Foto at top: One of our favourite combinations: Nikon DSLR D500 + Nikkor 500mm f/5.64E PF VR, Nikon pro quality, ultra lightweight lens 1450 gram. (at Z50: 1450 + ZTF adapter 135 gram = 1585 gram). Overall camouflage lens including second part of homemade sight have been removed from lens to show imprints, switches and one of four Memory recall buttons. The other three are on top, bottom and backside lens.

“Good glass”

In bird photography a camera-converter-lens-combination is usually built around a specific telelens. Lenses have a rather long life compared to camera’s because their technology lasts longer. Camera’s, definitely mirrorless camera’s, are more electronica- or computer-oriented devices. They also contain substantial siftware. Lenses and converters contain mechanical microtechnology and expensive glass and require extraordinary long, quite expensive production processes.

“Good glass” is your main asset in photography. Essential technology like image sensors, autofocus sensors and microprocessors driving this equipment, changes over time. Good camera’s are expensive, super glass is incredibly expensive and – particularly in the past – was incredibly heavy. Modern MLC’s including Nikons Z Series are changing this trend significantly. This is really a great advantage in lightweight bird photography. Nikon Z mount 400mm, 600mm and 800mm are much lighter than their classical F Mount nephews. Look for example at Nikon related news.

Lightweight lenses

Lens	weight (gram)	stabilisation		price spring '24	optical quality (1-10)
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II	1450	4 stops	low distance, large birds, relatively heavy, top image quality		10
Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR	2950	4 stops	medium distance, top image quality, fine bokeh, rather heavy		10
Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF VR	770	4 stops	ultra lightweight, perfect detail and image quality, also when using TC-20E III		10
Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR	1450	4.5 stops	lightweight, excellent detail & image quality up to large distance also with TC-20E III at V3, J5, Z50, etcetera		10
Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 VR	2350	4 stops	good detail and image quality also with TC-20E III ay V3, J5 and Z50, etcetera		9
Z Nikkor 50-250mm		qqq	surprisingly good detail	low (if kit lens)	9
Z Nikkor 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S	1435	qqq	great detail	2700 euro	9
Z Nikkor 400mm f/4.5 VR S	1160 excl. tripod foot	qqq	compact, length 23,5cm. excellent detail also with 1,4 converter	2.950 euro	10
Z Nikkor 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3	2140	5.5 stops	surprisingly good detail up to 600mm zoom, internal zoom, focus =>1.4m, perfect with TC-14E, lesser quality with TC-20E		9
Z Nikkor 600mm f/4	3260	qqq	built-in TC 1.4	16k	10
Sigma Sports 150-600mm f/5.0 - 6.3	2900	4 stops	stirdy, pro quality detail and image quality also with TC-140, a bit heavy, overall great lens		10
Tamron G2 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3	1950	4 stops	pro quality detail and image quality also with TC-X14.		10

Converters:

Converter	Multiplying 35mm equivalent by factor:	Weight (gram)	Supports lens type	Loss in light loss (stops)	Note
Nikkor TC-14E II or III	1.4	200	F mount	1
Nikkor TC-17E	1.7	250	F mount	1.5	We never use this converter because we prefer high quality TC-20E III
Nikkor TC-20E III aspherical	2.0	330	F mount	2	Exceptional quality! All Nikon MLC's support TC-20E III
Sigma TC 1401	1.4	qqq	F mount	1
Tamron TX 14	1.4	qqq	F mount	1
Nikkor 1.4x	1.4	190	Z mount	1
Nikkor 2.0x	2.0	330	Z mount	2

About reach, bird action, weight and carrying or alternating combinations

In longer walks we sometimes use Micnova camera harnas carrying a second lens [+ converter] or second camera at hip or breast. This Micnova solution has proven to be an absolutely safe and comfortable method during long walks or day trips. We sometimes carry at the hip a second set of equipment for photographing action.

Alternatively we carry one combination on tripod and exchange this one with a second camera [+ converter] behind the lens [+ converter]. Lens+converter this way remain safely on tripod. This works great. One can also exchange photo and video camera [with microphone}.

