Beautiful photos. You have inspired me to look for similar vistas in the rural county where I live in Ontario. How fortuitous that I found this video the day after I bought my Z 100-400! I was thinking of it almost entirely as a birding lens - once my 1.4 tc arrives. Now with landscapes added the lens may become all but welded to my Z6.
When I pre-ordered the Z100-400 back before Christmas, I was hesitating on going through with the purchase when BH Photo notified me in February that it was in route. There had been little reviews yet, and Hudson had just gotten his too. So, there was really no positive or negative comments yet. I'm usually not an early adopter with camera equipment. But I had a change of heart and decided to risk getting the lens and sent BH Photo a note saying that I did want the lens. They reshipped it to me and am I so glad I did. Now the lens is hard to get, and the reviews have been stellar including my own. I have pre-ordered the 1.4 teleconverter (no telling when that will be available now) and look forward with some future trips with the lens.
Nice video Hudson and Rick. It accurately conveys the great photography we had during our time together in the Palouse. I am a workshop neophyte. But, I would like to add that on top of the great locations, the fantastic fellowship that you focus on creating among all the participants and you two becomes an important part of the workshops you run. Both you and Rick work hard on creating a wonderful vibe. The number of images and texts that continue to be shared amongst the group is testimony to both your success in this regard, and the quantity of quality images we all got on this adventure. You helped create images and friendships. You have developed a strong workshop following of repeat attendance for good reason. I highly recommend your workshops for anyone looking for a wonderful photographic adventure. Yes, the 100-400 lenses were the perfect focal length for this location. Especially so up on Steptoe Butte. I brought only my 70-200 f/2.8 GM and 1/.4 TC. Still, it proved to be perfectly adequate in capturing quality images. This again was optimized by your selection of positions on the Butte. Every time we visited we were put in a different location that optimized for the conditions. Excellent leadership on your parts. I am sure that I will be editing and printing images from this trip for many years as I revisit them. Thanks again, Steve
The 100-400 looks so compelling. It’s definitely on my list. Unfortunately selling my 70-200 f/2.8 Z to defer costs is not an option. My daughter is a figure skater, and ice rinks are sneaky dark. The 2.8 is a total must-have trying to capture action indoors. Hoping to rent the 100-400 sometime soon. 😎 Thanks as always for the great videos!
Beautiful results, guys! I got my Nikon 100-400 about 9 days ago, and have barely taken it off my Z9. What great results! ...with a lens that's barely larger or heavier than my 70-200, a LOT less money and weight than one of the highest-end 400mm or 600mm lenses. Great background separation, fast, silent autofocus, etc., etc.. It's my new favorite.
Having attended the workshop I can readily agree that the 100-400 is great for landscapes when reach or isolation is needed. It will always be in my bag when landscapes are in the cards. Great workshop, it was great, can’t wait for the next one….
As a member of the workshop, the 100-400 is great for landscapes where reach or isolation is needed. It will always be in my bag when landscapes are in the cards. Can’t wait for the next time…
Enjoyed seeing this images from The Palouse. I have never been there, perhaps one day. My Sony 10-400 replaced the 70-200. No regrets. A very versatile lens.
Daaaang! Can’t wait to hear more about that 800mm pf. I’m waiting for mine and sooooo excited I can finally afford a true wildlife lens. I got in late on pre orders so who knows when I will see it. I’am NPS so hoping soon. Defiantly been thinking about selling my 200-500 for 100-400 as I need my 70-200 but will hold out to see what the 200-600 ends up looking like. Exciting times!! 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Hudson. I recall watching this video when it came out, and put the Palouse on my bucket list. I am curious as to what the dates were for this trip. I unexpectedly have a some time off and am planning a trip to Steptoe around May 29-31 2024. It's about a 6 hour drive from my home in British Columbia. I am anticipating the fields will have greened up significantly by that date, at least that is my hope. I always appreciate your content. And the 100-400 rarely comes off my Z8. It's my go to for most things landscape at this point. Cheers
OH I'm so glad I saw this Randy. The road up to Steptoe Butte is still closed for construction. We chose not to do a workshop there in 2025 because of that. It may be next summer or later till it reopens. :-(
I am so jealous. I have had the Nikon Z 100-400 on order since it was announced last November but my UK Nikon main-dealer has had so few so far I am still looking at a LONG wait before I am likely to get mine!! I know I will be using it a lot as I regularly use the 2xteleconverter in conjunction with the Z70-200 f2.8 which gives very good results. As for the 800PF - I have one on order but anticipate a long, long wait!!!!
