Here i am on a 40mp Fujifilm X-T5 APSC camera with adapted long prime lenses shooting birds and fighting the poor AF performance and yet, still getting good shots, still capturing beautiful colors, and most importantly still having fun because I LOVE the body and how it all feels on my hands. I guess the most important thing is to shoot with whatever will encourage and give you motivation to get out there and use it. The best camera is the one you're excited to go out and play with :)
What I learned is, that you need to know where the birds are, how to get close to them, what is the best light for this type of shooting and how to edit your pictures. If you know all of these, even the ancient the 40D with the lame, old 400 will give you pro looking results for next to no money...
I've begun my journey as a wildlife photographer with the Fuji X-H2S and a 150-600mm. It's kinda interesting because there's not many photographers around so far that uses the X-series as their platform, so the knowledge is quite low overall. I made the choice myself because I had heard about the great ISO performance and the image quality and so far it hasn't disappointed. Some of my best shots have been 6,500 ISO or higher and I've had no issues removing some of the noise with post processing software (especially not with the latest Lightroom upodate). I've really liked Fujifilm cameras in the past so this is why I decided to go with a Fuji for wildlife photography as well. It is a bit tricky in low light situations of course but if Fuji stays on this path I'm sure we will have more options in the near future when it comes to better lenses etc.
Trying to educate my wife, who is now completely addicted to bird photography, how different combinations of full frame and crop sensor cameras work together with different lenses and how they affect images. Of course she now wants the most expensive combo so I may have just shown her too much of your video! Thanks for posting the raw files which were also really helpful. Beautiful captures as always and great video.
Sam, great to hear your partner is addicted to bird photography, it is a great hobby and gets you out and about. Good luck with the gear. Cheers, Duade
I started bird photography recently, i bought a 7d with 55-250, now i saving money for canon 100-400 or sigma/tamron 150-600. These videos helping me such a lot. Thanks mate! :)
Krisztián, that is great to hear, the Sigma 150-600C should work well with the 7D. I used the EF400 5.6 which is another option and can be picked up for a bargain these days. Cheers, Duade
I think Duade has a pretty sharp mind as he raises the question one would like to have with a different combinations. Thanks for such a great informative video.
I have an R6 and I just got my RF 100-500mm 2 days back. I have been researching for many months and I was just feeling why all UA-cam wants an R5 when the animal is just too far away.... and then came Duade with superpixel resolution (upscaling an R6 image) example. Just the right video at the right time. Thanks Duade. Your videos gets better and better with time. Love your channel and I learn a lot from it. Great Work!! I am from India. If I ever visit Australia / New Zealand ever would love to go with a bird photography outing with you!!
Souptik, congrats on the R6 and RF100-500, a nice light kit that I am sure will capture you many wonderful shots. Yes, Aus/NZ are great places to go birding. Cheers, Duade
The ability to crop with the R5’s 45 MP sensor is why I will pass on the R3. 24 is not enough for me. Thank you for your thorough comparison. I always look forward to your excellent videos.
Mark, you are more than welcome and thank you for the ongoing support. Yes the R3 is a strange one, I almost wonder if using the R5 sensor would have been an option as the other upgrades with no blackout, no rolling shutter, 30fps etc would have made it a nice upgrade. Cheers, Duade
I'm very new at all of this, having adopted nature photography as a retirement pastime. Your explanations were wonderful. It provided me a few "light bulb" moments that I'd not acquired from other sources. Thank you kindly ~ Peace and continued success on your journey.
you may have just convinced me to get an R5. But fantastic comparisons, thanks for doing what many of us have wished we could do over the years but couldn't.
