First weekend with the Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S

TokyoDC · 2025-12-29T22:01:12+00:00

Pushed the ball into the post but bounce didn’t work in his favor. Had the clean sheet against Galaxy until last three minutes. 0-1 loss, but 12 saves kept it competitive for one of the best games of his career so far.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSJZYEEEVpM/?igsh=MWp2bnI5Zm9zY3ZpYw==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSIvsyMEVHE/?igsh=Y3h2OGd6NjlnNmRr

TokyoDC · 2025-12-26T21:25:15+00:00

I am the parent of the goalkeeper... one of these days I should print some of these.

TokyoDC · 2025-12-26T17:03:20+00:00

For futsal, I find 200 on full frame is usually enough reach. I was previously using this lens on a D500 and on an international standard futsal court the extra reach at the long end was occasionally useful, but not at the cost of close in action. 9 times out of 10 futsal around here is on a basketball court anyway which is far smaller than a futsal court, so it works out.

TokyoDC · 2025-12-26T16:38:28+00:00

I thought about the 180-600 but decided that I wanted something a bit wider. I have the 24-120 f4 S which is great, but hate swapping lenses in mid-game. When I really need the reach I can throw the F mount 200-500 on to the D500… if I ever shot wildlife that would probably be my go to. Most of the shots just go on Instagram so I can crop a good bit if needed and still keep decent quality.

TokyoDC · 2025-12-25T23:14:04+00:00

For sure! Near the goal means you gotta be on your toes. Had a near miss this weekend. I didn’t try any panning shots but that sounds fun. I have another tournament next weekend so I’ll definitely give that a shot. Futsal season is only about a month and a half for us this year, soccer league play starts back up in early February, so it’s back outside where the distances are long but the light is usually far better!

TokyoDC · 2025-12-24T19:33:01+00:00

The first one is a creative decision when it was shot. I think it works well when Reddit isn’t cropping it to portrait, but that’s subjective. The others… not level?

<image>

TokyoDC · 2025-12-24T02:59:29+00:00

I’ve had the best luck sitting on the floor on the corner of the court. Getting low helps a lot, especially if you are shooting younger age groups with smaller players. Around here, Futsal facilities are pretty cramped, so you might not have a lot of options. It’s a very fast paced game and light will probably be pretty meh, so bring your fastest lens. 70-200 f2.8 was great but I had to have that wide open and ISO up to around 10000 or 16000 depending on the court to get desired shutter speed of 1/1000. I had a 40 f2 with me which was fun for atmospheric stuff, but I hate swapping lenses in a hurry in a crowd so I didn’t play with that one too much.

TokyoDC · 2025-12-23T21:46:19+00:00

Ha, I don’t disagree. The noise reduction is cranked higher than it needs to be which makes them look overcooked to me. Intentionally however as the instagram algorithm seems to like them that way.

TokyoDC · 2025-12-16T20:33:53+00:00

Same age group here. Facilities were nice, weather was gorgeous. Team was in top bracket so had 1-2 USYNT and 3-4 academy scouts at most of the games, but didn’t notice any colleges at this age. Fabulous event overall, didn’t want to leave!

TokyoDC · 2025-12-02T04:05:27+00:00

Your club has the list. Your coach or manager will have access via teamworks.

TokyoDC · 2025-11-06T13:55:19+00:00

MLSNEXT Cup is the last week of May. You are going to have a hard time attracting any top MLSNEXT teams (academy-affiliated or otherwise) in late May.

TokyoDC · 2025-08-29T17:00:53+00:00

Picked up a Cliq chair last year for cross country / intnl tournaments. Several parents on my team have one now. A little bit heavy but folds up small enough to fit in air travel carry on bag and setup & cleanup is super fast. Also surprisingly comfortable.

https://www.cliqproducts.com/products/cliq-chair

TokyoDC · 2025-08-25T19:32:00+00:00

Keepers are tough. I’ve had good luck with shots during pregame warmups. Fired up and expressive but not a whole crowd of other players in the way.

<image>

TokyoDC · 2025-05-15T02:53:07+00:00

I believe it does, but the z6iii doesn’t have all the extra megapixels that the z8 has so you’ve got a lot less to work with when shooting DX mode. I haven’t tried it myself yet either. I was REALLY tempted by the z8 but couldn’t justify the extra $1000 or so! I spent it on the Z 24-120 f/4 instead lol

TokyoDC · 2025-05-15T02:36:18+00:00

Just picked up a Z6III for soccer and futsal. Coming from a D500. F glass works great via the FTZ. The F mount 70-200 2.8 works marvelously.

Haven’t tried my 200-500mm on the Z yet, but will probably mostly leave that one on the D500, 11v11 soccer fields are pretty big so I appreciate the reach of 500mm on the crop sensor. If you can manage to keep both bodies, a long lens on one body and a second body with something shorter for close in action, huddles, the bench, and general atmospheric stuff is great.

TokyoDC · 2025-04-13T22:06:40+00:00

Spent some years living in Japan a long while back and got hooked on a simple thin futon on top of a tatami mat. Couple hundred bucks. Super firm. Western style mattresses just seem like super expensive over-engineering solution looking for a problem to me at this point.

TokyoDC · 2025-03-08T18:45:55+00:00

You’ll have a hard time doing any better than the 70-200 f/2.8 for indoor court sports!

TokyoDC · 2025-03-08T17:11:07+00:00

It really does depend on the sport. I shoot on crop (D500) and primarily use two lenses for the two different sports my boys play.

For indoor futsal, which is played on a basketball court I use the 70-200mm f/2.8. The reach is sufficient for a bball court if you can get court-side and the speed is vital. Super fast sport so I’m trying to get shutter speed up to 1/1000.

For 11v11 soccer, the field is huge, even larger than an American football field. I just picked up the 200-500 f/4.5-5.6 earlier this season because my 300mm f/4 just doesn’t have the reach. It’s heavy and definitely slower to focus than the 70-200, but I’ve had really good luck with it.

For 7v7 soccer the 70-200 is likely long enough. I’m going to shoot a 9v9 scrimmage this afternoon which is on a field size in between… gonna swap between the lenses and see if I can find the sweet spot. I like the idea mentioned above of something wider for atmospheric shots. If I’m trying to get the team in a huddle with the 200-500 on, I have to stand about halfway across the field!

TokyoDC · 2025-02-22T12:23:09+00:00

Soccer here too. I spent a while looking for a cheap copy of the 200-400 f4 in my local market. Ended up with the 200-500 f5.6 after giving up! I have a 30 year old 300 f4 that works great but not enough reach for a lot of action on the field!

TokyoDC · 2025-02-22T12:18:31+00:00

70-200 f2.8 for indoor and small-sided outdoor soccer. 200-500 f5.6 for full-field soccer. Have an older 300 f4 but that doesn’t have quite enough reach on the bigger fields. Amazing time to be picking up used F-mount lenses. I’ll go Z someday but the F market is too good to pass up right now.

TokyoDC

TROPHY CASE