Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2022/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I had gone to the National Parks, and prime tiger reserves, of Bandhavgarh and Kanha last month as my first outstation trip post covid. The weather was extremely hot, with the mercury touching 42/43C, and the full day safaris that we undertook, on open top vehicles, were tiring. However thanks to constant hydration with water, chaas and lemon juice, I seemed to have sailed through with no after effects. I was quite surprised at my own resilience. I have not posted for a long time, but this seemed a fitting occasion to resume! I was testing a lot of new equipment on this trip - the Nikon Z9, the Nikkor Z100-400mm f4.5-5.6S and the Nikkor Z24-70 f2.8S. As it was they performed flawlessly, and the AF eye tracking mode on the Z9 was nothing short of magical. As an example, a male tiger walking behind grass, part of a burst of 6 shots: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-067.jpg.html The Z24-70 f2.8S is, without a doubt, the best normal zoom I have ever owned, so let us start with two photographs taken with that lens, mounted on a Nikon Z7: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220427-067-Editb.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-045-Edit.jpg.html Because of the intense heat, all animals were looking for cool places to rest in: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Bandhavgarh-20220422-351-Edit.jpg.html Of course, waterholes were popular places in late afternoon: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220425-1765-Edit.jpg.html The Z9 has exceptional high ISO performance if the frame is exposed correctly. As you will notice, none of my photographs in this set taken with the Z9 are at low ISOs. However, here are two examples at ISO12800 - the first one from late in the evening after sunset, and the second being early in the morning as the sun was coming up: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220425-1565-Edit.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-359-Edit.jpg.html Two shots of a male that came out of a thicket: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-1545-Edit.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-1533-Edit.jpg.html This same dominant male, a huge fellow, was following the scent of a tigress, when he came upon our vehicle! These shots were at under 200mm: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-1463-Edit.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-1731-Edit.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-557-Edit.jpg.html A vigorous shake of the head when on patrol: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220426-470-Edit.jpg.html To round things off, some raptors. The first two are of two different Crested Serpent Eagles with its prey: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Kanha-20220427-1056-Edit.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Bandhavgarh-20220422-289-Edit.jpg.html The last one is a portrait of a Changeable Hawk Eagle: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Kanha/Bandhavgarh-20220423-940-Edit.jpg.html Please see LARGE, I have posted in a reasonably big size. Comments and criticism, as ever, are welcome! Cheers Jayanand