Thanks for including all you camera settings along with each image.

You Sir, are a truly amazing photographer who works magic no matter what camera system you use!

Like Vijay Ignatius, I came across your channel about three weeks ago and I've been really enthused to use my camera. About 7 months ago I bought a Canon M50 for my wildlife friendly plant business, as I didn't want to have to buy more stock photos, whilst I also wanted to be able to produce some simple videos, but amazingly, I've had people tell me they love my photos and are encouraging me to do more. This is amazing because I've never owned a camera before! Literally, I didn't know ISO, exposure, or anything, but KZfaq and a coupe of books have given me enough knowledge to gain some understanding. I only have the kit lens and an old 70-300mm USM, which I think is 3 generations old now, and while I don't have the amazing Florida wildlife and only have an hour at best to use it in my garden, the fact I want to take a photo of something as simple as a bee/hoverfly, Etc. Is really down to you. It's been quiet at work, so I've had some time to watch some of your videos and it makes me want to go and shoot, even if it's only a bee, I really don't mind, because one day I know, that having taken the time to just use the camera and enjoy what I have, one day, when the time comes, I'll be able to get the shot of whatever impressive specimen there is. Thank you so much. This is a happy accident and you're making me want to use my gear - and buy some, but that's another cash strapped story! Thank you :)

This guy has knowledge and experience but, more importantly, he has magic in his voice. A born authentic teacher. Others teach with logic but he speaks with magic. First time I have seen his video review of Sony a 9 review buy he is a born authentic teacher. A gift built into his genes. By Nizar Jiwan, Engineer and a retired enthusiastic hobbyist and Sony A9 owner photographer.

That shot at 3:28 captured the Osp beautifully!!!!! The look on its face!! The domain Master takes flight.

Mate you are.... just amazing..... you bring the most beautiful images to us, you bring the earth to us

Great video and great images. I love my A9 for nature and sports. Cannot wait to get my hands on the 400 mm f 2.8 this summer.

It doesn't get much better than that. Absolutely gorgeous shots of the purple gallinule. Especially the last one.

excellent video iam buying a9 with the 100 to 400 lens, for my wildlife photography, i have been shooting with nikon now iam changing to sony

I'm sooooooooooo happy to see this video show up in my feed. You're my favorite wildlife Photog on KZfaq and after moving to Sony from Nikon, I have been wishing someone like you could put out a video testing Sony with wildlife to the extent you do with your Nikon gear. I have the A7Riii and thinking of adding the A9 so your video is a HUGE help! Keep it up Mark!

Great video Mark amazing photos ... I agree Sony has some great technology in their cameras, before the A9 came out I added the A99ii 42 megapixel with a 150-600mm tamron to my d500 + 600mm f4 I love the EVF you got me thinking A9 now 👍

Amazing pictures. Unbelievable what this camera can focus on and how quickly.

Mark, I bought this combo last year and absolutely love it. Planning to add an ariii for landscape and other high res needs. I also have added a second gm lens and a macro. Great for Astro photog. It easily outperforms my old canon 7dmk II and the 100-400. Thanks for your great videos!

Great video. Beautiful pictures. A year and a half later this camera is a greater value than ever. Tech wise it's still top notch.

“Living work of art”. 👍

Amazing technology for sure and you are an amazing photographer. Really enjoyed the video and the photos. Well done.

Astonishing clarity and depth. Ha! Auto focus is no slouch either ! That GM lens knocks my socks off ! Thanks and I salute your art !

Stunning work as always Mark, I took the leap last year from a Cannon 1Dx mk2 and 5D mk4 to a Sony A9 and A7r3 and of course the lens changes, once familiar with the new set up I have never looked back, I haven’t even got a long lens yet, the A9 & 100-400GM and 1.4x Tele get me by for now, it’s amazing the images you can capture with this set up, having a silent camera that shoots this well in nature sure has its bonuses too.

Loved that sunset composition at the end!!!

