Broomhil Flash and Wombwell Ings. Details are in the excellent book series "Best Birdwatching Sites" the "Yorkshire" edition by Neil Glenn and John Miles.
Thanks very much Rob and thanks for suggesting some alternatives which we will definitely try in the future. The book sounds very interesting as well so thanks for that 👍🏻
Old Moor is a nice reserve, mainly aimed at families. I've been many times and drawn a blank with the beardies...Also worth noting that the area beyond where you got the beardies gets closed off in spring in case there are any breeding Marsh Harriers or Bitterns so the "Bittern Bus stop" is the furthest you can go on that stretch. Its great in the summer around the pond dipping areas for dragon & damselflies and other insects too.
Thanks very much for the information about the reserve at different times of the year, it’s definitely somewhere I will be returning to so really useful.
All the best Graham 👍🏻
hello Pops and Dan, a beautiful video and the images of Pops are superb, in France also some reserves only open at impossible hours for photographers and they have not understood that photographers are their business because in France there are more photographers than observers but in Brenne for example we are very badly seen by the guards and it is surely because of certain individuals who have unseemly attitudes that are detrimental to us, have a good day😍
Thank you, I’m glad that you liked Pops photos 😉
You are absolutely right about the behaviour of a few being detrimental for all photographers which is a shame.
Hopefully Pops and me will get across to France sometime soon and sample the wildlife that you have. All the best 👍🏻
Great video - pity about the odd opening time - seems rather counterproductive. Thanks for the gear tips - that mule pack looks interesting.
Thanks very much I really appreciate your comment and support.
All the best 👍🏻
Nice video again Dan, and lovely images (as always). What was your final take on the 400+2TC vs 800? Matt Granger did a comparison a while ago and his feelings were that the 800 was slightly sharper, but he preferred the bokeh of the 400+2TC. I feel that with the 800mm you're quite limited, but with the 400, you can have 400, 560 AND 800. So even if the 800 PF is sharper at 800mm, the flexibility of the 400 2.8 wins it for me.
Thanks for your comment and great question Paul. I would say that the 400mm with 2xTC has a maximum aperture of 5.6 and the 800mm is 6.3. The extra light on the 400mm means lower ISO which in turn negates the sharpness gains. So I guess add in the flexibility argument that you presented and you have your answer, unless there’s plenty of light then the 800mm wins. Also you could add the 2xTC to the 800mm meaning ridiculous range.
Definitely a good question 👍🏻
Like your videos, especially with Pops. Still confused though as you say 400mmf2.8 which I thought was your new lens being used without the inbuilt 1.4 tc but with an ext 2x tc to get to 800mm.
That lens combo would be well over double the cost of the 800pf. So whilst more flexible the image quality is in your view similar. Or did you mean a different 400mm prime without an inbuilt tc?
Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your comment and thought provoking question. The 400mm is the 2.8 with an additional 2xTC. You are absolutely right that this is a considerable increase in cost but I thought was a useful comparison. The 800mm is a very specific piece of kit whereas the 400mm has more flexibility. Not a straight comparison but something I thought worth exploring.
Thank you both for an informative video, I shoot with Z9 / Z400mm 2.8 *The wildlife photographers dream kit*. your images look excellent with 2x T.C. I have not used that combination, Please ask Pop's if he is happy with the E.E.1. Dot-Sight ? should I buy one? I do need help with long lenses, thank you.
Thanks very much Gerald. Pops loves his Dot Sight and says for long lens work with subjects that are on the move it’s a game changer. On a recent trip to photograph Bottlenose Dolphins on the Black Isle in Scotland it made a huge difference. He would recommend it without hesitation.
All the best 👍🏻
Nice video Dan, the " Red Dot adaptor " that "Pops" has on his camera, is it a Nikon only product?
Great images by you both.
Thanks for your comment Andrew. The Red Dot site is Olympus and can be used with any camera.
All the best 👍🏻
Another stunning video ...shame you cannot get in before the good light has nearly gone surely they are missing a trick ?
Thanks very much. I agree, most people in the reserve were photographers so they definitely are missing a trick!
All the best 👍🏻
Is it possible for Pops to do a video on the Red Dot EE-1 or equivalent? I have never seen one of those before.
Thanks Ray, I will definitely put it to Pops as a suggestion 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography Thanks.
