Hi, thank you so much. Yes, when I saw the bees, I thought they were big enough to get flying, it was fun.

Hi Walking, thank you, I appreciate that and I look forward to watching your next video.

Thanks Sam!

Hi Jim, I really appreciate your message.

Thanks Chuck, much appreciated, see you soon.

Thanks so much, beautiful comment for me.

Thank you, Persona. Maybe, that will be the next subject detection mode 😊

Yes, I was happy with the quality of this lens. Thanks Agnetha.

Thanks, Ted. I really appreciate you taking time to write in. I hope that tick did not find a way in. Its been over 2 months, I feel good, and no marks, maybe I got lucky. I got Lyme about 15 years ago and it was no picnic, it a pretty awful experience. But luckily, I was treated about 6 weeks after the bite and got rid of it with no lingering effects.

Hi tenebriocron, thank you and thanks for watching!

Hi NIKCan, thank you so much!

Hello Soren, thank you.

Hi Karn, Thank you so much for your kind words and subscribing. I did get a loaner for 105mm macro and tried it out. After doing many years of birds, trying to finds small creatures was exhausting, this was an eye opener and I give a lot of credit to people doing macro. But, I guess the more I practice the easier it will get, maybe?. Sony stuff is great. My first digital camera was a Sony about 20 years ago, I loved it. Thanks for spotting the tick. I am hoping it did not get to my skin, it’s been about 4months and I did not feel or seeing anything on me. Yes, in the Northeast, it bad. I had a bad experience with a tick 16 years ago, getting lyme and some bad health issues but I was lucky to catch it rather early so I did not get lingering effects after getting treated. Thanks again.

Hi Charles, I appreciate that!

Hi JRod, thanks, this was fun. I was just lucky that the bees stayed in this area for 3 days.

@@PeanutChuAdventures Did you get the 105mm MC lens yet? I love it.

@@JRodPhotoArt I did try it out for a few days. But, I did not buy it. Trying to find small creatures was exhausting. Probably, if I had more free time, I would love to do it.

Hi JJ Bones, thank you so much and I am glad you are having fun with your z9. I watched your video's and subscribed. Very cool footage that you are taking. Loving it.!!

@@PeanutChuAdventures Thanks so much! I will be getting more video on next week. They should be allot better after watching your video... It's funny...I've watch 20+ hours of Z9 help videos but when I watched yours, the setting stuff started clicking....,like the puzzle pieces finally lining up. Thanks! CAN''T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VIDEO!

Hi JJ, I am glad I can help a little. I am working on videos right now about settings and video techniques, but short 1 topic videos so they are easier to follow. But, just trying to find the time to it. I will ready for your next video, have fun and talk soon.

Thank you Yamen. I appreciate you watching.

Hi, I do appreciate that, thank you. I really loved watching your sandhill cranes and I will be following you also. I want to make it out west to Bosque one day.

Hi Rob, I concur. Thank you so much for watching.

@@PeanutChuAdventures You're welcome. What I haven't done yet is attempt video of such critters. Thanks to I'll give it a go. :)

@@robguyatt9602 , let me know how it goes. Have fun!

@@PeanutChuAdventures Shall do. :)

Thank you Maxi! First, have fun with your upcoming Z9. I used the Z100-400 to record myself for the entire video, but when I was sitting down with the Z100-400, I used a gopro 8 to record myself.

Hi Longrider, that's hilarious. I want to show off my big blue eyes 😊. Thank you

Thank you so much, Gary. I got lucky with the bees, I spent about 15 hours over 3 days and I was getting bees coming by. I went back 4 days later and they were all gone. I think they were mating in that area. I did use the 1.4TC and it worked really good. This was my first macro style attempt and I really love it and I am looking forward to do more. I do have a lot to learn about this(using extention tubes etc). Its definitely different than doing birds.

@@PeanutChuAdventures I find butterflies and bees (i.e. "garden critters") provides a nice respite from birding. That said, it's still a lot of work to find the right scene where the subject stands out -- and then to get it to cooperate! I do wish the Z9 supported 240fps -- I prefer 240fps in the garden since things are moving so quickly. Maybe Nikon will support 240fps via a firmware update in the future -- even HD would be fine.

@@garfieldirwin 240fps would be excellent. I was coming from 4k30 on D6(terrible tracking), so 120 was a huge improvement, but 240 with be awesome. Which Lens are you using for the garden critters?

@@PeanutChuAdventures Last year I just used the Sony 200-600 with tubes. This year I picked up the Sony 100-400GM which is a little better suited to "garden work" with it's close-focus ability. I think the 100-400 class of lens is ideal -- macros just don't provide enough reach. There are a number of primes that I'd like to try (Nikons new 400/4.5 would be really interesting) but when it comes to video, I find zooms rule.

@@garfieldirwin did you use an extension tube with the 100-400? How much closer can you get? Thanks. Also, do you have Sony and Nikon? If so, how do the compare?

Hi Mark, thank you for watching.

