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Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L is USM Super-Telephoto Lens

Started Mar 3, 2021 | Discussions thread
Robert Sheldon Senior Member • Posts: 2,272
Re: Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L is USM Super-Telephoto Lens

SSO Photography wrote:

Birder Paul wrote:

Hello all,

Thinking of upgrading and wondering if I should invest more in this combination for primarily bird photography...I've seen great images from other folks and wonder if you use this, what you think of it, and whether you use a t/e.

Do I make the switch or save my money and stick to Canon 90D with a Sigma Contemporary 150-600mm?

Thanks for any input.

I upgraded from 5D IV and Sigma 150-600C to R5 and RF 100-500 and RF 1.4x, as well as RF 800.

For birding in particular, I think the upgrade will improve in just about every way. My 5D IV and Sigma combo provided me very satisfactory results, but I went for the R5 due to greater crop-ability of 45MP sensor, Eye-AF and tracking, 12/20 fps, IBIS, etc.

While the Sigma yielded tack sharp images, I also wanted lighter in every part of my gear, including lenses. I found the RF 100-500 to be even sharper than the Sigma, and there was no discernable IQ loss by stacking the RF 1.4x to it. Because of the way Canon has designed the lens and the extender, it's rather awkward to attach the two (you have to extend the barrel, otherwise the 1.4x would not attach, and once the 1.4x is attached, you're only good from 420mm to 700mm, unlike the EF counterpart). Since I'm always at the long end, anyway, the lens and the extender are always attached together, so no hassle of detaching them. Even with the extender attached, you can attain the focus from a relatively close range, I found, so all the more reason to have the combo at ready at all times.

With the 100-500 plus TC being so good, have you found much need of the 800mm lens?

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Bob Sheldon
Photo Gallery at
www.bobsheldon.com

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