Update to my response 11 months ago: I use this lens for about 95+% of my shooting, on one of my two R7's. I've never taken so many nice bird shots, with any other gear. I know this might sound crazy, but if I were to hit the lottery today, I honestly don't know what money could buy, that would be better for my purposes ? Its super light, very long, and very sharp. I think that pretty much covers it. Oh, and in low light, it's just fine, at a slow enough shutter speeds and I "always" shoot with a tripod, to make that possible. Of course I dream of a lens which was just a 'little bit' faster, a little better build quality, with a rotating collar, and some weather sealing..... but I know of no such lens :( So for the time being, and maybe from here on out, this will be my main birding lens.
Thanks for giving me an update, I need to use the lens again, I have sent off m R7 to be checked so perhaps when I get it back I will try this combo again. Cheers, Duade
Loving your R7 videos, RUclips recommended your channel to me because I've been looking at this camera so much. This is definitely reinforcing how much I want to buy this camera. I really enjoy how you show your whole process, and the way you transition from the RAW image to your edited version is great! It's something that I haven't seen a lot of other creators do.
First thing, I love the pictures!!!! I love the honesty with which you talk about your experiences and how the cameras and other gear work. You leave it real and that is what makes that I love watching your videos. At the moment my life is so busy that I just can't get time to take pictures. It is the dry season here and after 10am it gets so hot out that I can't work outside and my job is working outside so I have to try to make use of the cool in the morning and in the afternoon to be able to finish as much as possible. Keep taking pictures friend, enjoy Gods creation but don't forget the creator.
Just watched this video again for the umpteenth time. 'It's on the perch, It's on the perch, It's on the perch'-it just makes me smile every time. I love your passion and enthusiasm-thanks for brightening my day, Duade. And I recently treated myself to the f11 800mm and love it on my R7.
Great video Duade, still waiting for my R7, ordered it in early June , unfortunately may not receive mine til September as major supply chain issues to UK, my 7dmk2 was damaged recently so having to use my 6D and 60D which are getting old, I love your channel and your heart problems and getting into bird photography is a similar story to mine, in 2014 I was hit by a covid like virus that nearly took me out and basically gave me chronic heart failure and Afib (irregular heart) its taken me nearly 8 years to get back to how I used to feel and have the mental scars and fears, Although I was into photography in the eighties and nineties I really never got into digital photography properly until a few months after my heart failure , bought a canon 650d and 55-250STM and became obsessed with the detail of our feathery friends, it helped me heal and the walking did me good too, I now have a 500 F4L and 70-200 F2,8L and really need my R7 to arrive soon lol, keep up the great work and inspiring ! :)
@@colintraveller park cameras, I was 87th on their list , I have dropped to 68th , they have had two deliveries from canon but obviously only receiving 10 or 20 a month, it could even be October/ nov by time I receive it tbh, some people will have to wait til next year at this rate
This is great, you clearly had a blast. This is one use case where the R7 really shines, i.e. small birds and other animals at a distance in good light. I’ve also used this combo with the 1.4 extender from a bird hide. The handling and AF were great and the results really good. Ok there are limitations but it opens the door to scenarios that would otherwise be difficult (or expensive and heavy) to capture.
Really enjoyed your enthusiasm with the Flamed Robin Duade so spontaneous reaction, Your B roll and comments are so real it makes it feel as your were there experience with you; Congratulation on an excellent video Rod
Love that afternoon light you had! Especially on those cockies at the end. Really enjoyed the excitement you had too with some of the shots. Thanks so much for sharing that session with us.
My R7 arrived a couple of days ago, the RF 100-400mm is on the way, and I'll likely get an RF 800mm f/11 in the near future. I thought I'd leave you a comment to say that your channel was my primary source of info in deciding which lenses to aim for. The last time I did any serious bird photography was about 10 years ago, with the original 7D and the 400mm f/5.6L - I'm looking forward to seeing what the new generation of technology can bring to the game. As a fellow Aussie photographer with an interest in birds/wildlife, thank you for the effort you've put into your videos. They are very much appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on the kit, I had the exact same kit 10 years ago. We are bloody lucky to live in this country with the abundant wildlife. Cheers, Duade
Love that you shot through the whole day in varying light conditions. As someone thinking of getting this, but worrying if perma f11 can handle when the light fades (or in the dreary light of English winters), it was so valuable to see you getting usable shots as the sun sets. And that was without having to push that ISO to noise heavy levels, or drop the shutter speed below 1/400. For an enthusiast that wants the reach, but can't justify the cost of L's or the RF 200-800, this is such a cracking sounding lens.
G'day, it is a good lens for its price that is for sure but comes with some weaknesses, f/11, 6m MFD being the major ones and it can be tricky to find the subject at 800mm. The RF200-800 is the better lens but as you say more expensive. Have fun, Cheers, Duade
Oh Duade, what a joy to watch you enjoy (y)our passion 😀!!! May the birding gods stay with you ! Nice to see your approach of taking some first shots, and then see how to gradually adapt your position (and/or the environment) to improve the image !
Another great video! Not sure the R7 is for me, but I love your enthusiasm and excitement that you show when capturing the lovely Flame Robin images. I also greatly appreciate the fact that you’re not trying to sell me techniques or Lightroom presets on every video. I’d much rather support your work directly - I’m happy to support your channel.
This is awesome. I work at a camera store and wondered how enthusiastically I could recommend this combination to a customer. In the right light and with subjects at the right distance and in the open to make them easy to locate in that tiny field of view, this looks like a stunning option. And easy to carry too, which is a real benefit for those of us who are older. Agree that it should be paired with a companion zoom.
The pure joy in your voice while shooting the Flame Robins. I couldn't stop smiling. I was glad to see that the awful sound of the shutter didn't scare off the birds. I don't know what Canon was thinking when it developed that. Thanks for another great video Duade.
I got to agree with you, it's really a turn-off when I think I want to get my hand on R7, maybe R6 the shutter sound is not that loud?R5 is totally out of my budget.
I had been waiting for this video to see how this combination would work. The pictures in good light looked really crisp. You also really got a sense of how much joy you got from that effective focal length just walking around in the field. This combinaton paired with the RF 100-400mm would be such a good budget set-up for someone just starting on wildlife photography.
Awesome images, loved the cockie in the tree hollow. I've watched a review on R7 as a wedding camera too. It all goes into my brains filing cabinet. Thank you
R7 and RF 800mm f/11 my exact setup. I was also excited with using that combination. I travel with my Sigma 100-400 also for those closeup shots. But I'm thinking about getting the RF 100-400 and selling the Sigma due to the focus hunting issue. Its starting to annoy me. Im going have to try that home made perch trick one day. Great pics.
Super long telephoto is great if you have the right light and no heat distortion. It's great to be able to apply just the minimum crop, especially on the lower-resolution cameras. I've taken to using my 800mm with a 1.4 teleconverter and finding that I'm getting good results (in bright light, of course).
Thank you for testing the R7 with the RF 800. Your shots are amazing. The landscape and birds are so beautiful. Makes me really thinking of visiting Australia at some point.