We still use tripod for unpredictabele action or fast flying birds or if we need aiming camera at birds at larger distance like in wetlands, near lakes or the sea or if we want to put equipment (on tripod) down so we can take a short break.Usually we carry (on our bike) two combinations at the time:

• Reach (bereik): usually Z50 or Z7 Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC 20E III equivalent up to 1500mm

• Action: usually D500 Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR or Z50 Nikkor 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3.

D500 and Z50 both use an image sensor with similar architecture, so both camera’s are using more or less equal settings and deliver comparable image quality. So in our lightweight bird photography we often use (and automatically are comparing the results of) these two combinations:

• DSLR D500 Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC-14E III total weight 2390 gram 35mm equivalent 1050 mm.

• MLC Z50 ZTF Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC-20E III total weight 2365 gram 35mm equivalent 1500 mm.

Z Mount lenses are significantly lighter than F mount lenses so use them if you can afford them. Some Z mount lenses, so called S class lenses, have superior quality and cost more.

At longer walks we always carry some tools and spare parts.

We always use at least camouflaged camera and lenses, a hat and dark gloves. When required we definitely use substantial or total camouflage. See Camouflage.

Some lightweight combinations                

Combination	max. weight	max. 35mm equivalent	APERTURE value at max. equivalent	main characteristics
D500 Nikkor 70 - 200mm f/2.8 VR TC-20E III	2730 gram	600mm ([TC- 20E III]	f/5.6	pro quality build and image, fast autofocus, good bokeh, relatively light, works perfectly with TC-20 III
D500 Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF VR	1950 gram	900mm [TC-20E III]	f/8	very light, pro image quality, fast, good bokeh
D500 Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR	2500 gram	1050mm [TC-14E]	f/8	relatively very light, pro quality, fast, autofucus, perfect detail also at large distances and also using TX-14E II and III, good bokeh
D500 Nikkor 200 - 500mm f/5.6E VR TC-14E	2310 gram	1050mm [TC-14E)]	f/8	medium heavy, good image quality, substantial reach (bereik), zooming
D500 Sigma Sport 150 - 600mm f/5.0-6.3	3960 gram	1260mm [TC 1401]	f/9	extremely reliable, relatively heavy, almost pro quality images and build, all wheatherproof, ideal for bird photography with one universal combination
D500 Tamron G2 150 - 600mm f/5.0-6.3	3010 gram	1260mm [T-X14]	f/9	extremely reliable, relatively light, almost pro quality images, ideal for bird photography with one universal combination
J5 Nikkor 500mm PF VR	1865 gram *)	1890mm [TC-14E]	f/8	great reach yet good image quality, tripod required, sight recommended
V3 Sigma 150 - 600 Sport	3515 gram *)	2270mm [TC 1401]	f/9	exceptional reach (bereik) yet good image quality, tripod required, sight recommended
V3 Tamron 150 - 600mm G2	2565 gram *)	2270mm [T-X14]	f/9	exceptional reach (bereik) yet good image quality, tripod required, sight recommended
Z50 Nikkor 500mm PF VR	2230 gram *)	1500mm [TC 20E III]	f/11	substantial reach, still very good detail and great overall image quality, tripod and sight recommended
*) FT1/FTZ included

If you use lightweight equipment you automatically start trying out various combinations [tripod]-camera-converter-lens and discover interesting possibilities. You develop a lighter way of moving and working in the field and get significantly closer to the birds without disturbing them because you are structurally using sufficient camouflage. Sometimes birds eventually recognise and or accept you in their neighbourhood, which by itself is a wonderful experience. Look for example at the following pictures of inhaerintly shy birds, still watchfully but relaxed, staring at us, both pictures shot at pretty short distance:

At some point in time observing birds (or other animals) and their behaviour or just being in nature develops into a significant pleasure or even more for birders or birder-photographers. One gradually develops all kinds of camouflage and accumulates knowledge and photographing skills around bird behaviour and their singing and their contact, alarming and other sounds, their breeding biology and migration habits. “Where are they this time of the year and what are they doing: migrating, mating, breeding, feeding, resting, looking or fighting for territory, drinking or bathing (puddle, pool, lake, etcetera in their neighbourhood!)”.

