Canon RF800 f11, 600 f11 and 100-500 f7.1, Can You Take Nice Shots at f11 or f22? Let's Find Out!!

[@TaiwanisMoving]

One of the best bird photography vlogs I've ever seen. What a treat, thank you Duade!

[@Duade]

Thank you, you are too kind. Cheers, Duade

[@dannydanquah3681]

The result is magic when you both are together. Such an awesome adventure.

[@Duade]

Thanks Danny, it sure was, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@robertlawrence7958]

It's as if I'm living in some sort of crazy alternative universe because I keep hearing you say how light and easy to hand hold the 800 is. And then I look over at the huge 800 f5. 6 sitting on my heavyweight tripod, rub my aching back, arms and shoulders.... and ask myself, WTF??? 😩

[@Duade]

Hi Robert, I had the same thoughts. The 5.6 offers a much faster lens and the IQ is great however the weight difference is crazy. Cheers, Duade

[@Leo_Santisteban]

Well if you don’t like how heavy the 800mm f5.6 is you can always give it to me 😏

[@tommydaynjer5334]

Saw my two favorite KZbin birding channels working together and couldn’t click fast enough! Thanks for taking us through your trip definitely felt the positivity and enjoyment you two had! Now I have to go watch his haha

[@Duade]

Thanks Tommy, I appreciate the support, it is nice to have Jan nearby that is for sure. Cheers, Duade

[@MrEvestrough]

Wow! The best video yet. What a fantastic tour. I was wondering where you had gone. 8000 photographs! How do you manage all those files? ( It would make a good rainy day video I'm sure) I love that drone shot of the tall trees and huge ferns! At first I thought it was a footpath. The scale is unreal. Beautiful little Robins. Thanks.

[@Duade]

Thanks Nigel, I am glad you enjoyed it, yes it took a lot longer than I thought and yes 8000 photos is a lot. I use Lightroom to catalog all my shots and I only keep around 10-15% of the photos which makes it a little more manageable. Yes, that forest was incredible. Cheers, Duade

[@Mike0193Azul]

This adventure has made me excited to possibly getting the 800mm. So amazing how good the images are at high iso levels

[@Duade]

it is a great lens, the reach is excellent, it is nice and light. You will need a zoom as the 6m MFD can cause difficulties with certain scenarios. Cheers, Duade

[@MiguelGomes2023]

WOW! This was amazing! Didn't think the 800mm f11 was this capable. Lovely shots!

[@Duade]

Hi Miguel, it is far from perfect however it can capture decent shots at a very affordable price. Cheers, Duade

[@jeffjohnson4742]

Thanks! Just bought a R5, THANKS EVERYTHING

[@Duade]

Congrats Jeff, a wonderful camera, have fun, Cheers, Duade 👍

[@Lelandphotography]

I really enjoy seeing your videos. I live in the US on the esst coast and seeing your environments is really cool. We don't have those types of birds so it's nice to see something different. Please keep doing these. I'm also a fan of your birding buddy.

[@Duade]

Thank you, we do have plenty of awesome birds. Cheers, Duade

[@bernhardwilhelm7450]

amazing shots. I am surpriced about the clarity with sich high ISO numbers with the 600/ 800 mm glasses. very useful test . thanks and have a very nice weekend Bernhard

[@Duade]

Hi Bernhard, the R6 is very capable at high ISO. I also use Topaz Denoise to remove any excess noise in the background. Cheers, Duade

[@HeathFoley]

I just picked up the 800F11 and the 100-500 last week so the timing of this video is very fortuitous . Great video Duade, I'm very much looking forward to your review and opinions on these lenses.

[@Duade]

Congrats Heath, I would love to hear how you find the lenses. Good luck with them. Cheers, Duade

[@manashgonewild]

Great video... A much awaited one too 👍👍

[@Duade]

Thanks Manash, yes, it took longer than expected due to my day job getting in the way. Cheers, Duade

[@kevins8575]

Wow, what a great collection of images. I'm enjoying my 800mm as much as you seem to. Getting great shots in almost all lighting conditions. 12800 ISO is the new 800.

[@Duade]

Great to hear Kevin, the reach and weight make it a pleasure to walk around with. Yes, it's crazy to think ISO800 was the max on my 40D and now we can shoot at 12800. Cheers, Duade

[@Duade]

@@35mm21 Yes, they sure have come a long way in a shirt period of time. Imagine what they will be like in another 15 years. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@PA-gt1dd]

I have watched this video like 10 times! You are sooooooooooooooo good looking! Love our smile and accent. Now, on the video, I loved this...A very comprehensive and detailed review of the RF 800....I am trying to decide between this lense and the rf 600 f11...

