KEEP or SELL? | Canon R7 The Final Verdict | Findings & Frustrations After One Year

[@8231trosen]

Whew! Happy to know you are keeping the R7. For those photographers who choose not to spend twice the price, or don't have the need or resources to own multiple high end cameras, it is very helpful to learn from your experience. Many of us are not professionals, and can accept that each piece of photographic equipment has its quirks and limitations. Please continue to share your thoughts and experience on the R7,

[@bcrphoto7]

Sold my R7 and 100-500, went with fuji X-H2s and the fuji 150-600. All the R7 problems are gone. Love this fuji system. And it's the same money.

[@deanpratley125]

I upgraded from a 70D to the R7. Yes it can be frustrating sometimes, but a majority of the time it is amazing. I have photographed beautiful landscapes, car races and Beautiful birds in action, and been overjoyed at the results. The amount of joy I get from the R7 defiantly trumps any kind of disappointment.

[@alansach8437]

Me too! This camera is amazing! Incredible pictures I could only dream of before. I actually couldn't get a sharp shot with it for the first month or so, but with experience I have learned how to use it. Now it is my go to body for wildlife and especially birds. It blows away anything I could do with the 7d ii that I sold to buy it. The thing is that it has such high pixel density (something like the equivalent of 80 megapixels in a full frame camera...think about that, almost twice an R5!) That means that every tiny flaw is going to be magnified. The slightest imperfection in your routine, or in your lens (maybe that cheap third party lens) is magnified. But get your routine down and you will be amazed! I am literally counting the feathers on small birds!

[@sswildlifevideos]

Agreed - especially for the price. So useful with the 100-500 for near macro and small bird work.

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always Jan, I love my R7 but it's time to say goodbye and upgrade to the R5 or the Sony A74 🐦👍👌

[@eskay2250]

Out of curiosity, what lens do you use for landscapes with your R7?

[@deanpratley125]

@@eskay2250 I currently use a Sigma 20mm prime lens. A little heavy, but really nice lens

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

I am a huge fan of the R7 with RF 100-500 for birding, which is virtually unbeatable, especially at this price. At 14:00, you mention the lack of a "third wheel" as an impediment to full manual operation. Although I felt similarly at the beginning, it's really isn't an issue. I have the main dial, rear dial (which I really like in its new position next to the EVF), and the control ring on the lens. Alternatively, Canon's Fv mode provides instant access to all elements of the exposure triangle, which really ought to be used more often.

[@chmueller]

Probably the best hands-on R7 review on the web that really gets to the heart of the matter in all relevant areas. Fortunately, the frustrating moments are much rarer for me, but that doesn't change anything regarding your detailed and accurate review.👍

[@janwilhelm6589]

I really like the R7 with the RF100-500 as light walk around combo with extra reach. It really shines in good light. At low light I prefer the R5.

[@Parroting_Australia234]

Beautiful video Jan. I took your advice and did some research into the R7, and combined with the rf 100-400mm lens, it seems to be the perfect, budget-friendly (at least by photography standards) choice for me. I love these videos; you make things so clear.

[@jan_wegener]

Great to hear!

[@mazaribeiro]

I have done the same. After testing both 100-500 and the 100-400 ii on the R7 I realised that the later works a lot better with the R7. I guess that it's because it's a faster lenses, and the R7 being a crop sensor, the faster the lens the more light it gathers and the better it performs.

[@muddymad5864]

Is this camera good for beach photos of sunsets, sunrises and day shots?

[@mikebrownhill4662]

A great review - thanks. I've used the R7 for just over a year and I agree with all the points you've made. I bought the camera as a stepping stone to the mirrorless system while I wait for Canon to release a full frame, stacked sensor body with around 40 megapixels. I'm still waiting! In the meantime, I've used the R7 a lot to learn the mirrorless system and I think I'm now quite proficient with it. You were absolutely right when you said it's a great little camera that can drive you nuts at times - that's exactly my experience with it. Like you, I was quite surprised by how well it handles noise, which was my main concern at first. Other issues like the small buffer and awful rolling shutter in electronic weren't a surprise to me - the camera specs on release made me realise these would be issues. I was disappointed by the mechanical shutter though - I didn't expect it to be so bad. As you've said - it's loud and introduces softness through shutter shock and I find it useless most of the time. Another issue I wasn't really expecting was the inconsistent AF - I can go down to about 10-20 per cent keeper rate if light is low. I've tried everything I can think of to improve this but I've come to the conclusion that the AF is not 100 per cent reliable and so I shoot bursts of everything and usually get at least one or two keepers. When it hits focus properly, the images from the R7 can be razor sharp - but doing it this way does create a lot of work sorting the soft images from the sharp ones. Things like the lack of a third wheel and only 2 AF programmable buttons also frustrate me at times, but at this price I wouldn't complain too much about those. I find Fv mode is very useful on this camera, although I would prefer full manual with a third wheel. Like you - I will keep my R7 when I finally get my hands on the full frame main body I've been waiting for. I love having the extra reach without the need for an extender, and it also gives me a nice walk-around set up when I don't want to carry a 600mm prime lens around. Over time, I've learned to live with or work around most of the R7's failings and I've enjoyed using it, so it'll stay in my bag as a back-up/second body.

[@brucegraner5901]

I just rented an R7 with a 600mm f11 lens, coming to the camera from my Lumix G9 and 100-400mm zoom. The R7 sensor, and the camera in general, impressed me more than I thought it would given all the cons about the camera mentioned in numerous reviews. After 40 years of FF gear I'm enjoying lighter kit in retirement and I was disappointed that Canon didn't build the camera at a higher price point. Most of the birders I run into these days have more expensive gear than I did in my final press photographer days (Nikon D700, 24-70 f2.8-4, 80-200mm f2.8 and 100-400mm Nikon lenses) and I'm surprised Canon didn't check out the annual lineup of birders photographing eagles at the Conowingo Dam and realize they could have built the R7 at a more refined, higher price point and probably still sold all the R7's they could make. Such an R7, without the rough edges you mentioned, would have easily become the successor to the much respected Nikon D500. As it is, I"m hoping for an R7 Mark 2 I can team with a 100-500mm zoom and maybe an 800mm F11 lens OR, maybe, just wait for a G9 Mark 2 with phase detect AF as a second camera body. I think either one of those will be all I ever need.