As always, great stuff Mark. The subject matter was great, the images are beautiful and the videos are first rate. As a died in the wool Nikon guy, I'm always fascinated to see what Canon or Sony has to offer. Similar to a lot of folks on here, I don't have the financial luxury of being able to switch my system from one to another. Thank you for taking the time to share your Sony experience with us. Your adaptability from Nikon to Sony is the true mark of a professional. Keep up the great work and thanks again for sharing this production with us. It's first class. Gil - Largo, FL

Glad I found your video. I have been researching the Sony A9, as I am about to make the switch from Nikon. This helps me in making this decision. Thank you. Your photos are excellent and your passion comes across as you described the avian subjects.

i have zero interest in wildlife photography yet i watched the entire video because i was mesmerized by your narration voice - felt like i was watching a show on national geographic lol. great shots and great video review

Thank you for your opinions on the A9, Mark, and for sharing your beautiful results. And as always, your narration is both eloquent and informative.

Yet another great video, only goes to prove that when we step out of our comfort zone we find great things! The accompanying shots were incredible!!

Now imagine Sony's next generation: A7RIV with the 60 Mpixel sensor and the speed of the A9. In the past we shot a lot of photos and selected the sharpest one(s). Today they are all sharp; so now we have to select the best ones of a large series. Not sure this will be easier :) But keep on making more great videos: I love it

Love Florida and these amazing birds. Excellent work. I love Sony!!

nice video. I like how you very clearly stated what you liked and a little of what you didn't like. Can't argue with that. You didn't try to state it as absolute fact or try to convince the viewer they needed to share your view. I respect that. Well done.

Great video! KZfaq recommended and I subscribed. It must be something about guitar players liking the Sony ergonomics, I’ve been playing for 35 years and I thoroughly enjoy the Sony ergonomics. Keep up the great work!

Wow great video. This is the kind of video I’ve been waiting to see with the a9. A gifted bird photographer out in the field getting great shots. Amazing pics of the gallinule.

Always incredible images and amazing story telling! I'm a big fan!

Awesome video and amazing, stunning, tremendous, fantastic, incredible pictures Mark! I'm loving my A9 and 100-400, but I'm a long, long way from achieving results like yours.

It's hard to imagine how your work could be better but it was fun to listen to you evaluation of what appears to be a better tool. Remarkably done video and a great job of story telling. 👽👍👍👍

Always the impressive photographer and a narrator that you are, i immensely enjoyed this video.. Great work.

I recently started doing research to get a camera for wildlife photography as a hobbyist. I really enjoy your content and storytelling. You really captured some awesome shots in this video!

I’ve watched hours of your videos (obv subscribed) but this camera, which I own, with your kaleidoscope of birds is impressive & simply entertaining. THANKS!

I enjoy the D850 but to be honest, IBIS in the A9 gives extra stops and it really helps when handheld and panning!

Your bird shots are amazing. Some of the best I have ever seen.

Just getting an A9, loving the new firmware update that will make it even better and more amazing. Just the best for my pro use. BTW I was a longtime Nikon and Canon pro gear user (40 years) but loving my Sony gear better now. Cheers

I like the way you present your videos....not a lot of BS and great information too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. You mentioned about how awesome wildlife photography that is such a key point, photography gets you OUT in places you'd probably not be and you witness some amazing moments. This morning I got up before sunrise and took my setup down to the local river, it's cold in NJ but the variety of wildlife is just amazing, Grebes, Cormorants, Eagles, Hawks, Icelandic Gulls, Herons and many more birds all here in an urban area of NJ. After using Canon cameras for the past 20 years I had zero issues adapting to the Sony either, in fact the customization is awesome and once you set up all your buttons and custom menus there's little need to go looking for those buried settings. I'd love to see a video showing some of the focus modes/settings you're using on the A9. I found even at wide my hit rate was really high and I got some crazy sharp photos of birds in flight. I'm going to guess you're doing some cropping on those photos you just showed us, some didn't appear that sharp but it didn't seem like you missed focus because none of the frame was super sharp so my guess is the bird wasn't filling out the frame (or maybe it was youtube compression, I watched this at 1080p). I really think with a longer lens the A9 would show what it can do even more. That analogy to guitar playing was great, so true. I do find the back button AF buttons on the A7Riii aren't as comfortable as they were on my larger Canon bodies so sometimes I re-enable focus with the shutter button. Thanks again, I always look forward to your videos Mark.

