EOS R For Wildlife

I sympathize with your dilemma. I reluctantly purchased an EOS R with the kit 24-105 STM lens and the 800mm f11STM. Not a cheap purchase for me at all. I'd read all the dire warnings about the unsuitability of the R for wildlife. I can't pursuade you to go for the R, your best route as already recommended here would probably be to hire an R6 for your once in a lifetime shoot.

My experience with the R so far has been positive, as a hobbyist I can live with the slow framerate and the tracking autofocus seems very good when I take the occasional BIF. The R and 800mm f11 may seem to be a nightmare combo for BIF but it's not too bad for me, with good fieldcraft it can work. With the 30mp sensor I can crop quite generously and the high iso performance seems excellent to me. I haven't noticed the blackout on continuous shooting but I never take more than a dozen frames at one time.

I had a 7D2 a number of years back with a Tamron 150-600, whether or not it was user error or because of the third party lens I only very occasionally nailed BIF shots with it. I wasn't impressed at all with high iso performance either.

All pictures here with the EOS R and 800mm f11 STM handheld:

iso 12800

GEwart wrote:

I sympathize with your dilemma. I reluctantly purchased an EOS R with the kit 24-105 STM lens and the 800mm f11STM. Not a cheap purchase for me at all.

The OP's dilemma I think you meant. I'm enjoying my R5 and RF 100-500 L

Don

Maybe Canon will make this decision easy for you. I'd suggest holding out and continuing to save up. While the R (or RP for that matter) would work, neither would be terribly good in comparison to the R6/R5. However, I'd be willing to bet an R replacement would be a solid autofocuser that could sit very well in the line up as a option (although I'd expect the overall speed to be lower than an R5/R6). Additionally, why the 100-400 RF isn't the best option in the stable, its also not a terrible one either. I'd bet, you might even get another option in the affordable super tele range.

IMO, continue shooting compromised for now and wait for the product that meets your needs. It would hurt to spend your entire camera fund and then still not have what you want. And honestly, I feel like a Rebel will be fine for the subjects you're looking at for the opportunity, but for that matter I'd say an R would be too. However, I'd still say wait because there's very likely a better option is close to release.

speedbird52 wrote:

Otaraka wrote:

"this Spring I am going to be getting some once in a lifetime photo opportunities I don't want to waste"

Might help to say what kind of wildlife you're seeing and how long.

Is it worth considering renting instead of buying?

Definitely should have mentioned. I am taking a quarter at one of my Universities lab facilities taking a course on Marine Mammals were we make multiple observation trips. My expectations are Sea Lions, Harbor Porpoises (Which give you a few seconds at most to get a shot) Orcas and Gray Whales. There aren't any camera rental places nearby, and as this is over the course of three months I imagine renting would cost just as much as or more than buying

In my view, this changes things. Usually, when people say wildlife, they have smaller animals in mind, maybe even smaller birds, where AF speed and precision matter a great deal. You are right that a few seconds may be all you'll get with some of the sealife you're hoping to shoot, but that's still less of a challenge. I think an R would serve you just fine.

BTW, the ultimate wildlife body is the R5, not the R6. 

Hi speedbird,

Difficult time to buy an new Canon at the moment: replacements for R and RP will be announced soon ( and will probably still take 8-10 month before being actually available ) + Canon will stop with the mirror camera’s. This will impact resale value for those cameras.

I have now an RP, after very briefly owning a 6D2. The upgrade this gave over my EOS D30 was just MASSIVE!

You seem a young guy, so you will have plenty of time to upgrade later ( for all the 100 once in a lifetime experiences you still have ahead of you )

To minimize cash out i would recommend the RP, spend the cash you save on that stellar RF glass. That value will stay in 2-3-4 years get an upgrade of the body. In any case your new kit will blow away what you now have !

I did not! I'll check out some shots there!

lokatz wrote:

speedbird52 wrote:

Otaraka wrote:

"this Spring I am going to be getting some once in a lifetime photo opportunities I don't want to waste"

Might help to say what kind of wildlife you're seeing and how long.

