Nikon D500 - first impressions

[Frank Fremerey]

#404 WOW WOW WOW. superb style and green tones!

[John Koerner]

#404 WOW WOW WOW. superb style and green tones!

Nikon D500 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar Macro

Thank you.

The real amazing thing is that she is still alive ... as of today

Typically, mantids here die by October/November, but she is still kicking.

I found (and photographed) her in my mother's garden on 11/24 ... obviously pregnant ... but the approaching weekend indicated cold rains and 40-50° temperatures. After taking this photo on the 24^th, I feared for her safety and intervened, bringing her indoors to warm temperatures to ensure her success at delivering her impending eggs.

She delivered a week ago and I have since placed her ootheca outdoors in my parents' yard where I found her.

In the meantime, this elderly gal is still doing fine, as of 12/8, defying all odds and still eating when I feed her

Jack

[Frank Fremerey]

She would also be a great addition to the color of life thread, Jack

[ColinM]

Great image Jack
Wonderful subject (I've only ever seen a Mantis once, in Greece)

And fascinating backstory. Please post pictures of the children

[John Koerner]

She would also be a great addition to the color of life thread, Jack

Hi. Where is that?

[John Koerner]

Great image Jack
Wonderful subject (I've only ever seen a Mantis once, in Greece)

And fascinating backstory. Please post pictures of the children

Really?

There are many different strains in Florida (where I used to live) and I think about 3 here in California: http://www.thenaturephotographer.club/JohnKoerner/861

I have placed this one's eggs eggs, back outside so they can hatch naturally next spring.

Been working a ton of hours, so haven't had much time for photography, but I hope to capture a video of the mantid nymphs emerging next spring.

They typically die-off in November, even if kept indoors ... but this ol' gal is still alert, and still feeding, as of today 

[Frank Fremerey]

Hi. Where is that?

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?topic=3942.45

[stenrasmussen]

Ok, time for some real situation high ISO needs: Here at ISO 20.000, 1/500s, f/2.8 and ISO 10.000, 1/500s, f/2.8.

[golunvolo]

Sten, how was your overall experience with the d500 at the theater? There is an offer here for a brand new one for 1900€...

[stenrasmussen]

Sten, how was your overall experience with the d500 at the theater? There is an offer here for a brand new one for 1900€...

Apart from the high ISO capability which still is lagging compared to FX the real advantage is the D500's speed (changing ISO, AF acquisition time and accuracy and FPS). This comes in really handy when wanting to capture a dancer in the desired pose. Arms and legs move so fast that trying to nail this with single frames is very challenging. So I can live with more grainy images.
I also brought a D3S but it fell short wrt. AF performance so I barely used it. Now, the Df was used quite a lot for images taking in the whole stage. For this I used the Tamron 85/1.8VC and a Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VRII mostly.

[golunvolo]

Apart from the high ISO capability which still is lagging compared to FX the real advantage is the D500's speed (changing ISO, AF acquisition time and accuracy and FPS). This comes in really handy when wanting to capture a dancer in the desired pose. Arms and legs move so fast that trying to nail this with single frames is very challenging. So I can live with more grainy images.
I also brought a D3S but it fell short wrt. AF performance so I barely used it. Now, the Df was used quite a lot for images taking in the whole stage. For this I used the Tamron 85/1.8VC and a Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VRII mostly.

   A d750 with a 80-200 2.8 ED is my weapon of choice for most of my stage work as of today. There is a gripped d700 for fast action. The idea is to replace the later with a d500 and the lens with either a 70-200 vrII or the new  version. I feel it is time for an upgrade. That you brought a D3S and barely use it is a very strong point for me.
   
   

[stenrasmussen]

   A d750 with a 80-200 2.8 ED is my weapon of choice for most of my stage work as of today. There is a gripped d700 for fast action. The idea is to replace the later with a d500 and the lens with either a 70-200 vrII or the new  version. I feel it is time for an upgrade. That you brought a D3S and barely use it is a very strong point for me.
   
 

I used to shoot with a D750 but the AF sensor coverage was on the small side. The D750 rules the ISO scale though. The D3S just felt old in comparison. I also emply LV to prefocus and that's another area where newer tech is better. I didn't get the chance to test out the Fujifilm X-T2 but that would certainly been interesting. The other thing that is nice with the D500 is the bright and large viewfinder. Another and perhaps interesting point is that I made better use of the Sigma 50-150/2.8OS than the 70-200 Nikkor. The near 20mm did make a difference...more so than the missing 50mm at the long end.
But again, the 10fps in the D500 is just really nice to have.

[John Koerner]

Nikon D500 + 300mm f/2.8 VR II + 2x TCIII

ISO 4000, 1/8 shutter

The above shot looks like it was taken in broad daylight ... but that is the power of the D500 ... the image was actually taken in almost pitch-black conditions (no flash).

To illustrate the conditions, the image below was taken before the above, and attempted with a Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight at 1/125 shutter.

I chose to take the top photo, with no flash, to remove any eye-reflection, as well as to push the camera to its limits. It did not disappoint.

[Frank Fremerey]

phantastic shot, John. 1/8 is not so easy with a 300mm lens

[John Koerner]

phantastic shot, John. 1/8 is not so easy with a 300mm lens

It was on a tripod of course

I would have had even better results with a remote switch. I take a lot of natural light macros at very slow shutters (with stationary subjects), so I figured I would try on this nocturnal bird.

I was only able to do this because owls "sit still" long enough to allow for a slow shutter like that

Cheers,