Rodney Campbell's Blog

Raptor

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR @ 600 mm, 1/500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400

There’s a local raptor family who have built their growing nest atop this light tower over a number of years

Alas the nest is VERY high and there’s nothing nearby which matches it’s height. So the only option is to shoot from the ground

I’m hoping one day to catch one of them in flight and closer to the ground …

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Maggie

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR @ 600 mm, 1/1000 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400

Another with the new Z 180-600mm. This time showing off a bit of it’s very nice background (and some foreground) blur (bokeh)

I think this is a juvenile magpie? Getting down nice and low and reasonably close to our subject. As such you can see how there’s a well defined plane of focus and a very nice rolloff to total blur behind and in front. Those trees in the distance a lovely buttery bokeh

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The King

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR @ 600 mm, 1/250 sec at f/6.3, ISO 560

For the last 4 or 5 years my longest focal length lens has been 200mm. I used to own an F-mount Sigma 50-500mm lens but sold it after moving to Nikon Z mirrorless (because the lens (AF) didn’t work on my Z7)

So I’d been waiting for a (Z native) long lens replacement for a number of years

Not just for birds and wildlife but for any of a number of reasons for having access to a longer lens

Now that I have the new Z 180-600mm it was time to try it out. Took it out whilst on a local (bush)walk with our dog 🙂

Spied what I think is a lovely looking Kingfisher way in the distance (this image is at 600mm and is also pretty heavily cropped in addition). I couldn’t actually get any closer (not just because I had a dog 🙂 but also) because it was over a river 🙂

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

First Take

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR @ 600 mm, 1/500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 360

My very first frame taken with a newly adopted lens

The Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR has been on Nikon’s Z lens roadmap since the very beginning. Now 4 years later it’s finally been released!

A relatively affordable long telephoto zoom with lots of very positive features

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Room with a View

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S @ 24 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 64 x 10 Frames

A pretty sweet view from this apartment block in Potts Point here in Sydney. A 10 frame handheld panorama that takes in about 240˚ of the expansive views. From Darlinghurst around past the CBD, the SHB and SOH, across the harbour and out towards the heads

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.