CANON R7 : Raw Burst Why & How

A feature that I love to have from long ago from CANON.

This is a very useful function for wildlife Photographer.

But for the first time, CANON put this special function into a R7 in a special way.

When I having the Pre-production unit, I am wonder

1. how it work (AF is like other system ? focus only happen on first moment when half press the shutter button)

2. how do we extract ! just from the camera ? why put everything into single file 3. pre record how long ? and now we know it is 0.5s and why ? enough for us ? 4. can we extract all the file within the single RAW Burst file ?

NO … why I am not answering all the question but this sharing is simply show why/when we need this function, how we shoot, how we extract …

I put everything how’s it work into a video..

or another sample while capture this bird with my guests and birder Alex

base on video below

1. the bird is standing a while before further action

2. CANON R7 Raw burst enable and half press shutter button when the bird standing before further action

3. press the shutter after see the bird jump (at the video below flag moment)

4. As the video show at frame 10 (16 frames before I press the shutter button pictures)

frame 10 of the create file from Raw burst

 

CANON R7 AF – Tracking Tests [update 20221113]

I will working on more tracking test on R7, especially on flying fast subject, non horizontal flying subject etc

Test 2

– handheld

– CANON R7, CANON RF 100-500mm

– center Zone area, Servo case 2, High-speed continuous shooting H (15fps)

– Animal Detect, Eye detect  enable

*final picture

Test 1

– on boat, handheld

– CANON R7, CANON RF 100-500mm

– not planning, bird flying out and just point the lens direction to the bird

– Full sensor AF area use, AF mode – auto, 15fps

 

– can see the bird flying toward us which everyone care about compare to flying horizontal. it miss 3 frames over 69 frames.

 

 

 

*some previous R7 tests

CANON R7 AF … Love it .. now even Single point detect subject eye will be FOCUS.

CANON R7 AF … Love it .. now even Single point detect subject eye will be FOCUS.

 

CANON R7 : pictures sample(update 20220821)

CANON R7 : pictures sample(update 20220914)

 

 

CANON R7 AF … Love it .. now even Single point detect subject eye will be FOCUS.

Most of the camera nowaday, giving animal eye detection, tracking but limited the AF mode where mostly by either a “zone” or Full screen (mean if we want Bird eye detect, we either limit ourselves either using “dedicated zone/zone size” or “full sensor screen”

*** have a look at the youtube sharing

 

But Why do I like the AF mode by using different area? single point sometime is very useful when obstacle is infront of subject.

CANON R7 : pictures sample(update 20220914)

CANON R7 with 32.5-megapixel ASP-C CMOS sensor, such a high megapixel camera always give good details to subject. here is a sharing page for sample full size pictures for your reference

previous sharing R7

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 – IS, Battery life, AF, ISO samples

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 (ii) – AF Tracking

 

*** click the picture for full size pictures sample

12. Malayan Laughingthrush, 马来噪鹛, 馬來噪鶥, Trochalopteron peninsulae, マレーシアガビチョウ, KEKICAU-RAYA TEMBAGA BIASA

CANON R7, CANON RF100500 Handheld

ISO800, 1/200, F6.3, 253mm

with Topaz Denoise
original JPEG

 

11. Lesser Shortwing, 白喉短翅鸫, 白喉短翅鶇, Brachypteryx leucophris, ヒメコバネヒタキ, Burung Murai Kakap

CANON R7, CANON RF100500 Handheld

ISO800, 1/80. F7.1 500mm

(Topaz Denoise)