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

My first mirrorless was the R5 and it was a great camera. Took a lot of great shots with it. But almost never had the reach I needed for the small, skittish birds I was after > even when shooting with the RF 800 F11. I rented and R7 and loved it so much, I bought one before I returned the rental. Then my R5 just sat on the dresser. Finally I sold the R5 to buy another R7 + the 600 F11 + the 100-400. Both great lenses by the way, but I hardly ever use them. Mostly got them as sort of "just in case" lenses. About the shutter modes, that mechanical mode is just horrendous ! Loud, terrible shutter shock, even at higher shutter speeds ! So far I've used the ES 99+% of the time. I keep threatening to try some more EFC shutter, for BIF (which I don't do a lot of) or maybe IF Hummingbirds ? I feel like I do better in low light with the R7 + RF 800 F11 than most > but keep in mind, I also ALWAYS shoot with a tripod. Of course this combo is plenty light enough to hand hold. But I like to be able to go WAY down with my shutter speeds if need be. Also, once I find a small bird in my frame, its WAAY easier to keep it there (to not lose it) when using a tripod. Important > That mounting spot under the RF 800 is very flimsy, so I use a Kirk L style bracket made for the RF 600 and 800 F11. Makes it much more solid and allows the rig to be flipped vertically. Anyway, as much as I love my R7's, I have to admit, I've had most all of the same struggles you mentioned in this video. But at the same time, needing reach as much as I usually do, I just don't feel there are any better options for me > at ANY price. I need a combo as light, as sharp, and as long as this one. But I definitely dream of an R7 Mk II...... and maybe just as important (but probably less likely :( would be an upgraded 800 F11.... ? F8 ? As always Jan, your videos are spot on ! Thank you :)

[@gautambiswas7338]

Isn't the image size the same for the focal length used, irrespective of sensor size? Since you experienced both the cropped sensor of the R7 and the full frame of the R5, did you notice any difference in the image quality if you cropped the image made in the R5 to match the size of the image in R7?

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

@@gautambiswas7338 I believe it comes down to pixel density. Yes, one can use the R5 and shoot in the crop mode (like I often did) but it reduces your pixels from 45 to 17 ! ....which didn't leave a lot of room for cropping. While the R7, by default, is always in crop mode, and is nearly twice the mp's. Believe me, I made "really good and sure" that the R7 was actually going to do a better job than my R5, by renting it first. And for my purposes, it certainly did. The caveat is, "when" I could get really close with the R5, and mostly fill the frame when "not" in crop mode, the detail was freaking amazing.... but that was literally like 2% of the time :(

[@billmartin1663]

On one hand, it's the best APSC camera now on the market for bird photography. Amazing autofocus. If you have VERY BRIGHT sunshine, the camera works very well. But . . . the world's worst rolling shutter. The world's tiniest buffer. The world's loudest mechanical shutter -- guaranteed to frighten all but the most tame of birds. And image quality so inconsistent that you dare not take fewer than 4 images for every single shot you take. Some of my favorite images were made using the R7, but the daily frustrations are just too great. I sold mine.

[@traceybartlam7737]

I’m not sure after listing all those problems you can say it’s the best apsc on the market, it’s a huge contradiction. For the price of this camera it makes me feel like it’s not worth buying one as I’ve heard so many issues. This shouldn’t be the case.

[@wasil3k]

Its my 1st mirrorless camera, and as a beginner i love it with my sigma 150-600 C

[@vsharissh7542]

Im planning to but the sigma 150-600 c for my r7. What is your review after using it for sometime?

[@wasil3k]

@@vsharissh7542 it’s nice for this price, of course there is some issues with autofocus but, You can take some nice shoots with it, anyway if You have patience it’s better to save money and buy rf 100-500mm

[@harrisonosgarby6596]

@@vsharissh7542 Well I'm not the that guy, but I have to say that its flexibility stands out for sure. I have had so many instances where the bird will land right in front of me and having the ability to zoom out as much as I want is so useful. Also 600 on a cropped sensor is what I'm shooting with and its reach is very nice (which is 960), however I too am upgrading to hopefully the R7, but I have my eyes of the 200-800 rather than keeping with 150-600. But thats $3,499 AUD, so its gonna be a while before I switch lenses, so with that said in the meanwhile, I think I will enjoy the canon and sigma set up for it's flexibility until I swap over. (Keeping in mind the pulsing issue with the 150-600 and the EF to RF mount needed)

[@vsharissh7542]

@@harrisonosgarby6596thank you so much mate. I am a bit clear now. And may i know what camera you are using now with the lens?

[@harrisonosgarby6596]

@@vsharissh7542 An 8 year old machine gun, canon 80D

[@darekpro6117]

Thanks!

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks!

[@GlennBartley]

Bring on the R7 II.....Give me what I want Canon 🤣

[@tonyfluertynaturephotograp5272]

fat chance lol

[@sexysilversurfer]

The days of a pro APS-C body from Canon are gone, now you HAVE to buy FF and glass to match.

[@tonyfluertynaturephotograp5272]

@@sexysilversurfer I think so too

[@paullanoue5228]

I couldn’t agree more. A better shutter, faster sensor, and R6 II focusing and I’d pay a lot more for a R7 MKII.

[@alansach8437]

And when the R7ii comes out you will be on here going, "Bring on the R7 iii!" You won't be happy until Canon gives you a $6,000.00 camera for $1,000.00! And even then you will likely cry, "Cripple hammer!" The R7 blows the so-called "pro" 7dii out of the water in every important way, far superior autofocus, way more pixels on subject, bigger buffer, twice the fps, no time limits on video, silent shooting! Yet somehow it isn't a "worthy" successor! Meanwhile, I've been getting shots with this camera I only dreamt of before! Is the autofocus a little quirky at times? Yes. I honestly think it has something to do with the massive number of pixels on subject (something like the equivalent of 80 megapixels in a full frame camera) that magnifies even the slightest fault in your procedure. Rolling shutter has pretty much been a non issue (a few here and there, two or three in a hundred maybe). Overall been very happy. It has become my go to camera for small birds, over my full frame bodies.