[@Duade]

My wife finally has someone else that agrees with her ;-) I would go with the 800 as that extra reach comes in very handy. However, the MFD of 6m on the 800 is a negative and it is a bigger and heavier lens. If you want the lightest and smallest telephoto lens possible then the 600 will perform very well. Cheers, Duade

[@craigb8379]

You got some great images, Duade - love the final robin and the male cockatoo on return visit and the female that followed, in particular

[@Duade]

Thanks Craig, we had a great few days with these birds that is for sure. Cheers, Duade

[@andyallard5990]

Absolutely marvellous all the photos are fantastic I would be so stoked to have to anyone of them what a fantastic three days you had so many beautiful birds got my eye on the hundred to 500 I’m 60 this year so I think I deserve a treat. Thank you so much for sharing I have subscribed so I don’t miss anymore excellent

[@Duade]

G'day Andy, I highly recommend the 100-500, a beautiful lens. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@wallium6681]

Hey, thanks a lot to go through all these RF lenses. As a new R6m2 owner myself, I do love those videos on RF teleobjectives. They are so useful to me and I love watching your photos... Keep it this way 😊

[@Duade]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chimpy9823]

Cracking video Duade, the 800 mm is a cracking lens when you consider the cost, size and weight of it... the best thing is that you can shoot hand held at silly shutter speeds with it ! Sure it's got limitations but once you get used to them it's a wonderful piece of kit when paired with a R5 or R6. Photographer friends of mine who have seen this lens in action have been blown away, how user friendly it is compared to heavy EF primes. It isn't too shabby when capturing BIF shots and my keeper rate has gone up when compared to using my 1DXs and older EF lenses.

[@Duade]

Ron that is great to hear, I have to admit being able to walk around handheld really was a nice experience and made it a lot of fun. Dealing with the weight of the prime can be a drag at times. Cheers, Duade

[@jaylamar81]

Great images, real world usage and helpful, honest commentary. Really appreciate how you not only showed the raw file but you showed how much it was cropped as well!

[@Duade]

Jay, thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Duade

[@phryxe]

Lovely photos of the exotic birds. I was a bit disappointed there were no bird in flight photos.

[@Duade]

HI Phryxe, thanks, I did attempt BIF but found the AF of the f11 lenses struggled to obtain sharp shots and with the smaller AF coverage I don't think the f11 lenses are well suited to BIF. It is possible but can be a challenge. The 100-500 would be a much better option however I didn't really get a chance to use it for BIF. Cheers, Duade

[@rickfranks4154]

The 800mm f11 lens is sensational. I have been using it for birds for some time now and I am always amazed at the quality I get with the R6 and this lens.

[@Duade]

Rick, that is great to hear, it is pretty incredible to get 800mm in such a light package. Cheers, Duade

[@jorriejordaan9954]

Another great video! It seems that lens has way more positive points than negative ones. Can't wait for you full review. Which throw-over blind do you use? Lastly, give us a shout if you ever plan to visit the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. We might be able to show you a few birds. Thanks for a great channel!

[@Duade]

Thanks Jorrie, it is the naturecapes throw blind, expensive for what it is but works very well. One day I hope to get to Africa. Cheers, Duade

[@steveparent8788]

Wow! Your honest right from the start, great video :) I just like your before and after approach!

[@Duade]

Thanks Steve, best way to be, Cheers, Duade

[@KurtisPape]

Another great video! Every photography session always starts off average for me and mainly get those best shots on the 2nd lap or if I hang around that bit longer when I think the sun has set too much. Don't know why but its always worth sticking around for every last second.

[@Duade]

Hi Kurtis, yes, it often happens that way, often I have to talk myself into staying but it often pays off. Cheers, Duade

[@ianrijsdijk6564]

Fantastic video, Duade. Love the channel. Drowned my old 60D + 100-400mm zoom in a river tying to capture an African Finfoot and have been without anything for 6 months. But just sprang for the R6 and RF800mm (EF primes are just way out of reach financially). Definitely a new shooting experience that's taking me a while to master. I'm a mobile birder (lots of walking and hiking) so the lighter weight and image quality with hand-held is a big plus. What I'm noticing is that knowing a good photo processing programme is more important than ever.

[@Duade]

Ian, congrats on the R6 and 800 combo, a great light kit that gives you plenty of focal length. Good luck with your photography, Cheers, Duade

[@thomasbednarowski1651]

Very good photos. Love the details coming out of the lenses.

[@Duade]

Thanks Thomas, I was surprised myself. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@thomasbednarowski1651]

@@Duade i have currently Sigma 150-600mm C but it often is soft at longer range and cant keep the speed. Just trying know different ways of improving it and even wrote on Jan channel. Of course you see this on the 1:1 review. If You zoom out, denoise it with topaz its not so bad but still would like to have more keeper.

[@Duade]

@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, from my experience you need to shoot the 600mm zooms at f9-11 to really get the sharpest images. Shooting at 6.3 will often be slightly soft. Give that a go and see how your images look. Cheers, Duade

[@thomasbednarowski1651]

@@Duade tried also with this aperture and see that the images could be better. Maybe I reached the max with this lens.

[@Duade]

@@thomasbednarowski1651 Hi Thomas, sometimes it has to do with how close we are to the subject, some lenses just don't crop very well and the photos almost need to be full frame to get the most detail. My suggestion would be to photograph a tame bird full frame in nice morning light at f11, that will in theory give you the maximum quality you can expect from the lens. If you are using a DSLR the lens adjustment could be an issue however if you have mirrorless this is a non issue. Good luck, cheers, Duade

[@lorensmith2211]

Thanks for the all you are doing. I especially liked your recent trip with Jen. I was seriously thinking of getting an RF800 f/11 but hearing about it from your review, it would be too limiting as far as close focus range goes. I have an R5 paired with a 100-500 and am very happy with the setup. I often use the 1.6 crop which put me at 800mm when I need it. Also, thanks for the info about Topaz. I downloaded it and you save me a few $$$.

