Birding with the Z50 and Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR

[farlymac]

My first thought when I tried my hand at birding with the Z5 and the Z 24-200mm f4-6.3 VR was I should try it on the Z50 to get a 300mm equivalent on the long end. Then I remembered the 50-250 in DX was like a 75-325mm in FX, and I was off to the Greenfield Industrial Park to see what I could do. Granted, it was kind of late in the day so I was dealing with a setting sun, but for about an hour or so I had enough light to work with.

There is a large lake in the middle of the park with a nature trail that connects with another trail coming from the other direction for a combined distance of about three miles though I only used about a half mile of it. That late in the day too the birds aren't as active, mainly working their way back to nesting sites. But I was able to get some decent images in the short amount of time, notwithstanding the occasional hiker coming by and scaring away any birds I was trying to target.

I started with a flock of Black Headed Vultures to see how good I could track them.


Four Vultures by P F McFarland, on Flickr


Turning by P F McFarland, on Flickr


Showing The Edges 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr

The last two I did a heavy crop on to eliminate the excess sky, and to move the subject off-center.

I'll be adding more later, mostly some finches. Hard to catch those little buggers in a good pose since they are constantly looking around and jumping to the next branch or tree.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Seasonal lodging only


38 Cherry Tree Trail by P F McFarland, on Flickr

The manual override focus collar on the Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR comes in handy when picking your subject out from a busy foreground


Yellow-Rumped Warbler 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr


Yellow-Rumped Warbler 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr


Yellow-Rumped Warbler 3 by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF

 

[Austintatious]

Getting up close is a challenge for sure. I have better luck photographing ducks and geese on a nearby pond with a Tamron 70-300 on an APS-C Nikon. Sometimes for added reach I have used an Olympus converter (1.7X) screwed on to the front of the lens.These shots you have posted look pretty nice Phil 😀

 

[farlymac]

Getting up close is a challenge for sure. I have better luck photographing ducks and geese on a nearby pond with a Tamron 70-300 on an APS-C Nikon. Sometimes for added reach I have used an Olympus converter (1.7X) screwed on to the front of the lens.These shots you have posted look pretty nice Phil 😀

Thanks, Carlos. The 50-250mm DX having the reach of a 325mm is nice, but even then I had to do a lot of cropping. The camera has enough resolution, and the lens adds sharpness and stability to get some decent images. Now if I could just get my identifications right...these are actually Yellow-Rumped Warblers, all males in winter colors, and of the Myrtle, or eastern variety.

 

[farlymac]

Last of the bird photos for now.


Bird Watching Bench by P F McFarland, on Flickr

That's a crabapple tree in bloom, the first week of December. Ain't climate change wonderful?


Bird of a Different Type by P F McFarland, on Flickr

Stopped that spinner in mid-flight. Can read the tail number too.


Song Sparrow by P F McFarland, on Flickr

Wish I had gotten just a tad closer.


Waiting For The Parade by P F McFarland, on Flickr

I was concentrating on the Mallards so much I didn't even see the Great Blue Heron until I got home and processed the photos. That little extra reach with the 50-250mm really helped.


Full OF Finches by P F McFarland, on Flickr

Best I can tell these are House Finches.

I really like the 50-250mm for birding because it has VR, and the Z50 doesn't have IBIS. I hope Nikon comes out with a longer zoom for the APS-C line.

PF

 

[Austintatious]

"I really like the 50-250mm for birding because it has VR, and the Z50 doesn't have IBIS. I hope Nikon comes out with a longer zoom for the APS-C line."



That is why I like the Tamron 70-300 on a DX Nikon. It has VR and with the crop factor it's like a 450mm field of view.

 

[farlymac]

"I really like the 50-250mm for birding because it has VR, and the Z50 doesn't have IBIS. I hope Nikon comes out with a longer zoom for the APS-C line."



That is why I like the Tamron 70-300 on a DX Nikon. It has VR and with the crop factor it's like a 450mm field of view.

I've got the Nikkor 55-300 DX VR, so that will do until Nikon makes one in Z mount. My only issue with that is I don't want to get mixed up when making up the kit for any one excursion, and wind up with the wrong lens or forgetting the FTZ, or grabbing a bag thinking the FTZ is in there then finding out too late it isn't. Plus, I'm thinking along the lines of a 100-400mm when using a long zoom on a DX body. But I want it to be a DX lens, not FX like Nikon has made so far. That way it should be within my budget.

PF