You’re a one brave man shooting with the r7 and 800 f11 lol…them famous RUclipsrs wouldn’t even dare to shoot this combo but rather shoot with r3-z9 and 600 f4
Thanks, it is always worth trying these things in the field to see how they perform. Was it perfect, far from it, I struggled at times and got plenty of soft shots but the keepers were good and I had a great afternoon. For its price it delivered great results. Cheers, Duade
Another great video, watching you and your enthusiasm really sums up why many of us love wildlife photography. I continue to enjoy the way you show the RAW capture and then the crop and processed image.
Duade, another great video and the male Flame Robin is a truly stunning bird. My R7 arrived last week so I'm getting up to speed with it. To go from a 5DS to the R7, is from about 4 fps to 30fps seems magical in itself, but with the subject tracking it seems otherworldly! I have used it on my Sigma 150-500 and I get a few soft shots (the pulsing) and some rolling shutter, but my keeper rate is through the roof! It's by no means perfect but I'm delighted with my R7 - I haven't even used video yet! Thanks for all your work!👍
Thanks Ruairi, I am so happy it finally arrives and you are getting some nice keepers, it really is a big jump as you mention. Have fun out there, Cheers, Duade
What an exciting session for you Duade. The colours are amazing! I would like to go somewhere with no traffic and such a landscape. Nice web on your mirror
What stunning colours to brighten up a drab dull day here. The photos were fabulous. Like someone else commented getting the R7 in the UK seems to be impossible just now so I'm having to stick with my DSLR. Thanks again for the informative video.
I picked up this lens from the Canon refurbished store for 719.USD. Has the same one year warranty in the US, so why not have the money. The FOV is tricky. I shoot with both eyes open to help me get the lens in position. While the reach is amazing, like you were doing, I find it great for getting nice shots of small skittish birds that you can’t normally get close enough to. It is an easy lens to carry. The weight of the lens pairs nicely with the camera body. Great video and images!
Thanks Jeff, yes I think for the price you get what you pay for, and that is a very unique lens that allows you to capture birds at a distance. The IQ and AF may not compete with the L series but at its price I don't think we can expect it too. It does its job well. Glad to hear you are getting good use out of it. Cheers, Duade
Excellent work, Duade! Especially during the Flame Robin section. You worked to get a great sun angle during the setting sun with the light coming from behind you. I find that the R7 struggles to focus a little bit in low light or with small apertures like the 800 f/11 or the 100-500 with an extender forces you to work with. That shutter sure is loud! The R7 shutter is much louder than my R6. I find I can get away with lower shutter speeds in electronic shutter mode because there is shutter shock that can cause blurry images. Good to know that I can switch back to the mechanical shutter once I get up to 1/800. I'm looking forward to hearing the information in the next video that you mention at 14:28 and seeing if it is similar to what I have experienced. Thanks, Duade.
Thanks Phil, yes I agree with everything you have said, I have been testing mechanical and electronic and electronic does appear to have more keepers but the wobble and warping is annoying. I guess it is just finding which one works best for you, Cheers, Duade
I recently purchased the R7 with the RF100-400 - love how light it is. And eye detect - game changer. Still getting used to the camera but am enjoying your videos and learning more about the camera from you. Thank you.
I have known that excitement when a plan comes together, but not as often as I would like. That combination seems to work well together, looking forward to your follow up video. Please keep up the great content.👏🏻🇨🇦
Another great video Duade, thanks. Your field craft in locating and then enticing the birds in, is great to view and learn from. Keep them coming please 👏👏👏
Great video. The eye-tracking auto-focus does appear to struggle with some larger mammals, I have noticed my R6 struggles a bit sometimes with moose, especially.
Great video! I enjoy seeing the original RAW file and then the cropped and sweetened version. I was amazed that you were able to shoot at 1/500 (and even 1/400) with the 1200mm lens. I am very tempted to buy that lens.
Thanks Blair, it does have its issues and there are a lot of compromises to be made. I did get plenty of soft and OOF shots shooting at those SS but plenty of sharp ones also. I have a video coming in a week or so trying lots of different lenses. Cheers, Duade
Your videos are so good and informative. Half the fun of watching is hearing the excitement in your voice when things fall in place for a good shot. I have the R6 and several lenses now. I have some studio equipment that I plan on selling and was figuring a couple of lenses with that return. Now, I think I will add theR7 body to my bag. It appears to be a great little camera for birding and that is my path right now. Thanks.
Thanks Roger, yes, very exciting for sure. The R7 is good in nice light for sure and the extra reach is a bonus. The R6 will still outperform it easily in low light and when you can get close. But if you know the birds will be far off the R7 will be nice to have as an option. Cheers, Duade
Your joy really comes through in the videos. And you're putting so much work into them--it almost feels like you have a whole crew with you, with all the setup and 3rd person shots. Kudos!
R7 and RF800 f11 is my go to combination for most shots at the moment. I like I can fill the frame more with the smaller birds I have been chasing recently. I agree the autofocus and eye tracking struggle in low light and also if the bird is in a cluttered scene.
Wonderful video, with a lot of amazing shots mate. I use the same tecnic when i am photographing too. Get some shots to secure the registration, and move closer and closer. Have to say that this lens looks very interesting. Looking forward to next video. Cheers, Bjoern
Mate, yes an interesting lens however I did have some AF and IQ issues with many of the shots and I am unsure if I would choose the lens that often. Only in really good light where I need reach would I go for it. I think maybe something like the RF100-400 with a 1.4 is just more usable all around. If you already had a 100-400 then I could see the RF800 as a second option. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade as usual. Loved the robin photos especially, they are fabulous birds. For me I think the 800 would be too long with the R7. Will you have a chance to try that combination in a forest situation?
Thanks Lachlan, yes, the 800mm is a bit much at times and it is difficult to locate the subject quickly in the viewfinder. It really is a use case lens and you would need a zoom lens to accompany it. I will try some forest shots in the future. Cheers, Duade
The spiderweb on the side mirror is badass lol. I enjoyed the video, stunning landscape & wildlife. I'm sure whoever's planning to get this combo will appreciate this review. Cheers!
Thanks Jordan, yes, that is some web lol, it works well in good light but can struggle in low light. I think one just needs to be aware of its limitations. Cheers, Duade
Really nice video! I love enjoyable outings like that. Most of mine are good but it is really hot here in Texas at the moment which takes some of the fun out of it. We made it to Australia and NZ right before the pandemic but it was a very limited trip with our only 2 days in Australia being in Sydney. We were planning to go back a few months later. Awesome birds there. I am enjoying the R7 quite a bit. I have almost exclusively use it with the RF 100-500mm so far. I have had some luck playing with the AF adjustments quite a bit and I am reasonably happy with the results. I rented an OM-1 last week and really enjoyed using that. The AF is a bit faster and doesn’t seem fazed at all by low light. But after a week of 20mp pics I found that I was missing the extra resolution of the R7. I used the OM-1 with my Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f6.3 lens and it was very competitive with the R7 with the 100-500mm. I prefer the R7 video functionality a little more but that could just be by unfamiliarity with that system. We are going to Alaska in a couple of weeks. Mostly my wife’s trip so birds are the not the main focus but there should be a couple of decent opportunities. I am wishing that I had the OM-1 for that trip because of the size.
