ldmarsh

Thanks to all the members who replied to my post re the R5 and 100-500 combo. Some interesting and valuable comments. I think I will try to get both in the coming months. Thanks again for the input.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

With regard to the construction of the lens, the 100-400 has 1 flouorite and 1 Super UD element, the 100-500 has 6 UD elements and 1 Super UD element. Not being a lens designer I can't speak as to the merits of one flourite element versus 6 additional UD elements. From my limited use of the lens and all of the reviews that I have read, it is the equal of the 100-400 in sharpness.

With regard to birding, I believe the ISO performance of the R5 exceeds that of any of the crop framed Canons. If you are shooting at first light, this is advantageous. The ability to shoot at 20 frames/sec on fast flapping birds is also advantageous for getting the perfect wing position. Ibis (for stationary birds) and eyefocus are also advantageous features that I don't believe have made it to the cropped framed sensors yet. There are a number of trade-offs when shooting birds or other wildlife. Depending on our shooting needs and preferences and budget, our choices may vary.

There is also the consideration of what type of work you do besides shooting birds.

jteee Loc: Montana

I thought I would just post a couple of examples for you. The first is from the R5 w/100-500. The second is from the R5 w/ 100-500+RF1.4x. This is actually the first effort with the 1.4 attached. Given the high ISO, I was pretty pleased. (These look a heck of a lot better on my computer than these downloads, but I guess that is what we are dealt).

Canon R5, 100-500+RF1.4x, 1/400, f10, ISO 6400, 700mm

(Download)

Canon R5, 100-500, 1/640, f7.1, ISO 800, 500mm

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The details of the hummingbird are amazing!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Taking 6 UD elements to equal 1 Fluorite is probably what makes it so expensive ! 8-(

So, you have no trouble following a bird in flight with the EVF ?? The reviews I have seen say this is problematic and is the biggest complaint I have with Sony versions also.

Soon, I hope Canon will have a really GOOD crop frame mirrorless .....like the Nikon Z50 - tho, the M6II is coming close !
.

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

I agree with Paul, The details that I see in the feathers of the humming bird when I magnify it are really amazing. I think that that is a result of both the lens and the steady hand holding it.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

800 ISO also helps !

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Imagemeister, my attempts using the 20 frames per second were too few for me to judge. I spent the nearly all of of the time with the mechanical Shutter trying out the focus, ISO, performance with a T/C, and learning the new reaches. I plan to shoot after the holiday and test. I don’t t know if you saw the hummingbird posted by jteee above, but I agree with Paul that the detail is amazing. I don’t disagree with you that it is $$$

AFPhoto Loc: Jamestown, RI, USA

That is an interesting and correct observation. I haven’t used it all that much for BIF but I noticed and also read in reviews that the eye tracking loses lock if the bird’s head moves to where the eye is not visible. Best you can do is stay on the bird until the eye becomes visible again and then it reacquires the eye.

JDefebaugh

I have the R5 and the RF 100-500. It is a spectacular combo. AF is fast and accurate; very sharp; nice bokeh at longer focal lengths; close focus is great. As others have pointed out, for low light to stop action you’ll need something faster.

Zooman 1

I have the R6 and the RF100-500mm. Find it to be a great combination. So far the R6 has everything I need and I find the in body stabilization as well as the animal eye selection to be a great combination. I have also used the 1.4 xtender, worked OK, but it seemed that focus was a bit slower than without the X-tender. But, that could just be me. Nature photography is my main photo activity.

hrblaine

[quote=AFPhoto]I decided that at my age I am not going to wait but rather go “full in” so I sold my 5D mkIII and all of my EF lenses and bought the R5 and nearly all of the RF lenses available.

Interesting. You don't mention your age but I'll be 90 next April and I ain't investing a dime in new gear. To me, that would be a real waste of money, better left to my spouse. Harry

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Art Morris is testing this configuration with the RF 1.4 extender, possibly making a round-trip back to Canon.