Jeff Lubeck

The Test Ain’t Sexy… Nikon Z 800 Handheld. Really?

To all that have ordered the Nikon Z 800 6.3 PF S lens… it could prove to be well be worth the wait.

I was one of the fortunate souls to receive the lens as part of the first shipment to the U.S. Upon receipt of the lens, I decided the first thing to is calm down and have some casual fun with the lens. I decided to establish if all the talk around being able to shoot hand held was true.

Below are shots taken within 24 hours of receipt. There is no shoot from which to draw [sic., image] upon. There is no big test plan or specific subject. This Post is not to conduct some comprehensive side-by-side pixel peeping analysis.

The subjects are all within shooting distance from my home. In short, I do not leave the yard for the capture of any image. The images are captured with no special lighting or optimized conditions or retakes.

All of the images are captured with the Nikon Z9 Mirrorless camera. Operation is in Manual Mode with 3D AutoFocus, and Auto ISO no greater than 12,800. I decide to capture all images at either F8 or F11 to keep as much depth of field as possible. I select the shutter speed I think is best for the shot before taking the shot. Each image is captured in 14-Bit RAW format.

Each image is exported in full format to sRGB Color and 72 DPI for use in the Post and adhering to WordPress limitations. Each image is also shown cropped at 100%

Rooster on the Roost

Configuration: F8, 1/2000s, ISO 2800

Rooster on the Beach

Configuration: F8, 1/640s, ISO 1100

And This Was the Day I Decided to Fish Off the Pier

Configuration: F8, 1/800s, ISO 100

And This Was the Day I Decided to Ignore the Small Craft Advisory

Configuration: F8, 1/1600s, ISO 320

The House Way Up The Hill Two Miles Away

Configuration: F8, 1/320s, ISO 110

Call of the Border Collie

Configuration: F8, 1/1600s, ISO 1800

Hey… Hey You on the Beach… I’m Watchin You

Configuration: F8, 1/1600s, ISO 1800

Big Surf at High Tide in Waimea

Configuration: F8, 1/2000s, ISO 250

The Neighbors Picnic Table

Configuration: F11, 1/320s, ISO 110

Bee Ascends to the Crown [sic., Bush]

Configuration: F11, 1/2000s, ISO 1000

Lemonade Hibiscus in the the Wind [13.6 MPH That Is]

*** Jeff’s Thoughts & Other Worthless Trivia ***

Uncharacteristic of me, all of these images are ad-hoc in nature and otherwise of the cuff. They are what they are.

I am pretty impressed so far. However, I am still of the mind, that despite all the good to great to fantastic things offered in this lens there are drawbacks to its design. What would that be? I am told the PF design yields weak results in bright sun at and distance. We will see!

I remain exceptionally pleased with the move to the Mirrorless from Digital Single Lens Reflex for Nikon.

Capturing Kauai – Surfin’ Waimea Style

I receive a call from my friend Dion early in the afternoon. He tells me that the Surf is going to be Up in a Big Way in front of my house in Waimea late in the afternoon. Dion tells me that he is going to be surfing and my presence is requested. Dion suggests even the Border Collies and Linda might be impressed. Wow! If true, that would be Big.

The issue for me is that while taking the call, I am driving in the opposite direction (toward Lihue). I tell Dion that I do not think any kind of photographic shooting will occur given the tasks at-hand before me. Dion, one of the sharpest young guys I have met in a while – suggests that another day will present itself for a great shoot. He is gracious, and a better man than I.

Fast forward… I get home about 4:30 PM. The beach at Waimea Town is a buzz. The Surf is Up in a Big Way. There are groups of people on the beach watching the action – stretching the 100 yards from my house to the mouth of the Waimea River. The kids from the Waimea Canoe Club are fully engaged in participation. Nothing can be better to my my eyes.

I walk from the house to the mouth of where the Waimea River meets the Pacific. Two of the young members of the Waimea Canoe Club tell me that Dion is way out and on his long board. I look out and spot Dion. I wave to Dion (who is located somewhere between Kauai and Fiji). Surprisingly, he acknowledges my signal. Dion adjusts his approach, surfing to our agreed upon plan. This adjustment will allow for successful image capture.

On one run, Dion nails the surf and signals to a friend in the water of the success.