Beautiful video, some amazing shoot, the young pellican with the fish and the bird with the flower are my favorite.

A great video Mark. Also worth mentioning the Sony lenses (alongside the A9 body) as they play a part in the fantastic auto focus speed. The Linear Motor design in the 100-400 is a step further than most manufacturers are currently going.

I watched a series of Mark Smith's Bird Photography in Amazon Prime Video. I like his detail description and unbiased comments on camera equipment. I like his simple easy to follow setup video for Nikon D850 and D500. It will be nice to know from him about his impression on Sony A7r III, which basically has the same processor as Nikon D850.

You're really putting that A9 to good use. It's all good but the video of the skimmer against the sun is my favorite

Another outstanding video Mark and and excellent review of the Sony a9. The images from this camera and lens combination are incredible. Thanks very much.

After literally decades of avoiding wildlife photography because it was “too hard”, I finally tried the combo you have. I have often been in the gear-doesn’t-matter camp, but the difference was spectacular and I know it wasn’t because I suddenly developed new skills. All that said, to get to the level of the images in this video takes a lot of practice. Right now, Sony is seriously lacking glass for this amazing camera. I love the 100-400 but it’s not a prime and at f/5.6 fully extended, it’s an f/11 with a 2x tele. With optics this good, the diffraction blur is distressing at f/11. Even for those who could afford one, the 400mm f/2.8 is preorder only at all major US outlets. The other obvious lenses are mere paper promises. I don’t know what is going on, but Sony is missing a great opportunity here.

Absotutly amazing photos and videos! Love your work. Thanks for sharing them!

Thank you, your enthusiasm is understandable 😀 I'm happy I have heard about your channel, now with the 200-600 mm a new chapter begins for me as a photographer. Subscription confirmed 👍🏻

Amazing images and great narration. I mainly shoot landscapes and street scenes so blazing fast af isn't a priority but seeing how much fun you seem to be having with this camera, coupled with the new firmware update which essentially turns the a9 into a a9mkii makes me really want to upgrade my a7rii. The GAS is real.

You are an incredible teacher. Your enthusiasm for Sony A9 is infectious.

Amazing Mark, thanks for sharing.

Hey Mark, also one of the gripes a few people me included had about the grip on the Sony’s can be easily changed with Sony’s own “pinkie” grip, as it’s my walk around camera I leave the the little extender on there all the time, really makes the camera far more comfortable to hang onto, and as it’s so light you can walk around with that set up all day. Sony GP-X1EM Grip Extension

Amazing photo and great story to go with them. Love photographing the Gannets off the coast here in Yorkshire. Sadly no Osprey or Pelicans!

You will be excited to know that The new a9 firmware will be coming in two waves. Version 5.0 will be available in March and version 6.0 in summer. I’ve read it’s amazing. With improved tracking in both stills and video, as well as extending Eye AF to animals. Can’t wait to see what you think about it. Awesome video sir. Thank you.

Amazing photography!!!

Astonishing marvelous awesomeness beautiful creative videos and photos with the A9. I believe that any camera in your hands will have the same results not taking anything away from the Sony A9. But I have been following your videos with the Nikon D500 and a Tamron 150-600 then with the Nikon lens 200-500mm and then the Nikon D850 with a500mm lens and all I can see is just amazing videos with the most amazing photos. I believe Sony is ahead with the A9 in mirrorless cameras and in your capable hands you make it look to easy to the eyes of the novice. You my friend are a great narrator and I love all the adventures. Awesome job. Thanks for sharing.

Mate, I don’t know what resolution you shoot at , but my wife and I just watched your work on 78” 4K tv and you can see 😳 like 4K in the eyes of the birds... just amazing.. the best wild life we have ever seen.. And she was going “WOW!!!!!” Like a 8 year old🙏🌹

3:40 absolutely beautiful lil rap

Nice video. I wanted to say you are a man of many talents: photography, writing (assuming you are the incredible talent behind the script), and narration. I'll add tact also for your ability to talk up the Sony without talking down Nikon.