[@Duade]

Loren, thanks for the feedback I appreciate it. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the 100-500. I believe the 1.4 extender works well on the 100-500 also so maybe another option. Cheers, Duade

[@motointeractive]

Such a great demo of what the lenses are capable of! Thanks Duade.

[@heiarornomarsson3492]

Very good presentation of the lenses and fantastic pictures. Thanks :)

[@Duade]

Heiðar, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@larrywashington1395]

I recently purchased the Canon 800mm F11 lens. I use it on the Canon R6 to shoot Northern Cardinals and Sparrows that come to my bird feeder. I was beginning to think I wasted money with this lens purchase until I watched this video. Thank you for giving me new hope. I plan on going out tomorrow and with hopes of capturing some headshots. Thank you for sharing your work

[@Duade]

Thanks Larry, it is a very unique lens and does need nice light to work to its best. Good luck, Cheers, Duade

[@robertbauer5826]

Great video. The R6 + RF 100-500 + RF 11/800 is also my individual combination as a very good compromise. I totally agree with you regarding the judgement of cam + lenses. Thank you for being on KZbin with all at all impressive presentations. Many greetings Robert, Bad Homburg (Germany)

[@Duade]

Thanks Robert, great to hear you are enjoying your combo, a lens for every situation hopefully. Cheers, Duade

[@peterADL]

What a fantastic video. I loved how you took us to the photoshoot, and how passionately you talked about both birds and the lenses. I have 100-400, which is often a bit short for birding. I enjoyed your honest comments when shots did not turn out well, and also seeing the RAW and processed files. Great video.

[@Duade]

Petr, thanks for the feedback, I am glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade

[@davecarrera]

Thanks for pointing my to this video Duade. Your findings are the same as mine. I regard the 800 as my good light lens, both weight and daylight. Great video and again I wish you well.

[@Duade]

Thanks Dave, glad you enjoyed it, I had a lot of fun trying it out. Cheers, Duade

[@mykelphotography]

Another fabulous video Duade, they will be a very popular lens for sure

[@Duade]

Thanks Mick, yes, they will be very popular I'm sure. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@itaylorm]

The 800 f11 looks like it is a good lens for carrying around. I agree about the focus being better performance with the 100-500 which is what I ended up getting.

[@Duade]

Hi Taylor, yes, the 100-500 is the superior lens however the 800 is a fun lens to use. Cheers, Duade

[@rblast1]

Great photos as always.

[@Duade]

Thanks Richard. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@jan_wegener]

Great Video mate! Enjoyed to relive the moments. Better bring some runners next time 😂

[@Duade]

Thanks mate, I might need a few pairs of runners :-)

[@danielson_9211]

12 hours sheshh Jan gave you a workout hahah. Awesome shots, love my 100-500 used my friends 600 f/4, but not needing a tripod is great (yeah yeah I know, I'm getting older).

[@Duade]

Yes, the weight and flexibility is fantastic and hard to beat. Cheers, Duade

[@doditodi]

Was kind of hoping you were going to say these were brutal in low light and not worth the effort 🙄 now I am leaning toward getting the 800mm even if for the brighter days. Great video and was eagerly waiting for this.

[@Duade]

Donal, yes, I was surprised, it won't replace my prime but I could see me reaching for it if I was exploring new areas or walking long distances as the weight is incredible. Cheers, Duade

[@colinb188]

Fantastic collection of images, great easy to listen to commentary and well explained. Tank you

[@Duade]

Colin, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@micahboyce_photography]

Jan seems like the perfect birder friend

[@deanroslynmengel5575]

More great shots Duade

[@Duade]

Thanks mate, it was a fun few sessions, Cheers, Duade

[@deepak_karra]

Thanks Duade

[@Duade]

Hi Deepak, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@riverhe2852]

Great video. Nice shots. The bird eating shot was so funny

[@Duade]

Thanks River, I am glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade

[@kilohotel6750]

I laughed when Canon announced the 600,800 F11’s but they seem to be a good light weight affordable option for wildlife and will probably attract new buyers to the RF mount system. I’m in love with my 100-500. It won’t replace my EF600/4 especially in low light but for a lot of shooting it’s optically equal. You have some beautiful birds down there, I’m hoping to be able to get there in 2022.

[@Duade]

G'day, I totally agree, I think the 100-500 and 600 f4 is the ultimate kit. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@beastlysnippets]

Such a nice video, i love all those bird, specially the gang-gangs. Here in Europe those are very rare, only very few Zoos have them. Well, even the galah istn't easy to find here, but of course they will be happier where they are :)

[@Duade]

Thank you, they are not that common in the wild here either, the Galah is literally everywhere but the Gang-gang is usually in the mountains and harder to find. Cheers, Duade

[@erkkisiekkinen286]

I also have RF 600mm F11.With R6 its very lightweight combo.It was amazing how good picture quality a 750 € lens produces.Its about on par with EF 100-400mm ll+TC 1,4lll with adapter.Contrast is also acceptable.Many times I carry binoculars and food for birds so is important to have light gear.