[@3DJunkieDude]

I gave mine to one of my daughter's after I got the Sony A6700. I never had problems with the autofocus, but when I was trying to get shots of a nearby Tri-colored Heron one evening, the loud "KA-CHUNK" of the mechanical shutter drove the bird off. And knowing how bad the rolling shutter was in electronic mode, I had no desire to use that. The Sony A6700 is everything the R7 should have been: outstanding AF performance, quiet shooting. Yes, it only shoots 11fps in either mechanical or electronic shutter modes, but I never run into buffer issues, either, and I shoot raw + JPG. If Canon ever addresses the issues you mentioned in your video, I might take a look at an R7 MkII. Until then, between my Z8 in crop mode and my A6700, I'm not missing the R7.

[@SteveC-t9g]

Really informative - at last I understand the three shutter options on my R7!

[@tillepprecht]

I love the button layout on the R7. I use it alot in Fv mode, which works very well with the wheels at the thumb and index. I almost exclusively use it with E 1st curtain, especially since that has a shorter flash synch than the mechanical.

[@stevedavis2050]

Hi Jan - another very interesting video. My partner had an R7 for almost a year - it was SO exasperating that she returned it to Canon twice for repairs ( once they replaced the main chip, and once the internal time clock ), but fearing that it would never produce the results that she expected, she part exchanged it for an R6ii ! Obviously not the same sensor, but the improved focus reliability has made her very happy again 😊. As you said previously, it is a shame that Canon will not put out a better quality APSC camera - in my opinion, there are just too many problems with the R7.

[@Dmitrii_88]

R7 has no problems. Only "not good" photographer is a problem/ Not camera !)

[@eskrima1]

Thanks for a great and honest review. Just got an R7 yesterday. Haven’t really set it up other than the c raw and first curtain and case. My first impressions - I agree totally with inconsistent auto focus. I had a set of maybe 15 photos of a BIF. The first half were in perfect focus. The second half was out. I held the shutter down for a few seconds and didn’t hit the buffer. Stabilization is jumpy and noise is horrible even in good light. I had to process my photos in a noise reduction program. Image quality on the sharp images is beautiful. I shoot a canon 5dmk4 and a Fuji xt3 and the noise in both those cameras is very low compared to the R7. I used my ef 100-400mk2 lens with the canon adapter.

[@johnjuby6184]

I have R7 and R5(new). I agree from experience 100% about all your R7 comments. Thanks for the reinforcement.

[@jan_wegener]

Good to hear!

[@lawriealush-jaggs1473]

Giday Jan. I bought an R7 a year ago after several years with a 70D. I am mostly impressed with it. As you say, image quality off the sensor is excellent. But the auto focus really is a pain. It drives me nuts sometimes, so much so that I miss the excellent focusing screen on the old Konica Autoreflex T I had back in the seventies. I have mostly given up on AF and focus manually instead. I bought the 100mm Macro blah blah doohickey dingus lens two days age, jeez it's good. Very nice review, thank you.

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

Thanks for another excellent video, which addresses important issues. Personally, I'm delighted with my R7 and RF 100-500 for birding, but the shutter shock with mechanical shutter does have a significant effect on image sharpness. In fact, I am surprised by how little attention this receives from most reviewers. As you point out, the electronic shutter makes for much sharper images as long as rolling shutter is not an issue. I generally use the electronic shutter and switch to mechanical if rolling shutter is a problem (e.g. birds in flight). It works well, as long I pay attention to the shutter speed. I really only use the first curtain electronic shutter for slow shutter speed (e.g. low light), but you're persuaded me to give it more of a chance. I agree that 3 programmable wheels would be welcome, to more easily access all 3 elements of the exposure triangle (Av, Tv, ISO). Although I assign the lens control ring to aperture, I find it awkwardly placed at the rear of the lens - my fingers just don't go there naturally. So I often prefer to use the ISO speed button, which is slightly less convenient. Nevertheless, I am thrilled with this set-up for birds and wildlife.

[@lesson.3012]

I prefer the color come straight out of the camera rather than your final edited one. I don't mean anything, of course both unedited and edited photos are great, just a little bit of my opinion

[@colorposter8612]

I sold it. Problems: mechanical sutter vibration, small buffer, slow readout speed etc. Some pros : good resolution, good color reproduction.

[@chasingmanhattan]

I absolutely love my R7 and the fact that it has so many quirks can be frustrating…but it’s also kind of a fun challenge to figure out how to nail the nuance of its UX. I especially love the results I get when it’s paired with my prime lenses - Tamron EF 35 1.4, Canon RF 50 1.2, Samyang RF 85 1.4, and Sigma EF 135 1.8. Having the wide open apertures acts a a counter to the low-light autofocus issue and with the great resolution of these lenses and the sensor, it really just produces pure gold (except for when it craps the bed and sucks big time). I use it mostly for family, fashion and portraits. But also hobby around the zoo and the woods with my Sigma EF 100-400(great for this body because it is a bit brighter than the alternatives).

[@rickharding7336]

Thanks for all your videos. I just finished a 6 month photo contest with the R7. All in all a great camera. I moved into mirrorless from a 5D4. I had many EF lenses and with the adapter, I used those exclusively on the R7. I finally wound up using the EF 100-400II with a 2.0 III extender. The autofocus was still surprisingly fast. Another thing I found was that closefocus for macro with this lens and extender was amazingly close and sharp. There were a few problems mainly with the Jeckel and Hyde autofocus. Sometimes it just refused to focus on something close and I had to use the focus ring to get close enough to proper focus for the camera to lock on. In addition to the settings you recommend, (I got your R7 settings) I also used the ring on my RF to EF adapter to set different focus areas so I could change from closeup to action quickly. It was nice to sit in my hide and take shots of insects on flowers beside me and instantly move to shorebirds crossing in front of me. I’m certainly going to keep the camera no matter what other mirrorless I eventually get. Thanks again for all you do.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing!

