Im trying to find a good wildlife lens for my R7 to shoot local birds. My logic was to get the RF 100-400 since its cheap.
But then I saw people saying the aperture is too slow for dim forest lighting. Should I save up for the 200-800 instead or is there a better option under $1000?
I absolutely love the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM on my R7! If you want more reach under $1000:
- Get a used Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary with EF adapter.
Late to the party but regarding what #1 said about the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM, I agree it's a solid little lens, but you definitely want to be careful if you're shooting in dark forests. Here's my cautious breakdown of the budget options:
- Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM: Super light and cheap, but that f/8 at the long end might force your ISO to crazy levels in the shade.
- Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary: Awesome reach for the price, but it's heavy and you'll need the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. Just watch out because some folks report autofocus pulsing on R series bodies. If you're worried about wasting money, maybe rent one for a weekend first. Better to spend fifty bucks testing it than regret a thousand-dollar purchase...
That f/8 aperture on the long end of the budget zoom is definitely gonna push your ISO up when you are shooting under a heavy canopy. The R7 has high pixel density so noise gets noticeable pretty quick once you start climbing past ISO 3200. Before deciding if you should save up for something bigger, a couple questions to help narrow it down:
- What time of day are you usually out shooting?
- Do you plan to shoot handheld while hiking, or are you okay carrying a heavy setup on a monopod? Forest birding is basically the ultimate torture test for autofocus and light gathering, so it is all about which compromise you can live with.
