Ive been shooting wildlife for like ten years mostly on my old 90D but I finally bit the bullet and got the R7 for the eye tracking and man the AF is incredible but Im having a nightmare with my old Sigma 150-600 contemporary. It keeps doing that weird pulsing thing in servo mode where the focus just wont lock and its driving me crazy. Im heading to Costa Rica in three weeks for a dream trip to see the quetzals and I cant rely on this setup. I have about $2200 to spend on glass and Im torn between the RF 100-500 or maybe the 200-800 since I need the reach for small birds. What are you guys actually using on the R7 for fast action without the adapter issues?
Man, that Sigma pulsing is the absolute worst. Ive seen it so many times on the R7 specifically because the bodys processor is basically screaming instructions at a lens motor that was designed for older DSLRs. It just cant cycle the focus elements fast enough to keep up with the R7's internal calculations. Since youre hitting Costa Rica for Quetzals, you really need to dump the adapter life and go native. In my experience, the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM is the play for you. Heres why:
- Reach: On your R7, you get a 1280mm equivalent field of view. Quetzals are often high up in the canopy, and 500mm is gonna feel really short, trust me.
- AF Speed: It uses Nano USM motors. These are way quieter and faster than what was in your Sigma, and they talk to the R7 natively so no more hunting or pulsing.
- Sync IS: You get way better stabilization when the lens and body work together, which is crucial for handheld birding. The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM is technically sharper glass and has that L-series weather sealing, but its more expensive and youll probably end up cropping so much that you lose that resolution advantage anyway. Plus, f/9 at 800mm isnt as scary as people think once you run your files through modern noise reduction. Just grab the 200-800 and enjoy the trip.