On the beach at mouth of the river, the surf at times – is above my knees. It is knocking the Canoe Club kids off their feet. They love it. I am used to (and prepared for) the condition.

Dion, as shown below, successfully completes a run right-to-left that ensues for more than sixty seconds.

Waimea is Old School, Old Kauai. It is where Europe first encountered Hawaii. Waimea is where a Chiefess (Amelia K.) operated as Governor (Governess) of the Island. Waimea is where the Blue Surf of the Pacific and the Red Volcanic Surf of the Grand Canyon of the Pacific meet head-on.

Capturing Kauai – Launch of Beauties

The are two new Ladies in Waimea Town and the West Side. Amelia W. and Billy have joined the fleet of Makana Charter Tours. Both boats are elegant and powerful. Both conduct their maiden voyage on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai in the State of Hawaii in the United States with me (and my wife Linda) as observers. What a privilege.

Different than with most Posts, I am simply a passenger on the trip.

Happy faces and hugs are an indicator of the day on the water. There are big smiles with this group at the beginning, and at the end.

Early morning sunshine on Billy for early risers

Happy faces at the dock after 5 hours on the water.

The key to enjoying any trip on the Na Pali is having sun, some clouds for visual context, a chance to take a dip in the pond, and time spent at a variety of distances from the shoreline. Another critical aspect for enjoyment is the Captain and Crew. Historically, Makana is known for having Captains’ and Crew that are passionate for and knowledgeable about the area. Also, they are skilled and disciplined as it relates to seamanship.

My measuring stick for success on a tour of the Na Pali, is experiencing being close to shore, but at the same time having the full coast line in view for perspective. On this day, the passenger’s on Billy get a full dose of it.

This trip is essentially a Shake Out Tour or Maiden Voyage with Passengers on the Na Pali for both boats. Given the situation, Makana decides the entire fleet should meet up at Polihale and make a run together up the Na Pali Coast.

Limitless shades of blue on the Na Pali as the fleet makes its move. Left to Right: Na Pali Kai III, Seiko, Makana, and Amelia W.

This is a day for occasional Show Us What You Got runs performed by each of the boats.

The Amelia K. on the Na Pali. She operates in the water as if she is a Mercedes 7 Series AMG S Class on the on Autobahn between Hamburg and Lubeck Germany.

This is also a day for cruising and floating.

The Amelia K. cruising on the Na Pali near Honopu.

The Amelia K. taking in the sights.

The Amelia K. in the morning sun.

The passenger’s of the Na Pali Kai III take in the Na Pali Coast.

Makana Takes Control of the Beachhead at Polihale.

Seiko on the Move.

The debut for Billy and Amelia K. was a load of fun. Below is a digital scrapbook of pictures I grabbed as one of the passengers on the trip.

*** Jeff’s Thoughts & Other Worthless Trivia ***

So how long is one of these tours and where does the ship go?

The trips are normally 4-5 hours in length. For the South and West sides of the island, the trips on the bigger boats (e.g., Amelia K.) begin at the Small Boat Harbor in Port Allen. For the smaller boats, the trip begins at the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha. As an example, below is a map of a trip I recently took as a passenger of the Na Pali Kai III.

Would you recommend Makana Charter Tours?

I recommend Makana Charter Tours without hesitation. For the record, I am not paid by Makana for making a recommendation and do not receive any compensation for people making reservations after visiting my site. My wife Linda and I walk or run with the Border Collies to the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha almost every day. We experience how the Charter Tour operates and how their staff treat the passengers first-hand.

Below is a link to Makana’s website.

Makana Charter Tours

Are the new boats custom built?

Yes they are. Both were built by ACI Boats. ACI is based in Port Townsend, Washington. ACI Owner Cory Armstrong attended the launch party. According to Armstrong, Billy’s concept and initial design is the mastermind of Makana’s Owner, Cain Robinson. The Legend goes that Robinson created Billy and its sister ship Seiko drawing on a sketch pad with charcoal.

ACI sells production products for Commercial and Recreational use and will build from custom designs. I have been to ACI’s website. I have changed what is #1 on my list to Santa for next Christmas. A link to ACI’s website is below. As with Makana, the same goes with ACI in terms of compensation.

ACI Boats

The Test Ain’t Sexy… Nikon Z 800 Handheld. Really?

Capturing Kauai – Surfin’ Waimea Style

Capturing Kauai – Launch of Beauties

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