10. Brown-throated Sunbird, 褐喉食蜜鸟, 褐喉食蜜鳥, Anthreptes malacensis, チャノドコバシタイヨウチョウ, KELICAP MAYANG KELABU

CANON R7, CANON RF100500 Handheld

ISO1000, 1/200, F7.1, 500mm

9. Crimson-winged Woodpecker, 红翅绿啄木鸟,紅翅綠啄木鳥, Picus puniceus, モリアオゲラ, BELATUK-HIJAU PARUH KUNING

CANON R7, CANON EF500mm F4IS2 handheld

ISO640, 1/125, F7.1

with Topaz Denoise
no denoise

8. Hooded pitta (Sunda), 绿胸八色鸫, 綠胸八色鶇, Pitta sordida mulleri/bangkana, ズグロヤイロチョウ, BURUNG-PACAT HIJAU

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld (on boat)

ISO1250, F8, 1/100

no denoise
denoise with Topaz Denoise

 

7. Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher, 棕背三趾翠鸟, 棕背三趾翠鳥, Ceyx rufidorsa, セアカミツユビカワセミ, RAJAUDANG-API BIASA

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO3200, F7.1, 1/50

denoise with Topaz Denoise
no denoise picture

6. Fire-tufted Barbet, 火簇拟鴷, 火簇擬鴷, Psilopogon pyrolophus, アカフサゴシキドリ, TAKUR API

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO640, F7.1, 1/250, 500mm

202208, Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia

5. Crimson-Headed partridge, 红头林鹧鸪, 紅頭林鷓鴣, Haematortyx sanguiniceps, アカガシラシャコ, SERUK KEPALA MERAH

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO1600, F6.3, 1/50, 400mm

202208, Tambunan, Sabah, Malaysia

 

4. Rufous-browed Flycatcher, 棕眉姬鹟, 棕眉姬鶲, Anthipes solitaris, アカメヒタキ, SAMBAR RENGKUNG PUTIH SELATAN

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO1250, F7.1, 1/320

202208, Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia

3. Large Niltava, 大仙鹟, 大仙鶲, Niltava grandis, オオアオヒタキ, SAMBAR-KUMBANG BESAR

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO5000, F6.3, 1/60s

 

with Topaz Denoise Auto

2. Pygmy Cupwing, 小鳞胸鹪鹛, 小鱗胸鷦鶥, Pnoepyga pusilla, タカサゴミソサザイ, BURUNG-RESAM KERDIL

CANON R7, CANON RF100-500mm handheld

ISO6400, F8.0, 1/125

with Topaz Denoise Auto

 

1. Stripe-throated Bulbul, 纹喉鹎, 紋喉鵯, Pycnonotus finlaysoni, キビタイヒヨドリ, MERBAH KUNYIT LEKIR

CANON R7, CANON RF600mm F4

ISO400, F5, 1/125

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 (ii) – AF Tracking

continued from previous CANON R7 sharing

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 – IS, Battery life, AF, ISO samples

This test mainly concentrate on AF tracking (on subject – bird). Even I dont have enough chance to shoot many AF tracking and this is not my normal testing AF condition. Where I normally test AF, AF tracking with “un-plan” flying subject. Where I do not have any idea where the bird flying from-to and just use camera reaction to lock focus and track to capture the pictures.

This is a “pre-known” the bird will flying toward us or left/right.

i. lock focus the Bird eye 

ii. AI Servo

iii. tracking enable

From the series pictures show, the bird is focus in every frame and also can see the tree is out of focus slowly at last few frame where the bird flying away from the tree. This show the bird tracking is working perfectly

 

DxO PureRaw 2 Noise reduction performance … CANON R5 & SONY A1

few months ago my friend introduce to me “DxO PureRaw 2” for very good noise reduction. I am bit busy last few months and finally I have time download to check out ISO performance of Fujifilm XH2-S , CANON R7 which both APS-C sensor which most the users concern on ISO performance. But we know when smaller sensor normally has more noise with bigger sensor camera (with same megapixel). Too bad both camera raw files are not supported by the DxO PureRaw 2. But I decide to make a simple test with CANON R5 & A1