[@angeloplayforone]

Great review of the Canon R7 from a wildlive photographer using this camera to photograph birds in flight. This review gives a great impresion of the capability of this camera for this particular scenario.

[@5hamo]

I’ve owned the R7 for almost a year now and it’s a great camera for a beginner like I am. I have the kit 18-150 and the 50 1.8 lens.

[@hans-gerdschievink5190]

Thank you for your review, which completely reflects my experiences with the R7. It is a great camera and I will keep it alongside my R6 II

[@philipgowdy]

Excellent and to the point as always Jan. I hope you will be getting your hands on the new Sony 6700 as your thoughts on this vs Canon apsc, will be most interesting to many shooters, especially the Bird eye autofocus in flight. Regards

[@angelogarciajr5356]

This was such a good video. Makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one struggling at times with this set up. It can be amazing at times and I am happy with it. Thanks for the info.

[@craigcarlson4022]

Jan, This seems a very fair and objective review. I’ve had my R7 for about six months and have all these same frustrations. I though have felt i was getting some less sharp images with the efcs, which i am at a loss to explain. My biggest gripe with Canon is that there are no good quality midrange RF apsc lenses or zooms for the camera. So i’m only really using it for birding (and some macro) and turning to my Nikon for all other uses. I’ll add i had to return my R7 to Canon as it started acting up one week after purchase. They reported having to replace the motherboard. Several months later i bought the R8 and it too developed a problem with the focus freezing up. That had to go back to Canon also but this time i opted to just get my money back. Not sure if those were flukes, or if Canon’s QC is slipping.

[@normangrafaviationphotogra4548]

Very nice summary: it reflects my experiences as well. I primarily use the R5 + 100-500mm but there are enough times when I need the extra reach that I always have the R7 along. I've even had good luck with the R7 + 800mm. But you have to know what you're doing. Your video provides pretty much everything anyone would need, so thanks for sharing.

[@martinhommel9967]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have been using the 1st curtain shutter for high burst rates (up to 15 fps). It doesn’t drive me nuts, but it can be bewildering. In my view fully mechanical shutters will be a thing of the past soon and you have to wonder what Canon‘s rationale was for including such a clunky mechanical shutter. The slow read out time to of the electronic shutter is fairly disappointing as well. Small gripes, but it seems Canon weren’t able to resist applying the cripple hammer to their flagship APSc camera

[@michael_sterling]

It's pretty much all that I use for birds these days, combined with my RF 600 f/4. I gets me to 960 at f/4 and I can't ask for much more that that. The images are fantastic. The rolling shutter, and having to shoot first curtain electronic, (with a reduced frame rate) is a drawback for sure but I think that we can all agree that for a $1,400 camera it's pretty stellar.

[@CarlLoop]

Jan, thank you for this R7 review. What you are saying around 12:15 timeline, the R5 at 500mm and 1.4tc is around f10 (7.1 x 1.4tc) but isn't the R7 at 500mm an even worse(for light and background blur) problem since you have f11.4 (7.1 x 1.6crop factor)? Just checking... Also, now we have an rf200-800 which is f8 at 455mm to 636mm on the R5, or f9 at 637mm to 800mm...

[@angelsepulveda9211]

Awesome video Jan, you explained everything i experience with my R7 perfectly. Love the camera but they are times it decides to act up. I usually use electronic shutter, use mechanical 2x and hate the performance and noise especially when shooting Green Herons.

[@asystasyorg]

I don't have a lot of money for photography, so even though I'm an aspiring pro in comparison to others I only have an EOS RP and R7 right now. Although I love the full-frame goodness of the RP, the R7 is a WAY faster camera all around for street photography - the joystick and dial on the back are great and very responsive whereas the RP is noticeably slower. While I'm not a pro wildlife photographer I own the RF 100-400mm and take that with the R7 to the zoo regularly - an AMAZING combination for getting closeup shots of the animals, and you can get sharp photos even through the glass. TIP: the animal eye-detection of the R7 works better with more light, so if you set your exposure compensation to, say, +1 stop with the 100-400mm, the eye detection will work much better in general. You may take a bit of a hit with the ISO, but these days PureRAW and/or Topaz can correct that almost flawlessly. I love my R7, and the 18-150mm kit lens that came with it is surprisingly great for a kit lens as well.

[@speecher1959]

Still getting comfortable with mine and learning how to best use the back AF options. No muscle memory for that, so words are spoke, but I sure like the results. I can't take my larger lenses hiking with me anymore, so have to rely on the 18-150mm on the mountainside, and that's not all bad (At least it can travel with me! I'm not a kid anymore.).

[@tracyrhodes8324]

I have had my R7 for about 6 months and love it! I'm no pro by any means. However, I enjoy being out in nature photographing birds and animals in there natural environment. I have had some issues with it focusing sometimes. However, I still enjoy it and it is my main camera along with my 7DmarkII.

[@ww3688]

Wow - thanks for the well covered video on the R7! My R5 backs me up for low light but my primary birding run and gun is the R7+100-500 for all the reasons you mentioned. Great & practical tips on improving keepers! I never use mechanical only but go between Electronic and EFCS too! As for having 2 dials, it's perfect for Fv mode. I assign the lens control ring to ISO regardless of which R body I use. I am still holding out (hoping) for Canon to address some of inconsistencies. Glad to hear you are keeping it!!

[@hstein27]

I totally agree with everything you said. I was fortunate enough to get pretty good results this weekend, when I finally found a few Little Blue Herons that I 've been looking to photograph since the beginning of July. It really does come down to getting the right amount of light on the subject. Where I live, the birds just never seem to come close enough to use the R5 and 100-500 and not have to crop in a lot and use Topaz to scale up the images.