[@Duade]

, that is great to hear, it is amazing just how light that lens is, I couldn't believe it. I'm glad it is working well for you. Cheers, Duade

[@ShiftyScientist]

Another great video man! Great pics and R6 with 800mm is exactly the combination I'm looking at picking up this year. Something that I really like is when you mention information about how you set up the perch in prime locations, bringing the meal worms and playing bird calls to attract local species. A video focused on these techniques would be awesome and maybe you have already done this and I've just not managed to find it yet.

[@Duade]

and thanks for the comment, good luck with the kit when you get it. Yes, that would make a good video, it does vary from species to species and location. It can be very difficult most of the time. Cheers, Duade

[@fishhead1227]

Great video. Still contemplating selling my 600f4 is I for the 100-500. Yours and Jan's pics are a good selling point.

[@Duade]

The 100-500 is a beautiful lens but I think it is a great second lens to a prime, you just can't beat the prime for setups or when the light is poor. I find the 500 just a touch short on the FF and whilst an extender makes it 700mm you need good light, and it just doesn't dissolve the background like a prime. I think an R7 with the 100-500 will be a great option. Good luck, Cheers, Duade

[@lee-annecarpenter6844]

Great video! Love the head shots of the gang gangs! Whereabouts were you for those birds?

[@Duade]

Lee-Anne, I was in a park in north east Melbourne. Check Ebird for updated sightings, Cheers, Duade

[@Matt90541]

I owned the 800 F11 and now own the 100-500 and came to similar conclusions. Pretty mind blowing the quality the 800 can put out with the R5 compared to the Tamron 150-600 on the D500 I used to use on my old system. Also, 800 is sharper when at a significant distance of the subject. The 800 is a bit limiting though, I like the variety and close focus of the 100-500 better. I felt like I needed higher shutter speeds with the 800 due to the subjects being larger in the frame which caused ISOs to creep higher but images still look great at high ISOs on my R5.

[@Duade]

Thanks Matt, I appreciate you sharing your experience it is very interesting to hear its comparison to the 150-600. The R5 sure is an impressive camera. Cheers, Duade

[@JerrinJoshua18]

Living the dream 👌

[@Duade]

Thanks Jerrin, it sure was fun. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@MattAdcock]

GOOOOD to see this video, happy to know you were using the 100-500 for a bit. Eager to see your full review on that beast and what you like / dont like... I'm inches away from buying it. Can't believe the 800 X2 action...wowsa

[@Duade]

Matt, the 100-500 is as sharp as a prime and has the flexibility of the zoom. 500mm is a little short at times however I think when paired with say an R7 it will be the combo I would use the majority of the time. Cheers, Duade

[@Jana-BrandenburgerPflanze]

Very happy to see that comparison of the 3 lenses, thanks for sharing. And CONGRATS to the the pretty nice bird pics you made. I'd be interested how the R6 performs when it comes to flying birds, any comments on that?

[@Duade]

Jana, the AF of the R6 is very good for BIF, once the camera can see the bird the tracking does a good job sticking to the subject. Cheers, Duade

[@Jana-BrandenburgerPflanze]

@@Duade thanks Duade. I'll give it a try 😀

[@gregcurtis6807]

Great photos! 😃

[@Duade]

Glad you like them, Cheers, Duade

[@nicksouthorn1248]

I use the 800 ref in the U.K. And it is ideal for the small shy birds here. I can very quickly apply a 1.6 crop on the R5 without losing detail so not sure I would get a 2x tele.

[@Duade]

Great to hear Nick, yes with the R5 you would be able to get the bird big in the frame without having to get too close. Cheers, Duade

[@lachlangraham1062]

Great video Duade. I do the majority of my photography in forests so the 600 and 800 f11s might be a bit slow for me. However the lightness for handholding is definitely a plus. The pair of gang gangs is my favourite from this sequence but I always have a soft spot for Easter yellow robins. For me if I move to mirrorless, I suspect the 100-500 would be a better option. Look forward to more detail about that one.

[@Duade]

Lachlan, the f11 lenses are fun unique lenses but if you wanted the best IQ and AF you would go with an L series lens such as the 100-500. I am looking forward to seeing how the R7 and 100-500 work together, I suspect that will be one awesome combo. Cheers, Duade

[@lachlangraham1062]

@@Duade the close MFD on the 100-500 would also be great for the butterflies etc I do too. Appreciate the reply. Lachlan.

[@chriswhite1436]

I was so happy to see your great video on these lenses, especially the 800mm. It isn't the the fastest or easiest to use but I have found the more I use it the better I get. Just to be able to get some of those shots that you wouldn't ordinarily get, is well worth the price. Do I use it all the time? No but let me tell you it sure comes in handy those times the birds are far away. Sometimes I am the only one in the group that can capture them.

[@Duade]

Chris, your comment is excellent and it sounds like how you use the lens is exactly what Canon had in mind. Thank you, Cheers, Duade

[@nsbhagwat]

Now that I know the 800 f11 works beautifully, very eager to rent out an 800 with the R5. Will keep posted.

[@Duade]

Good luck, I hope you have fun with it. Cheers, Duade

[@TravSullivan]

Another great review, Duade. Thanks! Loving my R6 and look forward to getting my hands on the RF 800 in the coming weeks. (and then summer to hit the Pacific North West so we can get some light :))

[@Duade]

Trav, excellent, I envy you and the ducks you get up that way, should be perfect for them. Cheers, Duade

[@DeputyNordburg]

Amazing video. For me the big question with teleconverters is are the pictures better than they would be if you just cropped the no converter image.

