I go over my thoughts on the Canon R7 and talk about the things I love and hate about it after 6 months of ownership.
The Canon R7:
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Main Camera:
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Backup Camera:
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Favorite APS-C Camera:
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Lenses
My Favorite Lenses
Favorite lightweight 800mm
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Favorite Telephoto Lens: (also, my favorite lens overall)
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Favorite budget wildlife lens
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Bags
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Favorite camera clip (for backpack):
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Mics
Main Mic
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Backup mic
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41 Comments
Which tele lenses do you use for the R7?
tnx I think what you say is fair and justified no need for a disclaimer etc. The video was very useful for me cause I have the R5 and I need a second body so that I'm not changing lenses in the field. So I was looking at the R7/6/ii but based on what you reported I'll probably give the 7 a miss. All the best with your shoulder.
Upgrading from an 80D, I had similar experiences with the R7 not being able to get sharp photos, whether that was autofocus issues, shuttershock, rolling shutter, whatever. It was just not fun. Ultimately, I returned the camera. I tried the R6, and it was the opposite experience. What a joy. So much fun. Sharp photos, great shutter, great controls. Missing the reach, of course. But since bird photography is my hobby, and I do my hobby for fun, the R7 was not the camera for me. In the back of my mind, I keep hoping that there is some sort of Canon crop-sensor pro camera that might be in their plans down the road (perhaps an R2 or R4??).
Hello, you mention the R6 Mkii, did you trade in the R6? I currently have an R6 for birding. Do you see any added benefit to trading in the R6 for the MKii? Thanks. Also, nice to hear a straightforward review not just pointing out the cons of the item but why it is a con.
I have an R5 and R6. The rolling ES and loud mechanical shutter are the two main reasons I didn't get an R7. As you said, the other bodies will spoil you for anything less. I considered the R7 for video, but I will wait for the R5 Mark II to replace the R6. In the interim, I hope that the rumored AF firmware upgrade comes true for the R5.
Good luck with the shoulder. Best to get on with it for the quality of the rest of your life.
I love the R7, just not with the Sigma 150-600 C. The same lens on my R5 is excellent. So I think upgrading to the RF 100-500 maybe the answer.
Hello Brent, Thank you for this review and your experience and thoughts on the R7!
I always wonder how hard it must be to give a Reivew abaut a Camara, which is in a different league than the Camra that is in daily use. A camera is a tool that should be mastered blindly. The concentration is on the motive and the fingers automatically operate the wheel and the button what is needed in that moment. Of course, handling a new camera body must first be learned. But when the body is significantly different from what is normally used, that's a real challenge. For example the cross button instead of the thumb wheel. Likewise the arrangement of the function keys.
Sometimes it's the little things that make the difference. For me, for example, it's the LCD panel on the top.
Most critical are things like the buffer. It seems that this is a bottleneck in the R7. I didn't just hear that from you. The problem with the AF that you pointed out.
You also mentioned it, the R7 also has positive sides, thus its own charm.
What about the dynamic range? APS-C versus full frame
Of course, we should not forget that there is a big price difference between R5 and R7.
The R5 is still my prefered camera and I’m stil waiting for an R5 Mark II or something similar.
Shooting with FV mode on the R7 I control all of my main settings while I'm looking through the viewfinder with just the front dial and rear wheel. My aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, and iso are all right there and ready to change at any moment. I had the R6 and FV mode on the R7 is much simpler and faster shooting birds and wildlife daily. I never use that ISO button for ISO. I must have assigned it to something else, it actually locks in the current ISO setting.
Good video Brent. For me, the R7 has flaws but it's small enough to be forgiven – 3 things, ergonomics, rolling shutter and buffer but I manage to learn to get around it through reprogramming, learning and practicing new habits. Find myself in a first-world dilemma of trying to decide to bring either the R5 or the R7 to Scotland to catch sea birds. Since I'm bringing my RF800 + RF100-500 – the R7 is small – and I'll be having the 2 telephotos, I'll bring both bodies along. When shooting birds, that extra reach is undeniable.
Brent, weird question: I'm sure you're familiar with FroKnowsPhoto. He always says he NEVER uses Noise cleanup software. Watching this vid I think I'm hearing that you DO. How can 2 Pro Photogs have opposite opinions on that? I'm just curious. Any thoughts? GREAT video as always, thank you for doing it.
Bo
Good video Brent. I shoot aviation and wildlife with an R6 and R7. Had not shot either in a while, but on a recent trip to DC with the family, took the R6, and it reminded me why I love it. Tough to quantify, but for me, the R6 is just a much more enjoyable experience, and 9 out of 10 times, I get more consistent results from the 6. I want to love the R7, but just can't quite get there. I totally relate to the AF jumping off randomly for no reason along, missed focus that is presumably locked in, and the off putting sound of the mechanical shutter. I have an Ireland trip in 2024 that is a once in a lifetime thing, and hands down I will take the 6 over the 7. I may just sell the 7 to fund an R62. Take care of that shoulder!
