CANON R7 a very good Shortcut button Setup for Wildlife Photography

I recently discover the R7, R3 and R6II allow me to customize for very good AF requirement for various environment for my shooting style.
it is so flexible that allow set Servo AF case, Servo, Single point, Track or NOT, Animal/vehicle/Human detect, Eye detection ON/OFF to each shortcut button set ….

why do I sharing this…. asking bird photographers …
1. when bird in flight what’s setting are you using ?
2. when complex environment what’s setting are you using ?
3. in General, do you shoot multiple subjects ? animal, human, vehicle ?
4. do you require auto detection subject (single subject , wide area) or selective (single subject and point)
5. you may also want no eye detection just normal old way of point focus with one button set to this

For me, I feel using Zone to general shooting wildlife is fast and easy, but it is not really fast or need accuracy putting “flying subject” into the box or not work at complex environment (which I always use single point to tough the subject body and eye will be automatic found)

 

For me, I feel using Zone to general shooting wildlife is fast and easy, but it is not really fast or need accuracy putting “flying subject” into the box or not work at complex environment (which I always use single point to tough the subject body and eye will be automatic found)

 

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Summary my Wildlife Photography AF Shortcut setup Animal Detect, Eye Detect for all

1. Shutter Button – Zone, General Shooting

(Zone allow me faster detect bird than single point)

2. Shortcut 1 – Wide screen, action (BIF)

(Bigger area allow the Animal in action been detect, if Zone or single point use may require accurate focus area on the bird)

3. Shortcut 2 – Single Point, Complex environment

(for many branches, it is easier to allow Animal eye to be detect)

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After Wide area detect bird or Single point detect bird, after press the shutter button, it will go back to “Zone” it work quite well or transparent

***my current setting will change back to default

AF setting after use the shortcut setup to detect the birds but so far it continue to lock focus on the bird eye and track

***but if you want specify what condition, can just set the shutter button to “metering start” which do not apply default AF setting

 

Actually This special shortcut setting method

allow us do more eg. Shooting portrait, wildlife with

various button. But this the shutter button not able to

use “meter and AF” else it will go back to the default AF

setup

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 … 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

 

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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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

 

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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.

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Let;s wait for coming sharing

Image Stabilizer efficiency

AF Tracking

 

 

 

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More pictures series

Series 2

RAW-JPEG direct no Noise reduction

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