It's as if I'm living in some sort of crazy alternative universe because I keep hearing you say how light and easy to hand hold the 800 is. And then I look over at the huge 800 f5. 6 sitting on my heavyweight tripod, rub my aching back, arms and shoulders.... and ask myself, WTF??? 😩
Saw my two favorite CZcams birding channels working together and couldn’t click fast enough! Thanks for taking us through your trip definitely felt the positivity and enjoyment you two had! Now I have to go watch his haha
Great images, real world usage and helpful, honest commentary. Really appreciate how you not only showed the raw file but you showed how much it was cropped as well!
I really enjoy seeing your videos. I live in the US on the esst coast and seeing your environments is really cool. We don't have those types of birds so it's nice to see something different. Please keep doing these. I'm also a fan of your birding buddy.
Hey, thanks a lot to go through all these RF lenses. As a new R6m2 owner myself, I do love those videos on RF teleobjectives. They are so useful to me and I love watching your photos... Keep it this way 😊
Another great video! Every photography session always starts off average for me and mainly get those best shots on the 2nd lap or if I hang around that bit longer when I think the sun has set too much. Don't know why but its always worth sticking around for every last second.
Another great review, Duade. Thanks! Loving my R6 and look forward to getting my hands on the RF 800 in the coming weeks. (and then summer to hit the Pacific North West so we can get some light :))
What a fantastic video. I loved how you took us to the photoshoot, and how passionately you talked about both birds and the lenses. I have 100-400, which is often a bit short for birding. I enjoyed your honest comments when shots did not turn out well, and also seeing the RAW and processed files. Great video.
amazing shots. I am surpriced about the clarity with sich high ISO numbers with the 600/ 800 mm glasses. very useful test . thanks and have a very nice weekend Bernhard
I just picked up the 800F11 and the 100-500 last week so the timing of this video is very fortuitous . Great video Duade, I'm very much looking forward to your review and opinions on these lenses.
it is a great lens, the reach is excellent, it is nice and light. You will need a zoom as the 6m MFD can cause difficulties with certain scenarios. Cheers, Duade
Great video. The R6 + RF 100-500 + RF 11/800 is also my individual combination as a very good compromise. I totally agree with you regarding the judgement of cam + lenses. Thank you for being on CZcams with all at all impressive presentations. Many greetings Robert, Bad Homburg (Germany)
Thanks for the all you are doing. I especially liked your recent trip with Jen. I was seriously thinking of getting an RF800 f/11 but hearing about it from your review, it would be too limiting as far as close focus range goes. I have an R5 paired with a 100-500 and am very happy with the setup. I often use the 1.6 crop which put me at 800mm when I need it. Also, thanks for the info about Topaz. I downloaded it and you save me a few $$$.
Loren, thanks for the feedback I appreciate it. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the 100-500. I believe the 1.4 extender works well on the 100-500 also so maybe another option. Cheers, Duade
Absolutely marvellous all the photos are fantastic I would be so stoked to have to anyone of them what a fantastic three days you had so many beautiful birds got my eye on the hundred to 500 I’m 60 this year so I think I deserve a treat. Thank you so much for sharing I have subscribed so I don’t miss anymore excellent
Thanks for pointing my to this video Duade. Your findings are the same as mine. I regard the 800 as my good light lens, both weight and daylight. Great video and again I wish you well.
Wow! The best video yet. What a fantastic tour. I was wondering where you had gone. 8000 photographs! How do you manage all those files? ( It would make a good rainy day video I'm sure) I love that drone shot of the tall trees and huge ferns! At first I thought it was a footpath. The scale is unreal. Beautiful little Robins. Thanks.
Thanks Nigel, I am glad you enjoyed it, yes it took a lot longer than I thought and yes 8000 photos is a lot. I use Lightroom to catalog all my shots and I only keep around 10-15% of the photos which makes it a little more manageable. Yes, that forest was incredible. Cheers, Duade
Fantastic video, Duade. Love the channel. Drowned my old 60D + 100-400mm zoom in a river tying to capture an African Finfoot and have been without anything for 6 months. But just sprang for the R6 and RF800mm (EF primes are just way out of reach financially). Definitely a new shooting experience that's taking me a while to master. I'm a mobile birder (lots of walking and hiking) so the lighter weight and image quality with hand-held is a big plus. What I'm noticing is that knowing a good photo processing programme is more important than ever.
GOOOOD to see this video, happy to know you were using the 100-500 for a bit. Eager to see your full review on that beast and what you like / dont like... I'm inches away from buying it. Can't believe the 800 X2 action...wowsa
Matt, the 100-500 is as sharp as a prime and has the flexibility of the zoom. 500mm is a little short at times however I think when paired with say an R7 it will be the combo I would use the majority of the time. Cheers, Duade
Cracking video Duade, the 800 mm is a cracking lens when you consider the cost, size and weight of it... the best thing is that you can shoot hand held at silly shutter speeds with it ! Sure it's got limitations but once you get used to them it's a wonderful piece of kit when paired with a R5 or R6. Photographer friends of mine who have seen this lens in action have been blown away, how user friendly it is compared to heavy EF primes. It isn't too shabby when capturing BIF shots and my keeper rate has gone up when compared to using my 1DXs and older EF lenses.
Ron that is great to hear, I have to admit being able to walk around handheld really was a nice experience and made it a lot of fun. Dealing with the weight of the prime can be a drag at times. Cheers, Duade
I was so happy to see your great video on these lenses, especially the 800mm. It isn't the the fastest or easiest to use but I have found the more I use it the better I get. Just to be able to get some of those shots that you wouldn't ordinarily get, is well worth the price. Do I use it all the time? No but let me tell you it sure comes in handy those times the birds are far away. Sometimes I am the only one in the group that can capture them.
Was kind of hoping you were going to say these were brutal in low light and not worth the effort 🙄 now I am leaning toward getting the 800mm even if for the brighter days. Great video and was eagerly waiting for this.
Donal, yes, I was surprised, it won't replace my prime but I could see me reaching for it if I was exploring new areas or walking long distances as the weight is incredible. Cheers, Duade
Another great video man! Great pics and R6 with 800mm is exactly the combination I'm looking at picking up this year. Something that I really like is when you mention information about how you set up the perch in prime locations, bringing the meal worms and playing bird calls to attract local species. A video focused on these techniques would be awesome and maybe you have already done this and I've just not managed to find it yet.
and thanks for the comment, good luck with the kit when you get it. Yes, that would make a good video, it does vary from species to species and location. It can be very difficult most of the time. Cheers, Duade
Beautiful shots ... 1600mm f22 is insane. This kind of combination to reach that far would be very expensive with 5D4 and prime lens. Great to know Canon introduced the low cost, light weight, RF 800mm prime lens that is affordable for people like me. R5 definitely open new area of photography possibility. Thanks for your video off new Canon lens introduction.
I laughed when Canon announced the 600,800 F11’s but they seem to be a good light weight affordable option for wildlife and will probably attract new buyers to the RF mount system. I’m in love with my 100-500. It won’t replace my EF600/4 especially in low light but for a lot of shooting it’s optically equal. You have some beautiful birds down there, I’m hoping to be able to get there in 2022.
The 800mm f11 lens is sensational. I have been using it for birds for some time now and I am always amazed at the quality I get with the R6 and this lens.
I have watched this video like 10 times! You are sooooooooooooooo good looking! Love our smile and accent. Now, on the video, I loved this...A very comprehensive and detailed review of the RF 800....I am trying to decide between this lense and the rf 600 f11...
My wife finally has someone else that agrees with her ;-) I would go with the 800 as that extra reach comes in very handy. However, the MFD of 6m on the 800 is a negative and it is a bigger and heavier lens. If you want the lightest and smallest telephoto lens possible then the 600 will perform very well. Cheers, Duade
Wow, what a great collection of images. I'm enjoying my 800mm as much as you seem to. Getting great shots in almost all lighting conditions. 12800 ISO is the new 800.