几个月前,朋友介绍了这款新的软件。大概是降噪非常好,比我之前介绍的Topaz Denoise 好。

我一直较忙,这几天终于有时间坐下清理照片。处理一些事情。还有最近试了2架新的半幅的相机(富士 XH2-S & 佳能 R7) ,大家(包括我)都有点担心点问题。因为我们这的摄影环境都较暗。我们也希望有较长的焦距,半幅的相机都是我们想用可是主要担心点问题。

可是,这个软件 DxO PureRaw 2 尽然还不支持这两架相机,可是尽然已下载。我也试试在高像素相机之一的佳能R5 &索尼 A1 (迟一点会放上)

Simple test with CANON R5 & SONY A1

I only test 2 ISO – ISO2000 because this is my comfortable accept ISO for R5 and ISO6400 is my highest auto ISO set for R5 & ISO4000 for A1 .

– Click the picture to see original full size picture.

– the DxO PureRaw really process the raw file into a DNG file with very good noise-details balance output.

– please support original software

i. CANON R5 : ISO2000

CANON R5
ISO2000
no Noise Reduction
CANON R5
ISO2000
DxO PureRaw 2 only
CANON R5
ISO2000
Topaz Denoise AI Auto

ii. CANON R5 : ISO6400

CANON R5
ISO6400
CANON R5
ISO6400
Topaz Denoise
CANON R5
ISO6400
DxO PureRaw 2

 

iii. SONY A1 : ISO2000

SONY A1
ISO2000

 

SONY A1
ISO2000
Topaz Denoise – AI Auto
SONY A1
ISO2000
DxO PureRaw 2

 

iv. SONY A1 : ISO4000

SONY A1
ISO6400
SONY A1
ISO4000
Topaz Denoise AI Auto
SONY A1
ISO4000
DxO PureRaw 2

 

####

my recent posts

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 – Battery life, AF, ISO samples

Field experience with Fujifilm X-H2S + Fujinon XF150-600mm f/5.6-8

 

3 days with CANON R7 + RF600mm F4 – IS, Battery life, AF, ISO samples

I am glad been given a chance to use the new CANON mirrorless camera R7 with RF600mm F4 for 3 days.

When I have the camera with such period, I know I can’t try everything I want to try but for another successor after R5/6/3 think most of the people will have same believe and doubt as me

1. AF should be as good as the R5/6/3

2. such high megapixel, how’s the ISO performance

3. Image Stabilizer – as think this is one good camera for bird watchers who normally shoot handheld

– should have more time to try with RF100-500, RF100-400, EF 100-400, EF400 F5.6 etc

4. video quality, overheat concern

5. buffer as only SD card supported

6. Video AF

7. Battery life

###

For me, I am concentrate on few above which I “worry” about

AF

ISO performance

Image Stabilizer (which affect the Image quality – ISO)

Battery life

Video Quality (after recent so many good video hybrid camera)

###

Here is my 3days real field experience for above mentioned concerns

update 20220618

4. Image Stabilizer

– this is one most important criteria for most of Bird Photographer as in many cases we do require to handheld to shoot with smaller lens and most of this situations when we inside forest which also having lowlight.

– if the IS efficiency is high, mean we can get higher success rate picture with lower shutter speed .

– I am using R7 with CANON RF 100-500mm which also 160-800mm (35mm equivalent) and I tested all with 500mm (800mm 35mm equivalent). without any tripod, monopod just handheld with various shutter speed and 10-50 shots (average)

– 我在测试佳能的新R7与RF100-500mm。这个测试是为了试机身+镜头防抖有多好。因为这可是我们选摄鸟器材的蛮重要的一环,因为在马来西亚很大部分时间我们都在林里拍鸟。都是不容易带脚架与蛮暗。手持摄影需要好的防抖功能让我们在较慢的速度下拍到我们要拍的鸟。

 

update 202206

– due to work nature, I am capturing still and video handheld 90%. So IS always one of my very important criteria to choose my “working birding equipment”