Thanks for sharing your experience Rod, I would love to try out the Olympus kit, I think I would have to buy it to try unfortunately. Alaska sounds like fun, I am sure there will be some birds about ;-) Cheers, Duade
I would never have considered this combo, but now that you've tested it, I might just bring this lens out for a spin. Yes, the AF does struggle in low light. So what I've done is that as a backup, I would disable continuous tracking and switch to spot, then active eye AF with the back button when I want it.
Thanks for a great video i have had the r7 now for about 3 weeks useing it with the sigma 150 600 sport lens and not very impressed some shots were ok, but after watching your video and excellet results i think i will purchase the RF800 F/11 and have a play my self once again thaks for the video regards Alan
Good luck with it, it is a lot of focal length and can be difficult finding the subject and you may need the RF100-400 for the shorter stuff. Have fun, Cheers, Duade
Great video! Thank you for doing this. I am very close to purchasing this combo. A very big part of enjoying being out taking photos is not having heavy equipment to drag around. After a few hours, even the best lens and camera settings can't outweigh the back ache and combersome task that it is. I think this combo could be an awesome addition to ones kit.
Thanks, yes, it is a unique combo with a lot of focal length. I will admit it can be tricky finding the subject with so much reach but for shorebirds, waterbirds etc it is very helpful, you will need a shorter zoom like the RF100-400 as well. Cheers, Duade
Nice! I think having that one and 600mm is a good combination. The landscapes are beautiful! And Australia is definitely a place I need to go to put my wildlife skills in test. Great video! Cheers!
I am so glad i decided to use Canon cameras. The choises that canon offer as lenses is just best. Even though Canon hasnt opend RF mount for other brands it still has lot to offer in many price price points even. R7 + 800mm f11 here too!
Hi Duade. thanks for the video. That loud shutter noise suggests quite an impact! I take it that you’ve not experienced any camera shake caused by that?
Thanks Mal, yes, I suspect shutter shock is an issue as I did get lots of soft shots, I am debating whether electronic is better now and just put up with the wobble. Cheers, Duade
Thank you for this video. I was engrossed! The birds of Australia are so pretty and so different from those we see in the UK and I love your images. I am still researching a suitable next camera and the R7 is one that I am very interested in, but this big lens would be too heavy for me. I don't know anything about Canon lenses and would be chuffed if you could suggest any others that might be suitable for animal and bird photography that would go with the R7? I could then research them further and figure out combined camera+lens weight, and camera+lens costs, to see what suits my 'strength' and budget best! No worries if that is too big an ask. (I will still watch your videos!!)😁
Thanks, I highly suggest you check out my review of the RF100-400, it would make a perfect companion to the R7 and is very light. Cheers, Duade ruclips.net/video/jVdQT0m3lok/видео.html
@@Duade Thank you so much. I will do that. In fact I may already have watched it before out of interest, but not taking it on board with a view to using it with a new camera at that point. I will watch with intent this time! 👍
Great video Duade. I have been on the fence about the 800 for quite awhile. I'm almost sold seeing your video. Not so much for the birds in trees but more for waterfowl. It seems an incredible reach, even compared to the 100-500 with a 1.4 extender as well as being a lighter carry. Thanks for your videos, very informative indeed.
Thanks Karla, it is an interesting lens, really only useful in good light and it is not quite as good as the 100-500 but when you need reach it is handy to have 800mm. I think it performs well for its price. Cheers, Duade
After seeing your Kangaroo shots I am really thinking this combo would fit my needs. I have been using the R5 with a 100-500 shooting Antelope, Deer and small birds such as Meadowlarks on a barbwire fence line on the prairies of Wyoming. Lots of sunny, bright days and lots of dry weather. The 100-500 is just a tad bit short. The R5 and the 100-500 worked great in the state of MS where wildlife was much closer and with lots of humidity. I know the 800mm is not sealed all that well compared to the 100-500.
6:06 "Pray to the Birding Gods 😆I was out with my R7 / RF 100-400 when I spotted an Osprey nest at my favorite seafood eatery. Even at 640mm they were too far away. So I went back the next day, hoping they were still there (of course they were) with my 800 F11. If I was thinking of selling it, and I was, not going to now!
I believe I'm going to commit to the R7, but I'm still going back and forth on the lens. The RF800 f/11 vs the RF100-400 f/8, likely with a 1.4x. New to bird photography. My worry is I'll be disappointed one vs the other -- "I'm not close enough!" or "I'm too close!". My interest is only bird photography, and my only experience with magnification vs range from subject is using a set of 10x42 binocs. Would love a nudge in either direction, from you or your community. Cheers, and thank you for the wonderful videos and photos.
G'day Nathan, the long term solution is to get both. They are such different lenses to be honest, the RF100-400 is an all around lens that can do pretty much everything from landscapes, insects, macro, larger animals and birds etc. The 800 on the R7 is almost too much focal length and with the 6m MFD you cannot get that close to the subject. If you are always cropping your images currently and really want the reach then the 800 has an advantage. But if you want the flexibility of a zoom and MFD the zoom is the way to go. If I only had one option I would start with the zoom and then pick up the 800mm later. Or switch it around and start with the 800 and get the zoom later. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I appreciate the longer term vs immediate goal of owning one then both. I'm excited to get into the hobby, and will certainly be using your videos as resources.
an unrelated question, I've been wanting to visit my relatives in Melbourne, Australia during the holidays. Just wondering if you can make a video about some great spots in Australia for bird photography.
G'day, sounds like fun, the Western Treatment Plant is a good spot just outside of Melbourne. Phillip Island just south of the city is also worth a visit for the Geese. Ebird is probably the best resource. CHeers, Duade
I watched this video a few months ago and I'm just now considering this lens for certain situations and its affordability. The strange thing is that even with 1,100mm you still want to crop in on the image and mentioned needing to get closer LOL! I think when we have a very long lens we just try to shoot things that are much further away and it's the same as having a shorter lens with a closer subject. If we had 2,000mm we would shoot something even further away and still be cropping the image LOL. Since I'm not wanting to shoot a tiny bird 100 yards away it just seems to make sense for me to find closer subjects and shoot them at 600mm or less. I guess the lens does increase the number of subjects that are within a range to get a shot. Thank you for showing us how it works in the field! Best of luck to you!
Really enjoyed watching this session with you - beautiful light and birds. I have the R7 and 800 and sometimes find it hard to locate even in the evf but when everything is right, the light and SS, like yours, I can get some lovely results, and as someone who would never buy, or be able to carry any of the big whites,am very grateful to Canon for coming up with this lens, and the very capable RF 100-400 too. Anyway, can you please tell me your reasons for mechanical shutter as I have found electronic to give slightly better results for me, can see mechanical is working well for you though. Thanks for the great content.👌
Thanks Jayne, congrats on the combo, I was just testing mechanical for this video, I think electronic delivers more sharp shots but you just have to put up with the warping and wobbling in electronic. Cheers, Duade
Very helpful Duade. You had probably the best light and conditions to try out this combo. I loved your enthusiasm and could feel the excitement - it's moments like these that make nature photography so rewarding. I'm looking forward to seeing the follow up video. My short experience with an R7 and100-500 showed, that whilst it has lots of great features, it came with its own Af problems too - particularly in low light conditions. I'm not supplementing my R5 with it. It's a shame because I had such high hopes.