Great to hear Kevin, the reach and weight make it a pleasure to walk around with. Yes, it's crazy to think ISO800 was the max on my 40D and now we can shoot at 12800. Cheers, Duade
12 hours sheshh Jan gave you a workout hahah. Awesome shots, love my 100-500 used my friends 600 f/4, but not needing a tripod is great (yeah yeah I know, I'm getting older).
Such a nice video, i love all those bird, specially the gang-gangs. Here in Europe those are very rare, only very few Zoos have them. Well, even the galah istn't easy to find here, but of course they will be happier where they are :)
Thank you, they are not that common in the wild here either, the Galah is literally everywhere but the Gang-gang is usually in the mountains and harder to find. Cheers, Duade
The 800 f11 looks like it is a good lens for carrying around. I agree about the focus being better performance with the 100-500 which is what I ended up getting.
The 100-500 is a beautiful lens but I think it is a great second lens to a prime, you just can't beat the prime for setups or when the light is poor. I find the 500 just a touch short on the FF and whilst an extender makes it 700mm you need good light, and it just doesn't dissolve the background like a prime. I think an R7 with the 100-500 will be a great option. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
I recently purchased the Canon 800mm F11 lens. I use it on the Canon R6 to shoot Northern Cardinals and Sparrows that come to my bird feeder. I was beginning to think I wasted money with this lens purchase until I watched this video. Thank you for giving me new hope. I plan on going out tomorrow and with hopes of capturing some headshots. Thank you for sharing your work
HI Phryxe, thanks, I did attempt BIF but found the AF of the f11 lenses struggled to obtain sharp shots and with the smaller AF coverage I don't think the f11 lenses are well suited to BIF. It is possible but can be a challenge. The 100-500 would be a much better option however I didn't really get a chance to use it for BIF. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for a great review and for sharing your lovely photos. I also enjoyed Jan's review, and I'm getting close to making the leap. I'd be very curious to know what you thought of the lens on a crop sensor, though I don't think the R7 was available when you shot this. Though the RF 100-500 is my primary lens for birds and wildlife, I'm seriously debating the 800 mm F11 prime for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone in the fall. For staying away from the grizzlies :)
now come my decision, ahahaha I am ready for r6 + rf 100-500 :-) ... dun even know how to start using manual on camera yet hahahah Thank you for always come up with all these info :-)
Hi Siva, the 100-500 is the superior lens by far, it delivers prime like IQ in a very light package. The 800 does have the advantage of the extra reach but its AF and IQ doesn't match the 100-500. Cheers, Duade
Another great video! It seems that lens has way more positive points than negative ones. Can't wait for you full review. Which throw-over blind do you use? Lastly, give us a shout if you ever plan to visit the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. We might be able to show you a few birds. Thanks for a great channel!
Great! The never ending session...! Obviously Canon did a great job with these bodies and lenses. I (also) use digiscopy so 800/11 or 1600/22 is not really a problem for me (not always). Add the very light weight, the AF, (IS), and a sharp optic and it sounds amazing. It's way possible I quit Nikon DSLR APSC (750mm f8 btw) and go Canon ML FF for action shots (wildlife)...
I was surprised how usable 1600 f22 was and it would be great for birding. I think it might be worth waiting for the R7 as an APSC sensor will give you another 1.6x reach. Cheers, Duade
I also have RF 600mm F11.With R6 its very lightweight combo.It was amazing how good picture quality a 750 € lens produces.Its about on par with EF 100-400mm ll+TC 1,4lll with adapter.Contrast is also acceptable.Many times I carry binoculars and food for birds so is important to have light gear.
Hi Rui, the 2x will work on the 100-400 however the IQ and AF will take a fair hit and you will need plenty of light. I use my 1.4 on the 400 5.6 more often then the 2x. Cheers, Duade
Hey Duade, excellent video! Was able to finally pick up the 800 f11 and took it out to a local hotspot for snow geese. Was able to get some decent shots with it. Most were quite far away and turned out similar to your 1600 f22 shots. Have my eye on the 100-500 RF next. Are you keeping these lenses? Hoping to see more videos in the future!
Excellent video, mate, I love that you show both the raw and processed versions of each image. I have the R5 and RF 100-500 combination and have been practicing with handheld birds in flight. What has your experience been with birds in flight at fast shutter speeds (say 1/2500 sec) with image stabilization turned on versus turned off? My results with image stabilization turned on have been mixed, so I'm thinking maybe I should turn it off whenever I am shooting at very high shutter speeds. Thanks mate!
Robert, 1/2500 should be more than enough, it is probably worth a try with IS off however I don't know how much of a difference it makes at those SS. I have not done enough testing to know if it makes any discernable difference. Good luck. Cheers, Duade
Great video! Suggestion, compare the R6 800mm f/11 shooting 1. Animal detection 2. Eye detection 3. Single AF Compare the R6 100-500mm against R6 RF adapter 100-400mm II F5.6 with 1.4x III adapter at 560mm One tip, if light permits try using R6 800mm f/11 try EV -.3 and -.65 and notice impact on lower ISO. Bought the RF 1.4x extender for the 800mm for longer reach. Will test out this winter when flocks of Bald Eagles visit the only opened ice covered lake in the area. R6 800 f11 with animal detection worked great for far off Bald Eagles in flight.
G'day Joseph, unfortunately I do not have these lenses to test anymore. Jan did a comparison with the 100-400 and 100-500 here czcams.com/video/dyHodbYrP4k/video.html When you underexpose you are increasing noise when increasing exposure in post. If you use ISO800 and underexpose by 2/3rds the noise when exposure is corrected will be like ISO1250. The extenders worked surprisingly well in good light, I used the 2x on the 800 and was surprised by the results. Cheers, Duade
I owned the 800 F11 and now own the 100-500 and came to similar conclusions. Pretty mind blowing the quality the 800 can put out with the R5 compared to the Tamron 150-600 on the D500 I used to use on my old system. Also, 800 is sharper when at a significant distance of the subject. The 800 is a bit limiting though, I like the variety and close focus of the 100-500 better. I felt like I needed higher shutter speeds with the 800 due to the subjects being larger in the frame which caused ISOs to creep higher but images still look great at high ISOs on my R5.
Thanks Matt, I appreciate you sharing your experience it is very interesting to hear its comparison to the 150-600. The R5 sure is an impressive camera. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade. I do the majority of my photography in forests so the 600 and 800 f11s might be a bit slow for me. However the lightness for handholding is definitely a plus. The pair of gang gangs is my favourite from this sequence but I always have a soft spot for Easter yellow robins. For me if I move to mirrorless, I suspect the 100-500 would be a better option. Look forward to more detail about that one.
Lachlan, the f11 lenses are fun unique lenses but if you wanted the best IQ and AF you would go with an L series lens such as the 100-500. I am looking forward to seeing how the R7 and 100-500 work together, I suspect that will be one awesome combo. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade i have currently Sigma 150-600mm C but it often is soft at longer range and cant keep the speed. Just trying know different ways of improving it and even wrote on Jan channel. Of course you see this on the 1:1 review. If You zoom out, denoise it with topaz its not so bad but still would like to have more keeper.
@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, from my experience you need to shoot the 600mm zooms at f9-11 to really get the sharpest images. Shooting at 6.3 will often be slightly soft. Give that a go and see how your images look. Cheers, Duade
@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, sometimes it has to do with how close we are to the subject, some lenses just don't crop very well and the photos almost need to be full frame to get the most detail. My suggestion would be to photograph a tame bird full frame in nice morning light at f11, that will in theory give you the maximum quality you can expect from the lens. If you are using a DSLR the lens adjustment could be an issue however if you have mirrorless this is a non issue. Good luck, cheers, Duade
Great video, Duade! Hope you can talk more about what memory cards you use for BIF stills. Also, any problems with camera freezing or EVF blackout? Cheers!