I’m excited to see more photos from the A9

Beautiful and incredible shots. Thanks

I was most recently in the position to select a new combination exclusively for wildlife, especially birds. I, like you, have, with great satisfaction, been shooting with the Nikon D500 with 100-500 lens. Very satisfied with overall reach, focus speed and accuracy, frame rate and image quality, better lens sharpness, lighter weight and superior low light functioning would have been appreciated. Under consideration was the Sony A9 with 100-400mm lens which has consistently demonstrated excellent performance in most of the areas mentioned. After extensive review and field testing, I returned the combination to B&H and ordered a Nikon 500mm F/5.6, a lens with equivalent weight, sharpness and contrast to the Sony. My review determined that the A9's handling, build quality and whether sealing was far inferior to my selected Nikon combination. Unlike you, who has the advantage of relatively short shooting distances afforded to Florida shooters, I need the significant advantage afforded by the extra 350mm provided by the D500/500mm PF.

No blackout, 20 fps, silent shooting and EVF are fantastic. The only issue tracking a bird l to r or vice versa is my own ability. I have gotten a few shots just like Mark describes by whipping the camera and watching those focus spots light up. Just wait until the new firmware in March or April where the new tracking system takes it to a whole new level (apparently). But another great feature is the customizable buttons. I've customized almost every one - I think there are 6 at least. The 3 most used: changed the focus to the AF-ON on the back, C2 is my focus mode (great for stationary birds vs moving) and C1 is my ISO. I also have another set to quickly engage lock on tracking. I've had this combo since April and I'm still learning, but because I have those buttons customized, I can continue looking at my subject in the EVF and change settings without looking at the buttons. Very handy! I also think this customization ability foregoes some of the comments about the deep menus because you can simply bypass them. It's not a cheap combo, but for wildlife, it's been amazing for me. Ergonomics wise I get why taller humans have issues with it as it is a small body, but I'm small so it fits me well. But I'd also take the lighter weight :)

Great video, Mark. Thank you. I'm using the Panasonic G9 currently and love mirrorless. Really want to move to full frame in the not so distant future. Those images you captured are absolutely amazing. I live in FL as well and will be looking forward to seeing your next video with this camera as a new subscriber. Thanks again.

love those heron shots

Great video Mark as usual,interesting to hear your thoughts on the Sony.

Mark thank you for sharing the awesome, amazing, wonderful images. They are particularly enjoyable to see from the cold and gloomy northeast. The A9 looked like it focused wonderfully. I do have say at least for now I like either the way the nikons rendered the images more or maybe it’s just the post processing. I have a suspicion they will only get better. Thanks again for sharing and your great narration

Is it my imagination or are the colors in the stills in this video, more saturated than what I have seen in your earlier videos. If so, is that a post processing result or somehow inherent in the Sony sensor?

One thing you may be interested in with this camera is the Sony GP-X1EM "pinky grip". In my experience just that little bit more grip turns it from a quite cramped experience to one of the most comfortable cameras on the market to shoot with

Wow, you have the good stuff. D500, D850, the impressive A9, 200-500, 500 f4. Sometimes I wish I was Mark Smith. Lol. Great vid. Cool pics.

Great Stunning Shots, I also got Nikon D850 and Canon 5D Mark IV, My recent purchase Sony A9, Nothing will focus like the Sony A9...FAST and Crisp

Again, awesome video. It really makes me wanna go outside shooting (testing 200-600) right now!

I have been following you for around a year now, it was time to subscribe. Another fine wildlife video, I enjoyed it so much I went out looking for a Great Horned Owls Nest, near Groton MA at the Mass Audubon site there. No luck with the owls but did come across several GBHeron nest. Keep them coming Mark as it gets me more excited about getting my A9 out more.

EXCELLENT photography, videography, and narration as usual. THANKS Mark! P.S: that Sony looks like a GREAT camera.....

I am so happy to have found your channel.

Wow how brilliant images!!!

let the Sony hate begin. (from your fans) I used Sony for a while but I went back to Nikon simply for affordability. Great video as usual. You always provide great commentary and make it really fun to watch.... no matter the gear you use.