Thanks Dave, the low light AF performance is a concern and shows the big gap between it and that R5, they just perform differently. I am unsure exactly why but from my experience the difference is noticeable. At the same time the R5 costs almost 3 times as much so I guess we cannot expect it to be the same. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for another great video & sharing your experience with this kit, Duade. I would consider that lens, but for too many of the lighting situations I find myself in, the f11 is just too small. It seems quite usable in many of your environments & a very nice choice for excellent reach. Glad it was a nice session & loved the images you captured! Thanks again for the upload & enjoy the next one. Good shooting out there ~ Chris
Thanks for video. It was very informative. The pictures are great. A question please: a lot of Canon users have EF 100-400mm II and EF teleconverters. Would you recommend the R7 + 100-400mm II + 2.x combo to get to the same field of view?
If you already own those lenses it could be an option for sure, I think the 1.4x extender makes more sense to be honest on the R7 as 800mm is a lot and using a 2x does impact IQ and AF. The 800 f11 is sharper then those combos. Cheers, Duade
Congrats, have fun, it does have its challenges for sure and the IQ and AF do struggle at times but in good light it works well. Just take lots of bursts to increase your keepers. Cheers, Duade
It's not a scientific test, but it's fun to see how much fun you have in taking pictures. The moment when the bird perched on the branch you put up... :-) just great! So you can say you had a lot of fun and the station wagon is recommended? We live in good times to be able to buy such a good camera with this autofocus and an 800mm lens portable for around 2,500 Euro/ Dollars!
Thanks, yes a lot of fun, the lens has a lot of weaknesses but to be expected for this price point. To get 800mm at this price point is very unique. Cheers, Duade
You're doing everything 2 steps ahead of me, thanks for sharing your journey! It definitely helps. I have the 600/f11 and love how light it is. I was thinking about getting the 200-800 for the zoom and 1 more stop.. but .. .it weighs too much for me. 2kg (plus camera) gets heavy carrying long distances and holding for any length of time. (I don't use a tripod) So, I was thinking of just adding the 800... or a 2nd body in aps-c. Or maybe I should just workout and get huge deltoids? :) You are so fortunate to live in a place with a variety of landscapes that you can drive to. I hope to move to the coast one day so I can focus on coastal birding. But I think I'll just have to travel more at some point to get to cool looking places in general. The southeast US is not great (but not all bad) for photography. The SW and NW are tremendous, though.. and I hope to get there again one day... just a week's drive away... ha.
Update to my response 11 months ago: I use this lens for about 95+% of my shooting, on one of my two R7's. I've never taken so many nice bird shots, with any other gear. I know this might sound crazy, but if I were to hit the lottery today, I honestly don't know what money could buy, that would be better for my purposes ? Its super light, very long, and very sharp. I think that pretty much covers it. Oh, and in low light, it's just fine, at a slow enough shutter speeds and I "always" shoot with a tripod, to make that possible. Of course I dream of a lens which was just a 'little bit' faster, a little better build quality, with a rotating collar, and some weather sealing..... but I know of no such lens :( So for the time being, and maybe from here on out, this will be my main birding lens.
Thanks for giving me an update, I need to use the lens again, I have sent off m R7 to be checked so perhaps when I get it back I will try this combo again. Cheers, Duade
Loving your R7 videos, RUclips recommended your channel to me because I've been looking at this camera so much. This is definitely reinforcing how much I want to buy this camera.
I really enjoy how you show your whole process, and the way you transition from the RAW image to your edited version is great! It's something that I haven't seen a lot of other creators do.
Thanks for the comment and I am happy you are enjoying the videos and the raw to final image transition. Cheers, Duade
I love this format where you show the raw, the crop and the final picture. Nice videos.
Thanks Roman, yes, great to hear it is helpful, Cheers, Duade
Very enjoyable video, great work
Thanks mate, Cheers, Duade
First thing, I love the pictures!!!! I love the honesty with which you talk about your experiences and how the cameras and other gear work. You leave it real and that is what makes that I love watching your videos. At the moment my life is so busy that I just can't get time to take pictures. It is the dry season here and after 10am it gets so hot out that I can't work outside and my job is working outside so I have to try to make use of the cool in the morning and in the afternoon to be able to finish as much as possible. Keep taking pictures friend, enjoy Gods creation but don't forget the creator.
Thanks Michael, I appreciate your comment and I am glad you are enjoying the videos, take care in the heat. Cheers, Duade
Greatings from Denmark.
I love you show the RAW file and crop in the final picture. Respect for that.
Thanks, it is my pleasure, it is a great way to learn, Cheers, Duade
Good lordy that Flame Robin!!!! What a bird, great pics of it too.
Thanks Shaun, it sure is stunning, we are so lucky to have the Australasian Robins with all of their colours, it really is crazy. Cheers, Duade
Loving your peaceful and happy demeanour as well and the wonderful environment and captures!
Thanks, it is my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade, I feel enjoyed your birding episodes so much, thanks for your uploading.
It is my pleasure Lawrence, I am happy to hear you have enjoyed them. Cheers, Duade
Just watched this video again for the umpteenth time. 'It's on the perch, It's on the perch, It's on the perch'-it just makes me smile every time. I love your passion and enthusiasm-thanks for brightening my day, Duade.
And I recently treated myself to the f11 800mm and love it on my R7.
Great video Duade, still waiting for my R7, ordered it in early June , unfortunately may not receive mine til September as major supply chain issues to UK, my 7dmk2 was damaged recently so having to use my 6D and 60D which are getting old, I love your channel and your heart problems and getting into bird photography is a similar story to mine, in 2014 I was hit by a covid like virus that nearly took me out and basically gave me chronic heart failure and Afib (irregular heart) its taken me nearly 8 years to get back to how I used to feel and have the mental scars and fears, Although I was into photography in the eighties and nineties I really never got into digital photography properly until a few months after my heart failure , bought a canon 650d and 55-250STM and became obsessed with the detail of our feathery friends, it helped me heal and the walking did me good too, I now have a 500 F4L and 70-200 F2,8L and really need my R7 to arrive soon lol, keep up the great work and inspiring ! :)
What Retailer did you order it thro/from ?
@@colintraveller park cameras, I was 87th on their list , I have dropped to 68th , they have had two deliveries from canon but obviously only receiving 10 or 20 a month, it could even be October/ nov by time I receive it tbh, some people will have to wait til next year at this rate
sorry Wilkinson cameras Preston
@@Magicmoviesgroovies Did you try at wex cameras beforehand ??
@@colintraveller I didnt , they were all pre ordering the R7 so thought WEX would have been the busiest as they pretty well known
This is great, you clearly had a blast. This is one use case where the R7 really shines, i.e. small birds and other animals at a distance in good light. I’ve also used this combo with the 1.4 extender from a bird hide. The handling and AF were great and the results really good. Ok there are limitations but it opens the door to scenarios that would otherwise be difficult (or expensive and heavy) to capture.