Tim, my R6 only take SD cards so I use a fast SD card, you could use electronic shutter if you wanted 20fps however I prefer to use the mechanical shutter as 20fps is too fast for me. I have not had any camera freezing issues since a replaced a faulty SD card. The EVF blackout is noticeable but does not prevent me taking any photos. Cheers, Duade
Very happy to see that comparison of the 3 lenses, thanks for sharing. And CONGRATS to the the pretty nice bird pics you made. I'd be interested how the R6 performs when it comes to flying birds, any comments on that?
What a splendid few days you both had with such a wonderful variety of colourful birds. I'm feeling rather envious of you both. The birds in Australia seem to be more tolerant of humans, than here in the UK. As for picking my favourite shot from this video ??? Not possible. I'm waiting with baited breath to see what the new Canon body will be. Apparently it's likely to be announced before the Olympics. Curious what it will do to the R5 & R6 prices?
Thanks for that info. I am trying to get a pair of Beach Stone Curlews which are at a beach close by- they are quite large and fitting them both into the centre frame of the 800mm is quite difficult and usually they are not on the same focal plane, so I will try your idea of moving the focus points . I’ll also try with the 100-500 and see how that goes- they are quite skittish so can’t get too close. Thanks again 😊cheers Lyn
Hi Lyn, what a great bird to be photographing, you will find the 100-500 will much more likely allow both birds to be sharp as they will be smaller in the frame. Good luck with them. Cheers, Duade
I bought the 600 mm F11 as an experiment. Never shot birds in thirty five years of photography. I was surprised how well the lens preformed with the R6. It does focus differently from the L lenses. Looking forward to your take on the focus. It’s seemed to me I needed some contrast to snap quickly into focus.
Paul, the AF is noticeably slower and less accurate then the USM L lenses, you can still get shots but be prepared for some slightly out of focus shots. I'm glad to hear you are giving birds and wildlife a go after all this time, it can be very rewarding that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade. Commenting after a while, that's some crezy experience of birding, particularly on Day 2. Enjoyed a lot! Thanks for sharing the story. Aside that, glad to see the focusing issue with your R6 has been fixed. Would like to know how. Also, though It's kinda like comparing apples to oranges, but can you please reffer how your old trusty 400mm f5.6 might stack up in terms of sharpness with the RF 100-500? I'm getting obsessed with the 400 5.6. Thanks in advanced and looking forward for more great videos.
Arghyadip, glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the AF issue is still there it's just I didn't really encounter a scenario where it happens, that is a small bird on a thin perch that was close. The 100-500 is superior to the 400 5.6 and likely as sharp as my 500 prime, I will be purchasing that lens in the future. Cheers, Duade
The video I waited for so much! Guys put your thumbs up after watching more than half of video it helps with CZcams algorithm (when you put thumbs up at the beginning it could count as a bot like).
It’s interesting seeing many of the same species I see in the states but totally different colors! Have you tried the DO lenses versus the RF zoom? I too only do handheld.
I use the 800 ref in the U.K. And it is ideal for the small shy birds here. I can very quickly apply a 1.6 crop on the R5 without losing detail so not sure I would get a 2x tele.
Nice work again - My RF 800 F11 on my R5 - My raw files at 3200 ISO are so so so noisy (same speed as yours) compared to yours (7:35)... how can you get such amazing raw files with no noise...your are a magician - congrats
Hi Norton, the amount of light heavily impacts the amount of grain one sees in an image. ISO3200 can look very different depending on the light situation. If you have not already I highly suggest downloading a trial of DXO Pure RAW and Topaz Denoise and running your files through there, you will be surprised how effective it is. Cheers, Duade 🛒DXO PureRAW - tidd.ly/3hH0Kta 🛒Topaz Denoise - topazlabs.com/denoise-ai-2/ref/426/
Thank you for very competent video. it seems that having a good light is substantial with such dark lens. I see you have it a lot in Australia :) in Europe it is not to perfect. I don’t think this lens will be usable anywhere different than under bright sky and lot o f sun.
yes, it works best in bright light and if you have low light you will use very high ISO most of the time. I did take many of the photos in this video in the forest or less than ideal light. The Eastern Yellow Robins were taken in very dark conditions which required ISO12800, f11 and 1/320th of a second. Cheers, Duade
Thanks again for the great video Duade. I was finally able to pick up a RF 100-500. What are your thoughts on keeping my ol' trusty 400 F5.6 vs. the 100-500? I thought that I would sell it once I got the 100-500, but now watching some of your older videos I wonder if I should just hold onto it.
Ed, congrats on the lens, I am hoping to pick one up in the next few months, I just have to sell some older lenses to fund it. Unfortunately, that means I have to say goodbye to the 400 5.6, it will be hard to let it go that is for sure. It's hard to know when I would grab that over the zoom, possibly if it was really dark or perhaps BIF. But the 100-500 is sharp at 7.1 has IS and more reach. Hopefully, whoever buys it will have as much fun with it as I had. Let me know what you end up doing. Cheers, Duade
Very helpful. I have the R6 and can attest to its amazing capabilities at high ISO. I never shy away from 12.8 and can make 25.6 work if necessary to get the shot. I have a 4.5-5.6 L Mark II with the1.4 and the 2x TC. I think, for me, given what I already have, the only reason to get the 800 f 11 is its small size and light weight for travel. But, perhaps a Mark I version of the 400 2.8 or Mark I version 500mm f4 would make a better investment and the 1.4x TC or the 2x with one of those would be a good combination. Decisions, decisions. What I really want is for Canon to make the R7. That with my existing lenses would provide more reach along with, hopefully, R6 technology.
Michael, yes very hard choices, I would be wary of purchasing the V1 superteles as they are very heavy and the AF does not perform as well as the V2 lenses. I also think they are getting harder to repair also. I guess it all comes down to price and what you can afford. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
wow so many nice birds down under. i realy like your videos so much it reminds me on the days i worked there as a beekeeper. im just starting to do birding, wich camera and lens you suggest me to buy? Do most birders work with canon? thank you in advence
Marc, it really depends on your budget, a good budget kit would be a second hand Canon 7D or 7D2 and Canon 400 5.6, that will get you nice sharp shots at an affordable price. Mirrorless is the future but it is pretty expensive at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Great video! At one time in the past you mentioned that maybe the R6 did not have enough megapixels for wildlife with occasional or frequent cropping. Have you decided you are more comfortable with it now and enjoy shooting with it for wildlife? I'm still trying to decide between it and spending the extra money for the R5.
Forrest, I am happy with the R6, it is a very capable camera for the cost. If I wanted to print large or increase the size I can always either use Lightrooms new super resolution or Topaz Gigapixel. Cheers, Duade
Well, Duade, that's it. I shouldn't have watched this video. I'm in trouble now, as I find myself having to pick up both the RF 800mm and the RF 100-500mm lenses to add to my repertoire of necessary lenses. Please don't do any more videos for awhile, as my pocket book cannot stand it. LOL! I do have a question, however. How in the world do you go through 8,000 pictures, looking for those few "Oh, my gosh, would you look at those photos???" Love both you and Jan's videos. Great job.
Mike, my apologies, I like the term "necessary lenses", I might have to try that on my wife next time I justify a lens. Yes, going through 8000 images is a challenge that is for sure. Ultimately many shots are of the same bird just different poses, which makes it a bit easier to select the best one. Cheers, Duade
"Difficult to get shots with nice backgrounds." Welcome to my world, Duade. Heh. Lots of trees where I live, and you have to make your peace with that if you want to shoot birds.
