Used at present or in recent years:

• Binoculars: Swarovski 10 x 42, Pentax AD 9 x 28 WP (small, light, small, very good optics, fits in pocket)
• Heads (schommelkoppen): Wimberley, Jobu Design, SIRUI
• Telescopes: Nikon ED82 Fieldscope, Kowa, Swarovski STM80HD and STM50HD
• Digicompacts: Panasonic G1 and G3 , Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.8, Nikon MLC V1 1+1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.7
• Adapters digiscoping: Swarovski UCA (perfect universal adaper)
• Harnas: Micnova (absolutely safe and easy means for carrying second camera at chest/hip/back)
• Camera’s: Nikon DSLR D300, D800, D500, MLC Z50, occasionally Z7 (courtesy Nikon)
• Converters: Nikkor TC-14E II or III, high quality aspherical TC-20E III, Sigma TC 1401, Tamron TC-X14
• Remote controls: Nikon, wireless Hama (about 50 meter reach)
• Nikon compatible semi pro tele lenses Sigma Sport 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3, Tamron G2 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3
• Nikkors 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, 300mm f/4D, 300mm f/4E PF VR, 500mm f/5.6E PF VR, 200-500mm f/5.6E VR
• Camouflage: hat, gloves, camouflage towels
• Hides: house, car, camouflage chair, low-built camouflage-towels-covered tribike Luka Cratos

Our Nikon optical equipment per oct 2021 l. t. r. Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF VR TC-14E, Nikon J5 + improvised loupe viewer, D500 Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR, Z50 TC-20E III 1500mm equivalent as one unit interchanged with D500 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC-14E, kitlens Z 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 for landscape and the likes.

Eight combinations and some recent photos illustrating their potential:

1. [tripod] Z50 (small system APS-C type 21 Mp MLC (bright viewfinder) Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR [TC-14E] [TC-20E III] for short or medium walks, [handheld] not too fast flying birds and if maximum reach (bereik) required using TC-20E III.

Pro: relatively light, large equivalent 1500mm if required, clear high resolution viewer, high image quality, great detail even at larger distances or cloudy wheather, low light performance very good through 1.600 ISO and quite acceptable up to 6.400 ISO. Examples below. Grip Z50 firm and sufficiently long also when using handheld F-mount lenses. Ergonomic design ideal for rigth-hand-only use and bird photography.

Con: battery power lasts about half hour active photograpy. Make sure you carry two or three spare batteries, USB loader or battery grip. Only one card slot.

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

2. [tripod] D500 semi pro fast focus tracking) Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR [TC-14E] short/medium walks photographing up to fast moving or flying birds.

In stormy wheather when handheld photographing fast action like flying, fishing or diving Terns we use a lightler, less voluminous, more stable combination D500 Nikkor 300mm PF VR [TC-14E] mostly without converter.

Pro: good ergonomics (although no EVF), accurate fast autofocus tracking, max. equivalent 1050mm, great image quality and detail even at large distance, good low light performance up to 12.800 ISO.

Con: not really light.

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

3. [Tripod] D500 or Z50 Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF VR [TC-14E] or [TC-20E III] equivalent 630mm or 900mm. Photographing large birds at medium distance or birds nearby or when photographing handheld in difficult territory like remotely (nesting, shy or endangered species like Uhu (Oehoe), Honeybuzzard (Wespendief), White-tailed Eagle (Zeearend).

Pro: fast f/4 lens, relatively light yet considerable equivalent using TC-20E III when required in difficult situations or territory and or without tripod at lightweight walks and the like.

Con: restricted reach (bereik).

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

4. Occasionally [Tripod] D500 + Tamron G2 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 [T-X14] for longer walks or trips as our one and only relatively light universal combination, with great image quality and perfect zoom function.

Pro: Only one universal combination, zoom function. Semi pro quality.

Con: not really light.

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

5. In some situations we still use our V3 or ergoclumsy J5, both with Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E TC-20E III on tripod when we need maximal reach (bereik) with sight (vizier) combined with fast focussing photographing at large distance and or small birds like Shrike (Klauwier) or Kingfisher (IJsvogel).

Pro: Maximum reach (bereik) and still acceptable (V3) or quite good (J5) image quality.

Con: V3 restricted image quality and ergonomy, J5 no EVF, no remote control, slow data bus.

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

6. Occasionally we use [Tripod] Z7 + Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC-20E III when we want large reach (bereik) and great detail and color depth or produce large size high resolution prints. We may prefer Z5 II in the near future because this camera may be ideal in our lightweight bird photography: full frame viewfinder, still acceptable reach (bereik) normalised at APS-C sensor format, two processors (!), two card slots (!), more battery power.

Pro: High resolution, great image quality.

Con: Expensive (but both Z7 and Z5 II definitely worth their price)

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

7. And we keep using our D300 or D500 Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II [TC-20E III] for example when photographing (action of) (very) large birds (close by) or from a boat or in any difficult situation or the like or when we need maximum available light. This robust good old loyal working horse, our first Nikkor tele ever, will never leave us. Possibly when we ever exchange it got its significantly lighter younger brother Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 VR.

Pro: Fast short all round pro image quality, zoom function, suited for fast and unpredictable action or large birds close by and with great image quality even with Nikkor TC-20E III. A Z-version S-type lens 70-200mm is also available, also not cheap but also life time value.

Con: a bit heavy when carried as secondary gear. Not cheap (but lifetime value).

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

8. Z50 (small system APS-C type 21 Mp MLC (bright viewfinder) Z Nikkor 16-50 f/3.5-6.3 VR or Z Nikkor 50-250 f/4.5-6.3 VR kitlens when travelling ultralight handheld and not much reach (bereik) required.