Had to let go the R7 also coming from R5 the IQ just doesn't meet expectations on birds in flight especially fast birds
I have switched from M mode to Fv which enables quick easy control of the 4 main adjustments very easily.
When I do shoot in M mode I use Auto ISO so its not a problem I uograded from a 90D to the R7 and love the camera.
I have the R5 and been on the fence about the R7 but after hearing it keeps jumping off the subject and your expression talking about it and having doubts, I think I will wait for the R5II or get me the R6II, probably will throw on a 1.4 extended on the R5 to get me to 700 and still have a lower fstop then the R7. R5 at 500 f7.1 + 1 stop from the 1.4 = f10, R7 at 500 7.1 x 1.6 from crop factor F11.
I may have been wrong to donate my R6 to the grand daughter in film school; but I did. I miss it a little. It just ergonomically felt so good plus the sensible control placement. I agree a thousand percent with everything you have said about our R7's. They are a struggle with stuff like the ISO control, etc. So when will there be an R7 MKII?? I asked Phil Thatch after I watched him using R7 plus 100-500 how he got clarity at such a low shutter speed, say 1/650 or so. He answered by saying he and Heather shoot in video and cull the clear one. You ever try that?
Man I had to look you up, Youtube has not been serving you up to me and i am subscribed. Nice to see your videos again.
I think you hit the issues on the head. I was coming from an R5 and wanted the crop factor offered by the R7. I specifically forced myself to use the R7 for 8 months to give it a 'chance'. I've since gone back to the R5. The biggest issues for me were a) shutter shock with the overcast lighting here in the PNW which forces me to only shoot electronic mode dealing with rolling shutter issues b) the inconsistent focus that you experienced. The annoyance is having to take so many images with the hope that I'd have something in focus. I don't have to ride the shutter on my R5 nor do I have to capture as many images.
Here's hoping that the rumored firmware continues to improve the R5. I still keep my R7 in my backpack but it is seldom used.
Thanks for another great video and good luck with your surgery.
Thanks for a great video. It was good to learn that others have the same problem as me with the autofocus. But I have found a way to improve this for static motives like a bird sitting relatively still, and that is to not keep the autofocus button in for more than a split second. As soon as the blue square marks that the eye or the bird has been focused, I let go of the button, and then all the fotos in that series will be sharp. I may repeat this a couple of times to be sure, but in total this has improved my keeper rates drastically.
R7 is crippled but it's not a tard
"The number one reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors." *Napoleon Hill
Funny I have R5 and R3 and I reach for my R7’s the majority of the time. Shot full time in Kenya with it last safari and have been shooting BIF everyday for months with it. I’m getting some fantastic, sellable images. Yes it’s different from the R5, and it’s prosumer in a lot of ways, but with the right glass it’s an exceptionally good wildlife camera. If you can afford some decent glass and want that extra bit of crop factor, couple it with noise reduction and you’re hard pressed to beat to. I’ve got a couple of natgeo images and a lot of contest entries with the R7 so a bit surprised with how you feel overall.
Really good overview Brent! I couldn't agree more with you regarding the video switch button positioning on the R6 mark II, I really don't like it, it would be much better if on/off and video switch buttons were position vice versa. I hate that I have to move my left hand from supporting the big lens just to flick a switch which really ruins the workflow in the field, this is probably not a problem for wedding photographers etc. when using smaller lenses, but in wildlife scenarios it really sucks, especially when you think that every Canon DSLR (even the consumer models) in the last 15 years or so, had a great video switch button on the right side of the camera which made transitioning between video and photo modes seamless for hybrid shooters and operable by just one hand.
Comparing cameras that have a big difference in functionality and especially price point is inherently unfair. As far as using it as a backup camera to an R5 or R6 Mk II, if you’re being paid to get “the shot” then I would use a second R5 or R6 Mk II so that you can rapidly switch bodies if you have an issue.
The same issues with AF on R7. I tried different settings (cases, sensitivity), but AF consistancy remains insufficient. I hope the AF inconsistency will be fixed in future firmware updates.
G rest video as usual, I thought you were talking about me in this video, I came from a dslr and and RP I ve had all the same problems you’ve had but with a lot of practice have overcome most, I’ve learned to feather the shutter, and have never hit the buffer, have had maybe I rolling shutter shot. Eye tracking problems I have noticed have been sporadic but when they happen very stubborn especially in a cluttered background even going to spot focus didn’t always correct it. Thanks for the video learned a lot. Am thinking of getting the R6MII and I think you’ve sealed the deal for me.👀👀
Having an R6 and an R7, of course the 6 is the better camera, but it costs 1,000.00 more, is full frame (meaning less noise) and autofocus is stickier. Having said that, the R7 is a great camera, has some improvements in the AF (even though it's not as sticky), gives me that vital extra reach when I need it (and more pixels on subject for cropping), is lighter carrying around, which makes it a great hiking camera. The two things I would like improved are the delay waking up when tapping the shutter (this is the big thing), and the buffer (a small thing). Keep in mind, however, that the buffer is actually larger than on the 7d ii, and it improves dramatically with faster cards. Overall, I am very happy that I traded in the 7dii for the R7. It's a big upgrade.
