Steve Perry
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Nikon 800 PF Review For Wildlife Photography (first look)
Nikon just announced their new 800mm PF and my extensive first-look review for wildlife photographers is ready to go!
In this first-look video, I’ll answer all the burning questions you have about the 800PF. We’ll talk about the specifications, the controls, features, technology, ergonomics,…
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48 comments
I love this lens; it is better than my 400 mm 2.8 TC coupled with the 2X TC (to get 800 mm 5.6). Not to mention that the 800 PF is lighter and nearly half the price. Nikon exceeded all my expectations with this lens. I have used mine for 5 days of serious rain in Alaska, 3 to 5 hours per day, and it has never had an issue. This lens is a masterpiece!
As much as I love the idea of this lens I find the 5m minimum focus incredibly limiting. It can't focus close to the point where if a bird flies to a branch 15 feet away from you you'll be unable to make a photo. That makes it borderline unusable to me without also packing a close focusing zoom lens with another camera, increasing the weight of your package 2 fold.
Is a long term review for this lens coming?
Hello, I want to sell my Nikon 500pf lens, to buy the 800pf, it´s worth it, it´s for shooting birds, sometimes I get shorchanged with the 500 lens, .Thank you.
Nice Video…Greetings from Germany..🎉
I love this lens after my rental. So glad I have that option but I’d love to own it!
Steve m planning to take this lens…is it a good product to buy ? I shoot snall birds and somtimes birds in flight …i have a 200-500 which helps me for the zoom flexibility…but i need a long lens …btween the 600 pf and 800 pf which one to go for ?also is framing possible with this lens ? Please advice
Hi Steve,
I am an enthusiast photographer and I enjoy learning from your videos. I use Nikon z9 and z8.
I also own z 400 tc, z 600 PF and z 400 PF all thanks to your detailed educational videos. I have set my camera’s following your suggestions and I get very good results.
I use Lightroom only and would like to learn Photoshop which I have but do not know how to use. Would you be interested to putting together a video to walk us thru on how you process your RAW shots?
If not, can you recommend where I can learn? I am more of a visual learner than a book worm.
Thank you in advance
Steve you hit it on the head solid when it comes to f6.3 vs the lighter weight@. I take lighter all day long. Thanks for reviewing!
Why did you never publish the promised "final review" of this lens? Is there something we should be aware of? I'm thinking about finally getting the lens next month, but this kind of makes me nervous.
I appreciate your channel and find value in watching your videos to enhance my skills in wildlife photography. I would highly appreciate your opinion on choosing between the NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR and the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR lens. Weight is not a concern for me; my primary goal is to prioritize sharpness and focus.
thank you
Hey Steve, I've been dreaming about this lens ever since it was announced. And I'm a Canon guy 😀 lol
I'm curious though, there has been some talk that PF lenses (Phase Fresnal) and Canon's DO (Difractive Optics) struggle in harsh light ? ….not that I'm out trying to shoot in harsh light, if I can help it.
I was just thinking that this initial test was pretty much all in the opposite of harsh light. Rather subdued and diffused.
I'd like to see the results in bright sun…. Maybe at like 11 am ?
Do you have an opinion on this aspect now ?
Amazing review as usual highly informative..i just bought my z9 and im torn between two lenses the 800pf and the nikon dealer offered me the 600 f4 if-ed vr for the same price just make my mind boil between the two i need your help
I know the 600 weighs 5kg but iv always dreamt of owning an f4 but the weight scared me.
And i photograph birds predominantly so the 800 pf sound like the perfect lens but its no f4.
Please help
It's pretty much the same reach:aperture ratio as a 500 f4 but at 800mm.
Wow..impressive
When are you going to do a review of final production copy?
I love your content, amazing info. Just one thing, outside of the US NO ONE uses or understands inches and pounds 🙂
I just got my z800 and can’t get the back lens cap off. Any suggestions?
Just decided to go all in on the PF trinity after deliberating for months on possibly swapping out my 500 pf for the 400 or 600 TC. This gives me way more flexibility to mix and match these lenses depending on what type of hike or trip I'm doing and going used for the 300 and 500 got me the whole set for under 9k.
Such an awesome lens, though I do wonder, how do you take out such expensive kit without worry of it breaking or getting stolen?
What do you think if you compare this one to the f mount 5.6?
To be honest the old Lens hood it fits more for me but the new 800mm is just a beast.
Hello Steeve, I'm found of your reviews and ebooks. When will you do the deep review of this lens ? Many thanks, and greetings from France.
Hi Steve, many thanks for this review. I'll get mine in 2 days. could you tell which bag you were using with the 800pf and Z9 ? Many thanks for all your work you share.
Hello sir, thanks for another great video.
I have a question.
Can I use this lens with my d500 or d850 though it is z mount lens?
If yes than how ?
Thanks for your reply in advance
Have a great day
Question-
When hand holding this lens do u use VR on sport mode ??? I cannot get a sharp shot even at SS 1600 on a static subject…. This is no where near as sharp as my 500 pf .