[@Duade]

Hi Nordburg, a great question and well worth a video I think. My initial thoughts are when you crop you often introduce more noise and the image size will reduce. With a converter you are in theory extending your focal length which will mean your image will be closer to full frame. Cheers, Duade

[@fgb3126]

@@Duade yes but with the higher megapixel sensor of the R5...

[@DeputyNordburg]

@@Duade I own 2 teleconverters, 3 if you count the one in my 200-400 f4. I'm just not sure the photos are better. Some of the benefit seems physiological. Wow my 400mm is now an 800! The bird/soccer player/ sunset is much bigger in the viewfinder. But shoot it without the converter you have 4X the light, you crop, upsize and I think end up with a photo that is as good or slightly better than with the converter. It would make a great video!

[@Alseki7]

@@Duade Please address this question if you make any more detailed videos about the 800mm f11 :)

[@Duade]

@@Alseki7 G'day, I think between my video and Jans video we covered a lot of the common questions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqDTpImibqhma8k&ab_channel=JanWegener If you have a specific question I am happy to answer it. Cheers, Duade

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

Thanks for a great review and for sharing your lovely photos. I also enjoyed Jan's review, and I'm getting close to making the leap. I'd be very curious to know what you thought of the lens on a crop sensor, though I don't think the R7 was available when you shot this. Though the RF 100-500 is my primary lens for birds and wildlife, I'm seriously debating the 800 mm F11 prime for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Yellowstone in the fall. For staying away from the grizzlies :)

[@DJBastor]

love your videos :) stay save

[@Duade]

Thanks Marc, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade

[@myf0c4ld1st4nc3]

😳 going to get a 2x for my 100-400 ... thanks Duade. Amazing 3 days I imagine.

[@Duade]

Hi Rui, the 2x will work on the 100-400 however the IQ and AF will take a fair hit and you will need plenty of light. I use my 1.4 on the 400 5.6 more often then the 2x. Cheers, Duade

[@myf0c4ld1st4nc3]

@@Duade yes. I have the 1.4x

[@josephkarpinski9586]

Great video! Suggestion, compare the R6 800mm f/11 shooting 1. Animal detection 2. Eye detection 3. Single AF Compare the R6 100-500mm against R6 RF adapter 100-400mm II F5.6 with 1.4x III adapter at 560mm One tip, if light permits try using R6 800mm f/11 try EV -.3 and -.65 and notice impact on lower ISO. Bought the RF 1.4x extender for the 800mm for longer reach. Will test out this winter when flocks of Bald Eagles visit the only opened ice covered lake in the area. R6 800 f11 with animal detection worked great for far off Bald Eagles in flight.

[@Duade]

G'day Joseph, unfortunately I do not have these lenses to test anymore. Jan did a comparison with the 100-400 and 100-500 here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqqroJeYjteDas0 When you underexpose you are increasing noise when increasing exposure in post. If you use ISO800 and underexpose by 2/3rds the noise when exposure is corrected will be like ISO1250. The extenders worked surprisingly well in good light, I used the 2x on the 800 and was surprised by the results. Cheers, Duade

[@Lunafilms12]

Love this! I have the 100-500 but my wife wants something lighter to carry around . I just ordered the 800 f11 really exited to test it.

[@Duade]

Jose, congrats, I hope she enjoys the lens, it gives you plenty of reach in a light package. Cheers, Duade

[@viktorviking58]

Спасибо! Как всегда великолепные фотографии и полезная информация!

[@scottyeh4181]

Beautiful shots ... 1600mm f22 is insane. This kind of combination to reach that far would be very expensive with 5D4 and prime lens. Great to know Canon introduced the low cost, light weight, RF 800mm prime lens that is affordable for people like me. R5 definitely open new area of photography possibility. Thanks for your video off new Canon lens introduction.

[@Duade]

Scott, it is my pleasure, and yes, it is crazy what is possible. Cheers, Duade

[@rogermullins7877]

What a splendid few days you both had with such a wonderful variety of colourful birds. I'm feeling rather envious of you both. The birds in Australia seem to be more tolerant of humans, than here in the UK. As for picking my favourite shot from this video ??? Not possible. I'm waiting with baited breath to see what the new Canon body will be. Apparently it's likely to be announced before the Olympics. Curious what it will do to the R5 & R6 prices?

[@Duade]

G'day Roger, yes, we have a number of tolerant birds in the populated areas. Yes, I look forward to see what is coming from Canon. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@marcnicque7619]

wow so many nice birds down under. i realy like your videos so much it reminds me on the days i worked there as a beekeeper. im just starting to do birding, wich camera and lens you suggest me to buy? Do most birders work with canon? thank you in advence

[@Duade]

Marc, it really depends on your budget, a good budget kit would be a second hand Canon 7D or 7D2 and Canon 400 5.6, that will get you nice sharp shots at an affordable price. Mirrorless is the future but it is pretty expensive at the moment. Cheers, Duade

[@fernandafernandex]

Thank you, Duade!

