Which lens to use: Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures. Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens...

trplduece Loc: Cape Coral, FL

Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures.
Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens with a EF-EOS R Adapter & Sigma TC'1401 1.4 teleconverter on my Canon R6. Looking for a lighter setup with similar results. Any help is appreciated.

pbcbob Loc: Delray Beach, FL

The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary will save you two pounds and is still a pretty good lens.

recb

Have you considered the Canon RF 800? Achieves the desired weight reduction but you lose zoom and variable aperture.

andiamo236

Buy the longest reach that you can afford to purchase. Also consider the weight if you are going to hand hold as this is best for BIF.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

If weight is your big concern consider an Olympus Camera. There are several Olympus and Panasonic lenses that would fit the bill.

Pepsiman Loc: New York City

Look at some of the Bridge cameras,,,

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

fetzler wrote:

If weight is your big concern consider an Olympus Camera. There are several Olympus and Panasonic lenses that would fit the bill.

The Olympus E-M1X with either the 40-150MM pro F/2.8 and 2x TC or the 300mm f/4 with either the 1.4x or 2x TC has become my main wildlife setup. I’ll probably add the 100-400 which also works with both teleconverters soon. You can save even more weight with the EM1 MKIII.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

trplduece wrote:

Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures.
Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens with a EF-EOS R Adapter & Sigma TC'1401 1.4 teleconverter on my Canon R6. Looking for a lighter setup with similar results. Any help is appreciated.

Where do you go for eagles near Cape Coral? I’ll be down their in November. The only place I’ve seen them is where they have a nest on Part Island, straight out from Pine Island Marina. It’s on our usual kayak route from Pine Island to Cayo Costa or Cabbage Key.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

trplduece wrote:

Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures.
Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens with a EF-EOS R Adapter & Sigma TC'1401 1.4 teleconverter on my Canon R6. Looking for a lighter setup with similar results. Any help is appreciated.

Optically, looking at Imatest results, the 60-600 is mostly equal to all the other XXX-500/600mm lenses - that leaves price and size/weight to be the other important differentiators. The Canon 600 f11 works quite well as does the 800 f11. The Canon 400 5.6 prime with 1.4 and 2X can also work. The Tamron 150-600 G2 is also quite light.
.

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…if you are just going to post digitally I would recommend either the Canon G3X ($999.) or the Sony RX10IV ($1698.)…at 20MP you might be pleasingly surprised at the image quality on a digital screen…both have weather sealed bodies and image stabilization…the Canon weighs 1.62lbs and the Sony weighs 2.41lbs…at 600mm that is the lightest you are going to get…good luck with you quest…!

trplduece Loc: Cape Coral, FL

There are many eagle nests in Cape Coral. Send me an email when you get here & I'll tell you where to go.
Mention in subject about eagle nests whereabouts
& I'll respond
trplduece@gmail.com

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

trplduece wrote:

Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures.
Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens with a EF-EOS R Adapter & Sigma TC'1401 1.4 teleconverter on my Canon R6. Looking for a lighter setup with similar results. Any help is appreciated.

Consider getting the Sony RX 10 IV if weight is the issue. Yes the sensor size is a smaller but the quality of the pictures are top notch with a Leica 24-600 lens. Noise may be a bit of an issue in lower light but that is what Topaz DeNoise is for.

It is not a cheap camera but considering you are getting a quality lens and camera all in one package...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

recb wrote:

Have you considered the Canon RF 800? Achieves the desired weight reduction but you lose zoom and variable aperture.

Agreed, If using a tc as stated it appears the 800mm would be all that is needed.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

trplduece wrote:

Mostly taking Eagle photos since volunteering for the FL Audubon EagleWatch Program but like all wildlife pictures.
Currently using a Sigma 60-600mm telephoto lens with a EF-EOS R Adapter & Sigma TC'1401 1.4 teleconverter on my Canon R6. Looking for a lighter setup with similar results. Any help is appreciated.

Easy:

Canon RF 100-500mmm with RF 1.4X teleconverter.

Sigma 60-600mm: 2700 grams
Sigma TC-1401 1.4X: 190 grams
Combined weight: 2890 grams

Canon RF 100-500mm: 1365 grams
Canon RF 1.4 Extender: 224 grams
Combined weight: 1589 grams

That's a 41% reduction in weight!
Also considerably more compact:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Sigma_60-600mm_f_4.5-6.3_DG_OS_HSM_Sports_Lens_for_Canon_EF_vs_Canon_RF_100-500mm_f_4.5-7.1L_IS_USM_Lens_vs_Sigma_TC-1401_1.4x_Teleconverter_for_Canon_EF_vs_Canon_Extender_RF_1.4x/BHitems/1436262-REG_1547011-REG_1082353-REG_1573776-REG
https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Specifications.aspx?Lens=1510&LensComp=1431

Also noticeably better image quality at every focal length they share:

100mm: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1510&Camera=1508&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=1431&CameraComp=979&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=0
400mm: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1510&Camera=1508&Sample=0&FLI=3&API=1&LensComp=1431&CameraComp=979&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=1

And at some FL they don't exactly share:

500mm + 1.4X = 700mm versus 600mm + 1.4X = 840mm: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1510&Camera=1508&Sample=0&FLI=5&API=3&LensComp=1431&CameraComp=979&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=6&APIComp=1

Some less versatile, more affordable alternatives:

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM: 635 grams plus 56 gram hood (sold separately)
Canon RF 600mm f/11, fixed aperture: 930 grams plus 96 gram hood (sold separately)
Canon RF 800mm f/11, fixed aperture: 1260 grams plus 96 gram hood (sold separately)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

amfoto1 wrote:

Easy: br br Canon RF 100-500mmm with RF 1.4X tele... (show quote)