Probably the best video I've ever seen comparing all the methods for filling the frame with small, or even any birds. One quick note from a UK nature photographer. I am somewhat envious at how close Australian and North American bird photographers can get to birds in general. For many years I was just amazed at the bird photos American photographers got. However, UA-cam videos have explained why, because when you see how close the photographer is to the bird, out in the open, I am amazed. These are often similar, or even the same species as in the UK. Yet except when using a hide/blind, you would never get that close. In the UK, except for tame birds in a public park, certain seabirds at breeding colonies, there is almost no way you could fill the frame with a FF sensor, no matter how much focal length you have. So cropping, and heavy cropping at that is fairly standard. Additionally, being a far more crowded island with less public land, you are generally stuck to walking around a lot of sites, meaning a more portable outfit. Although of course there is a big difference between bird photography, and birding with a camera, but that is a whole different subject. Just to give some ideas of distance. With a raptor, out in the open, there are not many opportunities to get within 100yds/m of the bird. With small birds out in the open, often it is difficult to get closer than 45ft, ,15 yds, 14m. Many ducks, because they are regularly shot, like Teal, Shoveller etc, won't let you get closer than about 80m in the open.
Stephan, I live in Kentucky which is part of the mid Atlantic flyway for migratory waterfowl. If after this Covid crazy ever gets a handle and under control try to make it to the states. Either early to mid spring for songbirds and turkeys or wintertime for Bald eagles, waterfowl and other raptors. Be more than HAPPY to be your photo guide. It gives me more opportunities to get out too.
Stephen, I appreciate how difficult it must be for you, we are very fortunate with how many birds allow a semi close approach. We do have very wild ducks so I have some idea of your challenge, it is near impossible to get anywhere near them as they are shot here also. I spend a lot of time trying to find locations that have birds that are approachable or locations I can setup and have good odds of getting a shot. Chasing truly wild birds is a real challenge that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Great video, lots of excellent information. As hobbyist photographer and retired, I really can’t afford a high megapixel camera. So will apply some of the techniques you mention in your video.
UA-cam put you on my video feed and I've been watching you for the last few days. What great videos you put together. I can tell you love photography too. Very informative and a joy to watch because your excitement comes through
Three years ago I went on safari and happily brought my 5DMIV plus EF 100-400 and 70-200 plus TC 1.4 and 2.0. Very happy with the results but lugging that around was pretty brutal. After I started shooting hummingbirds in our backyard I began to think of MFT in a better light (no pun intended). Especially the EM1.X body which has bird detection AI, Pro Capture (helps capture birds taking off and flying), faster frames/sec, etc. I got used to removing noise w Topaz DeNoise AI, but when using the 300mm f/4 with TC14 or TC20, many of the images just weren’t sharp enough after cropping. So I sold most of my Canon gear and got the new M. Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.5 with built in TC1.25. What a huge improvement! That lens ain’t cheap, but it’s helping me get so many more keepers. Excellent comprehensive video that mirrors my journey with gear for bird photography. One (small) thing you might have also mentioned: Weight Depending on your age and strength, bodies with full-frame sensors weigh a lot more than mirrorless ones or ones with APS-C or MFT sensors. When we travel or go into the field, the total size and weight of our kit can be a factor. Also, if one is shooting w a really long lens, you’ll likely need a gimbal head and tripod or monopod. My EM1.X body has great IBIS, and the new lens sans extenders gives me up to 7 stops of image stabilization. So while using a support brings optimal sharpness, I’m able to run and gun if need be. Simply put, some of us need to factor in how heavy (and big) everything is going to be. So glad to have found your channel!
Ken, I couldn't agree with you more, as I get older the thought of lugging around my heavy lens starts to factor into my outings. I have to say having the R5 and RF100-500 has made a difference as I can handhold it all day long and can just walk around shooting what I see. 500mm is a little short for me but the R5 does allow a decent crop which helps. Cheers, Duade
My Sony a7rv has a 9k sensor. Using my 600mm lens, I can crop into 1500mm-ish (2.5x crop) and still retain a 4k crop. I have no need for a teleconverter. I use DxO deep prime 6 pro software and the sharpening capabilities of it are astonishing. I don't pay as much attention to ISO anymore because this software is absolutely amazing. It also adds dynamic range.
VERY thorough, thanks Duade. I’ve been eyeing the R6, 100-500, extenders and upscaling software as I rarely print larger than 8x10 so this video is very helpful.
Mine would be an R5 and EF400mm DO f/4 ii plus 1.4x and 2x extenders as this prime lens is the only Canon super tele light enough for hand holding at about 2kg and works brilliantly with either 1.4x or 2x extenders or even both stacked for 2.8x (need to use the EF mark ii extenders as these are the only ones that can be stacked) and I'd also use either an EF100-400mm ii or RF100-500 zoom.