[@Duade]

Fernanda, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@lynfaulks4377]

Thanks for that info. I am trying to get a pair of Beach Stone Curlews which are at a beach close by- they are quite large and fitting them both into the centre frame of the 800mm is quite difficult and usually they are not on the same focal plane, so I will try your idea of moving the focus points . I’ll also try with the 100-500 and see how that goes- they are quite skittish so can’t get too close. Thanks again 😊cheers Lyn

[@Duade]

Hi Lyn, what a great bird to be photographing, you will find the 100-500 will much more likely allow both birds to be sharp as they will be smaller in the frame. Good luck with them. Cheers, Duade

me gusto mucho, gracias.

[@Duade]

Thanks Andres, Cheers, Duade

[@Wildlife__shorts]

Excellent photos and this is the video I’m looking for (comparing the f/11 lens with the 100-500)

[@Duade]

Hi Siva, the 100-500 is the superior lens by far, it delivers prime like IQ in a very light package. The 800 does have the advantage of the extra reach but its AF and IQ doesn't match the 100-500. Cheers, Duade

[@gossedejong9248]

thank you, Sir!

[@Duade]

My pleasure, Cheers, Duade

[@nortondefaria]

Nice work again - My RF 800 F11 on my R5 - My raw files at 3200 ISO are so so so noisy (same speed as yours) compared to yours (7:35)... how can you get such amazing raw files with no noise...your are a magician - congrats

[@Duade]

Hi Norton, the amount of light heavily impacts the amount of grain one sees in an image. ISO3200 can look very different depending on the light situation. If you have not already I highly suggest downloading a trial of DXO Pure RAW and Topaz Denoise and running your files through there, you will be surprised how effective it is. Cheers, Duade 🛒DXO PureRAW - tidd.ly/3hH0Kta 🛒Topaz Denoise - topazlabs.com/denoise-ai-2/ref/426/

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

Really happy for you that these lenses/body are working out for you. There are two issues in my mind : a) is your keeper rate better or worst with the 800 f/11and b) how do they cope with BIF as all shots here were static (esp. how AF speed n accuracy compares with your 500+1.4x for moving subjects) I appreciate that the f/11s due to the low weight allow you to take photos that you have otherwise missed with a heavier set up and that you can be in the field walking etc much longer- this is the main advantage for me. But still would like your take on the above two issues. Tnx in advance and carry on the good work.

[@Duade]

Hi Dimitris, the f11 lenses do not compare to the 100-500 or the 500 f4+1.4 in terms of IQ, AF speed and accuracy. I had noticeably more keepers with the 100-500. The f11 lenses just struggled at times and I got a number of slightly soft shots. I did try BIF but failed to get anything decent to be honest. I would not suggest these lenses if you did a lot of BIF. The 100-500 will perform a lot better that is for sure. Cheers, Duade

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

@@Duade Tnx greatly appreciate the honest reply and your experience.

[@fgb3126]

@@Duade would that be because the field of view is narrower as well? Just how wide is it compared to shooting a Canon 800 f/4?

[@Duade]

@@fgb3126 Hi Breck, the field of view is narrower for sure which can make BIF difficult, the smaller autofocus coverage box is a disadvantage and the lens just isnt as reliable as the USM focusing motor on the L series lenses. Cheers, Duade

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

@@fgb3126 there is no 800 f/4 the fastest 800 is f/5.6

[@jcphenix1]

Great! The never ending session...! Obviously Canon did a great job with these bodies and lenses. I (also) use digiscopy so 800/11 or 1600/22 is not really a problem for me (not always). Add the very light weight, the AF, (IS), and a sharp optic and it sounds amazing. It's way possible I quit Nikon DSLR APSC (750mm f8 btw) and go Canon ML FF for action shots (wildlife)...

[@Duade]

I was surprised how usable 1600 f22 was and it would be great for birding. I think it might be worth waiting for the R7 as an APSC sensor will give you another 1.6x reach. Cheers, Duade

[@jasonpalmer2497]

at the begining of the vid it looks like you where trying to get images of some swallows or martins did you get 1 🤣🤣 im realy intested in this lens as im ready to switch from olympus to get the r5. many thanks j 👏👏

[@Duade]

Jason, I must admit I struggled a bit with BIF with the 800, the eye af works but it can be a challenge to pick up the bird with so much focal length and track it. Cheers, Duade

[@jasonpalmer2497]

@@Duade I'm shooting olympus 2x crop sensor so I'm use to 300f4 with 2xtc which giving me a FOV 1200mm and using the ee dot sight which is calibrated to the centre focus point. The dot sight give you a wider field of view with a red illuminated cross hair 🤣🤣

[@augusto_alves]

Great Job!!!

[@Duade]

Thanks Jose. Cheers, Duade

[@edsmileytube]

Hey Duade, excellent video! Was able to finally pick up the 800 f11 and took it out to a local hotspot for snow geese. Was able to get some decent shots with it. Most were quite far away and turned out similar to your 1600 f22 shots. Have my eye on the 100-500 RF next. Are you keeping these lenses? Hoping to see more videos in the future!

[@Duade]

Thanks Ed, great to hear, I will likely pick up the 100-500 when I have the funds available. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@eddy3011]

It’s interesting seeing many of the same species I see in the states but totally different colors! Have you tried the DO lenses versus the RF zoom? I too only do handheld.

