Canon R3 Review: My Perfect Camera

xtam667 wrote:

Summerjoy wrote:

xtam667 wrote:

I used the 1DX series and have been a Canon shooter since forever. The R3 is the best Canon body I have ever tried and among the best of anything, really. There is only one use case I find it inferior to the Z9, focal length limited bird photography. Too bad this is 90% of all the reasons why I want a top of the line camera. There is nothing like the Z9 + 800mm f6.3 PF lens in the Canon camp, unfortunately. Even if the R1 came along a lightweight and compact super tele below $7000 was still missing and it is not even rumoured. Z9 with 45mpix behind a 800mm f6.3 makes a big difference compared to R3 with 24mpix behind a 700mm f5.6 (the EF 500mm f4 + 1.4x that I have) and it is lighter and cheaper at the same time. I could go with the RF 600mm f4 but did you see the price of that one? And still only 24 mpix with the R3. The R5+RF 600mm+1.4x gets a similar pixels/duck ratio but then there are usability issues in the field.

I totally get that for the OP's purposes the R3 is ideal and I really wish that it was for me too. Anyone else of you bird shooters whose primary targets are not close-by ostriches feel the same? Do you see the Z9 + 800mm f6.3 PF a better enough combo to make the switch?

First of all, it is correct in terms of content that there is no such combination at Canon, or not yet.
First of all, it is a very special field of application, and secondly, the combination unfortunately also has weaknesses.
As far as I know, the 800mm lens is not as fast in terms of focus as Nikon's lenses with shorter focal length and higher speed. This leads to focus hunting when there is not enough light available.
Possibly the Z9 is the cause here!
It would be interesting to know if the VCM motor was not installed here.
For me, a 400 2.8 would be the better choice in any case, even with Nikon. These lenses are faster and quieter.

Therefore I see, especially with the mentioned lens, a very limited working range and would clearly not be a feature to opt for this combination if I had to choose.

It has a stepping motor, said to focus quite fast but not as fast as the really expensive lenses. Something to consider.

Sometimes I spend days in the jungle to find a rare bird and then I am lucky if I can get a clear shot from afar. I cannot use a tripod. 400 2.8 with a 2x would be nice but I am afraid in those conditions I would not want to carry and aim it all day, for days. The 500 f4 is bad enough already.

Camera noise do not bother birds. They could not care less about my very loud 1DX2, for example.

This is the picture that got me thinking. I shot it with the R5 but it cost me a broken adapter and a damaged camera. The R3 would have not been damaged but the resolution would have not been there either.

Harpy Eagle

Hi, nice shoot👍. I was talking about the sound of the lens, not of the camera - sorry for confusion.

Nevertheless maybe you’re right and there is no need to think about noise by shooting birds, or the noise is not really noticeable for them to care about. Which is o.k.

It was a general statement from my side regarding this combination (Z9 & Z 800mm 6.3) and Yes, you are right regarding the resolution (R3 / Z9)

But we all shoot normally not one kind of object in one specific Szene. Which brings me back to your question „Do you see the Z9 + 800mm f6.3 PF a better enough combo to make the switch“

If I would be focused in bird photography and shoot on special locations like Jungle, maybe I would think about to switch. Unfortunately I am not a bird photographer.😉