First Full frame Zoom 800mm – RF200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM – real field test .. (continue updating 20240212)

Finally, very first 800mm Full frame zoom lens available on my hand and very soon delivery to end user …

just a some of my thoughts before my first impression of the lens.

Part1 – F7.1 – F.63 Know what (20231214)

Part2 – Physical different (20231214)

Part3 – field test Full Size Jpeg sharing (20240113)

– add on R7+RF200800 (20240103)

– add on R7+1.4x+RF200800 (20231224)

– Sumatra Graceful Pitta

Part4 – real field test experience AF accuracy, handling (need more time to gather more information here) (20231221)

Part5 – 800mm !!! (update 20231222)

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Part5 – 800mm !!!

– birder always want longer reach most of the situation, and now full frame first 800mm and it is compatible with 1.4x and 2x TC .. for minimum impact the image quality I am using 1.4x on both R3 (1120mm) & R7 (1792mm)。click on the picture for full size jpeg

– 鸟人，通常都希望我们游长点的镜头。因为鸟都是远远。尤其是水鸟，通常都是几百米。。佳能200-800 让我们可以2公斤800mm 还让我们可以用上 1.4x and 2x tc . R3 (全副）我们可以已1120mm .. R7 (1.6) 拍摄焦段1792mm..。。。大家可以看看画质。

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Part4 – real field test experience AF accuracy, handling

– I am shooting Handheld for or Tripod

– AV mode with manual ISO, wide open Aperture default

– Center Zone AF, Animal Detection, Eye detection ON, occasion MF with Focus peaking. AD-On button set to “5points AF, Animal Detection, Eye detection ON” (for situation where main subject surrounding with obstacle)

update 20231221

Sample3 – Fast and small subject

– a very small, fast moving subject and prefer at bushes .. the lens and R3 get the bird detect and look for eye almost seamless .. (AF center zone, Animal detection, Eye detection)

– a very fast moving tiny bird with very soft call bird, it is so difficult to have a open picture .. but with the current new mirrorless animal detect and tracking. It is some how quite easy to have some picture even at complicated environment like this

– 非常小+快的小鸟。叫的很小声。也喜欢在丛里跳来跳去。现在无反的动物+动物眼的 AI ，被不大可能做成比较容易。只要一有机会，我都有办法拿下它。

– 非常快+小+喜欢活动与树丛间。佳能R3+RF200800 只要鸟出现，都很快找到小鸟+鸟眼。

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Sample2 – Continuous AF Tracking flying subject

a very simple test on a raptor flying on very windy harbor at Taiwan.Setting

– CANON R3

– ISO3200, F9, 1/2500, 800mm

– Animal Detect, Eye detectio, Tracking On

– point the view finder to the subject, half press the shutter button allow it lock the focus and from the view finder can see the focus tracking just continuous track the subject.. than follow by continuous press the shutter button

– we can see how good is the CANON system while the Background change do not affect the tracking at ll

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here sample 1

*** it is not easy to shoot small subjects under close range 800mm, either good practice, shoot shorter focal length. So far this length lock focus fast when from near focus point to further focus point. ****so important to always try to shoot nearer focus subject before point toward the main subject for the long focal length (500-800mm especially this lens at 800mm)

– Fast moving subject, seldom sit still for more than 1 second

– moving within bushes

*** 拍摄小+快的目标再加上长焦段。是很不容易的事，我们必须有很好的练习（很快准确对向目标）还有在无反时代，其实大家都有一个通病。对焦点在前向后很容易可是要从后方回前都会有某程度的慢或完全不对焦。（其实最快的方法还是，每次对焦前都先对焦目标前的目标）尤其是500-800mm 是很不容易的。这只“变焦”800 也不例外。可是，习惯无反的”通病“就很容易不上这个不足。

– 动作快，几乎很少停多余1秒

– 在树丛里跳来跳去。

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Part3

Field Test Full Size Jpeg Sharing

Now here is some pictures sharing with exif (click the picture for Full Size Jpeg, It is either

i. NNR – No noise Reduction, straight save JPEG from Adobe Camera Raw

ii. NRTopaz – Noise Reduction with Topaz

iii. NRPs – Noise Reduction with ACR

(no sharpen, no extra edit … )

Sample 11 with CANON R6m2 with RF200800 – high ISO8000 (after Topaz Denoise

Blue-headed Pitta, 蓝头八色鸫, 藍頭八色鶇, Hydrornis baudii, ズアオヤイロチョウ, Burung Pacat Kepala Biru

– CANON R6m2, CANON RF200800

– ISO8000, F9, 742mm, ISO8000

Sample 10 with CANON R3 with RF200800 – high ISO10000

Sumatran Trogon, 苏门答腊咬鹃, 蘇門答臘藍尾咬鵑, Apalharpactes mackloti, スマトラキヌバネドリ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO10000, F9, 707mm, 1/30s

