R7 kit lens now supported by DXO: weekend trip experience

I noticed that the last time I opened DXO PL5 I was prompted to download the module for the RF-S 18-150 with the R7. Up to this point, I'd only shot with it a little, partly because it wasn't yet supported by DXO. We were in Frisco and Dillon (Colorado) over the weekend to run a 10K (note to self: running a race at nearly 10,000 feet is a lot harder than at 5400 feet), and rent bikes to cycle around a little. I thought I'd take my R7 to try out the 18-150 a bit more. I carried the R7 with 18-150 mounted, and the RF 16 and 50 F1.8 (the two smallest RF lenses) in a very small sling bag that I wore while cycling, and barely noticed it. When I had my 7DII, I sometimes carried it with the 18-135 mounted. That combination is more than 50% heavier than the R7 with 18-150, and quite a bit bigger. Here are a few sample shots:

A friend from our running club, who now owns a brew pub in Dillon

You can get plenty of background separation at 100mm, even at F6.3

It's still a bit early, but there was some aspen color

Zoomed right in

Dillon Lake (or Reservoir)

Our son was with us for the trip

I don't know whether the boat's name is a clever pun, or the owner doesn't know how to spell 'panacea'.

I think the guy on the right is Pug Ryan, after whom our friend's brew pub and Tiki bar are named.

Although I wasn't looking to get any bird shots, I did hear some birds overhead while I was taking some shots of the lake, and quickly swung the camera up and pointed the zone at a bird flying overhead. When I pressed the tracking button I was impressed with how quickly and easily the camera picked up the bird and tracked it as it flew, even though it was very small in the frame at 150mm. This is a moderate crop with some pretty heavy shadow lifting (if I'd been there to photograph birds, I would have used different settings, and a different lens):

And a couple with the 16 F2.8:

And the RF 50 F1.8:

All in all, I was very pleased with how the R7 performed with the 18-150, and the other two lenses. When it was announced, I ordered the R7 body only, but started to regret that when I got to thinking how useful the kit lens might be. I didn't want to change my order right away, in case I lost my place in the queue, but when it became obvious that the kits were more readily available than the body-only, I happily changed my order, and got the kit within a couple of days. I'm glad that I did. The 18-150 is actually a very decent performer, with a very useful range, and so small and light. The more I use the R7, the more impressed I am with how much performance Canon has packed into such a small and light body. And, while $1500 is not cheap, it's not that expensive either (I paid more for my 7DII eight years ago). I have also grown to really like the control wheel with joystick inside it. I think it's a genius ergonomic move. I have yet to change any setting accidentally, and it's exactly where I want it to be for my thumb.

Your photos with the kit lens look good.  I do think that for its price the lens is a bargain for anyone who is looking for that kind of versatility.  I’m really encouraged by the 16mm shots.  That lens is on my wish list for my R5, and your shots of Dillon Lake look really good.  Your shots ofvDillon Lake also take me back to me elementary school years in the 1950s, when we would travel from Greeley, through Denver, over Loveland And Vail Passes and through Glenwood Canyon to visit grandparents in Glenwood Springs,,then on to Rangely to visit my other grandparents.  Dillon was a quaint little town sitting in the middle of what is now Dillon Reservoir.  When they moved the whole town to build the Dam, it puzzled me how that sort of thing could be done.  Since then, they’ve poked a couple of holes through the mountain and built a four lane highway all the way through Glenwood Canyon.  Times do change.

Great summary thankyou

Alastair.

Many thanks for sharing these. I have been disappointed in R7 images seen to date but these are excellent quality. I did have your body/lens system on order but I was getting more disappointed each time I viewed images. I even downloaded some RAW images and again, totally depressed. These from you are good and making me consider again, to re-order.

Again, many thanks, much appreciated.

Bryan wrote:

Alastair.

Many thanks for sharing these. I have been disappointed in R7 images seen to date but these are excellent quality. I did have your body/lens system on order but I was getting more disappointed each time I viewed images. I even downloaded some RAW images and again, totally depressed. These from you are good and making me consider again, to re-order.

Again, many thanks, much appreciated.

I just got my R7 yesterday.  I never had any doubt about the image quality of the camera.  I had purchased an M6II a couple of years ago, and loved the IQ.  Didn’t like the ergonomics for my needs, but when I saw that the R7 was based on Canon’s 32.5 mp sensor, with what looked to be workable ergonomics, I jumped at it.  The photos that Alastair have posted since getting is R7 have definitely reinforced my decision, and even though I still don’t intend to get any RFs lenses, these photos give me the confidence to recommend them to friends who may ask.

Very nice Alastair.  I was wondering when someone was going to showcase the 18-150!

Enjoy your new kit!

R2