[@jan_wegener]

Awesome! Yes, it can be annoying when the birds are always that little bit of extra distance away and the R7 can certainly fix that.

[@MrBrabo1]

Dear Jan, I completely agree with everything you said about the R7. What I found to be the most consistent predictor of good photographs is (as you also stated): light conditions. That really makes all the difference when it comes to the autofocus system. What also really helps is with the RF800 that the subject is larger in the frame, which makes the autofocus system perform al lot better. Greetings!

[@nevadaxtube]

I've experienced the same frustrations, but overall it's a great camera. For less than $1500, it's the best bang for the buck. It won't beat the flagship cameras, but what a value nontheless.

[@janholubicka7154]

I have the r7 aswell and in regards to setting the iso in manual. I find it best to set it onto the button in the middle of the af/mf switch (the hold btn. and turn version). This way i can quickly change it by holding the button and truning the shutter speed dial.

[@lauriecoates9699]

Ive had mine about 8 months and have found the same issues, cheers for the video

[@kennethlui2268]

I totally agree with you. R7 is a secondary camera for me. I use R5 most of the time. But when lighting is great and I am out and about hiking and birding, I will definitely use the R7. I use electronic first curtain for BIF shots, especially hummingbirds and use electronic shutter for everything else. Its AF is not consistent. R5 AF is way better. R7 AF is hit and miss sometimes. I do love the combo of the R7 and the 100-500 lens. Canon should include a third wheel on the R7. R5 has three wheels. When I switch to the R7, I always struggle to adjust to two wheels. Bad decision on Canon. I use a button to switch between first curtain and electronic shutter to make it almost seamless for myself.

[@sanagaram]

It is working great for me with R7 and RF 100-500. I am experiencing all the issues that you had mentioned. Also I see some time, the focus will be on the subject but the image will be blur. The images that are focused correctly are razor sharp and this combo really amazed me even after using R5 with EF 600mm IS2

[@lesson.3012]

The R7 is still the king of APSC, even after the Sony a6700 was released. Its features are so outstanding.

[@rotvonrat]

Wake up guys the a6700 is on another level. The problem with your statement as above is that you, or this like guys have never shot a picture with the a6700, ROLF (don't it make you feel crazy stupid to say that the R7 is the king of APSC).

[@hendrickziegler8487]

Pretty sure that title has to go to Fujifilm. But yeah, it seems to be a great camera!

[@PhatsoJuggalo806]

not with that locked mount and lack of RF-S lenses having you to fork out premium money for the full frame lenses

[@kernzilla]

absolutely love your reviews, love that you geek out on the details that we *all want to know. for clarity, are your 100/200% crops here including either LR Denoise or Topaz style noise reduction?

[@mardyseanofficial9502]

I am also using the R7, but I am just doing for hobby and do not know much about the camera. Thank you for sharing, Jan.

[@TomazNMelo-tf9sc]

My experiences with my R7 is exactly like you describe, but for someone that now have his first mirrorless camera and upgrade from a 7D mk II is a huge step. Even with the inconsistency with the autofocus I have much, much more usefull photos now and open for the first time for me the bird video universe. So I'm falling in love with my R7.

[@alansach8437]

More useful photos! That's exactly what an upgrade is supposed to give you! People who claim this camera isn't a "worthy" successor to the 7dii, I would argue that it is, and that the gap between the R7 and the R5 is about the same as the gap between the 7dii and the 5div. They sound like they want and expect an APS-C version of the R5. Canon never offered that. The 7dii was never an APS-C equivalent to the 5div. The higher the number, the lower the camera is in Canon's hierarchy. 7 is two levels lower than the 5.

[@TomazNMelo-tf9sc]

@@alansach8437 yes. I remeber when I photographed with the 7D mk ii and when I took a burst of photos I crossed my fingers for one at least be in focus, but with the R7 a got several to chose. I never use a full frame camera, so for me the R7 is the top camera that I used.

[@Dmitrii_88]

@@alansach8437 R5 ?? You said R5 ?))) You are FUNNY, because R5 TWICE more expensive !!!!! oww and R5 is a FULLLL FRRRAAAMMMEEE !!!! I think that you didnt know that/

[@andrewbalcombe1338]

Great round-up review Jan, As a stock shooter and sometimes wildlife; I am opting for the R8 instead. I tried the R7. The lack of EFS and third-party glass and the super high res sensor make it inconsistent when using standard non-L medium zooms.

[@robertbarton956]

I live in the UK and have had the r7 for a few months now, sadly not had enough use out of it but I love it! It's my main camera I use and I love the response time it has and the depth of quality it can really produce. Thanks for keeping the hype of the R7 going 😊

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing

[@FireImageFM1]

The 90D also has three shutter modes The only difference between my camera and that camera is that even in your viewfinder you can use one curtain or electric mold I would have to use my screen to use my electric sensor. Overall the image quality of the 90D is beautiful I don't get rolling shutter. I do have a silent mode to shooting cuz it's similar to the 80D so for noise and loud slappings I can turn most of that down but I did notice that shooting in silent mode does affect my images sometimes. The 90D was my favorite camera and I still use it as of day I think I've been shooting with this 90D for about 8 months and it has definitely impressed me. Not really looking forward to going mirrorless they have an issues they having a lot of issues that the 90D doesn't give me.

[@ananthkumar7308]

Hi Jan, thanks for this video! It did reaffirm my choice when I decided to upgrade from my 7D MkII to the R7. While I loved my 7D MkII, the extra capabilities of the R7 really pulled me away and in short order I had one in my hands. I did trade my old 7D in for this, which is what I have typically been doing each time I go to something new, so I have never had my old camera body with me to make instant comparisons. Having said that, I have been mostly happy with the R7, but like you have experienced, it has had me clenching my teeth and shaking my head at times! I am still getting used to the electronic viewfinder, which is quite different from the optical ones I am so used to (I still have and use a 5D Mk IV), but your video here really helped me to think I have not made a bad choice! Thanks! Oh, BTW, I did purchase your guide for the settings on the R7 - hopefully this will help and I will really begin to enjoy the camera!