G'day Kenneth, the 800 f11 would be the better option, it has increible IS and works natively with the mirrorless body. It is also sharp at f11 whereas the 400 5.6 would have to be stopped down to f13 to become sharp. I believe the 800 f11 has slightly better IQ also. If you already own the 400 5.6 then it will work with the 2* but it comes with plenty of downsides. I suspect I would use the 1.4 extender and just crop the images. Cheers, Duade 👍
Hi Erez, it is very interesting lens and a very affordable way to get to 800mm. The IQ doesn't match the L lenses but they cost a lot more. The lens can take great shots and being so light makes it an easy lens to use. The MFD of 6m is a bit of a bummer but once you know your limit you can adjust. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade. I was wondering where you photographed the flame robins and the gang gangs? Been looking for them in the last few weeks, but still no luck.
Hi Upendra, your best bet is to use ebird and put in the species and change the months to Jan-Mar, this is the best way to see where birds are reported as they are often moving around. The other way is to join the Victorian Birders facebook group as people often post photos or sightings. Here is the ebird for the Gang-gangs ebird.org/map/gagcoc1?neg=true&env.minX=144.95033614204743&env.minY=-37.87128263498274&env.maxX=145.34584395454743&env.maxY=-37.70659223716173&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=1&emo=3&yr=all
Excellent video. Particularly liked the view of RAW files then showing the final image including crop. Thinking about R6 but concerned about cropping with 20mp sensor. I often crop down to about 1200x1600p on my 70D camera [also 20mp but APS-C] getting reasonable results. Do you have a view on the maximum amount of crop you would be happy with on the R6? Thank you.
Marmot, the R6 would be a significant improvement on the 70D sensor whatever the crop. I personally try to avoid cropping too much as I find it introduces noise and you lose details. On the R6 I am trying to avoid anything less then 3500px. Cheers, Duade
Really happy for you that these lenses/body are working out for you. There are two issues in my mind : a) is your keeper rate better or worst with the 800 f/11and b) how do they cope with BIF as all shots here were static (esp. how AF speed n accuracy compares with your 500+1.4x for moving subjects) I appreciate that the f/11s due to the low weight allow you to take photos that you have otherwise missed with a heavier set up and that you can be in the field walking etc much longer- this is the main advantage for me. But still would like your take on the above two issues. Tnx in advance and carry on the good work.
Hi Dimitris, the f11 lenses do not compare to the 100-500 or the 500 f4+1.4 in terms of IQ, AF speed and accuracy. I had noticeably more keepers with the 100-500. The f11 lenses just struggled at times and I got a number of slightly soft shots. I did try BIF but failed to get anything decent to be honest. I would not suggest these lenses if you did a lot of BIF. The 100-500 will perform a lot better that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
@@fgb3126 Hi Breck, the field of view is narrower for sure which can make BIF difficult, the smaller autofocus coverage box is a disadvantage and the lens just isnt as reliable as the USM focusing motor on the L series lenses. Cheers, Duade
Another great video Duade. I love the last Gang Gang shots you got in particular. Now that you've had it for a while, are you embracing the 20mp in the 6D or do you wish you had opted for the 5D? I am thinking about the same move from 5D 4 to 6D and while the better low light performance is compelling, I love the 30mp when it comes to cropping.
Michael, I am at peace with the R6 now, at first, I had some serious post purchase regret thinking I should have spent the extra money on the R5 but at the time I just couldn't justify the extra $3000 (AUD) it would have cost me. I think the price in Australia at least has come down a bit since release which is good. If you have the funds then the R5 is a good choice, it's just a better camera all around and offers far more MP. But if you are on a budget the R6 gives you a very good camera that takes very nice photos also. Sorry, not much help, either camera will deliver you great results. Cheers, Duade
@@michaelschmid6424 Michael, the R6 is great camera, If you can wait I would be very interested to see how the rumoured R7 performs. If you do a lot of birding that could be an excellent option also. Cheers, Duade
One of the best bird photography vlogs I've ever seen. What a treat, thank you Duade!
Thank you, you are too kind. Cheers, Duade
The result is magic when you both are together. Such an awesome adventure.
Thanks Danny, it sure was, Cheers, Duade 👍
It's as if I'm living in some sort of crazy alternative universe because I keep hearing you say how light and easy to hand hold the 800 is. And then I look over at the huge 800 f5. 6 sitting on my heavyweight tripod, rub my aching back, arms and shoulders.... and ask myself, WTF??? 😩
Hi Robert, I had the same thoughts. The 5.6 offers a much faster lens and the IQ is great however the weight difference is crazy. Cheers, Duade
Well if you don’t like how heavy the 800mm f5.6 is you can always give it to me 😏
Such a great demo of what the lenses are capable of! Thanks Duade.
Great video... A much awaited one too 👍👍
Thanks Manash, yes, it took longer than expected due to my day job getting in the way. Cheers, Duade
Fantastic collection of images, great easy to listen to commentary and well explained. Tank you
Colin, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Saw my two favorite CZcams birding channels working together and couldn’t click fast enough!
Thanks for taking us through your trip definitely felt the positivity and enjoyment you two had! Now I have to go watch his haha
Thanks Tommy, I appreciate the support, it is nice to have Jan nearby that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Great images, real world usage and helpful, honest commentary. Really appreciate how you not only showed the raw file but you showed how much it was cropped as well!
Jay, thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Duade
You got some great images, Duade - love the final robin and the male cockatoo on return visit and the female that followed, in particular
Thanks Craig, we had a great few days with these birds that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
I really enjoy seeing your videos. I live in the US on the esst coast and seeing your environments is really cool. We don't have those types of birds so it's nice to see something different. Please keep doing these. I'm also a fan of your birding buddy.
Thank you, we do have plenty of awesome birds. Cheers, Duade
WOW! This was amazing! Didn't think the 800mm f11 was this capable. Lovely shots!
Hi Miguel, it is far from perfect however it can capture decent shots at a very affordable price. Cheers, Duade
Hey, thanks a lot to go through all these RF lenses. As a new R6m2 owner myself, I do love those videos on RF teleobjectives. They are so useful to me and I love watching your photos... Keep it this way 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Another great video! Every photography session always starts off average for me and mainly get those best shots on the 2nd lap or if I hang around that bit longer when I think the sun has set too much. Don't know why but its always worth sticking around for every last second.
Hi Kurtis, yes, it often happens that way, often I have to talk myself into staying but it often pays off. Cheers, Duade
Another great review, Duade. Thanks! Loving my R6 and look forward to getting my hands on the RF 800 in the coming weeks. (and then summer to hit the Pacific North West so we can get some light :))
Trav, excellent, I envy you and the ducks you get up that way, should be perfect for them. Cheers, Duade
What a fantastic video. I loved how you took us to the photoshoot, and how passionately you talked about both birds and the lenses. I have 100-400, which is often a bit short for birding. I enjoyed your honest comments when shots did not turn out well, and also seeing the RAW and processed files. Great video.
Petr, thanks for the feedback, I am glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Wow! Your honest right from the start, great video :) I just like your before and after approach!
Thanks Steve, best way to be, Cheers, Duade
amazing shots. I am surpriced about the clarity with sich high ISO numbers with the 600/ 800 mm glasses. very useful test .
thanks and have a very nice weekend
Bernhard
Hi Bernhard, the R6 is very capable at high ISO. I also use Topaz Denoise to remove any excess noise in the background. Cheers, Duade
Very good presentation of the lenses and fantastic pictures. Thanks :)
Heiðar, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
I just picked up the 800F11 and the 100-500 last week so the timing of this video is very fortuitous . Great video Duade, I'm very much
looking forward to your review and opinions on these lenses.
Congrats Heath, I would love to hear how you find the lenses. Good luck with them. Cheers, Duade
This adventure has made me excited to possibly getting the 800mm. So amazing how good the images are at high iso levels
it is a great lens, the reach is excellent, it is nice and light. You will need a zoom as the 6m MFD can cause difficulties with certain scenarios. Cheers, Duade
Another fabulous video Duade, they will be a very popular lens for sure
Thanks Mick, yes, they will be very popular I'm sure. Cheers, Duade 👍
Great photos as always.
