What is the best lens for taking pictures of birds and animals on a Canon R7 because I am totally lost with all the options out there. I just bought the camera body last week because a guy at the store said it was the best one for wildlife but now I realized I have no idea what lens to put on it. Everything I look at online is so confusing with all the numbers and letters like RF and IS and USM and I dont really know what any of that means for someone just starting out. I really want to be able to see birds and maybe some deer clearly from far away without them looking like tiny dots. I live right by a big park in Florida and I am going to the Everglades in about three weeks so I kinda need to get something soon so I can practice. My budget is probably around $800 to $1200 max but I really dont want to spend more than that if I can help it. Someone mentioned a 100-400 lens but then I saw a 600mm or an 800mm one and the 800mm looks really long so is that better for birds? I just want something that isnt too heavy to carry around all day but still gets me close to the action. Sorry if these are really dumb questions I just have no idea where to even start with this.
You might want to consider the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM since it fits your budget perfectly. Make sure to be careful with the 800mm prime tho; that f/11 aperture is really risky if you arent in direct sunlight. Tbh, the Nano USM motor is fast for birds, and since the R7 is APS-C, that 400mm gives you a 640mm equivalent field of view. Its much lighter too.
I've been really satisfied with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM. It is the best way to get close to wildlife without spending your whole budget.
- IS helps stop the image from shaking
- Zooming makes it easier to find birds
- Way cheaper than professional gear It is much less confusing to use than those huge prime lenses and fits the R7 perfectly so you wont be frustrated.
Totally agree with the first guy. My current setup went with me to the wetlands last week and:
- I was really satisfied with how light it felt during a long hike.
- Fast autofocus matters way more than raw reach when tracking small birds, trust me.
- Handholding is basically a requirement in thick brush, so dont get anything too bulky.