[@georgemccormick1247]

Great info Jan, I have the same setup on my R7 since I used your setup. I haven’t noticed the problems you outlined but I don’t shoot as many frames as you do by a long-shot in fact I have never hit the buffer with it. I’ve done what your doing and only use it if I need more focal length, I use my R6 mark II most of the time but always have the R7 handy if I need it. 👀👀

[@jacopoabbruscato9271]

I've had it for almost a year now. I rarely if ever use the electronic shutter because it's incompatible with the incredibly useful anti-flicker feature. I shoot news pictures so I often deal with artificial or mixed light and that's a life saver for me. Same for the auto-level horizon, with quick turnarounds I can't really afford to manually correct it.

[@glenharriman8217]

Great review and spot on, Jan. The R7 and 100-500 combo with that effective 800mm range can get some great shots at times, but those instances when you actually see in the EVF that the autofocus sputters a little, can be frustrating. I've found the 15 fps in electronic mode works the best for me. It gets me just about any pose / shot in the series of movements but doesn't fill the buffer as quickly. Not having a heavy finger on the shutter button and being selective in your series of shots helps as well. The R7 is sharp though and a nice little hiking setup when coupled with the 100-500. I'm going to bump it up against the new Sony A6700 and 200-600mm combo and see how they compare.

[@vimbro1]

I have the same experiance as you, Jan. Will keep my R7 aswell and hope for new Firmware. Very good video indeed.

[@gus.smedstad]

Love the emphasis on practical shooting, particularly more difficult subjects like birds in flight. First video I've seen on the subject that was actually useful. I've got a 7D II and the associated lenses, and I'm debating getting a R5 / R6 II / R7. Main problem with getting a full-frame camera would be the expense of replacing my shorter lenses, and the reduction in reach for wildlife. Unfortunately, after watching this I'm still on the fence. Mainly because of the discussion of auto focus issues implies that the R5 and R6 don't have that problem.

[@MartinThornspic]

Thank you again for this clear review Jan. I use the R7 alongside the R6 mark 2 in conjunction with the RF 100-500 and RF 800 and agree with you completely. As a 2nd camera, the R7 is especially nice in the field in good light conditions. In poor light conditions I use the R6 2. I fully endorse the comments regarding the mechanical shutter. I usually use the electric shutter 30 fps.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, the R6 II is very good in terms of AF. Probably the best cam I have used. Thanks for sharing!

[@AlexMcDougallPhotography]

Really don’t know whether to get the R7, lumix G9 ii or the Fuji x-h2s. It’s just so confusing.😅

[@tonyc1437]

Thankyou very much for your considered and honest review, and the setup guide for the R7. To date my experiences with the R7 have been excellent and compared to the dslr’s this is a step ahead. Li,e you I appreciate the crop sensor to gain focal length. And yes while there are limitations it is a great little camera. Regards and all the best for the festive season.

[@deanhohn777]

I use the R7 with the Rf800mm f/11 lens as my backup and when I need the extra focal length. I shoot electronic first curtain most of the time for all the reasons you've stated in the video. The R7 isn't a patch on the R5, but that is to be expected.

[@GaryGoff-n4s]

I’ve been debating if I should move on from my D90 to the R7. Your video sold me. I shoot birds all the time and. I need the reach with the. APS-C. Thanks

[@darekpro6117]

as always, great vid, great insight provided clearly and in a straightforward way. thank you.

[@jan_wegener]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ME2K23]

5:00 were these images taken with the eye autofocus? Was it supposed to be locked on the eye all the time or did it skip some shots?

[@jan_wegener]

It was suppose to be locked on

[@Joya5545]

I really enjoy my R7 with the 100-500mm and 800mm f11. It is a great camera for birding and wildlife but I consider it a backup to my R5. I pretty much use only the electronic shutter in CRaw, yes there is the occasional wobble (don’t notice rolling shutter too much) but not enough to be an issue. The auto focus is pretty darn good, not as good as my R5 but that’s to be expected. I do shoot at events and normally use the R5 with the 100-500mm but having the option of getting that extra reach with the R7 is great. All in all it’s a terrific little camera,full of great features at a reasonable price.

[@rangersmith4652]

After considering the R7 as my first mirrorless, I decided to rein in my enthusiasm and go with the R50. Half the price, but I believe much more than 1/2 the performance. I'll be focusing (ha ha) my efforts on mostly man-made subjects that aren't afraid of me, so I can use a tripod and take my time when the light is good. If this mirrorless experiment goes well, maybe I'll pop for a full-frame next.

[@margaux68163]

Thank you so much, I too experienced a high degree of mechanical shutter shake. At first, I thought it was me. But by using the electronic shutter I learned otherwise but now it's a rolling shutter. Yes, it is frustrating. However, I don't know if I sell the unit because of it.

[@seabreezeof]

Jan have you used the R5 in crop mode, set up a button to switch back and forth from FF to Crop. I use it when I need more reach with good to excellent results. The files hold up.

[@KyleJones-kk8vw]

I’ve reached a similar decision after some early frustration. It’s a great tool to have for me in parks and refuges that make it difficult to get near your subject. And, if I had upgraded after using the 7D ii without ever using the R5, I’d likely have been perfectly happy with the performance in those situations.

[@alansach8437]

The 7dii didn't stack up to the 5div either. Totally different camera lines. You wouldn't expect it to.

[@jan_wegener]

Totally agree! If you never tasted and R3, R5 or R6 II, the R7 "issues" may not even be noticeable for a while, except that shutter maybe

[@VynZography]

See this is why I like real reviews from actual users and not influenzas 👍🏻

[@Hodenkat]

Thank you for doing this video after the R7 has been out for just over a year. I've had mine since they were made available and love the powerful features at this price point! I would like to get an R6 MkII but I am waiting for Canon to open the RF mount to 3rd party lenses. Until then, I will continue having fun with my R7 and small handful of lenses! UPDATE: As rumors of 3rd party lenses spread wildly, I've picked up the R6-MkII since I've got a few Canon lenses to experiment with. I still love my R7 even with it's flaws. It's small, and light, but I have to decide if I really want to keep it now, or will I be using the R6-II more and more. The R6-II is much improved and is full-frame whereas the R7 has a slower sensor and is APS-C. I have an older DSLR that I may sell instead since it never gets taken out lately.