Thanks, yes, you touch on the perfect use case for this combo. If you have good light it performs well. Cheers, Duade
Really enjoyed your enthusiasm with the Flamed Robin Duade so spontaneous reaction, Your B roll and comments are so real it makes it feel as your were there experience with you; Congratulation on an excellent video
Rod
Thanks Rod, I am glad you are enjoying the videos, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for a great test - you convinced me to keep my 800 f/11 along with my 600 f/4!
Thanks for the support Thorbjørn I really appreciate it, have fun with your lenses. Cheers, Duade
Love that afternoon light you had! Especially on those cockies at the end. Really enjoyed the excitement you had too with some of the shots. Thanks so much for sharing that session with us.
It is my pleasure Denise, glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
My R7 arrived a couple of days ago, the RF 100-400mm is on the way, and I'll likely get an RF 800mm f/11 in the near future. I thought I'd leave you a comment to say that your channel was my primary source of info in deciding which lenses to aim for. The last time I did any serious bird photography was about 10 years ago, with the original 7D and the 400mm f/5.6L - I'm looking forward to seeing what the new generation of technology can bring to the game.
As a fellow Aussie photographer with an interest in birds/wildlife, thank you for the effort you've put into your videos. They are very much appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on the kit, I had the exact same kit 10 years ago. We are bloody lucky to live in this country with the abundant wildlife. Cheers, Duade
Love that you shot through the whole day in varying light conditions. As someone thinking of getting this, but worrying if perma f11 can handle when the light fades (or in the dreary light of English winters), it was so valuable to see you getting usable shots as the sun sets. And that was without having to push that ISO to noise heavy levels, or drop the shutter speed below 1/400.
For an enthusiast that wants the reach, but can't justify the cost of L's or the RF 200-800, this is such a cracking sounding lens.
G'day, it is a good lens for its price that is for sure but comes with some weaknesses, f/11, 6m MFD being the major ones and it can be tricky to find the subject at 800mm. The RF200-800 is the better lens but as you say more expensive. Have fun, Cheers, Duade
Oh Duade, what a joy to watch you enjoy (y)our passion 😀!!! May the birding gods stay with you !
Nice to see your approach of taking some first shots, and then see how to gradually adapt your position (and/or the environment) to improve the image !
Thanks Werner, this comment just popped up which is weird, thanks for the comment, yes it was a lot of fun. Cheers, Duade
Nice one Duade! That looked like a fun afternoon 🙂
Thanks mate, it sure was, Cheers, Duade
Another great video! Not sure the R7 is for me, but I love your enthusiasm and excitement that you show when capturing the lovely Flame Robin images. I also greatly appreciate the fact that you’re not trying to sell me techniques or Lightroom presets on every video. I’d much rather support your work directly - I’m happy to support your channel.
Thanks Mark, I appreciate the support and glad you are enjoying the content. Cheers, Duade
This is awesome. I work at a camera store and wondered how enthusiastically I could recommend this combination to a customer. In the right light and with subjects at the right distance and in the open to make them easy to locate in that tiny field of view, this looks like a stunning option. And easy to carry too, which is a real benefit for those of us who are older. Agree that it should be paired with a companion zoom.
Thanks, yes you got it exactly, if you want the bird big in the frame and shoot in good light it can capture very nice shots. Cheers, Duade
I love your videos, it’s like watching the geographic channel but this is kinda better because I understand how cameras work now
Great to hear, thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade 👍
The pure joy in your voice while shooting the Flame Robins. I couldn't stop smiling. I was glad to see that the awful sound of the shutter didn't scare off the birds. I don't know what Canon was thinking when it developed that. Thanks for another great video Duade.
I got to agree with you, it's really a turn-off when I think I want to get my hand on R7, maybe R6 the shutter sound is not that loud?R5 is totally out of my budget.
Thanks, yes, I had a lot of fun, that shutter is loud but you can shoot in electronic which is silent. Cheers, Duade
I had been waiting for this video to see how this combination would work. The pictures in good light looked really crisp. You also really got a sense of how much joy you got from that effective focal length just walking around in the field. This combinaton paired with the RF 100-400mm would be such a good budget set-up for someone just starting on wildlife photography.
Thanks Kyle, totally agree, for its price it offers good value. We just need nice light all the time ;-) Cheers, Duade
I think it's a bit better than what used to be the case "for just starting out" ! Pro wildlife photographers would have died for this 15 years ago!
Awesome video like always! Finally after a long, long wait my R7 arrived, I am super happy with my new camera 📸🐦👍❤️
Oh that is great to hear Miguel, so happy for you, have fun with it, Cheers, Duade
Fantastic. I agree Stunning Photographs. I am waiting for my R7 to arrive in New Zealand. Canon NZ states it will arrive late 2022 now.
Thanks Chris, sorry to hear of the delay, they are out of stock here in Australia as well. Cheers, Duade
You have the best wildlife photography channel. Super chill, informative, what else could we ask for?
Awesome images, loved the cockie in the tree hollow. I've watched a review on R7 as a wedding camera too. It all goes into my brains filing cabinet. Thank you
Thanks Lisa, I appreciate the support, Cheers, Duade
R7 and RF 800mm f/11 my exact setup. I was also excited with using that combination. I travel with my Sigma 100-400 also for those closeup shots. But I'm thinking about getting the RF 100-400 and selling the Sigma due to the focus hunting issue. Its starting to annoy me. Im going have to try that home made perch trick one day. Great pics.
Congrats on the gear, the RF100-400 is a beautiful lens for the price, I think it is on sale at B&H at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Your video of the golden hour is golden! I feel like am with you.
Thanks Scott, I'm glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
The best video of this gear! Bring more please!
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
I have the Canon 80mm f11 lens and waiting for the R7 to arrive. Thank you so much for your amazing photographs.
It is my pleasure Chris, good luck when it arrives. Cheers, Duade
Super long telephoto is great if you have the right light and no heat distortion. It's great to be able to apply just the minimum crop, especially on the lower-resolution cameras. I've taken to using my 800mm with a 1.4 teleconverter and finding that I'm getting good results (in bright light, of course).
Thanks Kevin, yes it has a best use case scenario so you really need a second lens with it. Good to hear you are getting good results. Cheers, Duade
Thank you for testing the R7 with the RF 800. Your shots are amazing. The landscape and birds are so beautiful. Makes me really thinking of visiting Australia at some point.
"Get Down Under Mate" you will love it. From Sydney Australia.
Thanks, yes, we are worth a visit, take your time as it is a big old place. Cheers, Duade
You’re a one brave man shooting with the r7 and 800 f11 lol…them famous RUclipsrs wouldn’t even dare to shoot this combo but rather shoot with r3-z9 and 600 f4
Thanks, it is always worth trying these things in the field to see how they perform. Was it perfect, far from it, I struggled at times and got plenty of soft shots but the keepers were good and I had a great afternoon. For its price it delivered great results. Cheers, Duade
Another great video. I learn something new with every one of your videos!
That is great to hear, Cheers, Duade
Another great video, watching you and your enthusiasm really sums up why many of us love wildlife photography. I continue to enjoy the way you show the RAW capture and then the crop and processed image.