Is it worth considering renting instead of buying?

Definitely should have mentioned. I am taking a quarter at one of my Universities lab facilities taking a course on Marine Mammals were we make multiple observation trips. My expectations are Sea Lions, Harbor Porpoises (Which give you a few seconds at most to get a shot) Orcas and Gray Whales. There aren't any camera rental places nearby, and as this is over the course of three months I imagine renting would cost just as much as or more than buying

In my view, this changes things. Usually, when people say wildlife, they have smaller animals in mind, maybe even smaller birds, where AF speed and precision matter a great deal. You are right that a few seconds may be all you'll get with some of the sealife you're hoping to shoot, but that's still less of a challenge. I think an R would serve you just fine.

BTW, the ultimate wildlife body is the R5, not the R6.

I shoot a lot of birds normally, so I wanted to be sure that whatever I get for this trip suits me for my other pictures. You're right! The R5 is definitely a step above

Tazz93 wrote:

Maybe Canon will make this decision easy for you. I'd suggest holding out and continuing to save up. While the R (or RP for that matter) would work, neither would be terribly good in comparison to the R6/R5. However, I'd be willing to bet an R replacement would be a solid autofocuser that could sit very well in the line up as a option (although I'd expect the overall speed to be lower than an R5/R6). Additionally, why the 100-400 RF isn't the best option in the stable, its also not a terrible one either. I'd bet, you might even get another option in the affordable super tele range.

IMO, continue shooting compromised for now and wait for the product that meets your needs. It would hurt to spend your entire camera fund and then still not have what you want. And honestly, I feel like a Rebel will be fine for the subjects you're looking at for the opportunity, but for that matter I'd say an R would be too. However, I'd still say wait because there's very likely a better option is close to release.

While I think that someone with your (considerable) skillset might be comfortable doing this, I think it would be a very iffy proposition for a neophyte (to mirrorless) to accomplish. It’s darn close to springtime already and any new release if it happens might be very hard to get ahold of, let alone give the OP enough time to not only get acquainted with the camera, but to actually become Proficient with it.

Instead I rather like the idea of buying an existing DSLR such as the 7D2 (if they can’t afford an R6) and use it as much as possible before the trip. The 7D2 would also provide the (desirable) weather sealing for trips out to sea, and a measure of ruggedness if the boat’s any smaller than an ocean liner.

The 7D2’s AF is also more reliable (and configurable) than a Rebel’s, with a much larger buffer (I think the OP’s going to be shooting like crazy when the action hits ). And if they find a good used copy it won’t be much more than a new Rebel!

R2

R2D2 wrote:

Tazz93 wrote:

Maybe Canon will make this decision easy for you. I'd suggest holding out and continuing to save up. While the R (or RP for that matter) would work, neither would be terribly good in comparison to the R6/R5. However, I'd be willing to bet an R replacement would be a solid autofocuser that could sit very well in the line up as a option (although I'd expect the overall speed to be lower than an R5/R6). Additionally, why the 100-400 RF isn't the best option in the stable, its also not a terrible one either. I'd bet, you might even get another option in the affordable super tele range.

IMO, continue shooting compromised for now and wait for the product that meets your needs. It would hurt to spend your entire camera fund and then still not have what you want. And honestly, I feel like a Rebel will be fine for the subjects you're looking at for the opportunity, but for that matter I'd say an R would be too. However, I'd still say wait because there's very likely a better option is close to release.

While I think that someone with your (considerable) skillset might be comfortable doing this, I think it would be a very iffy proposition for a neophyte (to mirrorless) to accomplish. It’s darn close to springtime already and any new release if it happens might be very hard to get ahold of, let alone give the OP enough time to not only get acquainted with the camera, but to actually become Proficient with it.