[@cathco9]

Thank you for this review, Jan. I've had my R7 since the US release date. I often think of selling it. I have an R5. The R7 was definitely for the added reach. The R7 is so inconsistent in all the areas you mentioned. I never use mechanical shutter. It's awful. The shutter sound and shock are truly inexcusable. Has Canon never made a shutter before? I could go on forever. If I had waited to purchase the camera, I don't think I would have. When you use the R7 with the RF 100-500mm, what mode do you have the lens set to? I always leave mine in Mode 1 but I have thought about Mode 2. As always, thank you for your content. I hope you're feeling better each day. -Cathy

[@spyder000069]

The R7 was my first canon camera and I have been using it with the RF800/F11 and the RF100-500 to take bird photos around my property. It has been been amazing for me. So much that I decided to buy a R6 mark ii. The first couple of days with the R6m2 was a huge disappointment. I almost returned it. They eye detection and autofocus with the same lenses was missing like crazy. The huge loss of range was more than I anticipated. The clunking of the ibis when the camera is off and you are walking is concerning. The R7 has more buttons to customize. Has the D-pad to quickly navigate the menus. The mechanical manual focus switch on the R7 works great. On the R6m2 if the lens doesn't have a manual focus button (like the kit lens) you have to go into the menu to adjust to autofocus or assign a button and that setup is wonky. Then there definitely is a visual difference between 30 megapixels of the R7 and 24 of the R6m2 after cropping. It took a day of tweaking the settings to get the R6m2 doing what I wanted and finding the main culprit of my autofocus issues (whole area autofocusing turned on in the menu) and I finally got some decent bird pics. I then tried a test with the same settings on both cameras taking a pic of my daughter in low light (after sunset) and it was amazing how much clearer the R6m2 was then. Totally usable image where the R7 probably could not have been recovered. I did test video and the R7 will do 4k60 until the 128gb card is full. The R6m2 overheats at 4k60 in 35 minutes in my 73F room. So my opinion so far is the R7 is the superior wild life camera for small/distant subjects in reasonable light. I will keep the R6m2 as it will be my early morning/late evening camera. I am waiting for R5m2 to see if that is a good compromise between the two.

[@audreyrice996]

Great video, and very informative. I have an R6 and have noticed a lot of similar issues with focusing. At first I thought it was just me, or perhaps I got a lemon, but after listening to your review, I know that it's neither. I guess we'll just have to wait for the technology to continue to improve!

[@fy7589]

From my Rebel T7, R7 is probably gonna be a huge step up of course, but I usually don't buy things when they are first launched because if there are problems with it, in time they can get resolved and I ordered this body yesterday with an EF to RF mount adapter in a bundle deal. I'll pair it with my 70-300 IS II Nano USM lens and Sigma 150-600 contemporary. I know there'll be AF issues at least with sigma. But I already have the same issues on my T7, just much woırse I suppose cause out of 3 fps burst shots it gets like 1 in 10 images sharp enough. At first I was getting like 1/30 but in time I improved the AF playing with sigma's settings with the usb dock. In the recent reviews I watched, I confirmed that the IS got much better with the R7 and Sigma after some user made tweaks. I'm suıre it was a worthwhile upgrade for the budget.

[@frankanderson5012]

A very fair summary of this camera, though I would say I’ve not experienced the focusing inconsistencies you have. I don’t think the ‘wobbly’ effect is an issue, at least for me. Most people aren’t going to see to images side by side to know it’s even there. When I first got it a year ago, what I thought was going to be the worst experiences - noise and buffer - didn’t really turn out to be an issue. Rolling shutter you have to be aware of but my biggest gripe is the lack of a battery grip. Why didn’t they allow for this option?

[@chrisalger5589]

I have the r7 and it initially it blew my mind in combination with my rf 100-500 lens. In retrospect it worked better with my 100 400mm ef with adapter… but to my mind the non keeper rate was too high. Too many pics that should’ve worked but didn’t. + that viewfinder rubber surround- crumpled upon looking at it! ( not covered by warranty) . I still have the r7 . But for the most part it has been replaced by my new and more, much more sturdy r5. The r5 and its oled view finder and rubberised eye cup is at least of merchandisable quality .

[@saxon1177]

My biggest complaint about the R7 is what you mentioned, the focus jumps around too much at times and I miss shots because of it. Still, it's better than my old 80D. But like you again, I miss the 3rd wheel that was on my 80D.

[@TheHowbbyist]

Jan, you summed it up perfectly. I've had almost the same experience too. I paired my R7 with the Sigma 150-600C and it is quite a struggle to get high keeper rates. I do love having a histogram at the viewfinder, and the eye tracking when it sticks. Great video as always! 😊

[@honeybadger1656]

Hey, do you have grainy and lots of noise with raw photos? I put them on my PC and have to use dxo just to make the image look acceptable

[@MrKremerScience]

I shoot the R7 with the 100-500 glass almost exclusively, and my experience with the autofocus is very similar. There are sessions when I get incredibly sharp images consistently, followed by ones when it struggles to find the target. I recently set the R7 to case 2 and have it set to lock onto the target (-1) and ignore new objects. That has improved but not entirely resolved the AF issue.