@@angelogarciajr5356 the R3 is in my dream list but we won't have any unbiased tests until after it's released . The RF400 f/2.8 weighs 2.9kg so it's too heavy for handholding for birds in flight and the extra stop of light isn't enough to justify the weight I think.
G'day Angelo, at the moment the Sony A1 is the best camera out there and coupled with the 600 f4 would be a fantastic kit. For BIF the A1 and 200-600 would be a great kit. Cheers, Duade
Wow what a great video !!! i'm a backyard birder with a canon m50(24mp) with adapter(not speed booster)for ef and efs lenses and a EFS 55 - 250mm lens. I set up a feeding station (maybe 20 to 30 feet away from the house)and most of the time I shoot through glass(patio door) and I've always had a great time and got some really good shots but I always thought I needed a high MP camera body with a huge zoom lens ! Thanks for explaining it in a simple way that everyone can understand !
Have you considered doing part 2, now when R7 is out? I'd definitelly love to see that! Anyways, great video and a very important one, because most of the people enjoying bird photography won't have unlimited budget so a choice like this is likely to be made....Thank you and big thumbs up!
You do a good job of explaining all the possible combos and the pluses and minuses........and in moving along at a pace to deal with ever-shortening attention spans.
Nice analysis that is at a level of detail that is understandable, yet complete. One thing to consider re: mega-pixels... right now most folks have either a mobile phone or 1080p monitor... 10 years from now, what monitor will we all have, perhaps super high MP VR? Looking at low mega-pixel photos from back when 2MP was dense for a digital camera and they look like crap... so to future proof, consider higher counts MP were you can afford it and unless things like action/speed/dynamic range are more important. Obviously not simple decisions, but thought I'd throw future proofing out there as something to consider.
Yes, 8k screens are already what 33mp so it is interesting to see where we end up going with MP etc. I guess it all depends how you display your images. Cheers, Duade
Super comparison. I have r5 and 600/f4II and 200-400 and 100-400v1 and 1.4x. Mostly for grizzly, wolves, moose in dark situations. My struggle is which lens where and weight and wielding the 200-400 in my car. After watching your video, I am more inclined to use my 200-400/1.4x/and apsc mode on R5 more, knowing I can resort to topaz for upscaling. I am also more inclined to buying the 100-500 with apsc mode and retire my 100-400v1 - too heavy for what I get. You are right about losing wings but you did not mention that when you use apsc mode, you know when its futile and you will just get crappy shots. Great job. Scott
Thanks Scott, a great selection of lenses you have, I can say the RF100-500 is a wonderful lens, it is so light, the R5 and rf100-500 weighs less than 2kg which means you can use it handheld easily. I love walking with it and using for macro style shots due to the MFD. Cheers, Duade
Super informative. I have RP and just tried 1.6 crop in camera with R 100-400mm. Definitively will try in the field, but agree it might cut off part of bird. Thanks for that idea. Also, your photography is beautiful. Those bird with their fantastic colors are wonderful. I live in San Diego and we'll have our hawk watch in January, so I am excited to try your techniques on eagles, ferruginous hawks and if I can get close, burrowing owls. Meanwhile, I'm shooting red shoulder and cooper's hawk in my backyard. Very fortunate to have those visitors. Thanks, again, John
Thanks for sharing, I usually just crop in post as if we crop in camera we might miss something if the bird flaps its wings or similar. I would only crop in camera if you want the bird bigger in the frame to focus. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Just used in camera crop to photo cooper's hawk. Needed it to find him in the eucalyptus. Even if they are vocalizing, it's hard to find them in the camo. Right in my backyard, so I drop everything when they call. Used eye focus AF (Canon RP probably not as good as newer models). Thanks for the tip on that.
Thanks for comparing so many different combinations. Your illustration at 7:40 showed me why I was always frustrated with my Tamron 150-600mm on my crop sensor 7D, even though it was sharp on a full-frame 5D. Another great test would be to find the furthest distance with each combination where you can still capture a high-quality, full frame image. It's often hard to compare "100% crop" samples online because a 100% crop on an R5 zooms in much tighter than a 100% crop on an R6 (if cropping by pixels, which Lightroom does). Thanks again!
