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Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

Started 11 months ago | Photos
Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
17

It's been a great start to the Spring Migration where I am in Indiana.  I debate constantly spending the money on an R5 or a faster 500mm prime and extender, but I really think its mostly GAS and these results are just fine for a hobbyist.

R6 is using latest firmware, electronic shutter and auto ISO at 1/500 minimum shutter speed.  Double back button eye AF setup.  No lockups.

Mixture of Lightroom and DXO Pure Raw, then sharpened using TOPAZ Sharpen AI

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
Comment & critique:
Please provide me constructive critique and criticism.
Canon EOS R6 Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
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Bisonbison
Bisonbison Contributing Member • Posts: 683
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
1

Great pics of some hard to capture birds. Those kinglets never sit still!

Did you end up cropping? Was the 20MP a limitation?

 Bisonbison's gear list:Bisonbison's gear list
OM-1 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro Olympus M.Zuiko 300mm F4 IS Pro Olympus 12-100mm F4.0
OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

Bisonbison wrote:

Great pics of some hard to capture birds. Those kinglets never sit still!

Did you end up cropping? Was the 20MP a limitation?

Thanks and yes, these are all crops, good enough for web viewing.

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
rreichar Regular Member • Posts: 212
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
2

Very nice shots! I am using the same setup and I think daily about getting an R5 but my results with the R6 have been really good. The RF 100-500 is crazy sharp. When cropping I often use a combination of Topaz Gigapixel and then Sharpen and I have been very happy with the pics. I suppose the 45mp of the R5 potentially would be better for small birds but it’s difficult to justify.

 rreichar's gear list:rreichar's gear list
Panasonic LX100 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 OM-1 Olympus Zuiko Digital 2.0x Teleconverter EC-20 Olympus Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter EC-14 +2 more
OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

rreichar wrote:

Very nice shots! I am using the same setup and I think daily about getting an R5 but my results with the R6 have been really good. The RF 100-500 is crazy sharp. When cropping I often use a combination of Topaz Gigapixel and then Sharpen and I have been very happy with the pics. I suppose the 45mp of the R5 potentially would be better for small birds but it’s difficult to justify.

Yep, I think the same way, I need something in between,  but until then, my birding kit will do.  I have also contemplated the TC or the 800F11, but have yet to pull the trigger on either.

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
Doneworkin
Doneworkin Regular Member • Posts: 128
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
1

Very nice.   Glad to see more folks posting bird pics using the R6.

 Doneworkin's gear list:Doneworkin's gear list
OM-1 Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 Olympus 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS
OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

Doneworkin wrote:

Very nice. Glad to see more folks posting bird pics using the R6.

Might see more with the migrants on the move.

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,531
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
1

Very nice Mike!

I'm hoping to get out to shoot some migrants this week sometime.  Now I'm really itching to!

R2

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 R2D2's gear list:R2D2's gear list
Canon EOS M6 Canon EOS M6 II Canon EOS R5 Canon EOS R6 Canon EOS R7 +1 more
OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

R2D2 wrote:

Very nice Mike!

I'm hoping to get out to shoot some migrants this week sometime. Now I'm really itching to!

R2

Many thanks and good shooting if you can make it out!  I hope to really see a wider variety myself this coming weekend, fingers crossed!!

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
Washi New Member • Posts: 2
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500
1

Mike Arledge wrote:

rreichar wrote:

Very nice shots! I am using the same setup and I think daily about getting an R5 but my results with the R6 have been really good. The RF 100-500 is crazy sharp. When cropping I often use a combination of Topaz Gigapixel and then Sharpen and I have been very happy with the pics. I suppose the 45mp of the R5 potentially would be better for small birds but it’s difficult to justify.

Yep, I think the same way, I need something in between, but until then, my birding kit will do. I have also contemplated the TC or the 800F11, but have yet to pull the trigger on either.

I vouch for the 1.4x tc having shot both 100-500 and 800F11 on r6. I shoot 90% of the time with 1.4x on my 100-500, it comes close to the reach of 800 but with faster focus, little sharper and short MFD.  It fits in fairly small camera bag with tc attached.

OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

Washi wrote:

Mike Arledge wrote:

rreichar wrote:

Very nice shots! I am using the same setup and I think daily about getting an R5 but my results with the R6 have been really good. The RF 100-500 is crazy sharp. When cropping I often use a combination of Topaz Gigapixel and then Sharpen and I have been very happy with the pics. I suppose the 45mp of the R5 potentially would be better for small birds but it’s difficult to justify.

Yep, I think the same way, I need something in between, but until then, my birding kit will do. I have also contemplated the TC or the 800F11, but have yet to pull the trigger on either.

I vouch for the 1.4x tc having shot both 100-500 and 800F11 on r6. I shoot 90% of the time with 1.4x on my 100-500, it comes close to the reach of 800 but with faster focus, little sharper and short MFD. It fits in fairly small camera bag with tc attached.

Yeah, I think that might be my decision, but perhaps in time for fall migration.

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
OP Mike Arledge Senior Member • Posts: 2,465
Re: Spring Migrants - R6 and RF 100-500

more from this weekend, loving this combo!!

 Mike Arledge's gear list:Mike Arledge's gear list
Nikon Z5 Nikon Z fc Sony a7 IV Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM +5 more
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