Thanks Richard. Cheers, Duade 👍
Great video. The R6 + RF 100-500 + RF 11/800 is also my individual combination as a very good compromise. I totally agree with you regarding the judgement of cam + lenses. Thank you for being on CZcams with all at all impressive presentations.
Many greetings
Robert, Bad Homburg (Germany)
Thanks Robert, great to hear you are enjoying your combo, a lens for every situation hopefully. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for the all you are doing. I especially liked your recent trip with Jen. I was seriously thinking of getting an RF800 f/11 but hearing about it from your review, it would be too limiting as far as close focus range goes. I have an R5 paired with a 100-500 and am very happy with the setup. I often use the 1.6 crop which put me at 800mm when I need it.
Also, thanks for the info about Topaz. I downloaded it and you save me a few
$$$.
Loren, thanks for the feedback I appreciate it. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the 100-500. I believe the 1.4 extender works well on the 100-500 also so maybe another option. Cheers, Duade
Absolutely marvellous all the photos are fantastic I would be so stoked to have to anyone of them what a fantastic three days you had so many beautiful birds got my eye on the hundred to 500 I’m 60 this year so I think I deserve a treat. Thank you so much for sharing I have subscribed so I don’t miss anymore excellent
G'day Andy, I highly recommend the 100-500, a beautiful lens. Cheers, Duade 👍
Jan seems like the perfect birder friend
Thanks for pointing my to this video Duade. Your findings are the same as mine. I regard the 800 as my good light lens, both weight and daylight. Great video and again I wish you well.
Thanks Dave, glad you enjoyed it, I had a lot of fun trying it out. Cheers, Duade
Wow! The best video yet. What a fantastic tour. I was wondering where you had gone. 8000 photographs! How do you manage all those files? ( It would make a good rainy day video I'm sure) I love that drone shot of the tall trees and huge ferns! At first I thought it was a footpath. The scale is unreal. Beautiful little Robins. Thanks.
Thanks Nigel, I am glad you enjoyed it, yes it took a lot longer than I thought and yes 8000 photos is a lot. I use Lightroom to catalog all my shots and I only keep around 10-15% of the photos which makes it a little more manageable. Yes, that forest was incredible. Cheers, Duade
Fantastic video, Duade. Love the channel. Drowned my old 60D + 100-400mm zoom in a river tying to capture an African Finfoot and have been without anything for 6 months. But just sprang for the R6 and RF800mm (EF primes are just way out of reach financially). Definitely a new shooting experience that's taking me a while to master. I'm a mobile birder (lots of walking and hiking) so the lighter weight and image quality with hand-held is a big plus. What I'm noticing is that knowing a good photo processing programme is more important than ever.
Ian, congrats on the R6 and 800 combo, a great light kit that gives you plenty of focal length. Good luck with your photography, Cheers, Duade
love your videos :) stay save
Thanks Marc, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
More great shots Duade
Thanks mate, it was a fun few sessions, Cheers, Duade
GOOOOD to see this video, happy to know you were using the 100-500 for a bit. Eager to see your full review on that beast and what you like / dont like... I'm inches away from buying it. Can't believe the 800 X2 action...wowsa
Matt, the 100-500 is as sharp as a prime and has the flexibility of the zoom. 500mm is a little short at times however I think when paired with say an R7 it will be the combo I would use the majority of the time. Cheers, Duade
Cracking video Duade, the 800 mm is a cracking lens when you consider the cost, size and weight of it... the best thing is that you can shoot hand held at silly shutter speeds with it ! Sure it's got limitations but once you get used to them it's a wonderful piece of kit when paired with a R5 or R6.
Photographer friends of mine who have seen this lens in action have been blown away, how user friendly it is compared to heavy EF primes. It isn't too shabby when capturing BIF shots and my keeper rate has gone up when compared to using my 1DXs and older EF lenses.
Ron that is great to hear, I have to admit being able to walk around handheld really was a nice experience and made it a lot of fun. Dealing with the weight of the prime can be a drag at times. Cheers, Duade
Great Job!!!
Thanks Jose. Cheers, Duade
Great Video mate! Enjoyed to relive the moments. Better bring some runners next time 😂
Thanks mate, I might need a few pairs of runners :-)
Great photos! 😃
Glad you like them, Cheers, Duade
Thanks Duade
Hi Deepak, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
I was so happy to see your great video on these lenses, especially the 800mm. It isn't the the fastest or easiest to use but I have found the more I use it the better I get. Just to be able to get some of those shots that you wouldn't ordinarily get, is well worth the price. Do I use it all the time? No but let me tell you it sure comes in handy those times the birds are far away. Sometimes I am the only one in the group that can capture them.
Chris, your comment is excellent and it sounds like how you use the lens is exactly what Canon had in mind. Thank you, Cheers, Duade
Was kind of hoping you were going to say these were brutal in low light and not worth the effort 🙄
now I am leaning toward getting the 800mm even if for the brighter days. Great video and was eagerly waiting for this.
Donal, yes, I was surprised, it won't replace my prime but I could see me reaching for it if I was exploring new areas or walking long distances as the weight is incredible. Cheers, Duade
Another great video man! Great pics and R6 with 800mm is exactly the combination I'm looking at picking up this year. Something that I really like is when you mention information about how you set up the perch in prime locations, bringing the meal worms and playing bird calls to attract local species. A video focused on these techniques would be awesome and maybe you have already done this and I've just not managed to find it yet.
and thanks for the comment, good luck with the kit when you get it. Yes, that would make a good video, it does vary from species to species and location. It can be very difficult most of the time. Cheers, Duade
Thank you, Duade!
Fernanda, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Great video. Nice shots. The bird eating shot was so funny
Thanks River, I am glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Beautiful shots ... 1600mm f22 is insane. This kind of combination to reach that far would be very expensive with 5D4 and prime lens. Great to know Canon introduced the low cost, light weight, RF 800mm prime lens that is affordable for people like me. R5 definitely open new area of photography possibility. Thanks for your video off new Canon lens introduction.
Scott, it is my pleasure, and yes, it is crazy what is possible. Cheers, Duade
I laughed when Canon announced the 600,800 F11’s but they seem to be a good light weight affordable option for wildlife and will probably attract new buyers to the RF mount system.
I’m in love with my 100-500. It won’t replace my EF600/4 especially in low light but for a lot of shooting it’s optically equal.
You have some beautiful birds down there, I’m hoping to be able to get there in 2022.
G'day, I totally agree, I think the 100-500 and 600 f4 is the ultimate kit. Cheers, Duade 👍
Thanks! Just bought a R5, THANKS EVERYTHING
Congrats Jeff, a wonderful camera, have fun, Cheers, Duade 👍
The 800mm f11 lens is sensational. I have been using it for birds for some time now and I am always amazed at the quality I get with the R6 and this lens.
Rick, that is great to hear, it is pretty incredible to get 800mm in such a light package. Cheers, Duade
I have watched this video like 10 times! You are sooooooooooooooo good looking! Love our smile and accent. Now, on the video, I loved this...A very comprehensive and detailed review of the RF 800....I am trying to decide between this lense and the rf 600 f11...
My wife finally has someone else that agrees with her ;-) I would go with the 800 as that extra reach comes in very handy. However, the MFD of 6m on the 800 is a negative and it is a bigger and heavier lens. If you want the lightest and smallest telephoto lens possible then the 600 will perform very well. Cheers, Duade
Wow, what a great collection of images. I'm enjoying my 800mm as much as you seem to. Getting great shots in almost all lighting conditions. 12800 ISO is the new 800.