Thanks Bill, hard not to have a good time when out with the camera, thanks again, Cheers, Duade
Duade, another great video and the male Flame Robin is a truly stunning bird. My R7 arrived last week so I'm getting up to speed with it. To go from a 5DS to the R7, is from about 4 fps to 30fps seems magical in itself, but with the subject tracking it seems otherworldly! I have used it on my Sigma 150-500 and I get a few soft shots (the pulsing) and some rolling shutter, but my keeper rate is through the roof! It's by no means perfect but I'm delighted with my R7 - I haven't even used video yet! Thanks for all your work!👍
Thanks Ruairi, I am so happy it finally arrives and you are getting some nice keepers, it really is a big jump as you mention. Have fun out there, Cheers, Duade
What an exciting session for you Duade. The colours are amazing! I would like to go somewhere with no traffic and such a landscape. Nice web on your mirror
Thanks Caroline, yes, a imagine the spider who calls the mirror home is a rather large specimen :-) Cheers, Duade
What stunning colours to brighten up a drab dull day here. The photos were fabulous. Like someone else commented getting the R7 in the UK seems to be impossible just now so I'm having to stick with my DSLR. Thanks again for the informative video.
Thanks May, I appreciate it, yes, the colours on the bird are amazing. Cheers, Duade
Great vid as always Duade. Mate you need to evict that spider that's living in your DS wing mirror, that cobweb is a shocker.
Thanks Ken, yes it must have been there for some time :-) Cheers, Duade
I picked up this lens from the Canon refurbished store for 719.USD. Has the same one year warranty in the US, so why not have the money.
The FOV is tricky. I shoot with both eyes open to help me get the lens in position.
While the reach is amazing, like you were doing, I find it great for getting nice shots of small skittish birds that you can’t normally get close enough to.
It is an easy lens to carry. The weight of the lens pairs nicely with the camera body.
Great video and images!
Thanks Jeff, yes I think for the price you get what you pay for, and that is a very unique lens that allows you to capture birds at a distance. The IQ and AF may not compete with the L series but at its price I don't think we can expect it too. It does its job well. Glad to hear you are getting good use out of it. Cheers, Duade
Excellent work, Duade! Especially during the Flame Robin section. You worked to get a great sun angle during the setting sun with the light coming from behind you. I find that the R7 struggles to focus a little bit in low light or with small apertures like the 800 f/11 or the 100-500 with an extender forces you to work with. That shutter sure is loud! The R7 shutter is much louder than my R6. I find I can get away with lower shutter speeds in electronic shutter mode because there is shutter shock that can cause blurry images. Good to know that I can switch back to the mechanical shutter once I get up to 1/800. I'm looking forward to hearing the information in the next video that you mention at 14:28 and seeing if it is similar to what I have experienced. Thanks, Duade.
Thanks Phil, yes I agree with everything you have said, I have been testing mechanical and electronic and electronic does appear to have more keepers but the wobble and warping is annoying. I guess it is just finding which one works best for you, Cheers, Duade
It's so nice when you prepare and set it up and then it succeeds! Great shots Duade! Another enjoyable and inspiring video!
Thanks Forrest, Cheers, Duade
I am happy to see you were able to hand hold this camera/lens combo. I was hoping you'd make an R7/RF800 video. Here it is and it doesn't disappoint!
Thanks for the support mate, glad you found it helpful, Cheers, Duade
I recently purchased the R7 with the RF100-400 - love how light it is. And eye detect - game changer. Still getting used to the camera but am enjoying your videos and learning more about the camera from you. Thank you.
Great to hear Susan, a wonderful light combo for sure, Cheers, Duade
I have known that excitement when a plan comes together, but not as often as I would like. That combination seems to work well together, looking forward to your follow up video.
Please keep up the great content.👏🏻🇨🇦
Thanks Larry, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Another great video Duade, thanks. Your field craft in locating and then enticing the birds in, is great to view and learn from. Keep them coming please 👏👏👏
Thanks Andy, I am glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
12:29 bro forgot his camera on the road, great shots, I loved all of them.
Great video. The eye-tracking auto-focus does appear to struggle with some larger mammals, I have noticed my R6 struggles a bit sometimes with moose, especially.
Thanks Andy, yes, I had a lot of trouble with the Kangaroos to be honest, hopefully over time they improve the algorithms. Cheers, Duade
I also faced similar struggle with bison and black bear. It wasn't identifying the eye even if I place the focus point on the eye.
Great video! I enjoy seeing the original RAW file and then the cropped and sweetened version. I was amazed that you were able to shoot at 1/500 (and even 1/400) with the 1200mm lens. I am very tempted to buy that lens.
Thanks Blair, it does have its issues and there are a lot of compromises to be made. I did get plenty of soft and OOF shots shooting at those SS but plenty of sharp ones also. I have a video coming in a week or so trying lots of different lenses. Cheers, Duade
Your videos are so good and informative. Half the fun of watching is hearing the excitement in your voice when things fall in place for a good shot. I have the R6 and several lenses now. I have some studio equipment that I plan on selling and was figuring a couple of lenses with that return. Now, I think I will add theR7 body to my bag. It appears to be a great little camera for birding and that is my path right now. Thanks.
Thanks Roger, yes, very exciting for sure. The R7 is good in nice light for sure and the extra reach is a bonus. The R6 will still outperform it easily in low light and when you can get close. But if you know the birds will be far off the R7 will be nice to have as an option. Cheers, Duade
Great practical outing Duade. Your luck with the Flame Robins was incredible. Still waiting for my R7 to show up.
Thanks Terry, yes, I did get very lucky, it was really the location which helped, much harder in the forest with these guys. Cheers, Duade
hit the like before i start the video, and wish i can hit it again, thanks a million for sharing this fabulous photo session.
Thank you so much, you are too kind, Cheers, Duade
Great days shoot you were like a kid on Christmas morning when the bird landed on the branch in that fantastic light
Thanks Steve, I sure was in my element, a fun afternoon for sure, Cheers, Duade
I'm just getting into photography and your videos have given me great insight on things to consider with my gear. Amazing photos and videos!
Great to hear!
It's like you can read my mind with these reviews... contemplating what lens to use with my upcoming R7 purchase. Thanks!
Your joy really comes through in the videos. And you're putting so much work into them--it almost feels like you have a whole crew with you, with all the setup and 3rd person shots. Kudos!
Thanks, I am glad you are enjoying them, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for taking us along
It is my pleasure Richard, Cheers, Duade
Yet another awesome video mate. Loved the excitement when catching those robins.
Thanks Robert, it was a lot of fun that is for sure, Cheers, Duade
R7 and RF800 f11 is my go to combination for most shots at the moment. I like I can fill the frame more with the smaller birds I have been chasing recently. I agree the autofocus and eye tracking struggle in low light and also if the bird is in a cluttered scene.
Thanks Paul, great to hear from someone using this combo, Cheers, Duade
That spiderweb on the side rear view mirror. Just wow.
Lol, yes, I assume the spider is doing well judging the size of it. Cheers, Duade
Flame Robin! You have so many great birds down under. :)
Thanks Woody, we sure do and the Flame is a beauty. Cheers, Duade
Such a great day's work. Flame Robins are magnificent and your perch worked so well. I'd never thought of trying something like that!