Very informative video! It did get quite confusing for me at a certain point.. however, the conclusion was very clear and if someone has a specific question, one can just search for the topic in the video and watch the corresponding section. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for all your hard work ! Those raw files are interesting because we can see the true quality of those lenses on the field without any youtube compression. And this jacky winter was so cute !
Absolutely incredible video. I cannot imagine how hard this was to pull off comparisons using different cameras on the same birds. Awesome awesome job !
Thanks, Duade for a great comparison. Whilst the R5 with its 45MP is the obvious choice, my take was that you got really good images whatever combination you were using, which obviously comes from your experience and technique. Now in my early 70's I recently decided to upgrade some of my gear, but stay with DSLR's as the price of mirrorless and RF lenses is just too great. If Canon decide to bring out a decent crop sensor mirrorless body, then I may investigate that as an alternative to the 90D. Keep up the good work.
Chris, yes the RF gear is very expensive that is for sure. I hope they do release an R7 as there is a big market wanting a more affordable APSC body. Cheers, Duade
Duade; Excellent video packed with practical information. Like many people, l visit various photography forums. The common question revolves around a person wanting to improve their photography and the majority of the responses focus on buying a new camera body or lens. As you pointed out, your old Canon 40D with your 400mm f5.6 lens often times produced good photos. You are doing side by side comparisons and the differences are still marginal. The majority of photographers post their photos and don't also post the same composition shot with with let's say a higher priced set up ie R5 body and an RF 800mm f5.6 lens. My point is your video shows it's about shooting to get great shots, not buying expensive gear. Personally l shoot high volume still photography of surfing (1300-1500 shots per day) or 2-5 hr shoots doing video of surfing. Either way, still or video my data captured each day is massive. Even if l had a R5 l would likely shoot crop for production shooting just to reduce file size. Yes, if l was literally on a shoot, thought the shot might end up being published, would opt to shoot full frame. As you mentioned, you prefer shooting full frame then cropping post edit in fear of shooting too tight, missing something a tighter shot left out. In video work l have learned to do the same. Surfers, like bird's move and it is nearly impossible to keep a subject in a desirable rule of thirds composition. Instead, when l edit in Vegas Pro videoing software find a can literally post edit crop placing the subject in desirable places within the composition. An added benefit is in posted edit crop, when l crop in it creates a zoom effect that's smooth and desirable whereas if l tried zooming during shooting the smoothness wouldn't be there and composition off. Also in post edit, cropping one part of the video to the next, lets say 3 seconds apart, the editing software moves between the two crops smoothly and if l tried to move the subject le5s say from bottom left quadrant of rule if thirds to top right quadrant it would be jerky assuming l could pull it off atxall. To illustrate what l mean, go to 35 seconds in my video on attached link below. Notice the video shot from the rocks on the foreground is shot wide, then in post edit as the surfer rides the wave l crop in drawing the viewer to the subject. If l shot tighter, l could not achieve that effect and it would have been super challenging to shoot close up while maintaining desired surfer placement/composition as he turns up and down the face of the wave. If l zoomed in while actually shooting it woould have been jerky and l doubt l could have maintained optimal photo compostion. My main point is a $12,000, bigger telephoto lens isn't always the answer. Sometimes less optimal gear forces you to shoot with more creativity or learn to use your gear better. ua-cam.com/video/opgIF801I08/v-deo.html
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, looks like you have a lot of fun with the surfing videos. No doubt you have a great tripod and head. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for the reminder about shooting the R5 in crop mode. I started digital photography with an 8 MP Rebel then “upgraded” to a 60D. When I put both cameras on a tripod and tested with a zoom lens at identical image size I liked the Rebel better. I now have a 6D and 100-400 L zoom. I thought the R7 might be a good choice to get more reach, but the more I see, the more I think it might be a repeat of my 60D experience. A 1.4x extender probably isn’t a good choice either. Without spending a fortune, the R5 might be my best choice at this time, or I could wait for a true replacement for the 7D.
