Correction!!
My mistake! I stated Gary Borger instead of Gary LaFontaine as the author of Caddisflies. I have no excuse except that I must have been thinking about the Fly Fishing Shows and seeing Gary Borger and used his name instead of LaFontaine. Anyway, my apologies! Gary LaFontaine was the ultimate “bug guy” and sadly he died way before his time. His books are still the go-to books for insects and his Caddisflies is a classic. Grab a copy if you can find one. Cathy
There's a New Camera in the Bag
The love of fly fishing and photography has always been a big part of our lives. I was shooting photos before I could drive and sold my first magazine cover at the early age 17. From that point on I was bitten by the photography bug. From film to digital to mirrorless it's been a progression of technology not unlike fly rods – bamboo to fiberglass to graphite. When we recently returned from Argentina we found a large box from Roberts Camera. Inside was a new Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera. I put my duffel down and picked up the box.
Cathy and I had switched to digital early on in the digital revolution thanks to Ron Taniwaki who was then a Nikon Tech Rep, later to become a good friend. I remember being at Bob Marriott's Fly Fair in Fullerton, CA, shooting with my film camera and this guy walks up to me and says, “You're a dinosaur, adapt or die.” I wondered who this uppity know-it-all was, but as time would tell Ron’s help through the next few years kept us up to speed in the new world of digital. So here we are almost 20 years later holding what is billed as Nikon’s most impressive capable camera ever, the Z9.
The Z9 specs are more then impressive, 45.7 megapixels, full res RAW shooting at 20 frames per second with 8K/30 video with a wide range of ISO settings, improved auto focus, Nikon's famed 3D tracking technology, electronic view finder and shutter. My first impression? Right out of the box the camera felt solid, it fit perfectly in my hand, like when I picked up my first Sage X fly rod. You know this is the rod even without casting it. The controls on the Z9 were exactly where they should be and the now familiar “I” button, that I've come to rely on, was in the same place as the Z7 2 that I'd been shooting. Oh boy, was I happy.
Two weeks later we were back in Northern Argentina with a group of Frontiers friends in search of golden dorado at Pira Lodge located in Corrientes in the famous Ibera Marshlands. This is a photographer and fly fisherman’s paradise with hard fighting dorado backed by the shear beauty of the marsh and its incredible diversity of birds and animals.
Coupled with a Nikon 70-200 lenses, I put the Z9 through its paces. Dorado love to jump and are extremely fast but with the Z9’s focus tracking I got tack sharp fish jump shots. The color right out of the camera was better then any camera ever. I rarely shoot on a program mode preferring shutter or aperture priority depending on the subject and the environment I'm shooting in, but just for fun I set the Z9 on program and let it do its thing. After downloading the card and reviewing the images, I was amazed. It doesn't take a bad image and it gives me more time to think about composition.
I've put together some photos from the trip. Take a look for yourself!
I could go on and on but the bottom line is that Nikon has pulled out all the stops with the Z9. The Z9 has taken photography to a new level.
Check in out at https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/mirrorless-cameras/z-9.html and if you have questions call me or go to https://robertscamera.com/, or 800 726 5544. Ask for Nick Henry. We've been fans and customers of Roberts Camera in Indianapolis for years and there is no one better to help with camera purchases of all sizes!
FB Album Pira Lodge, Argentina
We just got back from Pira & Suinda Lodges in northern Argentina where we fished for golden dorado. Daytime temperatures were hot – 110 to 115 most days. We often fished from before daylight to lunchtime and then had siesta until about 5:00 and went back out for the evening. Although the water was low, fishing was very good and everyone in the group has expressed an interest in returning. Yes, it was that good!
We invite you to take a look at the Pira photos by using this link.
Drawing Winner
Our caddisfly selection winner is Brian Larson. Thanks for participating Brian.
That's all for this week. Hope you have a great week ahead. If you're in the northeast, stay warm!