I finally pulled the trigger on an R7 but now im stuck on glass. I have a trip to the Everglades in about three weeks so i need to decide fast. Im really torn between the rf 100-500mm l and that huge 200-800mm everyone is talking about. Leaning toward the 100-500 because it is lighter but that extra reach on the 800 for small birds sounds amazing.
- budget is strictly under 2700
- mostly shooting birds and gators
- i hike several miles a day so weight is a big factor
is the f/9 on the long end of the 800mm gonna be a total dealbreaker in lower light or should i just stick with the l series glass?
To add to the point above: that f/9 aperture is honestly a letdown when you're under a thick canopy or dealing with those gorgeous but dim sunrise shots. I totally agree that noise becomes a massive hurdle. I had issues with the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM during a trial run and it just wasnt as good as expected for handheld work. Since youre hiking miles every day, you gotta think about the physical toll. The 800mm is basically a small cannon. Carrying that around the Everglades in the heat? No thanks. A few things I learned the hard way about these setups:
- The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM is much better balanced on the R7.
- L series glass has way better coatings for flare when the sun is low.
- You can always crop in on an R7 because of the high pixel density, so you dont really need 800mm as much as you think. Unfortunately, even the 100-500 has its annoyances. If you eventually add a Canon RF 1.4x Extender, you cant fully retract the lens, which is a bummer for packing. But for your $2700 budget, the 100-500 is the better long-term investment. Its kind of a disappointment that the 800mm is so dim, but for a mobile photographer, it's just too bulky. Stick with the pro glass and you wont regret the extra sharpness.
Honestly, if you are hiking miles in the Everglades, listen to your back. I spent a week trekking through wetlands with the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM and while that reach is wild, it is an absolute beast to carry around all day. By hour four, I was seriously regretting not grabbing my Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM instead. That L-series glass is just a different tier regarding sharpness and contrast, especially when you are cropping in on the R7 sensor. Dont underestimate how much that weight difference matters when you are trying to keep steady for a shot of a perched bird. If you go with the 100-500, you can always pair it with a Canon Extender RF 1.4x for those rare moments you need more reach, though honestly, the crop factor on the R7 usually does enough heavy lifting. You'll be glad you have the extra stop of light at the long end when the sun starts dipping behind the trees.
In my experience, f/9 is tough at dawn. I lost a bobcat shot once because:
- shutter speed dropped
- noise ruined it Definitely a dealbreaker for me.
