Im shooting birds in my backyard with the R7 and totally stuck on glass. I keep reading the 100-500mm is the gold standard but its way out of my budget. Then I looked at the 600mm prime but it seems too limiting for moving subjects? Just want something under 1500 bucks that actually works, anyone have experience?
Honestly, grab the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM. It is honestly fantastic for the R7! The reach is amazing and it fits your budget perfectly for backyard birds!
Been thinking about your setup today. @Reply #2 - good point! Everyone mentioned the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM or the Sigma, and honestly, you cant go wrong there. For backyard birds, here is my take:
- Light is your best friend since these lenses are slower.
- Learn to use the R7 high ISO settings, it handles noise well.
- Grab a cheap monopod to keep things steady. Stick with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM and save some cash for a decent tripod.
Like someone mentioned, the RF 100-400mm is a solid choice. Just catching up on this thread, and I wanted to add another option if you find yourself needing more reach without breaking the bank. I personally think you should look at the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports if you can find one used. Even though it requires the adapter for the R7, the extra glass helps a ton with those skittish backyard birds. Basically, the R7 crop factor makes that 600mm feel massive. It is heavier than the Canon native lenses, so you might need a decent tripod setup if your arm gets tired. If you prefer to stay native and lightweight, stick with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM as it really is the best bang for your buck right now.
To add to the point above: I really think the focus on technique is spot on. I spent months obsessing over gear specs for my own setup, but learned the hard way that glass is only half the battle. Be careful not to overlook the basics when you're chasing that perfect shot.
- shutter speed is king, especially with that crop sensor
- check your burst rates since rolling shutter can be tricky with fast birds
- practice your tracking on slow moving targets first I was so worried about sharpness that I missed focus constantly until I started locking down my settings. Just make sure to test your lens calibration if you go with an adapter, as that can be a real headache. You might want to consider keeping a notebook of your keeper rates for different focal lengths. It helped me figure out why I was missing shots! Good luck out there, you'll get the hang of it soon.
> I keep reading the 100-500mm is the gold standard but its way out of my budget. Then I looked at the 600mm prime but it seems too limiting for moving subjects? To add to the point above: be real careful about jumping into those long primes if you arent used to them. It is so easy to lose a fast-moving bird once you are zoomed in that tight, and honestly, the frustration factor can be pretty high. Quick question before you drop any cash: how close are these birds actually getting to your setup? If you have a decent blind or just good cover, you might not need as much reach as you think. Sometimes people overbuy on glass when a little patience or a better position would do the trick. Whatever you pick, just make sure the stabilization works for your hands. I have seen folks buy heavy lenses they cant actually steady, which just leads to blurry photos and a lot of regret. Let me know what your distance is looking like and I can give you a better sense of which way to lean.