Wonderful video, with a lot of amazing shots mate. I use the same tecnic when i am photographing too. Get some shots to secure the registration, and move closer and closer. Have to say that this lens looks very interesting. Looking forward to next video.
Cheers, Bjoern
Mate, yes an interesting lens however I did have some AF and IQ issues with many of the shots and I am unsure if I would choose the lens that often. Only in really good light where I need reach would I go for it. I think maybe something like the RF100-400 with a 1.4 is just more usable all around. If you already had a 100-400 then I could see the RF800 as a second option. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade as usual. Loved the robin photos especially, they are fabulous birds. For me I think the 800 would be too long with the R7. Will you have a chance to try that combination in a forest situation?
Thanks Lachlan, yes, the 800mm is a bit much at times and it is difficult to locate the subject quickly in the viewfinder. It really is a use case lens and you would need a zoom lens to accompany it. I will try some forest shots in the future. Cheers, Duade
The spiderweb on the side mirror is badass lol. I enjoyed the video, stunning landscape & wildlife. I'm sure whoever's planning to get this combo will appreciate this review. Cheers!
Thanks Jordan, yes, that is some web lol, it works well in good light but can struggle in low light. I think one just needs to be aware of its limitations. Cheers, Duade
Really nice video! I love enjoyable outings like that. Most of mine are good but it is really hot here in Texas at the moment which takes some of the fun out of it. We made it to Australia and NZ right before the pandemic but it was a very limited trip with our only 2 days in Australia being in Sydney. We were planning to go back a few months later. Awesome birds there. I am enjoying the R7 quite a bit. I have almost exclusively use it with the RF 100-500mm so far. I have had some luck playing with the AF adjustments quite a bit and I am reasonably happy with the results. I rented an OM-1 last week and really enjoyed using that. The AF is a bit faster and doesn’t seem fazed at all by low light. But after a week of 20mp pics I found that I was missing the extra resolution of the R7. I used the OM-1 with my Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f6.3 lens and it was very competitive with the R7 with the 100-500mm. I prefer the R7 video functionality a little more but that could just be by unfamiliarity with that system. We are going to Alaska in a couple of weeks. Mostly my wife’s trip so birds are the not the main focus but there should be a couple of decent opportunities. I am wishing that I had the OM-1 for that trip because of the size.
Thanks for sharing your experience Rod, I would love to try out the Olympus kit, I think I would have to buy it to try unfortunately. Alaska sounds like fun, I am sure there will be some birds about ;-) Cheers, Duade
Great video as always! Amazing feeling when a bird lands where you predict or want them to land.
Thanks Kurtis, yes, I a real highlight for sure, Cheers, Duade
I would never have considered this combo, but now that you've tested it, I might just bring this lens out for a spin. Yes, the AF does struggle in low light. So what I've done is that as a backup, I would disable continuous tracking and switch to spot, then active eye AF with the back button when I want it.
Sounds like a good strategy Kenneth, always good to have traditional AF available when the eye tracking struggles. Cheers, Duade
canon literally killed the competition by offering this combination!
Thanks it is an interesting combo for sure, it is a lot of focal length and can be difficult to use at times. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for a great video i have had the r7 now for about 3 weeks useing it with the sigma 150 600 sport lens and not very impressed some shots were ok, but after watching your video and excellet results i think i will purchase the RF800 F/11 and have a play my self once again thaks for the video regards Alan
Good luck with it, it is a lot of focal length and can be difficult finding the subject and you may need the RF100-400 for the shorter stuff. Have fun, Cheers, Duade
Looks easy, but get those shots while you film your self explaining what your are doing.....must be hard, great videos Duade, thanks!!
Thanks Rafael, yes, it has its challenges that is for sure, Cheers, Duade
Really appreciate your videos and your enthusiasm and candid joy is motivating!
Thanks Bill, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Another great video, the cobwebs on the RHS mirror cracked me up 😂
Thanks mate, yes, I suspect a big one lives in there :-)
Great video! Thank you for doing this. I am very close to purchasing this combo. A very big part of enjoying being out taking photos is not having heavy equipment to drag around. After a few hours, even the best lens and camera settings can't outweigh the back ache and combersome task that it is. I think this combo could be an awesome addition to ones kit.
Thanks, yes, it is a unique combo with a lot of focal length. I will admit it can be tricky finding the subject with so much reach but for shorebirds, waterbirds etc it is very helpful, you will need a shorter zoom like the RF100-400 as well. Cheers, Duade
Nice! I think having that one and 600mm is a good combination. The landscapes are beautiful! And Australia is definitely a place I need to go to put my wildlife skills in test. Great video! Cheers!
Thanks, the 600 may make more sense as 800 is a lot at times. Yes, we are lucky down here, Cheers, Duade
Great video duade.. awesome. And I really love how u give the details explanation on this R7 matching with those lens. Can't wait for my R7 to arrive.
Thanks, yes, a great lens and works well on the R7. Cheers, Duade
I am so glad i decided to use Canon cameras. The choises that canon offer as lenses is just best. Even though Canon hasnt opend RF mount for other brands it still has lot to offer in many price price points even. R7 + 800mm f11 here too!
Hi Duade. thanks for the video. That loud shutter noise suggests quite an impact! I take it that you’ve not experienced any camera shake caused by that?
Thanks Mal, yes, I suspect shutter shock is an issue as I did get lots of soft shots, I am debating whether electronic is better now and just put up with the wobble. Cheers, Duade
Great! Stunning and this lens is probably my first RF lens to come (EF 400mm & EF 150-600). So Happy Camper here, watching your review :D
Thanks, it is good for certain shots but the 400 is the sharper lens I believe. Good luck with it. Cheers, Duade
Thank you for this video. I was engrossed! The birds of Australia are so pretty and so different from those we see in the UK and I love your images. I am still researching a suitable next camera and the R7 is one that I am very interested in, but this big lens would be too heavy for me. I don't know anything about Canon lenses and would be chuffed if you could suggest any others that might be suitable for animal and bird photography that would go with the R7? I could then research them further and figure out combined camera+lens weight, and camera+lens costs, to see what suits my 'strength' and budget best! No worries if that is too big an ask. (I will still watch your videos!!)😁
Thanks, I highly suggest you check out my review of the RF100-400, it would make a perfect companion to the R7 and is very light. Cheers, Duade ruclips.net/video/jVdQT0m3lok/видео.html
@@Duade Thank you so much. I will do that. In fact I may already have watched it before out of interest, but not taking it on board with a view to using it with a new camera at that point. I will watch with intent this time! 👍
Great video Duade. I have been on the fence about the 800 for quite awhile. I'm almost sold seeing your video. Not so much for the birds in trees but more for waterfowl. It seems an incredible reach, even compared to the 100-500 with a 1.4 extender as well as being a lighter carry. Thanks for your videos, very informative indeed.
Thanks Karla, it is an interesting lens, really only useful in good light and it is not quite as good as the 100-500 but when you need reach it is handy to have 800mm. I think it performs well for its price. Cheers, Duade
After seeing your Kangaroo shots I am really thinking this combo would fit my needs. I have been using the R5 with a 100-500 shooting Antelope, Deer and small birds such as Meadowlarks on a barbwire fence line on the prairies of Wyoming. Lots of sunny, bright days and lots of dry weather. The 100-500 is just a tad bit short. The R5 and the 100-500 worked great in the state of MS where wildlife was much closer and with lots of humidity. I know the 800mm is not sealed all that well compared to the 100-500.
hey duade,
your my biggest inspiration! Keep up your amazing work.