ISO10000, 1/30, 707mm
Noise Reduction – Adobe Photoshop ACR AI + Topaz

Sample 9 with CANON R7with RF200800

Blue-winged pitta, 马来八色鸫, 馬來八色鶇, Pitta moluccensis, ミナミヤイロチョウ, BURUNG-PACAT SAYAP BIRU

– CANON R7, CANON RF200800

– ISO6400, F8, 538mm, 1/50

update 20240103

– 2024 official day1 working, it is faithful start … we arrive the “feeding spot” but without put any “food” the bird just stand there waiting so are we shoot at feeding bird ? … but it is real challenge having long focal length + high megapixel camera … CANON R7 + CANON RF200800. I am shooting ISO6400, F8, 538mm, 1/50

– 2024第一天带客人，还算很不错。到达一个喂食点，这八色鸫就在那等。我们也没喂啊，这算喂食吗！哈哈。

– 在马来西亚雨林，早上真的很不容易拍。高像素+长焦段。佳能R7, RF200800. CANON R7 + CANON RF200800. I am shooting ISO6400, F8, 538mm, 1/50

NRTopaz
– Noise Reduction with Topaz Denoise Auto

Sample 8 with CANON R3

Graceful Pitta, 黑冠八色鸫, 黑冠八色鳥, Erythropitta venusta, スマトラヤイロチョウ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO4000, F9, 1/60

Sample 7 (add with 1.4x tc) with CANON R7 – 1792mm

Northern Shoveler, 琵嘴鸭, 琵嘴鴨, Spatula clypeata, Spatula clypeata, ITIK-SUDU UTARA

– CANON R7, CANON RF200800, 1.4x TC

– ISO500, 1/1000, F13, 1120mm (x1.6)

Sample 6 (add with 1.4x tc) with CANON R7 – 1792mm

Kentish Plover, 环颈鸻, 東方環頸鴴, Charadrius alexandrinus, シロチドリ

– CANON R7, CANON RF200800, 1.4x TC

– ISO640, 1/500, F13, 1120mm (x1.6)

Sample 5 (add with 1.4x tc)

Spoon-billed Sandpiper, 勺嘴鹬, 琵嘴鷸, Calidris pygmaea, ヘラシギ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800, 1.4x TC

– ISO1250, 1/1250, F13, 1120mm

Sample 4

Collared Bush-Robin, 台湾林鸲, 栗背林鴝, Tarsiger johnstoniae, アリサンヒタキ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO3200, 1/320, F9

Sample 3

– Swinhoe’s Pheasant, 蓝腹鹇, 藍腹鷴, Lophura swinhoii, サンケイ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO4000, 1/60s, F9

Sample 1

– White-whiskered Laughingthrush, 玉山噪鹛, 台灣噪眉, Trochalopteron morrisonianum, タイワンキンバネガビチョウ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO1600, F9, 1/60, 800mm

NRPs
– Noise Reduction with Adobe Camera Raw 35%

Sample 2

– Taiwan Yuhina, 褐头凤鹛, 冠羽畫眉, Yuhina brunneiceps, カンムリチメドリ

– CANON R3, CANON RF200800

– ISO6400, F9, 1/800, 800mm

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Part1

F7.1 – F6.3

many keep talking the F too small for the lens, lets be fair to every brand… for current situation, we need something smaller size mean smaller aperture !!! than how small aperture you accept ? if you 90% stay inside rainforest, you know F4 is not big enough for many cases .. so anything smaller F5.6,6.3,7.1 make small different .. than why keep ask why it is F7.1 ? simple smaller size and lighter .

here is one example

ISO1000 , F6.3 , 1/100

can replace

ISO1250, F7.1, 1/100

ISO1000, F7.1, 1/80

so the ISO just 1/3 stop ! to shutter speed slower by 1/3 stops .. big different ? but this lens with 2kg come with 800mm option which is many birder “wish” .. one of my HK buddy always say “一寸長一寸強“ mean we always need longer for birding not just reduce disturb, but walk less (haha joking) the longer the focal length allow us to get bigger subject without going too close to the subject.

but many more ask why F9… so for most the manufacturer provide 600mm F6.3 to have the 800mm we need use 1.4x teleconvertor. But than the bigger aperture will be at F9 too !!!! but than this lens before using the 1.4x tc already give us 800mm .. and it is 2kg .. all other xxx-600mm F6.3 … 2.1-2.2kg before adding tc !!!

so let’s go out birding with this lens ! stop ask why why F9 … and some ask why F7.1

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Part2

Physical different

I am hopping this lens arrive 10 days ago so I can bring to Sri Lanka birding trip but it arrive just before I am leaving to Taiwan – Indonesia.

Skip the open box, the lens weight 2050kg… I cannot reduce anything more like 100500, RF400mm F2.8 or RF600mm F4 as the tripod collard seem not easy to removed, the hood also cannot be change already very light (thin and the only part of the lens look fragile).