Great to hear Kevin, the reach and weight make it a pleasure to walk around with. Yes, it's crazy to think ISO800 was the max on my 40D and now we can shoot at 12800. Cheers, Duade
@@35mm21 Yes, they sure have come a long way in a shirt period of time. Imagine what they will be like in another 15 years. Cheers, Duade 👍
Living the dream 👌
Thanks Jerrin, it sure was fun. Cheers, Duade 👍
12 hours sheshh Jan gave you a workout hahah. Awesome shots, love my 100-500 used my friends 600 f/4, but not needing a tripod is great (yeah yeah I know, I'm getting older).
Yes, the weight and flexibility is fantastic and hard to beat. Cheers, Duade
Such a nice video, i love all those bird, specially the gang-gangs. Here in Europe those are very rare, only very few Zoos have them. Well, even the galah istn't easy to find here, but of course they will be happier where they are :)
Thank you, they are not that common in the wild here either, the Galah is literally everywhere but the Gang-gang is usually in the mountains and harder to find. Cheers, Duade
The 800 f11 looks like it is a good lens for carrying around. I agree about the focus being better performance with the 100-500 which is what I ended up getting.
Hi Taylor, yes, the 100-500 is the superior lens however the 800 is a fun lens to use. Cheers, Duade
Great video. Still contemplating selling my 600f4 is I for the 100-500. Yours and Jan's pics are a good selling point.
The 100-500 is a beautiful lens but I think it is a great second lens to a prime, you just can't beat the prime for setups or when the light is poor. I find the 500 just a touch short on the FF and whilst an extender makes it 700mm you need good light, and it just doesn't dissolve the background like a prime. I think an R7 with the 100-500 will be a great option. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
I recently purchased the Canon 800mm F11 lens. I use it on the Canon R6 to shoot Northern Cardinals and Sparrows that come to my bird feeder. I was beginning to think I wasted money with this lens purchase until I watched this video. Thank you for giving me new hope. I plan on going out tomorrow and with hopes of capturing some headshots. Thank you for sharing your work
Thanks Larry, it is a very unique lens and does need nice light to work to its best. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Lovely photos of the exotic birds. I was a bit disappointed there were no bird in flight photos.
HI Phryxe, thanks, I did attempt BIF but found the AF of the f11 lenses struggled to obtain sharp shots and with the smaller AF coverage I don't think the f11 lenses are well suited to BIF. It is possible but can be a challenge. The 100-500 would be a much better option however I didn't really get a chance to use it for BIF. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for a great review and for sharing your lovely photos. I also enjoyed Jan's review, and I'm getting close to making the leap. I'd be very curious to know what you thought of the lens on a crop sensor, though I don't think the R7 was available when you shot this. Though the RF 100-500 is my primary lens for birds and wildlife, I'm seriously debating the 800 mm F11 prime for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone in the fall. For staying away from the grizzlies :)
now come my decision, ahahaha I am ready for r6 + rf 100-500 :-) ... dun even know how to start using manual on camera yet hahahah Thank you for always come up with all these info :-)
Good luck with the new kit. Cheers, Duade 👍
thank you, Sir!
My pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Excellent photos and this is the video I’m looking for (comparing the f/11 lens with the 100-500)
Hi Siva, the 100-500 is the superior lens by far, it delivers prime like IQ in a very light package. The 800 does have the advantage of the extra reach but its AF and IQ doesn't match the 100-500. Cheers, Duade
Another great video! It seems that lens has way more positive points than negative ones. Can't wait for you full review. Which throw-over blind do you use? Lastly, give us a shout if you ever plan to visit the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. We might be able to show you a few birds. Thanks for a great channel!
Thanks Jorrie, it is the naturecapes throw blind, expensive for what it is but works very well. One day I hope to get to Africa. Cheers, Duade
Great! The never ending session...!
Obviously Canon did a great job with these bodies and lenses. I (also) use digiscopy so 800/11 or 1600/22 is not really a problem for me (not always). Add the very light weight, the AF, (IS), and a sharp optic and it sounds amazing.
It's way possible I quit Nikon DSLR APSC (750mm f8 btw) and go Canon ML FF for action shots (wildlife)...
I was surprised how usable 1600 f22 was and it would be great for birding. I think it might be worth waiting for the R7 as an APSC sensor will give you another 1.6x reach. Cheers, Duade
I also have RF 600mm F11.With R6 its very lightweight combo.It was amazing how good picture quality a 750 € lens produces.Its about on par with EF 100-400mm ll+TC 1,4lll with adapter.Contrast is also acceptable.Many times I carry binoculars and food for birds so is important to have light gear.
, that is great to hear, it is amazing just how light that lens is, I couldn't believe it. I'm glad it is working well for you. Cheers, Duade
amazing !!!
Thanks Avner, Cheers, Duade
Love this! I have the 100-500 but my wife wants something lighter to carry around . I just ordered the 800 f11 really exited to test it.
Jose, congrats, I hope she enjoys the lens, it gives you plenty of reach in a light package. Cheers, Duade
me gusto mucho, gracias.
Thanks Andres, Cheers, Duade
😳 going to get a 2x for my 100-400 ... thanks Duade. Amazing 3 days I imagine.
Hi Rui, the 2x will work on the 100-400 however the IQ and AF will take a fair hit and you will need plenty of light. I use my 1.4 on the 400 5.6 more often then the 2x. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade yes. I have the 1.4x
Hey Duade, excellent video! Was able to finally pick up the 800 f11 and took it out to a local hotspot for snow geese. Was able to get some decent shots with it. Most were quite far away and turned out similar to your 1600 f22 shots. Have my eye on the 100-500 RF next. Are you keeping these lenses? Hoping to see more videos in the future!
Thanks Ed, great to hear, I will likely pick up the 100-500 when I have the funds available. Cheers, Duade 👍
Great video! Love the head shots of the gang gangs! Whereabouts were you for those birds?
Lee-Anne, I was in a park in north east Melbourne. Check Ebird for updated sightings, Cheers, Duade
Excellent video, mate, I love that you show both the raw and processed versions of each image. I have the R5 and RF 100-500 combination and have been practicing with handheld birds in flight. What has your experience been with birds in flight at fast shutter speeds (say 1/2500 sec) with image stabilization turned on versus turned off? My results with image stabilization turned on have been mixed, so I'm thinking maybe I should turn it off whenever I am shooting at very high shutter speeds. Thanks mate!
Robert, 1/2500 should be more than enough, it is probably worth a try with IS off however I don't know how much of a difference it makes at those SS. I have not done enough testing to know if it makes any discernable difference. Good luck. Cheers, Duade
Great video!
Suggestion, compare the R6 800mm f/11 shooting
1. Animal detection
2. Eye detection
3. Single AF
Compare the R6 100-500mm against
R6 RF adapter 100-400mm II F5.6 with 1.4x III adapter at 560mm
One tip, if light permits try using R6 800mm f/11 try EV -.3 and -.65 and notice impact on lower ISO.
Bought the RF 1.4x extender for the 800mm for longer reach. Will test out this winter when flocks of Bald Eagles visit the only opened ice covered lake in the area. R6 800 f11 with animal detection worked great for far off Bald Eagles in flight.
G'day Joseph, unfortunately I do not have these lenses to test anymore. Jan did a comparison with the 100-400 and 100-500 here czcams.com/video/dyHodbYrP4k/video.html
When you underexpose you are increasing noise when increasing exposure in post. If you use ISO800 and underexpose by 2/3rds the noise when exposure is corrected will be like ISO1250.
The extenders worked surprisingly well in good light, I used the 2x on the 800 and was surprised by the results. Cheers, Duade
I owned the 800 F11 and now own the 100-500 and came to similar conclusions.
Pretty mind blowing the quality the 800 can put out with the R5 compared to the Tamron 150-600 on the D500 I used to use on my old system.
Also, 800 is sharper when at a significant distance of the subject.