James, yes all very interesting questions, I think the R5 will deliver far better quality and has many better features but at a much higher cost. The R7 really is an affordable way to get a bigger subject with amazing AF. Cheers, Duade
I've just Sold all my Sony A7 gear and gone back to a Canon 20D and 40D both with low shutter count, at 70 years old I felt that going back to old school photography suits me best now, modern cameras are ok don't get me wrong but photography seems to easy with the latest tech, great video as always Duade :)
Fantastic video! I thought about testing this myself, I really appreciate the work you put into this "super-comparison"! I got the R5 a while ago and couldn't be happier, I can crop with confidence (and now even more, after your video ;) ) and while I prefer having the subject large in the frame in the first place, it saved some cool shots I would have missed otherwise.
Absolutely epic.. this Video will stand the test of time and will be a reference for years to come... We missed ya, but so glad you took the time to produce this. I'm so happy with my R6 and you showed pretty much my workflow, by shooting, enhancing, cropping. Great to see I'm not doing anything stupid 🤣 A million thanks Duade, cheers!!!
Thank you Duade. You are very good at what you do. Everything so clearly explained. I started birding and bird photography 2 years ago with a Nikon D5500 and Sigma 150-600mm. Been pushing the limits and struggling with high noise with the low light far away shots that most bird sightings present. I'm deciding between R5/R6 with 800mm/100-500mm, but wondering about a D780 and keeping my Sigma 150-600mm or even Z7 with FTZ. Your video is exactly what I needed. Now I need a video about how to approach my bank manager and my dear wife! Thank you.
Roger, yes, it is tough deciding which way to go, I think Nikon will release some nice cameras with the Z9 onwards. They really need to get the bird eye AF working as it is a big advantage. Unfortunately I don't have any advice for how to obtain the funds whilst keeping a happy marriage :-)
Great video, you pretty much answered all my questions. Being out in nature is my goal and the pictures I get will hopefully celebrate the moment. Thanks much!
The R6 is still very good with the 20 MP. I ordered today the R6. I wanted the R5 cause of the MP but the different for Social Media Post or for Websites you can see them on this plattforms. Thanks for this video this helped me out :-) Nice work.
Good day! Wow, what a fantastic vídeo! Full, of comparisons and Tests, the best vídeo on UA-cam about the Matter. The results from the 1dx test, were crazy 😁
Thanks Allen, what a fantastic piece of kit you have, the a1 is the best camera on the market at the moment and was a joy to use when I had a play. Cheers, Duade
Your vlogs are excellent and thorough and well thought out. Really easy to listen to and understand. Thanks so much for sharing this. Really well presented. Thank you.
You have done a fantastic job of testing, comparing, and clarifying the available telephoto imaging options for wildlife photography. Especially for us Canon shooters you have specifically clarified our options and choices and the relative merits and/or liabilities of each. You left no stone unturned. Concerning the R5's option to shoot in 1.6 crop factor mode, might it also convey the benefit of applying the camera's entire internal computing power (with a buffer and autofocusing system capable of 45mp) to a smaller file size, thereby increasing buffer depth and perhaps focusing faster/better, or increasing frames per second rates, beyond just applying a crop in the camera? I wonder if you have any insight into those possibilities? Thanks for a terrific and entertaining video empowering your viewers, whatever their equipment.
Mark, thanks for your comment I appreciate it. Yes, I think you are correct in crop mode you will have a much bigger buffer as the files are so much smaller. The FPS will not change and I am unsure about the AF performance, its possible if the bird is bigger it is easier for the sensor to pick up the eye, not sure. Cheers, Duade
I have been considering a change to Canon mirrorless for my full size bodies ( currently all 5D series). I have decided to stay with my DSLR equipment for now but I have decided to add a 7D mk ii to add to my 600 f4 and 300 f 2.8 rather then using my teleconverters. Especially on my 600 as I don’t care for the image quality especially the 2x. I will keep the new mirrorless in mind for the future, but the price of the used body outweighs the investment right now for the mirrorless option. I’m just getting into birding and find it very interesting and a lot of fun. Love your video s and instructional style. Keep it up.