Thanks, you are too kind, Cheers, Duade
6:06 "Pray to the Birding Gods 😆I was out with my R7 / RF 100-400 when I spotted an Osprey nest at my favorite seafood eatery. Even at 640mm they were too far away. So I went back the next day, hoping they were still there (of course they were) with my 800 F11. If I was thinking of selling it, and I was, not going to now!
Thanks Fernando, yes when you need reach the 800 is hard to beat. I am glad to hear you got the nice Osprey shots. Cheers, Duade
I believe I'm going to commit to the R7, but I'm still going back and forth on the lens. The RF800 f/11 vs the RF100-400 f/8, likely with a 1.4x. New to bird photography. My worry is I'll be disappointed one vs the other -- "I'm not close enough!" or "I'm too close!". My interest is only bird photography, and my only experience with magnification vs range from subject is using a set of 10x42 binocs. Would love a nudge in either direction, from you or your community. Cheers, and thank you for the wonderful videos and photos.
G'day Nathan, the long term solution is to get both. They are such different lenses to be honest, the RF100-400 is an all around lens that can do pretty much everything from landscapes, insects, macro, larger animals and birds etc. The 800 on the R7 is almost too much focal length and with the 6m MFD you cannot get that close to the subject. If you are always cropping your images currently and really want the reach then the 800 has an advantage. But if you want the flexibility of a zoom and MFD the zoom is the way to go. If I only had one option I would start with the zoom and then pick up the 800mm later. Or switch it around and start with the 800 and get the zoom later. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I appreciate the longer term vs immediate goal of owning one then both. I'm excited to get into the hobby, and will certainly be using your videos as resources.
Duade excellent photos and videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Cesar, it is my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
an unrelated question, I've been wanting to visit my relatives in Melbourne, Australia during the holidays. Just wondering if you can make a video about some great spots in Australia for bird photography.
G'day, sounds like fun, the Western Treatment Plant is a good spot just outside of Melbourne. Phillip Island just south of the city is also worth a visit for the Geese. Ebird is probably the best resource. CHeers, Duade
I watched this video a few months ago and I'm just now considering this lens for certain situations and its affordability. The strange thing is that even with 1,100mm you still want to crop in on the image and mentioned needing to get closer LOL! I think when we have a very long lens we just try to shoot things that are much further away and it's the same as having a shorter lens with a closer subject. If we had 2,000mm we would shoot something even further away and still be cropping the image LOL. Since I'm not wanting to shoot a tiny bird 100 yards away it just seems to make sense for me to find closer subjects and shoot them at 600mm or less. I guess the lens does increase the number of subjects that are within a range to get a shot. Thank you for showing us how it works in the field! Best of luck to you!
Really enjoyed watching this session with you - beautiful light and birds. I have the R7 and 800 and sometimes find it hard to locate even in the evf but when everything is right, the light and SS, like yours, I can get some lovely results, and as someone who would never buy, or be able to carry any of the big whites,am very grateful to Canon for coming up with this lens, and the very capable RF 100-400 too. Anyway, can you please tell me your reasons for mechanical shutter as I have found electronic to give slightly better results for me, can see mechanical is working well for you though. Thanks for the great content.👌
Thanks Jayne, congrats on the combo, I was just testing mechanical for this video, I think electronic delivers more sharp shots but you just have to put up with the warping and wobbling in electronic. Cheers, Duade
Very helpful Duade. You had probably the best light and conditions to try out this combo. I loved your enthusiasm and could feel the excitement - it's moments like these that make nature photography so rewarding.
I'm looking forward to seeing the follow up video. My short experience with an R7 and100-500 showed, that whilst it has lots of great features, it came with its own Af problems too - particularly in low light conditions. I'm not supplementing my R5 with it. It's a shame because I had such high hopes.
Thanks Dave, the low light AF performance is a concern and shows the big gap between it and that R5, they just perform differently. I am unsure exactly why but from my experience the difference is noticeable. At the same time the R5 costs almost 3 times as much so I guess we cannot expect it to be the same. Cheers, Duade
Good things come to those who deserve them. Well done - lovely images :)
Thanks Mike, you are too kind, Cheers, Duade
Good day Daude. I just lost my camera. Hope i can get it back or bought new one in the future days. You are absolutely amazing photographer.
Sorry to hear about your camera Seltun, I hope you find it, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for another great video & sharing your experience with this kit, Duade. I would consider that lens, but for too many of the lighting situations I find myself in, the f11 is just too small. It seems quite usable in many of your environments & a very nice choice for excellent reach. Glad it was a nice session & loved the images you captured! Thanks again for the upload & enjoy the next one.
Good shooting out there ~ Chris
Thanks Chris, yes, it needs good light to maximise the lens, it will always struggle in really low light. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for video. It was very informative. The pictures are great. A question please: a lot of Canon users have EF 100-400mm II and EF teleconverters. Would you recommend the R7 + 100-400mm II + 2.x combo to get to the same field of view?
If you already own those lenses it could be an option for sure, I think the 1.4x extender makes more sense to be honest on the R7 as 800mm is a lot and using a 2x does impact IQ and AF. The 800 f11 is sharper then those combos. Cheers, Duade
Great video! I ordered my R7 in May and it’s still not here! Your videos help me prepare for when it finally arrives. Thanks for all you do.
Thanks Rick, sorry to hear your R7 has been delayed. Hopefully not too much longer, Cheers, Duade
R7 on my bucket list 🎉
Thanks Manu, Cheers, Duade
Got my R7 today, my 800 arrives today
Congrats, have fun, it does have its challenges for sure and the IQ and AF do struggle at times but in good light it works well. Just take lots of bursts to increase your keepers. Cheers, Duade
It's not a scientific test, but it's fun to see how much fun you have in taking pictures. The moment when the bird perched on the branch you put up... :-) just great! So you can say you had a lot of fun and the station wagon is recommended?
We live in good times to be able to buy such a good camera with this autofocus and an 800mm lens portable for around 2,500 Euro/ Dollars!
Thanks, yes a lot of fun, the lens has a lot of weaknesses but to be expected for this price point. To get 800mm at this price point is very unique. Cheers, Duade
You're doing everything 2 steps ahead of me, thanks for sharing your journey! It definitely helps. I have the 600/f11 and love how light it is. I was thinking about getting the 200-800 for the zoom and 1 more stop.. but .. .it weighs too much for me. 2kg (plus camera) gets heavy carrying long distances and holding for any length of time. (I don't use a tripod) So, I was thinking of just adding the 800... or a 2nd body in aps-c. Or maybe I should just workout and get huge deltoids? :)
You are so fortunate to live in a place with a variety of landscapes that you can drive to. I hope to move to the coast one day so I can focus on coastal birding. But I think I'll just have to travel more at some point to get to cool looking places in general. The southeast US is not great (but not all bad) for photography. The SW and NW are tremendous, though.. and I hope to get there again one day... just a week's drive away... ha.