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Nikon D850+500 PF or Canon R5+100-500 - better for birds?

Started May 29, 2021 | Discussions thread
lokatz
OP lokatz Veteran Member • Posts: 3,564
Re: Nikon D850+500 PF or Canon R5+100-500 - better for birds?

axlotl wrote:

Thanks for posting this excellent comparison.

I use the R5 with RF 100-500mm for birds in flight and am finding this combination very effective. The way the system can pick out a flying bird and track it even in front of a busy background is remarkable.

I understand the logic of your decision to go with two different systems, particularly as you are already set up with lots of good Nikon gear.

But the two systems approach would drive me silly. The zooms turn in the opposite direction, the lenses mount in the oppposite direction, the controls are all in different places.

I wonder if in the long run you might consider graduating to just one system ?

Andrew

On my Nikons, I used a Sigma 100-400 for a while which also turns 'the Canon way' when zooming.  Didn't bother me in the least.

I've been shooting with one dedicated wildlife setup and another for everything else for years now, so I am quite used to them being different and using each only with a subset of what they can do. Until this transition, it's been a Nikon D850 and a Z7 II. Those two aren't as different as a Nikon and a Canon, but there are enough differences to take some getting used to for each one, so I'm confident I'll get used to the Canon. The R5 will ONLY be used with the 100-500, though.

My only worry, to be perfectly honest, are things like safaris where I usually need to have two bodies at the ready, one with a long and another with a shorter tele zoom.  Things could get a little messy then... 

Lothar

 lokatz's gear list:lokatz's gear list
Sony RX100 VII Canon EOS R5 OM-1 Olympus Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter EC-14 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R +31 more
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