So I finally got my hands on the EOS R7 and Im so pumped to start doing some serious birding! I have a trip to the Everglades coming up in about three weeks and I really need to nail down a lens before then. Ive been scouring the forums and watching a ton of YouTube videos but Im still torn on which way to go.
Mostly I see people raving about the RF 100-500mm L but man that price tag is scary and almost double my budget. Then there is the RF 100-400mm which is super light and affordable but I read some reviews saying it gets really dark since the aperture is so small especially if Im in some dense brush or under trees which makes me worry about the image quality. Then I saw the 200-800mm recently but its basically impossible to find in stock anywhere right now so I dont think that will work for my timeline.
My main constraints are:
- Budget is around $1800 max
- Needs to be handholdable for long walks in the heat
- Good reach for small songbirds not just big herons
- Fast enough autofocus to catch stuff in flight
Should I just bite the bullet and save up for the L glass or is there a better middle ground like using an EF adapter with the older Sigma 150-600mm? I heard those can have pulsing issues on the R series bodies though which makes me nervous... what are you guys actually using on your R7?
Dude, you are gonna love that R7! The autofocus is absolutely insane for birds! Honestly, dont touch the Sigma 150-600 on this body... the focus pulsing is real and its gonna drive you crazy when you are trying to track a warbler through the brush. Since the RF 100-500 is too pricey, you should seriously look at the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM with a Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. Its a total beast but still handholdable for a few hours! I use it all the time and the image quality is amazing, way better than the budget RF 100-400 in low light since you get that f/5.6 at the long end. Plus, on the R7 crop sensor, you are getting 640mm equivalent reach which is fantastic for songbirds! You can easily find a used one in mint condition for like $1400, leaving you plenty of cash for the adapter. Its the ultimate middle ground tbh!