Great stuff, it does seem sad that these reserves are closed at the best time for toggers. Guess you could try and choose a day where there is at least some thin cloud to try and negate the harsh shadow cast. That mule pack looks good, got a link please?
I guess the reserves are primarily for twitchers and not toggers 🤷🏻♂️
I would argue that the vast majority of people there on the Sunday we visited were photographers and so potentially the biggest revenue, maybe we need to mention this to the RSPB?
Link for the Mule pack below, all the best 👍🏻
www.cleyspy.co.uk/product/mulepack/
@@danwillis_photography Thanks Dan, I guess it is down to staffing/funding. And having it continually open would lead to vandalism etc. Thanks for the link!
Hi Dan Why do you not use the handle on the Manfrotto VH502AH when you are videoing or on stills. Also have you considered using your iPhone as a monitor on the camera, or even a purpose built monitor. Do you look through the view finder or the screen on the back of the camera for both stills and videos. Finally I am an avid watcher of your videos and they are brilliant and inspiring.
Thanks for your comment Trevor and your questions. I’m glad you find the videos inspiring, that was always the aim of the channel.
In answer to your questions;
I don’t have a Manfrotto Fluid video head, I use a Gitzo fluid gimbal. It does come with a handle but I removed it as I find it gets in the way for photography. That’s the main issue for the other two questions about monitors. When photographing wildlife I almost exclusively use the viewfinder, yet when filming I use the back screen and a monitor at this point would be a massive advantage. The problem is they get in the way for photography.
Hope that answers your questions.
All the best 👍🏻
Dan I want to get into video with my Z9 but I have no idea how to set up the camera. Can you tell me what settings you use for your videos or point me in the right direction please. Trevor @@danwillis_photography
@@user-rf2yk6jm4k to be honest with you Trevor I’m no expert at all when it comes to video and I’m completely self taught through lots of CZcams tutorials. I found Hudson Henry Photography to be particularly helpful with regards to setup on the Z9, link below 👇🏻
czcams.com/video/qTw-XdAAKjs/video.htmlsi=cWW2zGI__PXbprKf
I setup all the video settings to mirror his setup and literally sat watching the video with camera in hand and paused and adjusted all the way through.
If you start off with this and then ask as many more questions (which are bound to crop up once you go down the video rabbit hole) and I will answer as much as I can 👍🏻
Thanks again Dan I too used Hudson Henry to originally set up my camera so I will look now how he sets up his camera for video@@danwillis_photography
Not been for a while as moved away from the area, I’m sure there are other ways in but not from the car park you used.
Thanks Mark, I’m sure there must be other ways to access the reserve you are absolutely right 👍🏻
Link to mule/donkey pack would be appreciated.
Link below
www.cleyspy.co.uk/product/mulepack/
When were you at old moor joe seels showed there has been very bad flooding at old moor the last few days!
It was last weekend that we were there, I believe that Storm Babet has caused serious flooding for the reserve 👍🏻
Was that you last Sunday that arrived a little bit early ?.
It certainly was Peter 👍🏻
In the early to late summer, try St. Aidans for Black Necked Grebes and bitterns. Also RedKite, just up road from Old Moor which stop you going down the Reed bed path from where you got the beardies during the bittern breading season. They also have Bearded tits.
Thanks very much for sharing that, I’ll definitely check out St Aidans in the future.
All the best 👍🏻
Some cracking images, Dan. 👍
Thanks very much I really appreciate it 👍🏻
Another great video and yes your dads photos are better🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Ian, Pops really appreciated your comment 😂😂😂
All the best 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography Thought he might🤣
Do you See any difference between the 2 lenses?
I genuinely didn’t in terms of image quality. The 400mm with the 2xTC attached is shooting at a maximum aperture of 5.6 whereas the 800mm is 6.3 so you can potentially keep ISO lower which might negate loss of image quality with the TC. I thought both lenses produced great images 👍🏻
Great stuff as always Dan. I have a 150-600 but no converter so would you say I’d struggle to get close enough to them with that?Cheers Ian
Thanks very much Ian. Not at all I would say that at 600mm you’d be perfect and you could always switch into DX for the extra reach 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography Ok nice one Dan that’s great to hear. Have to get over there and it’s nearer than Leighton as you say. 👍