Mark, thanks for your comment and sharing your experience. I believe the R7 is the camera many birders are waiting for as it should give excellent IQ, AF, FPS etc but also the 1.6 crop which is great for wildlife. The big question is how it handles higher ISO. Cheers, Duade
Thanks for another great video Duade. I use the 400 f5.6 on my Eos R. The 30mp sensor is a good size but the focal length is a bit limiting. I just try getting closer to the subject to try to get frame fillers. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Can't wait for this bloody lockdown to end so I can get back out there. All the best, Brian.
G'day Brian, yes 400 can be a bit limiting for sure, as Keith mentioned my 1.4 version 3 extender works very well when you have adequate light. I shared lots of photos in my last video using the extender. It does struggle in low light but is very good in better light. I am also waiting for the lockdown to end. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Hi Duade, I have the same 1.4 extender and I do use it but as you have mentioned and as I replied to Keith it has its own limitations. Maybe I'm just impatient or expect too much from my equipment. Anyway, thanks again. All the best.
Loved the kookaburra! Hehe. Thanks for this video. Loads of comparisons and information. I noted that the APS-C will always noise issues. I think I keep coming back to the R5 as my upgrade from a 1200D. But Canon rumours say they bring out a new APS-C with bigger MP and hopefully better ISO capabilities. So I will continue to wait. Nothing to lose by waiting. I'll only upgrade once as I am hobbyist photographer and don't earn money from it. It's just for fun.
Nerrel, yes, I think that is wise, I believe Canon will release an APSC mirrorless at some stage this year which will be a nice upgrade over the 1200D. Cheers, Duade
Great video, Duade! Very thorough. One thing I notice a lot of people get wrong with teleconverters is that they think it'll allow them to get better shots from further away. I prefer to use teleconverters in my normal sweet when I want a tighter frame on a smaller subject. I find that doing this minimizes the IQ hit my shots take from using teleconverters.
Thank you very much, was debating going for the R6 to shoot sports and your video really helped me see the differences between all different factors. In the summer, when our school is closed, I started shooting birds as practice for in mouvement shooting, so small little hobby on the side, since their are similarities.
I really like your straightforward presentational style. I would love to see a comparison between the R5 and R7 using the 100-500 in different lighting conditions to see how they compare. Thanks
I am very pleased with the videos you produce. I am not a photographer more of a cowboy and back country guide. I use an old Tamron 150-600 on Nikon now looking to up grade. You are so clear to me and present such organized information. Learning from you has helped me increase my interest in making photos. Many of my activities are becoming less available to me as I age so using you as a guide is encouraging to me. Ken retired law enforcement.
Great detailed video Duade. I figure that my 20MP D7500 aps-c camera is about equal to a 45MP camera such as the R5 because if I was stood right next to you with my D7500 and you had an R5 and we both had a 600mm lens attached photographing the same bird at the same distance, in order to get the same field of view you would have to crop the R5 image by about 50% to make the images appear similar and around the same file size. Just one correction too; you stated at 7:36 that Four Thirds sensors are '2 times as small' as FF, but in fact they are 4x smaller than FF (but the crop factor is 2x).
Thanks Steve, I am learning all the time. Yes, I would need to go into 1.6 crop mode to get the same field of view as somebody using an APSC sensor. In good light they would no doubt be similar but in low light the FF body would produce much better files. Cheers, Duade
Good catch on the m4/3 sensor gaff, Steve. I was gonna mention this in my comment, but you had it covered. Minor mistake from an otherwise very knowledgeable man with a very thorough and knowledgeable video! Peace
@@Duade I'm pretty sure that two sensors, one FF and one APS-C, using the same generation sensors with similar pixel density will have near identical noise when the FF sensor is in crop mode. The readout will have the same settings, same light, same equivalent focal length. The APS-C will have a slightly larger DOF, but the amount of light impinging the read portion of the sensor is identical. The Canon 40D is a 14 year old camera, and the R5 is a bit over a year old at this point. I'm actually impressed at how well the 40D compared to the R5 given the massive tech difference. A much better comparison would be something like a Nikon Z50 to a Z7 or a Canon 40D to a EOS-1Ds Mark III.
Excellent presentation, really informative, but as you say the subjects and light conditions were perfect. Not wanting you to get wet or cold, but some in-field, differing lighting conditions would be challenging.