Great video as always. I just tried the 70-200S and TC2. Fiddling with adapters to get that extra 30mm and f2.8 was ALMOST worth it. :) However, I think I would much prefer a 50-500 like the Sigma bigma, and a little more reach without the downsides of a TC. I think a 50-250F4S would be right up my alley. I really like my 50-250DXVR on my Z7II as it is. I'd like some nicer bokeh and F4 is fast enough for me. I also REALLY like the built-in TC options on other lenses, and would like to see more of those. However, I also tend not to use the zoom range very much, and would prefer the size and weight savings of primes. Even if it meant carrying two bodies which I now do more often with the Z7II and Z50 combo. Glad my minty 300PF wasn't selling on ebay! ;)
Really enjoyed watching this video from my sofa with the knee propped up! Reliving the fun trip for a 2nd time! That printing workshop sounds interesting…friends and family have been asking me to print some of my shots for their walls! Could use some of your expertise! Have fun in Costa Rica, Hudson. And thanks for the great trip!
@@terilapetino6337 I've had two knee replacements in the last couple of years. Has prevented me going on these workshops. Now it is the back.........!!
I do a lot of wildlife photography shooting wild horses in Arizona during the winter as well as landscape which I am not doing enough . I needed to get a longer lens and was pretty well sold on getting the 400 f4.5 . Then I started looking at a few of the photographers I follow such as you, Simon d’Entremont, Thomas Heaton and Steve Perry and noticed you all had the 100-400 in your bags. I was thinking prime 400 with my Z8 and my 70-200 with my D850. Your video when you said you were returning the 400 and keeping the 100-400 kind of was the last nail in the coffin. So I ordered the 100-400 with 1.4 TC 😁. I will probably end up selling my 70-200 and keep a 24-70 on my D850 Question: when you shoot landscape with your 100-400 , are you mostly at f8 ? Thank you for your videos, I learn do much from them
It totally depends. Sometimes if I want a bit of depth of field, I'll shoot it at f11. I frequently use f5.6. That aperture is razor sharp with the 100-400. It's pretty sharp wide open too. :-) The newer Z lenses really are head and shoulders above the old F glass. I think the F4 S glass outperforms the 2.8 AF-S lenses of yesteryear. :-)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you for your replyI and your help through your videos in helping me choose the 100-400. have the old 70-200 mm VR II lens and from what I read, it is definitely sharper. I totally enjoy your videos and maybe one day, I will be able to join you on one of your field trips.
The trip to the Palouse was terrific, and I suspect the conditions that second night on Steptoe would be hard to beat. Your workshops are always a blast. Even if I didn't have that nice S series lens I was happy to have a 100-400 in my bag. I ended up doing almost all panos with it that second night, and even if I didn't break out the 1.4 I found I could still crop with good success. Have you had a chance to check my video from the link I sent to the group?
Hudson, thank you for another excellent video, as a 1st time scheduled participant of a Hudson Henry Workshop ( my friend Phillip and I will be in Yellowstone with you) I get excited with anticipation whenever you discuss a workshop that just concluded. Your review of the Z lens 100-400mm, really made me think that I might’ve made the wrong decision last December by buying a second D850 body. My D850s I thought of as my forever cameras, but hearing of the magnificent lenses that are coming out in the Z mount I am tempted to trade them in, but not yet. Have you found anything comparable in Nikon or other third-party lenses in that 100-400 range in an F Mount that you would purchase. I always have my older 24-120mm f/4 on one body, And on the other by 70-200 with a 1.4 Tele converter. I’m finding that I use the 70 to 200 range less & less as I primarily shoot landscapes and wildlife and street photography. I’ve never been a Portrait shooter. You got me thinking and tempted to go to Z just for that lens, obviously a very$$$$$ decision.
Can't wait to have you Jim! It will be a blast! It's a really tough one. The problem is that the S glass is just so much better across the board. I don't think there's anything at all comparable in f mount. Certainly not the old 80-400 or the 200-500. I didn't like those lenses at all. Canon had a good one for their dslrs, but I don't think it touches this one either. I used the older 24-120 as well and the new one is just heads and shoulders better and much lighter. Heck I think the 14-30 F4 S is better than my beloved 14-24 F mount of old. The new 14-24 S is mind bendingly better. It's clear that f mount is going away. I just saw Nikon's blowing out refurbished D5s for $1999! That says something. Pros across the board are going mirrorless. If you're considering a change, the 850 and f glass still has some value on the used market. I remember waiting too long to sell my mamiya medium format kit... Now that said, the 850 is the best dslr ever built. It will likely hold that title forever. I loved mine till I started shooting landscapes with the Z7. Is a tough choice, but the future is certainly Z mount. The hard part is that the Z9 is really head and shoulders above right now for action and wildlife. The ii 6 & 7 are great, but the 9 is amazing. I'm sure the new tech will bleed down, but it may take time. :(
@@HudsonHenryPhoto based on knowing you through your RU-vid Videos I have come to really respect and rely on your experience and photographic opinions (you may remember I followed your switch from Mac to PC step by step and purchased the same Dell XPS 15). your enthusiasm for the S glass, has made me seriously consider selling one of the 850's and going to the Z9 with the 100-400mm, I may not like having a z-9 on one shoulder and an 850 on the other, but I am very tempted. One other thing, I may need a note from you because if I do this my wife will be pissed......lol
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank God the z9 and 100-400mm are both out of stock, I may have hit that order button from B&H, don't want to bother you further but have you done a comparison of the Z7II vs Z9? May think of purchasing 2- Z7ii and the 100-400mm to replace my D850's, does that make sense?