– another quick test how’s the IS for video with CANON R7

– 工作关系,我几乎都是手持拍摄(照片,视频)。相机+镜头防抖功能变成我主要选择我的摄鸟(工作)的其中一个主要的功能。

– 当我拿到R7,这是我要测试的其中一项。手持视频

 

case 1 : 1/15s

– shooting 1/15s total 59 shots and 20/59 is focus which giving 33% I would say it is very good

CANON R7
CANON RF100-500mm
500mm (800mm 35mm equivalent)
ISO400, F7.1, 1/15s

 

 

1. Battery Life

– one of the amazing battery life mirrorless camera so far

– 3 days in the row, shooting from 7am – 2-3pm without power off the camera

~1200 pictures

~10-30 video (4k)

ALL 3 days still have >50% battery remain

 

2. AF

– without any doubt or different, the AF capability to find subject eye (bird eye) simply awesome. AS GOOD AS R3, R5 and R6 for bird eye detect, I dont have enough time for flying tracking (only very quick tried)

– the best part is this camera use R3 AF method e.g. when use ZONE or single point in R5/6 the eye detect cannot be use. So most of us use method of either

a. let’s the camera find the bird eye in full screen – some of us just don’t trust the camera. So dont border of using this method but for me this is very fast and 90% trusted method

b. use one button for single point focus than AD-ON (any other button) eye detect

– this is a much slower way of AF which require single point to point to the bird than need press a button to have eye detect than follow by shutter button for picture capture !!!!!!! not only slow with so many button pressing more camera shake created

– now, we can use single button set to single point, zone, full screen as long as the point, zone or camera found the bird. The “eye” will be focus and track

###

3. ISO performance

with such high megapxiel 32.5 MP, think everyone most worry is the ISO management.

here are some pictures sharing

series of picture (full size) 800-10000 (sorry for accidentally deleted ISO400 pictures and due to environment here we seldom use anything lower than ISO800

I also make a simple Topaz Denoise (default auto) to have a look with minimum post processing result.

###

Series 1

RAW – JPEG (direct from Adobe camera RAW no noise reduction)

JPEG – denoise using Topaz Denoise AI-clear auto

100% crop at ration 16:9 (for above)

*click the picture for full size picture

i. ISO800

ISO800
F5.0
1/250s
960mm
ISO800
F5.0
1/250s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO800
F5.0
1/250s
960mm
ISO800
F5.0
1/250s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

ii. ISO1250

ISO1250
F4.5
1/400s
960mm
ISO1250
F4.5
1/400s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO1250
F4.5
1/400s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO1250
F4.5
1/400s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

 

iii. ISO1600

ISO1600
F4.5
1/640s
960mm
ISO1600
F4.5
1/640s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO1600
F4.5
1/640s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO1600
F4.5
1/640s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

iv. ISO2000

ISO2000
F4.5
1/800s
960mm
ISO2000
F4.5
1/800s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO2000
F4.5
1/800s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO2000
F4.5
1/800s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

v. ISO3200

ISO3200
F4.5
1/1000s
960mm
ISO3200
F4.5
1/1000s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO3200
F4.5
1/1000s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO3200
F4.5
1/1000s
960mm
~100% crop
Topaz Denoise – Auto

 

vi. ISO4000

ISO4000
F4.5
1/1250s
960mm
ISO4000
F4.5
1/1250s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO4000
F4.5
1/1250s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO4000
F4.5
1/1250s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

 

vi. ISO6400

ISO6400
F4.5
1/2000s
960mm
ISO6400
F4.5
1/2000s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO6400
F4.5
1/2000s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO6400
F4.5
1/2000s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

 

vii. ISO8000

ISO8000
F4.5
1/3200s
960mm
ISO8000
F4.5
1/3200s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO8000
F4.5
1/3200s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
ISO8000
F4.5
1/3200s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – Auto
~100% crop

 

viii. ISO10000

ISO10000
F4.5
1/4000s
960mm
ISO10000
F4.5
1/4000s
960mm
~100% crop
ISO10000
F4.5
1/4000s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – auto
ISO10000
F4.5
1/4000s
960mm
Topaz Denoise – auto
~100% crop

 

###

My personal view, for such a high megapixel APS-C camera as expected it provided so much details and with noise when ISO increase.