Having been a professional photographer all my life, I am well aware about the difference pixels make, I bought a pro digital DSLR in 2000, £10,500, 2.1 MP. Shocking isn't it. I am glad to see that you mentioned the problem with a crop sensor, noise mainly, and that extenders cause a drop in quality. It can be frustrating that vendors rely on megapixels. The P1000 has a fantastic zoom, plenty of MP, but the sensor is the size of a fingernail. After watching your videos I bought an R6 [use mainly 5D4] mainly for the animal eye focusing as I do a lot of wildlife, especially birds in Spain. Incidentally I did wonder if more MP could be a disadvantage, using my 50-500 Sigma images were softer on a 7D2 than 5D4, possibly because the lens was not resolving enough, and the higher pixel count as seeing the flaws. Keep up the good word, the main problem with Spain is natives with guns, but I have some cracking vultures, hopefully now the focus will follow the eye. Oh, it is Derek HIbbert, only the wife managed to change the settings, Google me if you are curious.
Derek, thanks for sharing your experience and I agree, the R6 is a great camera and the eye af should make photographing the vultures a little easier. I am looking forward to going out on a boat and photographing seabirds once Covid restrictions ease. Not sure I looked at the right account but if it was the one with the Ford Escorts then they looked great. Cheers, Duade
I found your video very informative. I, too, see that this took a fair amount of work to produce and edit to a watchable video. Thank you very much. I learned a whole lot.
@@Duade Yesterday I took some short video of a Bull Elk about 30 yards away. Used the 40-150 he was tearing the crap out of the trees and ground. Exciting :)
Excellent comparison with great information. I have a Sony a6000 (aps-c) and a Sony a7c (FF) that I couple with Sony's 100-400 zoom. Your video of has caused me to think that I really need to go out and do some comparisons with my system before I go and buy a 1.4x extender. Aps-c vs vs full frame in crop mode vs cropping in post-production. The tools to minimize noise, sharpen, and upscale resolution in post-production also need to be considered as I consider how to best achieve my desired outcome. Thank you for a very thought-provoking video.
I just wanted to take the time to thank you. Your videos are very informative as well as very inspiring. Your joy for what you do is contagious. Mahalo
Hi Duade! Thank you for your very interesting and enjoyable videos. The very serious approache in this video was very helpfull with very nice picture examples. Thank for your quality work!! Paul
Best video yet to compare megapixels, extenders and focal length. I used to use my 7D II for birds but if I needed higher ISO it was terrible for noise. I sold it along with my Mark IV for the R5 and love it. I’ve got great high ISO and can crop significantly. Thanks for all your work in this video.
Craig, yes, I recently picked up the R5 in an end of financial year sale which made it much more affordable. I need two cameras for UA-cam, so a second mirrorless makes sense. I use the R6 for filming and the R5 for stills at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Great video with very interesting content. However, one technical nitpick: For Canon the full frame sensor is actually 2.6 times larger than the APS-C sensor. Field of view is 1.6 times larger but the surface area of the sensor is 2.6. The size of the sensor and the field of view are two different specs.
Good grief that was a packed video! Kudos for going through all those combinations it must have taken a long time. I think you must have answered every question I've ever had on the subject. Sadly I'm in the budget camp for now but on a good day...well I now know I can't blame the gear. Thanks for a great presentation. Fabulous shots.
Here i am on a 40mp Fujifilm X-T5 APSC camera with adapted long prime lenses shooting birds and fighting the poor AF performance and yet, still getting good shots, still capturing beautiful colors, and most importantly still having fun because I LOVE the body and how it all feels on my hands.
I guess the most important thing is to shoot with whatever will encourage and give you motivation to get out there and use it. The best camera is the one you're excited to go out and play with :)
Great video mate. Glad you did the summary at the end, that wrapped it up nicely
Thanks mate, it was a fun video to make but took a lot longer than I had anticipated. Cheers, Duade
One of the best videos I’ve seen comparing focal length, crop factor and sensor size. Awesome video. Thank you so much for the examples
Jhosse, it is my pleasure, I am glad to hear you found it helpful. Cheers, Duade
Indeed!
Completely agree. Great video!
Finally a pro who ask the right questions to help choose the right a cam and a lens ! Thx !
