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How should I resolve my birding GAS?

Started 5 months ago | Polls thread
OP User1303423862 Senior Member • Posts: 1,070
Re: What are you really trying to solve?

RLight wrote:

None of the above.

.

The logical answer is the RF 100-400 f/5.6-8 IS USM, or, M6 Mark II to your existing issue at hand. But...

I want it all.
I want a longer (but not too heavy or too big), faster focusing (faster, faster!) telezoom lens, AND a faster, better focusing APS-C camera with a deeper buffer. Today I pulled the trigger on an opened-but-never-used Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS II USM. In the UK, the best new price is £599.

A new RF 100-400 is £650, and an RF TC is nearly as much again (!)

I paid £435, including a genuine Canon hood and Hoya CPL-UV filter. I can get a decent quality old EF fit MC7 2X TC for £85. I've already covered the costs by ebaying some lenses I was no longer using. I've sold a couple of cameras as well, and, when the M6 goes, the M6ii upgrade cost will be covered. I'm staying in my lane...

I'd ask yourself what is your mainstay shooting; if it is birding? Go crop, and in fact, consider the R7 as an ultimate goal; that is "the" birding camera. Pair with the expensive RF 100-500L, again outside budget.

I'm an eclectic photographer, not specialised in any genre, and on a small budget. An R7 is a desirable goal, but I long ago found my place in the buy/sell ecosystem. It's around five years behind the leading edge. I'm hoping the better M6ii autofocus will allow me to use the 70-300 + TC in decent light for wildlife and motorsport photography. My current M6 just about copes with the similar aperture range of the 55-250 + TC on brighter days, so here's hoping the upgraded setup will broaden the scope a bit.

The bonus of getting an EF mount lens is that I can use the 70-300 usm II on full frame as well, so my EOS R will be seeing some of the action.

.

I know my mainstay shooting is candid; things like fast normal zooms make me happy as such, or a fast normal prime like a fast 35 or 50 (or FF equivalent ala EF-M 22 or 32).

What makes you happy?

A good proportion of shots focused at the point I aimed for.

Friends and family saying "ooh, nice photo" as I rotate some recent ones on our HDTV when they're visiting.

Having 'good enough' reminders of the places I've been, walking in the hills or out on my motorcycle to keep for when my memory is getting hazier...

Feeling like I'm making progress with my technique and kit as I walk around, and taking photos that make me happy when I review them.

Thanks for asking the probing question, it has improved MY focus.

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 User1303423862's gear list:User1303423862's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS M6 II Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon EF-M 28mm F3.5 Macro IS STM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +4 more
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