Based on the simple noise reduction (one click) the picture image quality  seem well balance with details+noise at ~ISO3200. Extra post processing should able to produce more clean picture.

###

 

Let;s wait for coming sharing

Image Stabilizer efficiency

AF Tracking

 

 

 

#####

More pictures series

Series 2

RAW-JPEG direct no Noise reduction

ISO800
ISO1000
ISO1250
ISO1600
ISO2000
ISO2500
ISO3200
ISO4000
ISO5000
ISO6400
ISO10000
ISO12800

 

 

Field experience with Fujifilm X-H2S + Fujinon XF150-600mm f/5.6-8

I am glad to be chosen to test this new Fujifilm new Camera and lens for actual field test here (Tropical forest) which also included Borneo – (Sepilok, Danum Valley, Kinabatangan River) for ~2months.

*** all pictures and videos captured with Fujifilm X-H2s pre-Production unit

For pass 2 months, I putting the system into various enviromennts

1. Tropical forest – real dark, complex environment

2. mangrove – hot and open area

3. river cruise – mainly shoot from shaky boat handheld

4. beach, mudflat – open hot area

As I am not able to open the RAW file and some firmware limitation, I am shooting mostly JPEG. So I am concentrate my testing on

1. New Autofocus system

– animal (bird) eye detection

– AF tracking

2. Size, Weight & Image Stabilizer

– as the system just weight 2.4 KG for 900mm (35 mm equivalent) so this is a good handheld system. So good IS is require.

3. Image Quality

– only based on JPEG

– New lens Focal length and new camera

#####

Size, Weight & Image Stabilizer

The new system just weight 2.4KG which allow us to shoot 150-600mm (225-900mm 35mm equivalent) which is one best available

sample of 225mm vs 900mm

– you can see how far we can reach with the 900mm

– most of the pictures and videos captured handheld. This system allow me have >50% success rate 1/125 at 900mm which is my recommended minimum shutter speed for handheld.

900mm
225mm

###

New Autofocus system

For the Auto-focus, I think this is a huge upgrade compare previous X series. The Animal Detection just simple amazing

 

– refer 0:40:00″ – 1:48:00″ of the Video for how the Bird eye detect and focus in various situation

1:49:00 – 2:17:00 for how the eye detect work in lowlight (night time with torch)

 

And for AF tracking, please refer “1:50:00 – 2:18:00” for how the fast flying woodswallow flying tracking performance

 

###

Image Quality

not able to open any RAW file so all captured in JPEG, picture with crop, denoise (Topaz) (if you want to have a look at the without denoise feel free drop me an message)

lets have a look at the picture and click to view larger size

1.

Handheld on Boat
ISO800
F8.0
1/120
420.3 mm

 

2.

Handheld
ISO3200
F6.4
1/70
264.7 mm
Denoise Topaz

3.

Tripod
ISO1000
F8.0
1/25
600 mm
Denoise Topaz

4.

Tripod
ISO1250
F7.1
1/20
351.8 mm
Denoise Topaz

5.

Handheld
ISO1250
F8.0
1/140
600 mm

6.

Handheld
ISO200
F7.1
1/320
377.7 mm
Topaz Denoise

7.

Handheld
ISO800
F8.0
1/125
600 mm
Topaz Denoise

8.

Handheld
ISO800
F8.0
1/1500
520.2 mm
Topaz Denoise

9.

Handheld
ISO3200
F8.0
1/800
451.3 mm
Topaz Denoise

10.

Tripod
ISO2000
F7.1
1/8
391.4 mm
Topaz Denoise

 

Some videos captured with this setup

1.

2.

3.

####

I will slowly update other experience of this setup on new post, if I have chance to test on the production system.