Instead I rather like the idea of buying an existing DSLR such as the 7D2 (if they can’t afford an R6) and use it as much as possible before the trip. The 7D2 would also provide the (desirable) weather sealing for trips out to sea, and a measure of ruggedness if the boat’s any smaller than an ocean liner.

The 7D2’s AF is also more reliable (and configurable) than a Rebel’s, with a much larger buffer (I think the OP’s going to be shooting like crazy when the action hits ). And if they find a good used copy it won’t be much more than a new Rebel!

R2

R2 :

In Europe the 7D2 is already discontinued, so you can only buy second hand. I would not recommend the OP to go on his trip with a used body. Who knows if / when it fails or works? 
A new 90D body would be possible, but that’s even at higher cost than the RP ( and for sure the re-sale value of the 90D will drop like a rock once the big crowds get the message that the DSLR is dead ).

Finally, with the R mount, the OP is able to start building an RF lens line up, which is an investment which will keep it’s value. No matter if it’s super fancy RF L glass, the 24-240 RF general purpose zoom or the RF600/RF800 .. all lens options which are not even available on EF mounted cameras, but which are groundbreaking new options available for R users.

R2D2 wrote:

Tazz93 wrote:

Maybe Canon will make this decision easy for you. I'd suggest holding out and continuing to save up. While the R (or RP for that matter) would work, neither would be terribly good in comparison to the R6/R5. However, I'd be willing to bet an R replacement would be a solid autofocuser that could sit very well in the line up as a option (although I'd expect the overall speed to be lower than an R5/R6). Additionally, why the 100-400 RF isn't the best option in the stable, its also not a terrible one either. I'd bet, you might even get another option in the affordable super tele range.

IMO, continue shooting compromised for now and wait for the product that meets your needs. It would hurt to spend your entire camera fund and then still not have what you want. And honestly, I feel like a Rebel will be fine for the subjects you're looking at for the opportunity, but for that matter I'd say an R would be too. However, I'd still say wait because there's very likely a better option is close to release.

While I think that someone with your (considerable) skillset might be comfortable doing this, I think it would be a very iffy proposition for a neophyte (to mirrorless) to accomplish. It’s darn close to springtime already and any new release if it happens might be very hard to get ahold of, let alone give the OP enough time to not only get acquainted with the camera, but to actually become Proficient with it.

Instead I rather like the idea of buying an existing DSLR such as the 7D2 (if they can’t afford an R6) and use it as much as possible before the trip. The 7D2 would also provide the (desirable) weather sealing for trips out to sea, and a measure of ruggedness if the boat’s any smaller than an ocean liner.

The 7D2’s AF is also more reliable (and configurable) than a Rebel’s, with a much larger buffer (I think the OP’s going to be shooting like crazy when the action hits ). And if they find a good used copy it won’t be much more than a new Rebel!

R2

What you say is a very good idea and I believe the OP was considering it from the start. A 7D2 would be a great middle ground, but it would also mean a haircut when it comes time to sell. Looking at the OP's profile, I was suggesting the OP stay with their current Rebel as a cost savings, not buy a new one (sorry if that wasn't clear). With sea animals, the Rebel's short comings are hidden a little. Granted a 7D2 or a R would be better, I just don't like the idea of losing money for a limited short term gain.

If this weren't a big transition period for Canon I'd likely say go the DSLR route, but knowing they running and hiding from the DSLR as fast as they can, I just can't suggest that to anyone. Also seeing how well the latest R cameras focus, its difficult to suggest to people who care about AF, to go the DSLR route too.

That said, I'm not going to discount what you and the OP suggested, as its not a bad way to go.

I don't know whether this would change your thinking, but Amazon just reduced the price of the R to $1299. That's by far the lowest it's been for a brand new R. I got mine refurbished for a bit less than that, and still think I got a great deal. As others have said, the R will be pretty good for what you are wanting to shoot, and the picture quality is excellent. The main restriction is the 5fps top shooting speed (with continuous AF), but unless you're shooting very fast action, I don't find 5fps to be too slow at all.