Im feeling let down .
Thanks for any advice!!
Thanks a ton for the review. I own a 500mm F4 F mount with a Z9. Should I opt for this one?
Men… these reviews you make are awesome ! You were the reason i bought the D500, the 200-500, 500PF… shooting the Z9 now and looking at your 800mm F6.3 PF S lens review…. Gotta pull my wallet again ! Thx Steve !
Thank you, Steve! for the excellent review. Could you compare once this lens with the z 600mm TC VR? I would be happy about Nikon could also publish MTF curve of the ZTC 1.4x and 2x external converters, attached to the primes Z 800, 600 and 400mm, not only with the 70-200mm. I absolutely agree with you, that a focus limiter from close to 10-15m would be an absolute need, maybe with software solution, as they have no switch possibility. Does Nikon hear such comments?.Best regards Josef
I think the good keeper rate at slower shutter speed is rather due to the electronic shutter of the Z9. I guess you got your keeper rates for the 500 and 600 with the D850/D5? It would be interesting how they perform on the Z9 at slow shutter speeds.
It is a well established fact (although Nikon refuses to admit it) that the VR of the 500PF and some other lenses more or less – depending on the camera model – somehow interferes with shutter vibration in the 1/60s to 1/200 s range.
Hey Steve! I heard from somewhere that longer lenses can apparently have a negative effect on typically higher megapixel cameras due to diffraction from length of the lens itself. Is this true? For example if I were to take a photo with both the 500PF and 800PF on the Z9, but got closer to the subject with the 500PF to fill the same frame, Would one have more resolution than the other? Let me know your thoughts!
BTW, I see a TON of video reviews out for this lens, and yours is a great one. But what I REALLY need to see, is a comparison of this lens, to the Nikor 800mm F5.6. I'm starting to feel like the old school HUGE, HEAVY, ridiculously EXPENSIVE, but only slightly faster lenses probably need to die, and be buried. But I really need to see some real world, side by side comparisons to be able to say this with confidence.
This lens could be my reason to jump ship from Canon, as I just don't see Canon ever making such a lens 🙁 Also, to be honest, even IF I could afford an 800mm F5.6 lens (of any brand) I think Id prefer this F6.3 for the size and weight differences alone. Obviously, being half the price as well, is HUGE too.
Im still using a d5600 and getting more and more frustrated by the day. Great video, very helpful…my next step was to go to a d850 but is Mirrorless the best option?? can the z800 be used on a dslr?
When will you release the long term review video for the 800mm PF?
Hey Steve, another great video. I appreciate how you always keep things on level so as not to owe anything to any company. I trust your opinion more than anyone else out there. I have room for a single purchase. I love to shoot birds, but I also shoot bear, elk and deer. Would this lens be the best option for me? Thanks so much for the great information you provide us with!
Hi Steve. Thanks mate. I always look forward to seeing your videos. They are so informative. Just wondering if you have compared Nikon 600mm f4 & 800mm f6.3? Which one would you keep if you had only one choice? With Z9 body. Thanks 😊
That's a dream setup Z9 + 800 PF, but easy for you to handheld with those guns 🙂
I wish there was a Z to E Mount adapter.
Wish it could come with internal 1.4x tc ,that would have made it killer😊😊
Hi Steve I have just watched your video on the 800pf.Amazing,I mainly shoot birds if you had to choice between the 500pf and the 800pf on the z9 if you can only have one of them which one would be your preference thanks.sam
I shoot everything, especially the raptors of Krabi. I love my D500 w 200-500mm zoom, but now I lust for this lens. How do you think it will work with the Z50 ? Rhetorical question, cause I'm going to find out by buying both . . .
What’s the best Super Telephoto lenses for the Z9
No price on the Nikon Mirrorless Book??
I use the Z 9 with the 100-400 PF and switch to DX JPEG very routinely. I started out using FX most of the time. NOW I shoot DX JPEG and I have ordered the 800 F 6.3 PF and will use that the same exact day. I regard the $6,500 price of the lens to be right at the edge of workable for me. Frankly I would rather have the Nikon 200-600 and I use that lens with my families Sony A 1 and the 200-600 G lens. I still use the Nikon D7500 and the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 and regard that as the gold standard in reasonable price range. Acra Swiss would be appreciated. Manfrotto is what Nikon brand tripods use. Bad choice for them!
Hi Steve, thanks for the video!
I am looking for a new set for wildlife photography. Currently on a Nikon d5100 and a 55-300mm.
What do you think would work best with a Nikon Zii in terms of lens ? I am looking for tracking animals in the wild as well as just look at them from a hide.
Thanks 👍🏼
How does the AF perform in comparsion to your 600mm f4 Sony?
Hell. .the Canon's new equivalent is USD 17K! while this Nikon beauty is only USD 6.5K? Nikon is definitely on the correct path with all their Z lenses creation. I can now fathom just how the in-coming 200-600 will be ? The waiting period is long for this 800 lens. For a wildlife shooter, this lens is a no brainer