The lens look long overall, but still manageable before zoom (extend)

– before the 100500 and 200800 extend compare to RF400mm F2.8

– after extend, overall the 200800 is really long to normal handling but when handhold still feel good before go to the field .

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November 12, 2022March 27, 2023

CANON R3 – AF tracking Tests [update 20230327]

I am putting my CANON R3 AF Tracking samples here

TEST3

a Black-naped Oriole flying around, make a simple test on this bird flying across various background. total 45 frames captured all 45 frames focus spot on.

CANON R3 CANON RF400MM F2.8+ RF 1.4X

Test2

We were waiting tide for waders, and this bird just flying infront of us, so immediate I point my setup toward this Collared Kingfisher.

Total 52 frames captured 4 frames bird disappear from viewfinder but immediate the bird appear. the Focus just continue .

CANON R3, CANON EF500mm IS2

Auto ISO

ISO 1600

1/2000

F 5.6

Test1

Early morning before light coming in, this bird flying infront of us with noisy call. I manage to move my camera toward this bird and continuous follow and press shutter on this Kingfisher.

Total 98 frames captured and 100% focus lock on the bird.

CANON R3, CANON RF 600mm

Auto ISO

ISO 3200

1/2000

F 5.6

March 12, 2022April 6, 2022

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

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

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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。

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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

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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

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liewwk Nature Pictures collection

liewwk Nature Youtube collection

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Birds Watch/Photograph tour feel free to

contact me

观鸟或拍鸟团您可

联络我

or

HERE

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October 11, 2020October 12, 2020

CANON EOS R5 – Auto Focus : Animal Eye tracking

finally on hand with production Canon EOS R5 for 2 days. managed to test standard function, ISO performance, Raw file capability (Shadow and highlight recovery) and AF : Animal eye tracking on birds

For wildlife Photographers, few things about AF bordeing us : AF speed, AF accuracy, AF tracking capability

*** yet to have time setup screen capture to show the R5 AF capability and hope I can make one to show

for the 2 days bird photography with the R5

Day1 : standard shooting experience, Handheld IS capability , ISO, Shadow and Highlight recovery

Day2 : I shooting Tv mode , Full Animal eye tracking

Here, I will sharing real Tropical forest field experience on using the R5 … few simple conclusions before start some sharing

1. the AF to lock the object

i. normal condition – EOS 1Dx m2 definitely faster and R5 is faster than my 5D mark4

ii. low light condition – EOS1Dx m2 faster , R5 is good compare to 5Dmark4

iii. back light condition with shadow highlight backgroup (not just pure sky)

– EOS1Dx m2 faster, 5Dm4 slow but R5 seem can’t really look for the object (small object on the overall frame) . the R5 just can’t get the lizard or the trunk nearby to focus for long (and I am still looking single button to change AF to MF peaking to solve this easy .

2. Animal Finding — > Eye Tracking

– I was amaze by A9 with 600mm FE year back where my guest using it to find the the bird !!! As long as we point the camera and len toward bird direction with some minor complex object (with pure sky there are no problem at all) the A9 will automatic found the bird and keep tracking it !!!!!

so I also try to use R5 , I know where is the bird and point R5 with EF-R adapter 500mm EF IS4 II toward the direction . the Camera did found the tiny flowerpecker if it move/jump but it stay and just moving it’s body .. I still can’t depend the R5 help me find where’s the bird yet …

Trac#

Tracking : this TOTALY change my thought of Mirrorless camera !!!!

As long as I can find , focus the bird (use shutter button focus the bird) than I use the AF-on (configure to Animal eye focus) it will track the bird head/eye in any conditions : dark, backlight, moving, flying small object etc

Even, the Green Iora is far and small in this case. After I got the bird focus and press AF-On button, the eye tracking just work seamless (no matter it change head direction, jumping etc)

situation where birds flying with plain sky … it is incredible fast to get the camera to focus on the bird .. as long shutter speed fast enough , shooting swiftlet is like “makan kacang putih” (Malaysian say) …. picture below .. point my camera and len toward sky with any bird , and press the AF-On button which is Animal-eye tracking than within very short moment it will lock the bird and fire shutter ….

We always do have problem shooting bird in flight when bird flying toward us with speed . the AF not easy to lock the object firmly , even yes we need luck , high skill (camera and tripod handling) to have higher success rate for Bird in Flight toward us .. which is different from side way flying which many way can make higher success rate

Very lucky day, we have this Owl for us to try the animal-eye tracking AF … with condition

– bird flying from about 200m toward us about 20-30m toward us and than to right

– Canon EOS R5, R-EF adapter , Canon 600mm F4 IS2

– Tv mode set to Auto ISO, 1/2000

– This test , using single focus get the bird focus when it flying toward us than using Animal-eye tracking for full sequence shooting of ~3s

– Mechanical shutter

– among 29 frame pictures captured , only 1 frame missed and 1 not capture correct (due to moving my camera slower than the bird flying)

simple video show how each the bird flying toward us