Really impressed with your photography and...... you really know where to go to find the shot. Nice work.... s

Well Mark, it just shows, get a descent review from the people that use the equipment. You did just that! It doesn't matter if you got it 18 months later, still relevant and good advice. Unfortunately for me the camera is out of my price range and will work with what I have, but see just how sharp the images are and why you enjoy using it. But thanks again. See you out there.

One thing that irks me is just the ability to not see through the lens. EVF can be everything but that difference stands. One reason why I am afraid of the mirrorless. Looks like an amazing camera. Loved the gull flapping its wings on the water picture, and the rest too. Beautiful detail. Thanks for the video :)

Great review Mark. You mentioned that you have Focus Area on a button that you like to switch among 3 options. Which 3 do you use and under which circumstance would you utilize each please? Could you also provide information on your various preferences for Focus Mode? Thank you.....

Mark does it again. More great photos in one video than maybe I have ever took:-0). Great work. Jim

Another excellent video.Great footage. Thanks for info in A9....love that camera!

Great Video and superb images. You'll know that the new firmware update for the A9 is soon to drop which gives it even more features and improves the focusing, colour science and also introduces animal eye AF. I'm pretty much sold on this camera now that I've watched your video but I'm waiting just a few more weeks to see what Sony do with the A7000 which is rumoured to be a mini A9. Congrats on your pic of the week btw at Alpha rumours, that Osprey shot is outstandingly beautiful.

You certainly know birds and take excellent photos. For those that can't afford the a9, there is the a6400 minus the 20fps and evf and ff, etc but af is pretty speedy and sticky too it appears. Those jpgs look a whole lot better than the jpgs on the original a7. Good job.

Nice feedback, sounds abstracts and true. I'm often amazed people can operate a 2019 BMW and an android of IOS phone without problem, and seem hugely confused about some camera settings. Have fun!

Wonderful photos and video. Thanks. I wonder what focus area settings you use when you are trying to grab focus of a bird flying across sky fairly far away (eg using 400mm focal length?)

I really hope you don't switch to Sony. Your Nikon expertise and advice is one of the reasons I subscribe to your channel

Beautiful pictures and fantastic video clips! I must say, I'm deeply impressed. Please tell me, witch focus mode do you use for flying birds? Wide area or expandable spot or...? And did you customize the My Menue? Thanks!

Wow, great images. That is an awesome camera. Makes me question being so far into Nikon with glass and bodies.

Great video. Always love your content. Personally, I feel that DSLRs have a much better overall feel while photographing wildlife

Great content, more a9 videos please. But I wish you buy an external recorder to record the evf, it would be more enjoyable to watch

Nice video Mark. I love using the 100-400mm. And yes the camera works great with a lot of photo's in focus. Problem for me is that I have to start shooting in jpeg because all photos in RAW consumes too much time to handle and storage space. With 10 fps (A7Riii) the SD cards are filled up really fast. My next purchase will be the 1.4X extender because that extra reach can make a lot of difference with small birds and other wildlife.

Love your videos Mark. And you are one helluva good bird photographer.

Awesome shots. Beautiful shots!

Great video, I can't wait to add the a9 as the main camera to my a7iii

Nice work Mark. I am amazed by the quality of wildlife you were able to produce here. Simply outstanding !!! I think the Nikon equivalent in this range is the D5, not the 850 or 500. I was almost sold on jumping ship, but holding my grounds with Nikon.

Im also shooting wildlife, but with a Nikon D5300 and Sigma 150-600mm C, not the most effective combination for wildlife but it gets it job done. Im planning to get a D500 to this Summer, i have some nice areas with wild deer, Also i got a nice Tripod so i can some times shoot video. I like watching your videos, beautiful locations and nice photo captures, keep it up, also if possible could you try some Bridgecameras for BIFs, the only videos i find are taking pictures of stationary birds.

Mark, I really enjoy your images, videos and commentary! Good job. Could you please share your a9 camera setting that you are using for birds in flight. Thanks, Diane N.

Yes of course, Wildlife Photography is so Amazing. Awesome, Incredible, Beautiful. Marvellous, Stunning, Fascinating, Shocking, Unbelievable, Surprising, Wonderful, Stupendous, Astonishing and all around special. 😍😍😍😍