The 800 is a bit limiting though, I like the variety and close focus of the 100-500 better.
I felt like I needed higher shutter speeds with the 800 due to the subjects being larger in the frame which caused ISOs to creep higher but images still look great at high ISOs on my R5.
Thanks Matt, I appreciate you sharing your experience it is very interesting to hear its comparison to the 150-600. The R5 sure is an impressive camera. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade. I do the majority of my photography in forests so the 600 and 800 f11s might be a bit slow for me. However the lightness for handholding is definitely a plus. The pair of gang gangs is my favourite from this sequence but I always have a soft spot for Easter yellow robins. For me if I move to mirrorless, I suspect the 100-500 would be a better option. Look forward to more detail about that one.
Lachlan, the f11 lenses are fun unique lenses but if you wanted the best IQ and AF you would go with an L series lens such as the 100-500. I am looking forward to seeing how the R7 and 100-500 work together, I suspect that will be one awesome combo. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade the close MFD on the 100-500 would also be great for the butterflies etc I do too. Appreciate the reply. Lachlan.
Very good photos. Love the details coming out of the lenses.
Thanks Thomas, I was surprised myself. Cheers, Duade 👍
@@Duade i have currently Sigma 150-600mm C but it often is soft at longer range and cant keep the speed. Just trying know different ways of improving it and even wrote on Jan channel. Of course you see this on the 1:1 review. If You zoom out, denoise it with topaz its not so bad but still would like to have more keeper.
@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, from my experience you need to shoot the 600mm zooms at f9-11 to really get the sharpest images. Shooting at 6.3 will often be slightly soft. Give that a go and see how your images look. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade tried also with this aperture and see that the images could be better. Maybe I reached the max with this lens.
@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, sometimes it has to do with how close we are to the subject, some lenses just don't crop very well and the photos almost need to be full frame to get the most detail. My suggestion would be to photograph a tame bird full frame in nice morning light at f11, that will in theory give you the maximum quality you can expect from the lens. If you are using a DSLR the lens adjustment could be an issue however if you have mirrorless this is a non issue. Good luck, cheers, Duade
Great video, Duade! Hope you can talk more about what memory cards you use for BIF stills. Also, any problems with camera freezing or EVF blackout? Cheers!
Tim, my R6 only take SD cards so I use a fast SD card, you could use electronic shutter if you wanted 20fps however I prefer to use the mechanical shutter as 20fps is too fast for me. I have not had any camera freezing issues since a replaced a faulty SD card. The EVF blackout is noticeable but does not prevent me taking any photos. Cheers, Duade
Very happy to see that comparison of the 3 lenses, thanks for sharing. And CONGRATS to the the pretty nice bird pics you made.
I'd be interested how the R6 performs when it comes to flying birds, any comments on that?
Jana, the AF of the R6 is very good for BIF, once the camera can see the bird the tracking does a good job sticking to the subject. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade thanks Duade. I'll give it a try 😀
What a splendid few days you both had with such a wonderful variety of colourful birds. I'm feeling rather envious of you both. The birds in Australia seem to be more tolerant of humans, than here in the UK. As for picking my favourite shot from this video ??? Not possible.
I'm waiting with baited breath to see what the new Canon body will be. Apparently it's likely to be announced before the Olympics. Curious what it will do to the R5 & R6 prices?
G'day Roger, yes, we have a number of tolerant birds in the populated areas. Yes, I look forward to see what is coming from Canon. Cheers, Duade 👍
Now that I know the 800 f11 works beautifully, very eager to rent out an 800 with the R5. Will keep posted.
Good luck, I hope you have fun with it. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for that info. I am trying to get a pair of Beach Stone Curlews which are at a beach close by- they are quite large and fitting them both into the centre frame of the 800mm is quite difficult and usually they are not on the same focal plane, so I will try your idea of moving the focus points . I’ll also try with the 100-500 and see how that goes- they are quite skittish so can’t get too close. Thanks again 😊cheers Lyn
Hi Lyn, what a great bird to be photographing, you will find the 100-500 will much more likely allow both birds to be sharp as they will be smaller in the frame. Good luck with them. Cheers, Duade
I bought the 600 mm F11 as an experiment. Never shot birds in thirty five years of photography. I was surprised how well the lens preformed with the R6. It does focus differently from the L lenses. Looking forward to your take on the focus. It’s seemed to me I needed some contrast to snap quickly into focus.
Paul, the AF is noticeably slower and less accurate then the USM L lenses, you can still get shots but be prepared for some slightly out of focus shots. I'm glad to hear you are giving birds and wildlife a go after all this time, it can be very rewarding that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade. Commenting after a while, that's some crezy experience of birding, particularly on Day 2. Enjoyed a lot! Thanks for sharing the story.
Aside that, glad to see the focusing issue with your R6 has been fixed. Would like to know how. Also, though It's kinda like comparing apples to oranges, but can you please reffer how your old trusty 400mm f5.6 might stack up in terms of sharpness with the RF 100-500? I'm getting obsessed with the 400 5.6. Thanks in advanced and looking forward for more great videos.
Arghyadip, glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the AF issue is still there it's just I didn't really encounter a scenario where it happens, that is a small bird on a thin perch that was close. The 100-500 is superior to the 400 5.6 and likely as sharp as my 500 prime, I will be purchasing that lens in the future. Cheers, Duade
awesome photos mate. you sound like me just trying whatever even when you think it wont work hahah
I would be happy taking photos of a pig in you know what, as long as I have the camera and I'm hitting the shutter I am having fun :-)
The video I waited for so much! Guys put your thumbs up after watching more than half of video it helps with CZcams algorithm (when you put thumbs up at the beginning it could count as a bot like).
Thanks Ian, I appreciate the feedback. Cheers, Duade
Wow really (about thumbs up after the halfway mark)? I hit that like button as soon as I saw the pic of the baby bird being fed
It’s interesting seeing many of the same species I see in the states but totally different colors! Have you tried the DO lenses versus the RF zoom? I too only do handheld.
G'day Eddy, the 100-500 is an L quality lens and it shows, it is very sharp, and the quality is outstanding. Cheers, Duade 👍
I use the 800 ref in the U.K. And it is ideal for the small shy birds here. I can very quickly apply a 1.6 crop on the R5 without losing detail so not sure I would get a 2x tele.
Great to hear Nick, yes with the R5 you would be able to get the bird big in the frame without having to get too close. Cheers, Duade
Nice work again -
My RF 800 F11 on my R5 - My raw files at 3200 ISO are so so so noisy (same speed as yours) compared to yours (7:35)... how can you get such amazing raw files with no noise...your are a magician - congrats
Hi Norton, the amount of light heavily impacts the amount of grain one sees in an image. ISO3200 can look very different depending on the light situation. If you have not already I highly suggest downloading a trial of DXO Pure RAW and Topaz Denoise and running your files through there, you will be surprised how effective it is. Cheers, Duade
🛒DXO PureRAW - tidd.ly/3hH0Kta
🛒Topaz Denoise - topazlabs.com/denoise-ai-2/ref/426/
Rewatching this in light of the new 200-800 lens coming out. Looks like it should be a really good birding lens, basically a hybrid of these 3 lenses.
Thank you for very competent video. it seems that having a good light is substantial with such dark lens. I see you have it a lot in Australia :) in Europe it is not to perfect. I don’t think this lens will be usable anywhere different than under bright sky and lot o f sun.
yes, it works best in bright light and if you have low light you will use very high ISO most of the time. I did take many of the photos in this video in the forest or less than ideal light. The Eastern Yellow Robins were taken in very dark conditions which required ISO12800, f11 and 1/320th of a second. Cheers, Duade
Thanks again for the great video Duade. I was finally able to pick up a RF 100-500. What are your thoughts on keeping my ol' trusty 400 F5.6 vs. the 100-500? I thought that I would sell it once I got the 100-500, but now watching some of your older videos I wonder if I should just hold onto it.
