Will there be an R7 Mk II ?

Chris Wolfgram wrote:

So there isn't much I'd like to change on my R7, except for maybe a small extension on the bottom right for my little finger, and someplace to attach a hand strap. I don't even need a full battery grip. Yes, I kill batteries pretty fast, but I carry a bunch of them, and they are very easy to change. Also, a bigger buffer would help. When it comes to MP's, I always like more of them for cropability, but I question as to whether more MP's could be crammed on to the smaller crop sensor, and still maintain at least the same IQ ? I understand their are physics to deal with.

I'm very late posting in this thread, which is kind of surprising because I've been quite opinionated about the shortcomings of the R7. I wanted my first crop sensor mirrorless to be a much higher spec, with a stacked BSI sensor (even if it meant losing a few MP), a more substantial body (with provision to add a battery grip for those who want one), the bigger buffer you mentioned, and more. But I fully understand that there are many others who are delighted to be able to buy a camera with the undeniable capabilities of the R7 for a surprisingly low price. The AF is world-beating, and so is the value for money.

And this leads me to an answer to the question in your subject line. For those who are in the group that the R7 caters for, there is very little which needs improvement. No doubt there will be a Mark II at some point, but it will be an incremental update just as the R6 Mark II was. Therefore not a solution for me.

The flagship RF mount crop body that I and many others want to see wouldn't be an R7 Mark II, it would be a completely new and rather different body. I don't know what it would be called, now that Canon has used the R7 name for the mirrorless 90D. R4 and R9 are both available, or it could be something like an R7S or R7X.

And while I'm asking, is their a better crop sensor mirrorless camera for birding than the R7 ? Even from other manufacturers ? Open to opinions.

As long as you are fully aware of the rolling shutter problems in ES mode, and you're satisfied that they won't be an issue for you, the R7 with a 100-500 is hard to beat, especially for the price.