[@Duade]

G'day Eddy, the 100-500 is an L quality lens and it shows, it is very sharp, and the quality is outstanding. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@PhotographerSen]

Hi Duade. Commenting after a while, that's some crezy experience of birding, particularly on Day 2. Enjoyed a lot! Thanks for sharing the story. Aside that, glad to see the focusing issue with your R6 has been fixed. Would like to know how. Also, though It's kinda like comparing apples to oranges, but can you please reffer how your old trusty 400mm f5.6 might stack up in terms of sharpness with the RF 100-500? I'm getting obsessed with the 400 5.6. Thanks in advanced and looking forward for more great videos.

[@Duade]

Arghyadip, glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the AF issue is still there it's just I didn't really encounter a scenario where it happens, that is a small bird on a thin perch that was close. The 100-500 is superior to the 400 5.6 and likely as sharp as my 500 prime, I will be purchasing that lens in the future. Cheers, Duade

[@cyrusIIIII]

Which forest is this? So many birds hanging around!

[@Duade]

This was taken in the forest east of Melbourne just south of the Dandenong Ranges and in a suburb not far from Lilydale from memory. Cheers, Duade

[@mamseng]

now come my decision, ahahaha I am ready for r6 + rf 100-500 :-) ... dun even know how to start using manual on camera yet hahahah Thank you for always come up with all these info :-)

[@Duade]

Good luck with the new kit. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@jefferyrobbins3468]

Great hands on review. Did you try the 800mm on birds in flight -- how was it??

[@Duade]

Jeffery, I didn't really have that many opportunities, I will admit that 800mm is a lot of focal length so your FOV is very narrow making it a little difficult to locate birds in the sky. The 800 f/11 also does not get the full AF coverage, so you have to get the bird within the AF box. But once it finds the bird it will track it very well. Cheers, Duade

[@potayto-potahto881]

Rewatching this in light of the new 200-800 lens coming out. Looks like it should be a really good birding lens, basically a hybrid of these 3 lenses.

[@marmotwhistler5108]

Excellent video. Particularly liked the view of RAW files then showing the final image including crop. Thinking about R6 but concerned about cropping with 20mp sensor. I often crop down to about 1200x1600p on my 70D camera [also 20mp but APS-C] getting reasonable results. Do you have a view on the maximum amount of crop you would be happy with on the R6? Thank you.

[@Duade]

Marmot, the R6 would be a significant improvement on the 70D sensor whatever the crop. I personally try to avoid cropping too much as I find it introduces noise and you lose details. On the R6 I am trying to avoid anything less then 3500px. Cheers, Duade

[@TwoTracksOutdoors]

Well, Duade, that's it. I shouldn't have watched this video. I'm in trouble now, as I find myself having to pick up both the RF 800mm and the RF 100-500mm lenses to add to my repertoire of necessary lenses. Please don't do any more videos for awhile, as my pocket book cannot stand it. LOL! I do have a question, however. How in the world do you go through 8,000 pictures, looking for those few "Oh, my gosh, would you look at those photos???" Love both you and Jan's videos. Great job.

[@Duade]

Mike, my apologies, I like the term "necessary lenses", I might have to try that on my wife next time I justify a lens. Yes, going through 8000 images is a challenge that is for sure. Ultimately many shots are of the same bird just different poses, which makes it a bit easier to select the best one. Cheers, Duade

[@v5745]

Thank you for very competent video. it seems that having a good light is substantial with such dark lens. I see you have it a lot in Australia :) in Europe it is not to perfect. I don’t think this lens will be usable anywhere different than under bright sky and lot o f sun.

[@Duade]

yes, it works best in bright light and if you have low light you will use very high ISO most of the time. I did take many of the photos in this video in the forest or less than ideal light. The Eastern Yellow Robins were taken in very dark conditions which required ISO12800, f11 and 1/320th of a second. Cheers, Duade

[@helloianzakharov]

The video I waited for so much! Guys put your thumbs up after watching more than half of video it helps with KZbin algorithm (when you put thumbs up at the beginning it could count as a bot like).

[@Duade]

Thanks Ian, I appreciate the feedback. Cheers, Duade

[@TaiwanisMoving]

Wow really (about thumbs up after the halfway mark)? I hit that like button as soon as I saw the pic of the baby bird being fed

[@vimbro1]

Awesome images. 800 mm would be nice to use.

[@Duade]

Thanks Jan, it is a unique lens that is for sure. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@paullanoue5228]

I bought the 600 mm F11 as an experiment. Never shot birds in thirty five years of photography. I was surprised how well the lens preformed with the R6. It does focus differently from the L lenses. Looking forward to your take on the focus. It’s seemed to me I needed some contrast to snap quickly into focus.

[@Duade]

Paul, the AF is noticeably slower and less accurate then the USM L lenses, you can still get shots but be prepared for some slightly out of focus shots. I'm glad to hear you are giving birds and wildlife a go after all this time, it can be very rewarding that is for sure. Cheers, Duade

[@raulignaciodiaz]

Excellent video as usual. It's possible to use extension tubes on the 800 f11?