Ed, congrats on the lens, I am hoping to pick one up in the next few months, I just have to sell some older lenses to fund it. Unfortunately, that means I have to say goodbye to the 400 5.6, it will be hard to let it go that is for sure. It's hard to know when I would grab that over the zoom, possibly if it was really dark or perhaps BIF. But the 100-500 is sharp at 7.1 has IS and more reach. Hopefully, whoever buys it will have as much fun with it as I had. Let me know what you end up doing. Cheers, Duade
Very helpful. I have the R6 and can attest to its amazing capabilities at high ISO. I never shy away from 12.8 and can make 25.6 work if necessary to get the shot. I have a 4.5-5.6 L Mark II with the1.4 and the 2x TC. I think, for me, given what I already have, the only reason to get the 800 f 11 is its small size and light weight for travel. But, perhaps a Mark I version of the 400 2.8 or Mark I version 500mm f4 would make a better investment and the 1.4x TC or the 2x with one of those would be a good combination. Decisions, decisions. What I really want is for Canon to make the R7. That with my existing lenses would provide more reach along with, hopefully, R6 technology.
Michael, yes very hard choices, I would be wary of purchasing the V1 superteles as they are very heavy and the AF does not perform as well as the V2 lenses. I also think they are getting harder to repair also. I guess it all comes down to price and what you can afford. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
wow so many nice birds down under. i realy like your videos so much it reminds me on the days i worked there as a beekeeper.
im just starting to do birding, wich camera and lens you suggest me to buy? Do most birders work with canon?
thank you in advence
Marc, it really depends on your budget, a good budget kit would be a second hand Canon 7D or 7D2 and Canon 400 5.6, that will get you nice sharp shots at an affordable price. Mirrorless is the future but it is pretty expensive at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Great video! At one time in the past you mentioned that maybe the R6 did not have enough megapixels for wildlife with occasional or frequent cropping. Have you decided you are more comfortable with it now and enjoy shooting with it for wildlife? I'm still trying to decide between it and spending the extra money for the R5.
Forrest, I am happy with the R6, it is a very capable camera for the cost. If I wanted to print large or increase the size I can always either use Lightrooms new super resolution or Topaz Gigapixel. Cheers, Duade
Well, Duade, that's it. I shouldn't have watched this video. I'm in trouble now, as I find myself having to pick up both the RF 800mm and the RF 100-500mm lenses to add to my repertoire of necessary lenses. Please don't do any more videos for awhile, as my pocket book cannot stand it. LOL! I do have a question, however. How in the world do you go through 8,000 pictures, looking for those few "Oh, my gosh, would you look at those photos???" Love both you and Jan's videos. Great job.
Mike, my apologies, I like the term "necessary lenses", I might have to try that on my wife next time I justify a lens. Yes, going through 8000 images is a challenge that is for sure. Ultimately many shots are of the same bird just different poses, which makes it a bit easier to select the best one. Cheers, Duade
"Difficult to get shots with nice backgrounds." Welcome to my world, Duade. Heh. Lots of trees where I live, and you have to make your peace with that if you want to shoot birds.
Hi Theo, yes, it can be a challenge in heavily forested areas that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade, thanks for the vid, good stuff. Q: would you consider the 400f5.6 with a 2x in place of the RF800?
G'day Kenneth, the 800 f11 would be the better option, it has increible IS and works natively with the mirrorless body. It is also sharp at f11 whereas the 400 5.6 would have to be stopped down to f13 to become sharp. I believe the 800 f11 has slightly better IQ also. If you already own the 400 5.6 then it will work with the 2* but it comes with plenty of downsides. I suspect I would use the 1.4 extender and just crop the images. Cheers, Duade 👍
I'm thinking to buy the 800mm lens, i really liked the review. did you use Topaz I
Hi Erez, it is very interesting lens and a very affordable way to get to 800mm. The IQ doesn't match the L lenses but they cost a lot more. The lens can take great shots and being so light makes it an easy lens to use. The MFD of 6m is a bit of a bummer but once you know your limit you can adjust. Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade. I was wondering where you photographed the flame robins and the gang gangs? Been looking for them in the last few weeks, but still no luck.
Hi Upendra, your best bet is to use ebird and put in the species and change the months to Jan-Mar, this is the best way to see where birds are reported as they are often moving around. The other way is to join the Victorian Birders facebook group as people often post photos or sightings. Here is the ebird for the Gang-gangs ebird.org/map/gagcoc1?neg=true&env.minX=144.95033614204743&env.minY=-37.87128263498274&env.maxX=145.34584395454743&env.maxY=-37.70659223716173&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=1&emo=3&yr=all
Thanks Duade
Excellent video. Particularly liked the view of RAW files then showing the final image including crop. Thinking about R6 but concerned about cropping with 20mp sensor. I often crop down to about 1200x1600p on my 70D camera [also 20mp but APS-C] getting reasonable results. Do you have a view on the maximum amount of crop you would be happy with on the R6? Thank you.
Marmot, the R6 would be a significant improvement on the 70D sensor whatever the crop. I personally try to avoid cropping too much as I find it introduces noise and you lose details. On the R6 I am trying to avoid anything less then 3500px. Cheers, Duade
Really happy for you that these lenses/body are working out for you. There are two issues in my mind : a) is your keeper rate better or worst with the 800 f/11and b) how do they cope with BIF as all shots here were static (esp. how AF speed n accuracy compares with your 500+1.4x for moving subjects) I appreciate that the f/11s due to the low weight allow you to take photos that you have otherwise missed with a heavier set up and that you can be in the field walking etc much longer- this is the main advantage for me. But still would like your take on the above two issues. Tnx in advance and carry on the good work.
Hi Dimitris, the f11 lenses do not compare to the 100-500 or the 500 f4+1.4 in terms of IQ, AF speed and accuracy. I had noticeably more keepers with the 100-500. The f11 lenses just struggled at times and I got a number of slightly soft shots. I did try BIF but failed to get anything decent to be honest. I would not suggest these lenses if you did a lot of BIF. The 100-500 will perform a lot better that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Tnx greatly appreciate the honest reply and your experience.
@@Duade would that be because the field of view is narrower as well? Just how wide is it compared to shooting a Canon 800 f/4?
@@fgb3126 Hi Breck, the field of view is narrower for sure which can make BIF difficult, the smaller autofocus coverage box is a disadvantage and the lens just isnt as reliable as the USM focusing motor on the L series lenses. Cheers, Duade
@@fgb3126 there is no 800 f/4 the fastest 800 is f/5.6
Awesome images. 800 mm would be nice to use.
Thanks Jan, it is a unique lens that is for sure. Cheers, Duade 👍
Another great video Duade. I love the last Gang Gang shots you got in particular. Now that you've had it for a while, are you embracing the 20mp in the 6D or do you wish you had opted for the 5D? I am thinking about the same move from 5D 4 to 6D and while the better low light performance is compelling, I love the 30mp when it comes to cropping.
Michael, I am at peace with the R6 now, at first, I had some serious post purchase regret thinking I should have spent the extra money on the R5 but at the time I just couldn't justify the extra $3000 (AUD) it would have cost me. I think the price in Australia at least has come down a bit since release which is good. If you have the funds then the R5 is a good choice, it's just a better camera all around and offers far more MP. But if you are on a budget the R6 gives you a very good camera that takes very nice photos also. Sorry, not much help, either camera will deliver you great results. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thanks Duade. That is very helpful. As a hobbyist, I think The R6 is the way to go.
@@michaelschmid6424 Michael, the R6 is great camera, If you can wait I would be very interested to see how the rumoured R7 performs. If you do a lot of birding that could be an excellent option also. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade The thought had crossed mind but I'm not sure I can deprive myself of animal eye tracking for too much longer :)