I'll add my thanks to the group for this thoughtful video! I think a good comparison to make would be between the R6II with the 100-500 plus 1.4 extender to the R7 without the extender. The reason I say this is I need the reach these two setups provide, but up here in Canadian latitudes the light is dimmer and at F10 on my R6II with extender, I'm often pushing ISOs of 6400 where I find the autofocus experience on my R6II with extender is causing all the frustration and lower hit rates that you described on your R7. I'm thinking therefore that the R7 without the extender would be a lighter setup with even more reach than I currently have on my R6II and unlikely to be more frustrating, especially since I'll also be able to zoom out without the extender obstructing the range. I suppose another fair comparison of the autofocus systems would be between the R6II at F7.1 and the R7 at F4.
Thanks for the update! We lived in Tucson for a short time and loved taking pictures of birds and planes there.
Great review
Which is good R7-R8 camera for hybrid use and potrait and sport photography
Brant, talking about being budget restricted , the R7 and the R8 are at the same price level, and I just saw Canon had a promotion on the R. I am not to keen going to the R because is older generation of processor, and other things. But what would be your recommendation between these 3 cameras if you are constrained by budget and cannot get to the more expensive ones?
I bought an old Zenit 12 XP with a Helios 44M-4 58mm f2.
Unfortunately the aperture blades are sticky so it's only usable at f2. But it's a lot of fun in a limited way on my Canon RP. And of course it's a Valdai manufactured one. But I think that is a non issue for me because I like the flares and hazy low contrast look sometimes. The swirl needs f2-f2.8 frequently but I love it😂 $20 lens and camera😮
Injuring my thumb a while back forced me to reduce my use of back button focussing. So I leave "single point" on the shutter release and only use the back button to engage animal eye/tracking. So R7's ergonomics wrt back button placement wouldn't bother me. Shutter noise would. I read somewhere that it helps with the warped images if you turn off auto level?
I own canon 7dii, R7, Sony A6600 and for me the reason why I purchased the R7 was eye AF !
It is alien technology in a very compact design and the keeper rate over my 7Dii is massive. I did not buy an R5 because I can not spend £4,500 on just a body alone, my would want a new car, or 2 week holiday in Japan for what I would spend on R5, new memory cards, adapter and RF 70-105 !
For me the R7 has quite a few faults, however the price of £1,350 is justified for the AF technology. I would have a few hundred more to have the 7Dii build and few more features as us 7Dii owners wanted a mirrorless version of our beloved 7Dii !
Why did uou buy the R7 when you already have two "better" cameras?
Hi Brent, enjoyed the video. Thank you. With regards to your shoulder, don't know if this applies but I had a massive problem with mine a few years back. Buying a fully adjustable desk that I could lower so my shoulders were never raised took care of the issue for me. I was lucky though as it was just at the first lockdown and offices were selling very fancy desks extremely cheap. Before that I was on various types of menthol creams to try and alleviate the pain. Just a thought.
Seems like most people still love their R6s and R5s 🙂 Same here, love my R6 though I also got the R7 for the extra reach. Some of the waterbird stuff I do I simply cannot get quite close enough. So willing to overloook some of the faults of the R7. The R6 is still the love of my life though (don't tell the wife)
I like the FV mode on the R7 because you can change all the exposure settings with only two controls wheels. I was use to three wheels on the 5Ds and R6 I still use.
Great video, Brent and spot on. I've had the R7 since it came out and reach with the RF100-500 sold me. 800mm at F7.1 isn't too bad. Yes, the AF jumping around has been an (unpredictable) issue, but when it does work, it's spot-on. Like so many others have said or implied, the small buffer all but forced me to change my way of shooting and being conservative on the shutter button. No more 'spray and pray'. More like 'spray sparely'. Anyway, I have most of the same gripes as you and maybe a few more likes, which is why I still have it for wildlife. With 3rd party software, the noise isn't an issue with most of my keepers, so I go back to the 800mm and how much closer it brings me. When it captures an image, they're very sharp as well, but that lens (RF100-500) is part of the equation. Nice and sharp.
Finally an Honest review
Hi brent. Hope you feel better soon. Enjoy your trip . Best regards from james in scotland.
Nice review! I ordered the R7 and got it the day after they started shipping. I was blown away by it’s IQ on day one with the 100-500 lens. It focused quickly and I loved some of the images I was getting. I used it for 6 months. The more I used it the less happy I was with it. In the end I sold it and went with an OM-1 as my primary body. I sold all my Canon gear mainly because I was annoyed with the choices Canon made on the R7. I wanted crop sensor reach in a premium body. It hurt me to sell the 100-500. Had the R6ii been out at that time I might have held on to my RF lenses. Canon could have easily made a pro crop sensor body for $2500. I would have bought 2 of them.