CANON RF100-500mm + Extender RF 1.4x … better option compare RF200-800mm ?

I really hope I have time to share same image captured with the RF200-800mm direct compare to RF100-500mm L + Extender RF1.4x .. but I do not have time to bring 2 setup for testing 🙁

….. after ~6months use of CANON RF200-800mm (almost every day)

Now I decided to bring RF100-500mm + 1.4x and here is my some sharing

1. User experience

– I can feel the AF is much accurate, fast

– ligther

– not so bulky

 

2. Image Stabilizer

– i can feel the IS is much effective .. I can have >50% success rate when shooting 1/30 – 1/60 for 700mm

But

for RF200-800mm .. 600-800mm I almost certain I need minimum 1/100 for 20-50% success rate.

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I can easily capture reasonable stable video RF100-500mm + 1.4x compare to RF200-800mm

3. Image Quality

– all image with Topaz Denoise

*** click the picture for full size view

1. ISO2500, F10, 1/40

 

2. ISO1600, F10, 1/10

 

3. ISO6400, F10, 1/50

4. ISO10000, F10, 1/100

 

 

 

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CANON RF100-300mm F2.8 field test at Rainforest – Malaysia [update 20240411]

after long wait, I finally have some time with this amazing world number one 100-300 mm zoon F2.8 lens

here is some of my real field “feel” and real field “test result”

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my real test with CANON R3, CANON RF100-300mm F2.8 with RF 2x tc

2. Sultan Tit, 冕雀, Melanochlora sultanea, サルタンガラ, SESERAI SULTAN

– a simple test with this active bird, the AF seem quite good even it is slower than RF100-300 with 1.4x, RF400mm F2.8 with 1.4x but it is good enough to photograph small and active bird like this

– 就一个早上测试佳能, 这神般镜头。可是摄鸟还是就太短,很多人还是在意加上2x 增倍镜。关于对焦+画质的表现是怎么样,都是每个人的在意。。。。

***对我来讲300×2 600mm 还是太短。几乎都不能再增长了。100-400mm .可是还是需要的。

ISO2000, F7, 1/100s
No Denoise
ISO2000, F7, 1/100s
Topaz Denoise

 

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

– one of the common bird found at Fraser Hill, Malaysia.

– with the current setup, we show the original jpeg without denoise and picture with denoise

– 马来西亚,福隆港蛮普通的鸟。

– 分享,一张没除噪。另一张有Topaz 除噪。

ISO2500, F6.3, 1/160s
Topaz Denoise
ISO2500, F6.3, 1/160s
No Denoise

 

 

2. 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

– another simple test but with very close bird distance

– CANON R3, CANONRF100-300F2.8, 2x, ISO2500, F6.3, 1/250

ISO2500, F6.3, 1/250s
No Denoise
ISO2500, F6.3, 1/250s
Topaz Denoise

 

 

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CANON R3 with customisable frame rate bursts up to 195fps ..

a boring morning at mud beach, nothing special attract my attention, so I decided to try to shoot my CANON R3 with 195/120 fps and trying on new AngleBird AV Pro SE CFexpress B 1TB

I will continue to try post some direct RAW files browse view using FastRaw

1. AV mode
2. ISO 3200-6400
3. Animal detect and eye detection ON
4. Servo
5. customize 195 fps for 50 shots ot 120 fps for 50s
6. no pictures edit, just direct view the Raw files from the app

Lets have a look at first day samples …

(I zoom in for some interesting view) …

CANON R6 mark2 … ISO40000, ISO10000, ISO160000, ISO20000 … another reason to match RF200800 …

few close friends asking to work out new CANON RF200800mm lens with few camera … as the lens balance between weight, and light so it is F9 at 800mm and make many of us worry, how it perform in Rainforest.

Before I have the lens and other camera to work on, I already comment to them it work well with CANON R3 !!! but it is expensive camera with this lens … and it may not work really balance Investment-Performance .. than I am highly recommend to many CANON R6mark2 with really good ISO performance, AF performance

*** as discuss before

CANON EOS R6 II – Real field Impression Full sizes Sample Pictures

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I am uploading unedited full size JPEG and denoise with Topaz or Adobe AI denoise

 

add on an ISO level I wont use .. ISO40000 ! just for testing even the result look good

ISO40000

Original JPEG
Noise Reduction – Adobe Photoshop ACR AI + Topaz

RAW file of the ISO40000 . ***only for personal view and testing purpose.  use for the file please ask for permission

ISO10000

Original JPEG
NRTopaz
– Noise Reduction with Topaz Denoise Auto

 

ISO16000

Original JPEG
NRTopaz
– Noise Reduction with Topaz Denoise Auto

 

 

ISO20000

Original JPEG
NRTopaz
– Noise Reduction with Topaz Denoise Auto
Noise Reduction – Adobe Photoshop ACR AI + Topaz
Noise Reduction – Adobe Photoshop ACR AI

as per requested, RAW file is attached

 

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CANON EOS R6 II – Real field Impression Full sizes Sample Pictures

finally I managed to have CANON production unit on hand. Overall specifications

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The highly accurate 40 fps burst shooting ensures you capture every moment with full clarity.

  • Approx. 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
  • 6K RAW HDMI out, 4K 60p (6K Oversampling) & FHD 180p
  • Up to 40 fps & up to 8 stops image stabilisation

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The Autofocus system same like R3, R7 which allow more AI AF capability

few special features for the moment only available on R3, R7 and this R6II which I feel it is very useful for wildlife Photography

CANON R7 a very good Shortcut button Setup for Wildlife Photography

CANON R7 : Raw Burst Why & How

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Here is first outing, even very quiet morning, but manage to have some thought of the Camera with real field experience.

Later I will also share more like ISO testing, AF (think it is more a like a focus little monster like R3 but what I love to see is low light AI animal detection)

 

1. Black Magpie, 白翅鹊, 白翅鵲, Platysmurus leucopterus leucopterus, クロカケス (leucopterus), BURUNG-KAMBING BARAT

As usual, I amusing

CANON R6II, CANON EF 500mm IS2, 1.4x

– Zone Area, Animal Detect, Eye detect

the focus is amazing fast and accurate as expected. as long as the Zone box tough on the bird. Eye will be detect and lock focus.

for such a black bird with red eye and some backlight, the eye detect work seemless.

– M mode, Auto ISO

202211, Ulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

2. White-chested Babbler, 白胸雅鹛, 白胸雅鶥, Pellorneum rostratum, ムナジロムジチメドリ, KEKICAU-TELUNJUK DADA PUTIH

CANON R6II, CANON EF 500mm IS2, 1.4x

– Zone Area, Animal Detect, Eye detect

– ISO6400, F7.1, 1/125

original RAW-JPEG no denoise
RAW-JPEG with Topaz Denoise

#

CANON R6II, CANON EF 500mm IS2, 1.4x

– Zone Area, Animal Detect, Eye detect

– ISO10000, F7.1, 1/200

RAW-JPEG no denoise
RAW-JPEG – Topaz Denoise

#

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

#

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 – 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.