[@Duade]

Raul, you can use teleconverters but I have not tried extension tubes to reduce the MFD. Hopefully somebody can comment if they have. Cheers, Duade

[@paulhenderson7418]

I’m in Bendigo Victoria and was wondering which park you were shooting in I’d love to check it out

[@Duade]

Paul, unfortunately they move around a lot and they are no longer in the area we saw them. I have no idea where they are currently. I use ebird to guide me to the general areas they maybe and also facebook groups. ebird.org/map/gagcoc1?neg=true&env.minX=144.94174919443782&env.minY=-37.75429660689391&env.maxX=145.33725700693782&env.maxY=-37.597098555416935&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=1&emo=3&yr=all Sorry I cannot be more help. Cheers, Duade

[@avnerbenzvi8757]

amazing !!!

[@Duade]

Thanks Avner, Cheers, Duade

[@robertferguson9845]

Excellent video, mate, I love that you show both the raw and processed versions of each image. I have the R5 and RF 100-500 combination and have been practicing with handheld birds in flight. What has your experience been with birds in flight at fast shutter speeds (say 1/2500 sec) with image stabilization turned on versus turned off? My results with image stabilization turned on have been mixed, so I'm thinking maybe I should turn it off whenever I am shooting at very high shutter speeds. Thanks mate!

[@Duade]

Robert, 1/2500 should be more than enough, it is probably worth a try with IS off however I don't know how much of a difference it makes at those SS. I have not done enough testing to know if it makes any discernable difference. Good luck. Cheers, Duade

[@allanwilliams2361]

Hi Duade, are you able to tell me where this "local park" is. The Gang Gangs don't frequent my part of Melbourne and when I went east recently I failed to find them. They are on my bucket list. Thanks.

[@Duade]

Hi Allan, they feed on introduced Hawthorn Berries for a very short time around early February usually. They frequent many parks in that month window so what I do is look at Ebird for sightings and then go to that park and look for them. You usually hear them first. I see they have already had sightings at Banyule Flats Reserve which is the area I saw them. Good luck, Cheers, Duade

[@allanwilliams2361]

Hi Duade, hopefully I'll be able to get there inside an hour. I'll check out EBird and see what I can find. Thanks again.

[@upendrawerake5991]

Great video Duade. I was wondering where you photographed the flame robins and the gang gangs? Been looking for them in the last few weeks, but still no luck.

[@Duade]

Hi Upendra, your best bet is to use ebird and put in the species and change the months to Jan-Mar, this is the best way to see where birds are reported as they are often moving around. The other way is to join the Victorian Birders facebook group as people often post photos or sightings. Here is the ebird for the Gang-gangs ebird.org/map/gagcoc1?neg=true&env.minX=144.95033614204743&env.minY=-37.87128263498274&env.maxX=145.34584395454743&env.maxY=-37.70659223716173&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=1&emo=3&yr=all

[@upendrawerake5991]

Thanks Duade

[@terrydanks]

I love my RF800. I got one early after preordering and used it on my EOS R. Using it on an R5 now. I think it is too easy to emphasize unduly the shortcomings of this lens. Yes, it would be nice if . . . 1/ The AF area covered more of the field. 2/ It was more ruggedly built. But, while Canon certainly could accomplish such improvements, at what additional cost? And weight? I have no reservations about the IQ. My biggest gripe . . . . they did the AF limit switch backwards, i.e., you have a choice of full range or 20m to infinity. In my case, and I think in the case of most birders, you will be using this lens inside 20 meters most of the time! I would infinitely prefer the limit switch locked out 20m to infinity! For small birds, using a 35mm extension tube allows me to fill the frame pleasingly. I usually have the tube mounted. You can focus to about 20 meters with a 35mm tube in place. I use the Fotodiox RF 35mm tube. I sold my EF600mm F/4.0L IS some years ago as lugging it about became just too much. The freedom hand holding at 800mm is a dream. When first introduced, there were howls of skepticism and outright derision for these f/11 DO wonders. In the years to come I expect most birders using Canon will own one. The high ISO performance of cameras like the R5 and R6 make shooting at ISO 5000 and even well beyond, entirely reasonable! I do not miss the weight and overall cumbersomeness of my 600/4.

[@ralphliniado2404]

Terry, I agree completely with your comments. I have the R6 with both f11's. I live in Florida on the marsh and river....so I am lucky enough to shoot daily. I admit that capturing fast flying birds with these long fixed lenses is a challenge, but as we all know, you have to keep at it. Last week I filled the frame with a slight crop using the 800mm f11 in perfect early morning light of a regal looking American Eagle on a dock so far away that I could really only see his white head with the naked eye. The 800 image was amazing. I couldn't believe I had this light setup of the R6 and the 800 hand held and along with the fantastic IBIS, I was getting awesome images. Honestly, getting this shot was worth the price of the kit. My advice to anyone that shoots wildlife is buy at least the 600f11 prime and the 800f11 if it fits your style of shooting. I can't stress enough how good the IBIS is to be able to hand hold these monster lenses. ( I have my Nikon D4 with the 600mm fitted on a massive tripod. Feels like it weighs 40 + pounds when you pick it up...and now we have mirrorless and these light long lenses. It is a great time to be shooting wildlife:-)

[@Duade]

Thanks for your detailed reply sharing your thoughts. The MFD is probably my biggest gripe with the 800. Cheers, Duade 👍

[@Duade]

Thanks Ralph, great to hear you are enjoying these lenses. Cheers, Duade 👍