Stay tune

 

Overall my experience on this new setup on Wildlife Photography, this combo is very light and have long reach. even the aperture is small but we always can not shooting at maximum focal length so we can have slight bigger aperture. eg. shooting at 400mm (600mm 35mm equivalent) with F7.1

with the lens and In-Body-Stabilizer, it allow me capture 900mm at 1/125s with high success rate. (>50%). Anything lower, I would suggest to use tripod (as mentioned I am using pre-production camera the actual camera may different)

The AF is fast and accurate (on bird eye), it may not best in market but it is very good and accurate even at low-light & complex environment.

Tracking is good as long as non complex background, the track is give very good success rate too.

Weather resistant, I am shooting at various environment  … raining, humid tropical forest and under hot sun beach etc

 

 

CANON EOS R6 AF test2 : What you see in yours Viewfinder | liewwk Nature

This is one of main reason of why R6 is so powerful for Wildlife Photography.

*** I will slowly update here with various testing environment

I am purely using

1. full screen AF “Tracking”

2. Servo AF – AUTO

3. Animals detect

4. Eye detection

5. Continuous AF

6. I can’t use my viewfinder while I am using Atomos Ninja so the movement may not smooth like my normal tracking and sometime I just can;t locate the

bird fast without viewfinder

#############################

– another sample of how fast the Full sensor eye detection AF from CANON EOS R6

 

#############################

LOW LIGHT AF – ANIMAL Detection, Eye Detection

– a very lucky night outing nearby my house area, just hope for some nightjar but hear this owl calling and manage to locate it and did some Low Light AF with screen recorded

– 非常幸运的晚上,在家附近以为找只夜鹰展示R6的晚上对焦能力。竟然遇到这猫头鹰。

看看,R6对焦能力。在这么暗的情况。也轻易找到动物+眼。

 

#############################

 

AF TRACKING

1. this is simply one out of many test going to share … how the AF work on Bird in flight (moderate) .

用Atomos Ninja 錄佳能 R6 的取景器。希望讓更多朋友看看,它的對焦能力。

– can see how is the AF lock and track the heron even it accelerate and change direction but the R6 just continuous focus and track

 

#############################

here is some other Testing I do

CANON EOS R6 AF test1 : Capability find the bird | liewwk Nature

CANON EOS R6 : Video AF test | liewwk Nature

 

CANON EOS R3 AF test4 : Heron flying across different Background | liewwk Nature

CANON EOS R3 AF test3 : Fast moving Swift | liewwk Nature

CANON EOS R3 AF test2 | liewwk Nature

CANON EOS R3 AF test1 | liewwk Nature

 

######################################################

liewwk Nature Pictures collection

liewwk Nature Youtube collection

######################################################

Birds Watch/Photograph tour feel free to

contact me

观鸟或拍鸟团  您可

联络我

or

HERE

 

######################################################

 

 

 

 

Birding Photography with Fujifilm X-T4 | AF Test | liewwk Nature

Sharing some of my AF testing on Fujifilm X-T4 with various lens combination

Test 1

Fujifilm X-T4

Canon EF500mm F4 IS2

Fringer EF-FX II

Setting

ISO 1250, 1/3800, F5.6 AF-C, Zone AF (2nd largest area)

#

the bird (tern) has enough contrast again this kind of background.

Overall, it lock focus on the bird fast and track well too as long as we able to follow the flying path and no big change of background condition

*** the AF Range limiter will help faster and better tracking

*** smaller AF zone also help faster and better tracking 

#

Some other testing with Fujifilm Camera

Birding Photography with Fujifilm X-T4 | liewwk Nature

Fujifilm X-T4 | Pre-shot ES | liewwk Nature

 

######################################################

liewwk Nature Pictures collection liewwk Nature Youtube collection

######################################################

Birds Watch/Photograph tour feel free to

contact me

观鸟或拍鸟团  您可

联络我

or

HERE

#####################################################