[@jasonatkinson2542]

I am with you on the r7, I have it as a second body and it can be a love/hate relationship

[@VW1132-m2l]

Another great review Jan, thank you. What do you think about the combo for Canon R7 + Canon RF 100-500mm + Canon RF 1.4x ? As I don't see any photographer reviewing this combo. Would like to hear your advice for this. Is it worth to get the extender for R7? many thanks

[@Klaus_Natur]

Hallo Jan, ich nutze die R7 seit über 1 Jahr. Mir ist dies noch nie aufgefallen. Ich werde in der nächsten Zeit darauf mal aufpassen. Bisher war der Fokus immer dort wo er hin sollte. Allerdings habe ich bisher nicht alle meine Fotos die ich mit der R7 machte, auf 100% angesehen. Den mechanischen Verschluss nutzte ich am Anfang aber nur für Makros wenn ich mit einem (Makro)Blitz fotografierte. Ansonsten fotografiere ich öfters mit der R7 als mit meiner R5, da mir (meines Erachtens) der Augenfokus / Tierfokus besser funktioniert als bei der R5. Dies testete ich wieder am Dienstag den 08.08.2023 in Bad Buchau am Federsee. Auch ein anderer Fotograf, den ich meine R7 für sein RF 800mm/f11 Objektiv zum testen zur Verfügung stellte, da er mit seiner R5 und den Tieraugenfokus auch nicht so zufrieden war, und er war sehr begeistert wie präzise der Tieraugenfokus arbeitete.

[@matthewbell1968]

Thank you Jan and I'll agree with you 100% of the way. Kudos to both yourself and Duade for calling out the AF issues which other more 'sensationalist' KZbinrs have dodged. To use a cricketing term its a flat track bully, fine where there is light but here in northern England at 55° ït can often struggle. I'll try your recommended settings and let's see what happens! Subscribed!

[@cooklee2943]

Hey Jan,I really like ur videos,they are all really helpful,help me to find out the problems and get over with it.R7 also drive me crazy some times when I shot in air show,most of the pictures are out of the focuse at the same time R6 works very well under the same setting.I will try to use ur way and see what I can get.Thanks again,welcome to China for a visit.

[@yoannfeillet5322]

Hi Jan, Thanks for the video. I totally agree with your review. The number of out of focus images I get is so frustrating for me that I prefer to shoot with the R5 pretty much all the time. I also hate the mechanical shutter sound: it’s a machine gun! Unlike you, I didn’t get use to the rear buttons display. I’m always confused without a third wheel. If I could, I would switch to an R6II. I would lose the crop factor but I would trust the camera. I do get nice results with the R7 though and it’s a great camera overall but I think there are some issues that could be corrected with a firmware update. Maybe?

[@DavidPolicansky]

Yes, you nailed it. Sometimes the camera just refuses to focus on what I think it should focus on--it always seems to focus on SOMETHING--but when it nails focus I too am amazed by how much better the image quality is that than of my beloved 7D2. I love the way the eye focus locks on and how I can then frame the bird however I want. I also like the electronic first curtain shutter. My biggest problem is that I find it takes the camera a second or two to lock onto a flying bird, and too often that means I miss the shot entirely. My 7D2 does much better at that.

[@jan_wegener]

It's a great camera that can drive you nuts at times :D

[@WernerBirdNature]

Hi Jan, congrats on this very comprehensive and well illustrated one-year review! This type of review is worth a lot more compared to reviews after barely one week. My colleague also has the R7 and 100-500 and gets great results with it, so he doesn't regret ditching his Z50 and heavy as hell 200-500 for it ;-) What did surprise me a bit was your preference of the R7 & 160-800 over the R5 and 420-700. The last one is indeed F10, but converted to the R7 resolution, this R5 combo provides an equivalent pixels on the bird as a 823mm. And the f7.1 or the R7 crop has an equivalence of f11. So beyond the obvious elephant of being unable to go wider than 420mm, the R7 and R5+TC1.4 seem to me very equivalent regarding reach, bokeh and pixels on the bird. When you have two 100-500 lenses, swapping between both combo's is of course faster than inserting an extender.

[@WernerBirdNature]

Jan, is my thinking about R7 and R5+1.4TC having similar reach, bokeh and pixels on the bird making sense to you ? Or is the TC damaging the IQ more than the benefits of FF vs crop sensor ? Am I correct that 500/7.1 on a crop body only gives 500/7.1 =~ 800/11 worth of bokeh ?

[@DavidPolicansky]

No, no, the f/7.1 on the R7 crop is f/7.1. And the R7 puts more pixels on the subject than the R5. To get the same pixel density, the R5 would have to have about 82 megapixels.

[@BrendaAndriese]

I just got my R7 with the 100-500, so these kind of video’s are so helpful!!! Thank you ❤

[@jan_wegener]

Have fun!

[@Jessehermansonphotography]

I loved the R7 but recently sold it. I shot it with the 300mm f2.8 is ii. Worked very well. Keeper rate maybe 60% or so but at 30fps that’s a lot of photos. So it’s kinda relative, but I did sell it because I want something FF.

[@Twobarpsi]

Great summary! For me it's either the R6II or R52. I already have an APS-C 😃

[@Tony-ow3if]

Great, simple and 'to the point' feedback thanks!!!

[@amyloffler4299]

Thanks for this video. It was very informative and I'm glad to hear I have very similar experiences to what you have described. I have a love-hate relationship with my R7 and it can be very frustrating especially when out in the field and a great opportunity comes along and the photos are not as good as you hope they will be. I will also keep my R7 along with the R5. And I will certainly try some of your suggestions in settings to see if I can improve the images in certain situations. Thanks Jan.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing!

[@blisteringbooks2428]

I have been tempted by the R7 for quite a long time, only the drawbacks are significant. I have the R5, and in crop mode it does exactly the same job with much better results. OK, it may be 17mp as opposed to 32mp, but unless you are printing massive images that hardly matters. On a 4K monitor or the internet you just cannot tell the difference, maybe the R5 are better quality. As a professional when I went digital my EOS1n suddenly had 2.1mp and the IQ was fine. When I was using a 1D [4mp] I was happy for years, it was only when I looked at the versatility of the 5D3 that I bought another body.

[@FireImageFM1]

That's an awesome review I'm glad I didn't waste money on the camera and itself I find myself buying the 90D.

[@MatthewRaifman]

This is spot on with my experiences. It’s an extraordinary camera that is severely hampered by the shutter options. Otherwise, basically perfect.