Some birder-photographers even develop an alternative way of life. They spend considerable time and effort in observing, photographing or helping and protecting birds and sharing their knowledge and experience with fellow birders, photographers and others.

By using modern lightweight lenses and camera’s you are working almost at the same range of reach of digiscoping at the samr time using and enjjoying autofocus. A tripod remains recommended especially when using combinations with high reach or photographing action of fast moving birds or birds far away. In most situations there is no need for using a tripod if one uses modern, 4 to over 5 stops stabilised lenses and or in-body stabilised camera’s. Your “safe” EXPOSURE TIME goes up with a factor 1/16 -1/32!

In case of great reach, like 35mm equivalents over 1000 mm, we anyway and always use a sight (vizier) for quick and safe aiming at small or remote birds. This is a great help especially when you need to focus within seconds or keep the camera focussed at relatively small birds far away for longer periods of time.  

Equipment and settings in general

You need good equipment but – and this is equally important – the optimal settings thereof. We will review all key settings of Nikon (compatible) camera’s and lenses in bird photography at a the pertinent pages like Settings lenses at this site. However we list the complete settings for lightweight bird photography of two frequently used camera’s at Settings Z50 and Settings D500. These two camera’s at present (spring 2024), are our representative examples of Nikon DSLR’s and MLC’s suitable for lightweight bird photography.

Specific settings of some switches of Nikkor lenses:

∞ – x meter (x for example is 8 meter at Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR and 10 meter at Sigma Sport 150-600mm). Setting it to limit value x usually speeds up autofocus a bit becausr the lens saves some time trying to focus at distances <= x meter.

We only set it to value x when we absolutely need maximum speed for example when we try photographing fast or rather unpredictable action like the in the picture of the Hornet down at this page. Otherwise we tend to forget that we have set the lens to limit value x and if consequently the lens refuses to focus because the actual distance to the bird is within x, we miss the shot. Typically Sigma Sport 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 tends to strictly obey its actual limit 10, so we missed several shots at 6 – 9 meters when we had forgotten to reset the switch to value ∞. Do as you wish.

A/m or M/a or M. (This is tricky):

A/m stands for “Autofocus override”: the lens will use manual focus temporarily as long as you turn or press manual focus ring including the pressing of the Release button to make a manually focussed picture. However as soon as you stop turning or pressing manual focus ring the camera will resume autofocus mode. So it works like a “one press temporary manual focus“.

M/a stands for “manual focus override until pressing Release button”: Consequently we call M/a setting in mind “camera will eventually (uiteindelijk) use autofocus“. You can use manual focus as long as you press or turn manual focus ring but whenever you press Release button the camera will switch to autofocus mode and thereafter make an “autofocussed” picture. In this case you have, while using manual focus, only temporarely assisted the camera – probably because the camera itself did not (yet) manage autofocussing right away for some reason. Anyway you shoot this picture eventually (uiteiindelijk) using autofocus.

You really have to practice both ways to find out how this works. We ourselves required quite some time to find our how all this worked. The instructions in the official lens documentation were slightly cryptic (in our opinion).

M stands for manual focus always: you can press and turn manual focus ring as you wish, once you press Release button, a picture wil be shot without using autofocus.

Memory recall buttons

Some Nikkor pro lenses, for example Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR II and Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR, have one or more special Memory recall buttons to save the actual autofocus distance camera-subject in focus. In bird photography this comes in handy frequently.

If you are repeatedly photographing a bird that returns from time to time to some favourite position like its nest, a juvenile beeing fed at a certain spot, some branch above the water surface frequently visited by a Kingfisher (IJsvogel), some popular drinking or bathing spot or the like, the Nikkor lens will, if you press a Memory recall button, store the distance to this special spot in memory and almost instantaneously refocus at it when you press one of the Memory recall buttons again. It works fast and reliably and can be of significant help in difficult situations.

Nine lightweight combinations we are frequently using or have ever used (with sometimes improvised or removed camouflage)

(click -> open picture, > < next previous picture, i -> settings camera + lens, “Full size” -> full screen, x-> exit picture)

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