Honestly fed up with lugging around my old EF glass with that clunky adapter, its constantly missing focus and I just cant deal with it anymore. Im trying to get into bird photography around my local park in Seattle but my current setup is basically useless. Need something for my R6 that wont break the bank since I just bought the body.
- Budget is strictly under 800 bucks
- Needs to be native RF mount
- Ideally something lighter than a brick
Is there anything actually decent out there or am I just stuck waiting for prices to drop? I feel like im totally stuck between buying cheap trash or selling a kidney for a prime lens...
Jumping in here to tell you that you are absolutely on the right track ditching that adapter! I spent way too many years fighting with focus hunting on my old setup until I finally switched to native glass. It was honestly life-changing for my weekend trips to the wetlands. Since you are rocking that R6, you have to look at the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM. It is honestly mind-blowing how light it is! I used to dread carrying my gear for miles, but this thing feels like a toy compared to my old lenses. Plus, the reach is just insane for birding. Here is why it is my top pick for someone in your position:
- The image stabilization is fantastic and lets me handhold shots I never could have dreamed of before.
- You get that amazing reach without needing a tripod, which keeps you mobile.
- It is super affordable compared to the L-series monsters, so you wont have to sell anything to afford it. Just keep in mind that f/11 is a bit slow, so try to shoot when the sun is actually out. If you are hitting the park in the morning, make sure you bump that ISO up a bit on your R6 because it handles high ISO noise so well anyway! I have captured some of my favorite shots with this lens, and the autofocus reliability is just worlds ahead of that clunky EF adapter life.
Like someone mentioned, that adapter is a total nightmare. Honestly, just grab the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM. It is super lightweight and perfect for birds, though be careful with low light.
Regarding what #3 said about jumping in here to tell you that you are on the right track, I totally agree. Once you drop the adapter, the R6 autofocus finally works the way it was advertised. I have shot with both the 100-400 and the 600mm, and for the money, here is my take:
- The Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM is way more versatile. If you are doing general park birding, you need the zoom range to frame shots quickly.
- Don't sleep on the used market. You can find excellent deals on these if you check the major retailers for open-box items.
- If you really need that extra reach and dont mind the fixed aperture, the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM is unbeatable for weight. Personally, I would prioritize the zoom. The flexibility of framing at 400mm is worth more than the extra reach of the 600mm when you're tracking fast moving stuff. Save your cash for a good beanbag or a lighter tripod instead.
Man, I feel your pain. Dealing with that adapter is honestly the worst, especially when the wildlife doesnt wait for you to catch focus. I had nothing but issues with my old setup and eventually just gave up on it. Honestly, for birding on the R6 without spending a fortune, you really ought to just look at those variable aperture zooms from Canon. They are surprisingly light compared to the EF monsters we used to carry. Unfortunately, you wont get the same low-light performance as those expensive primes, but for a local park in Seattle, they get the job done. Just grab any telephoto zoom from Canon that fits your budget and youll be way happier than lugging that adapter around. Its a massive relief once you finally ditch the extra glass. Good luck out there, hope you snag some great shots!
