farlymac
PF McFarland
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
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
PF McFarland
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
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
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Austintatious
Well-known
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
PF McFarland
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
PF McFarland
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
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
Well-known
"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.
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
PF McFarland
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