Hi Kevin, thank you. Did it a few hours ago!

Hi Victor, Thank you!. I was at the refuge looking for birds and was going to film myself for the videos and I saw the bees. Then I thought, let me try this lens out because the Nikon website says macro style focusing. My first time doing close up stuff. But you right, if I really got into macro, I would need to get the ext tubes and lighting.

Hi sithbk 007, thank you for subscribing. I appreciate that. Video specs: 1) AFF Mode 2) Wide(L) 3) Animal subject detection 4) Shutter between 250-320 5) 4K 120 6) Wide Open 5.6. If I used 1.4 tc, then F8 7) Auto Iso, as I recall iso was usually below 1000

@@PeanutChuAdventures appreciates to info.

Hi Gregg, First, thank you for watching my videos. You must have some great stuff in Thailand! Yes, carpenter bees are awesome. I took this video in NY at a refuge called Shawangunk. I saw them one day, so I was able to do 3 days about 15 hours where they were around. But, I came back 2 days later and they were gone. I think they were hovering because I think they were mating and waiting for the mate. Great fun. Prior to the Z9, I was using the D6 and before that D850. Both were great for stills, but video tracking was not that easy. The Z9 really has been a game changer for me for video AF. Thank you and talk to you next time.

@@PeanutChuAdventures Thank you

Hi zxuphoto, Thank you!!! I like using a gimbal head for photo’s and video. I have been using the wimberly 2 gimbal and I enjoy it. I have been using this gimbal for years doing photo’s and when I started doing video, it was natural to use this. This model works great. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/404536-REG/Wimberley_WH_200_Gimbal_Type_Tripod_Head.html I will also use the Really Right Stuff PG-CC Cradle Clamp. This works great, makes it secure and fast to attach. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1350055-REG/really_right_stuff_pg_cc_cradle_clamp.html With that said, the z100-400 and z9 combo is back heavy and I could not balance it on the wimberly using the foot. It would fall back. All of my other lenses, I can balance properly- 500pf, 600mm and 800mm all work fine. So, in this video I used the Manfrotto 608 Nitrotech Fluid Video Head www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1470943-REG/manfrotto_mvh608ahus_608_nitrotech_fluid_video.html This also works well. But I find that I am steadier and more accurate with the wimberly 2. Also, the manfrotto 608, I feel like I have to work to rebalance more often. Sometimes when I leave it pointing to a subject and let it go, it will drift slightly off of the subject, this happens especially when I move the tripod to another location. Or I have to tighten it down more to stop the drift, this causes an issue, because sometimes its too tight and throws off my timing. Hope this helps.

@@PeanutChuAdventures I use wmberly 2 as well but want to purchase a fluid head for the video with my Z9. Thank you for the detailed information. Look forward to your next video!

Hi Gerald, yes, its collar bone/shoulder protection from the tripod laying on it with the long lens. You can buy it here: oxmentool.com/ I did a video on it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nd9dprBj0uDYd5c.html Thanks for watching.

Hi Roy, thank you for a great compliment. This made my day!

Hi John, thank you so much. And enjoy your lens when it arrives. Yes, the extension tube would definitely help for a closer min focus distance. This was my first-time doing subjects that are small and close and I would have a lot to learn about doing macro, but learning could be exciting if you are having fun.

@@PeanutChuAdventures Hi, I just what to add one thing about macro and the Nikon Z system, I have there 105mm MC macro lense and to be honest it is an amazing lens so light sharpe and smooth to focus. you will love and it dose open a hole new world, Then if you add Kenko Extension Tubes (£220 in UK) which work on all my Z glass. Have fun and just enjoy your photography.

@@johnhjic2 Hi John, thank you so much for the information.

Hi VABROWNEMDPHD, Thank you for the kind words. Yes, all 4k120. Been doing birds for awhile but first time doing close up stuff. But you are right, if I really got into macro, I would probably need to get the ext tubes and lighting. I just started researching what equipment I need. If you have any suggestion, I would welcome it. Thanks

Hi John. Thank you!. This is 2 part answer. What was happening when using wide L, animal, I had trouble in cluttered backgrounds to get a focus lock. In Video, using AFF mode, this mode will automatically focus. Using Wide(L) it should focus on whats in the box. But, when it focuses, it does it more gradually then when you press the back button.( it looks more cinematic when its gradual so this is good 99.9%of the time). But since its gradual and the bees keeps moving, I wanted the focus to snap faster to get lock. So, by pressing the back button, its more instantaneous to get a lock. Ok, the other issue, and others have reported also, is that sometimes, the focus wont focus when the focus in not near the subject in cluttered backgrounds. I noticed this with close up bees. But when I brought focus near the subject manually, then pressing the back button, it would lock on. John, thanks for the kind words.

@@PeanutChuAdventures Thanks very much, that answers my question!

Yikes, thats not good. But thank you for the info. its been about 4 weeks ago, and no spots or symptoms of lyme. Maybe I got lucky.