Some actual first impression of the R7 (with first images)

2. Also, I have reports that the shutter button is mushy, and it is difficult to sense the midway to activate the autofocus, and ones ends up taking the photo before ready. What is your experience with this? Usually I focus on a bird, and I have to stay on it while gyrates to a better position for the photo. During that time, I keep the shutter button halfway (while balancing in one leg at the edge of a deep creek)

I am still waiting for my R7, so I can’t answer any of your other questions, but I’ll take a swing at this one.  I would suggest that you not use the shutter release for focusing.  Go into the customization menu and set the shutter release button for shutter release only.  Then set up one of the buttons on the back of the camera to focus only.  On my R5 I have two buttons I’ve set up for focus only.  One is for eye focus and the other is for whichever focus mode I have set up in my menus at the time, which I can quickly change from the control ring on my EF-RF adapter.  It takes awhile to train your muscle memory for this setup, and you will miss some shots in the process, but once you get used to it, it makes a huge difference.  You can find a number of tutorials online.  Google back button focus or double back button focus.  By the way, I usually have the non eye focus button set to single point, centered in the viewfinder.  When I see a bird land, I can quickly use that button to acquire initial focus, then slide my thumb over to the button I have set up for eye focus, and compose the image with the focus locked on the bird’s eye.

4. Finally, any experience using the adaptors for EF lenses? I have zoom lenses that are all for the D80, which are EF lenses.

It seems that the autofocus capabilities of the R7 are superior to the 80 and 90D. I wander if they can be useful to focus on birds in the grass, obstructed by thin grass (or small leaves, thin straw, etc.).

Thanks,

Rudy.

About adapters.  I have the basic adapter on an RP and a control ring adapter on my R5.  When I pre ordered my R7, I ordered one of the basic adapters.  I have a closet full of EF and EF-s lenses, some going back to my first EOS film camera way back in the early 1980s, and no intention of buying any RF lenses right away.  So far, every EF lens I’ve tried on the RP or R5 has worked flawlessly, so I don’t expect to have any problems with the R7.  And I am keeping my eye on the used market, hoping to find some bargains on some of the L EF lenses that I’d like to have.  My adapter plan is to use the control ring adapter on the R7, and use the basic dial on the other two cameras.  I hope that I will be able to set the camera up so that the control ring gives me the functionality of the “missing” dial some reviewers have complained about.

As far as birds in the grass, I’m with you in hoping the R7 can do this.  Tried that a couple of days ago with my R5 and EF 100-400 L Mk2 and 1.4x mk3 extender with a Red-tailed Hawk that flew down just fifteen feet or so from me, and kept sticking his head up and looking at me.  Didn’t get one shot in focus.

I'm back.

The Eye AF is magical. Here's a couple more with the R5 + RF 100-500 + RF 1.4x...

.

.

.

.

.

These are just out-takes, but do demonstrate the Eye AF.

R2

Nature Lover 2018 wrote:

Could you help me with this?

Others have already given their opinions, but I'll add mine, based on my 3 days with the camera so far.

I am planning to upgrade my canon D80 camera to the R7. My only use is for wildlife photography, mainly birds. Questions

1. I heard the mechanical shutter is unusually noisy (audible), so it may scare the birds (that sometimes came close enough and present unique opportunities for great photos). Is the mechanical shutter noisy, like a machine gun? Canon EOS R7 Shutter sound check (mechanical) - YouTube

I wouldn't say the mechanical shutter (either full mechanical or EFCS) is unusually noisy. I just did a quick test for myself, and it's similar to the R. Also, as far as I can recall, similar to the 7D and 7DII (it's been over a year and half since I sold my 7DII). I can certainly see it scaring skittish birds who are close, especially at high speed or high speed plus (8 or 15fps). That's where the e-shutter comes in useful. I have assigned 'silent shooting' to a button, so I can toggle it on or off easily. Silent shooting automatically engages e-shutter, and disables any beeps you might have set. It's the main way I have been using e-shutter so far. Though I also have shutter mode assigned to one of the MyMenu tabs, so it's easy to engage that way. I have kept the lowest level of beep for e-shutter, when I engage it that way, in case I want some auditory feedback. So far, the lack of auditory feedback hasn't been a problem for me with silent shooting. I haven't found myself unsure of when I'm taking shots.

2. Also, I have reports that the shutter button is mushy, and it is difficult to sense the midway to activate the autofocus, and ones ends up taking the photo before ready. What is your experience with this? Usually I focus on a bird, and I have to stay on it while gyrates to a better position for the photo. During that time, I keep the shutter button halfway (while balancing in one leg at the edge of a deep creek)

I haven't experienced any mushiness so far. The shutter button feels fine to me.

3. Any feeling yet if using the electronic shutter reduces the battery life. I spend long days in the field, carry two batteries, and I do not want to run out of juice far from my base.

As others have said, e-shutter seems to use less battery, not more. I shot 2400 frames at a track meet a couple of days ago, over 2000 of which used e-shutter. Still had 82% on the battery at the end. It's always a good idea to carry a spare battery, but I think one spare will be plenty. I bought a two-pack of the PowerExtra LP-E6NH replacements a couple of months ago, when people were predicting a battery shortage. Both batteries and charger came to $50 from Amazon. I doubt whether I'll use them much, but it's good to have them.

4. Finally, any experience using the adaptors for EF lenses? I have zoom lenses that are all for the D80, which are EF lenses.

I have tried the EF 70-200 F2.8L IS II on Canon's control ring adapter so far (used it for all my track meet shooting). It worked flawlessly. I intend to try my EF mount Tamron 100-400 soon.

It seems that the autofocus capabilities of the R7 are superior to the 80 and 90D.

Very much so.

I wander if they can be useful to focus on birds in the grass, obstructed by thin grass (or small leaves, thin straw, etc.).

My only relevant experience to that so far is the camera picking up the eye of a squirrel on a tree branch, with leaves all around, and sticking to it, even when the other eye was obscured by leaves. Impressed so far, but not enough experience to give a definitive answer.

Thanks,

Rudy.

I never owned the 80D or 90D. I had a couple of XXD models--the 20D and 50D-- and then the 7D and 7DII. The R7, from my experience so far, is a huge upgrade over all previous Canon crop DSLRs (and over all crop DSLRs from other manufacturers too). The 7DII was a great camera. Built like a tank, with a state-of-the-art AF system for a DSLR at the time. I would never go back to it, compared with the R7. I know some people wanted the R7 to be bigger, heavier, and have the option for a grip. I used my 7DII (and 7D before it) with a grip most of the time. I really haven't missed the grip since moving on to other non-gripped cameras. Perhaps it's because I'm older now, and value smaller lighter cameras more. The R7 feels really good in my hand. I think you'll like it, if you get one.

Nice shots !

Have you tried the focus peaking ?

The M50II is the latest focus peaking I have tried.

It is good but does change with different picture styles.

Does not matter much because I am shooting raw.

Using a custom picture style with sharpness turned up seems to make the focus peaking work better for me on the M50II.

Am wondering about R7 focus peaking.