I have a z6ii & z9. I sold the 7ii. The 9 is better for astro and action and still most capable for landscape. The 6ii is a dream lowlight handheld camera. I let it's iso run up to 20,000! If you want the 9 and 100-400, it's a good idea to get on the list at B&H as well as a small local shop. Cancel the order that doesn't come first. I think the 9 will come before the 100-400... :( I've got links if you use B&H.
Not sure what 80-400 you were talking about, but my 80-400 G VRII version on the FTZ is super quick focussing on the Z9 and I am very happy with the sharpness.
How did the pictures come out using the 100-400 plus 1.4 TC plus switching the camera to DX/APSC format on a higher resolution sensor? Absolutely wonderful group of pictures. Thank you.
I sold my Nikon D700 and bought a Z6II from B&H. I have a Nikon 28-300 AFS lens that I use with the adaptor. The whole rig is really heavy with that lens. Do you have a clue if Nikon might offer something in this zoom range for the Z series bodies? I would buy it in a heartbeat as the 28-300 is a perfect size for my use.
I have been contemplating the purchase of the Z 100-400. If I go that route, I would have nothing but Z lenses (28mm, 14-30, 24-120), so my D500 would have to go, also. My concern is that the D500 is a superior option to the Z6 when it comes to action shots. In your opinion, would I need to upgrade to a Z6 II? I have been waiting for Nikon to announce the Z8 or equivalent. What do you think?
My other favorite lens. I've got some great ones from another trip there at 14mm when the clouds were fantastic using the quartzite rocks and wildflowers as foreground, but obviously you completely lose those unique undulating hills in the distance. They're so amazing. You'll want a long lens.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I see what you're saying about losing the hills.....My longest lens currently is the 70-200 and frankly the 100-400 is not in my budget at this time (just ordered the DJI mini 3 pro) but I may spring for the 1.4 converter. not sure if the leap to the 2.0 is a good bet. with the Z711 cropping may give better results.....??
I have stumbled across a "new" lens that was released last fall, but there wasn't much "Buzz" about it. Has anybody showed up at a workshop with the Tamron 35-150 f/2.0-2.8 Lens (for Sony). If so, what did they (or Rick) think of it especially when compared to the Sony 24-105 f/4?
A number of people are waiting for this lens to be available again (including me!). I have hesitated to order through B&H since they take my money up front, so I have a notification of availability with them. I'm afraid this puts me last in line. Any suggestions on best place to order? Nikon directly or some other company, or is B&H the best? Thanks for the great video, but I'm like a kid at a candy store window.
B&H does not charge your card until it ships. They do put a temporary hold to assure funds are available at the moment you order, then it drops away a few days later. Apple and many other big online sellers do the same. It actually charges your card on the day it ships, not a second sooner. The best strategy is to get in line at a small local shop and use my B&H link to get in thier line too. Whichever ships first, cancel the other. :)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto that’s surprising to hear. They say right on the checkout that your card will be charged immediately. In fact, I bought the 105 Nikon macro in August 2021, had the $985 charge come though on my statement and included in the August payment, but didn’t get the lens until December 2021. I also ordered a mini monopod for $89 charged to my account August 2021 but I’ve still never gotten it.
I think it's going to be fine, and the 800 is going to be even better. I've been practicing with them on cloudy days in forested trails here and been quite pleased. :)
Just watched a review where the youtuber said the lens has soft images at 400 when the subject is distant...could not confirm if it was due to heat or atmospheric distortion...or just the design...
Atmosphere. Not the lens. I can tell you that for sure. :) you can't control that. This lens is sharp throughout its range, even wide open with a 1.4 tc
It's a bit luck of the draw with that. I've heard it go both ways. Not a bad idea to put the order in at both places and cancel one only when the other ships. ;)