Nicolas, thanks for the comment, glad it helped, Cheers, Duade
What I learned is, that you need to know where the birds are, how to get close to them, what is the best light for this type of shooting and how to edit your pictures. If you know all of these, even the ancient the 40D with the lame, old 400 will give you pro looking results for next to no money...
Great observation and very true, Cheers, Duade
I've begun my journey as a wildlife photographer with the Fuji X-H2S and a 150-600mm. It's kinda interesting because there's not many photographers around so far that uses the X-series as their platform, so the knowledge is quite low overall. I made the choice myself because I had heard about the great ISO performance and the image quality and so far it hasn't disappointed. Some of my best shots have been 6,500 ISO or higher and I've had no issues removing some of the noise with post processing software (especially not with the latest Lightroom upodate). I've really liked Fujifilm cameras in the past so this is why I decided to go with a Fuji for wildlife photography as well. It is a bit tricky in low light situations of course but if Fuji stays on this path I'm sure we will have more options in the near future when it comes to better lenses etc.
Trying to educate my wife, who is now completely addicted to bird photography, how different combinations of full frame and crop sensor cameras work together with different lenses and how they affect images. Of course she now wants the most expensive combo so I may have just shown her too much of your video! Thanks for posting the raw files which were also really helpful. Beautiful captures as always and great video.
Sam, great to hear your partner is addicted to bird photography, it is a great hobby and gets you out and about. Good luck with the gear. Cheers, Duade
I started bird photography recently, i bought a 7d with 55-250, now i saving money for canon 100-400 or sigma/tamron 150-600. These videos helping me such a lot. Thanks mate! :)
Krisztián, that is great to hear, the Sigma 150-600C should work well with the 7D. I used the EF400 5.6 which is another option and can be picked up for a bargain these days. Cheers, Duade
I think Duade has a pretty sharp mind as he raises the question one would like to have with a different combinations. Thanks for such a great informative video.
I have an R6 and I just got my RF 100-500mm 2 days back. I have been researching for many months and I was just feeling why all UA-cam wants an R5 when the animal is just too far away.... and then came Duade with superpixel resolution (upscaling an R6 image) example. Just the right video at the right time. Thanks Duade. Your videos gets better and better with time. Love your channel and I learn a lot from it. Great Work!!
I am from India. If I ever visit Australia / New Zealand ever would love to go with a bird photography outing with you!!
Souptik, congrats on the R6 and RF100-500, a nice light kit that I am sure will capture you many wonderful shots. Yes, Aus/NZ are great places to go birding. Cheers, Duade
The ability to crop with the R5’s 45 MP sensor is why I will pass on the R3. 24 is not enough for me. Thank you for your thorough comparison. I always look forward to your excellent videos.
Mark, you are more than welcome and thank you for the ongoing support. Yes the R3 is a strange one, I almost wonder if using the R5 sensor would have been an option as the other upgrades with no blackout, no rolling shutter, 30fps etc would have made it a nice upgrade. Cheers, Duade
First time I've seen your videos. This one is a great survey of the real dynamics and differences across glass and sensors. Well done.
Tim, welcome to the channel and thanks for the feedback. I hope you enjoy the content. Cheers, Duade
The tip on upscaling images in Lightroom is huge. Just tried it on a raw file from my R6 and it made a huge difference. Great information. Thanks.
Great to hear, it is a good option if you want to print or make it larger. Cheers, Duade
finally someone who explains it as it is, Crop Vs FF and the crop factor. @8:00(ish) - THANK YOU and great vid!!!
Jon, it is my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
I'm very new at all of this, having adopted nature photography as a retirement pastime. Your explanations were wonderful. It provided me a few "light bulb" moments that I'd not acquired from other sources. Thank you kindly ~ Peace and continued success on your journey.
Thanks for the feedback Dennis, that is great to hear, Cheers, Duade
you may have just convinced me to get an R5. But fantastic comparisons, thanks for doing what many of us have wished we could do over the years but couldn't.
John, it is my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Probably the best video I've ever seen comparing all the methods for filling the frame with small, or even any birds. One quick note from a UK nature photographer. I am somewhat envious at how close Australian and North American bird photographers can get to birds in general. For many years I was just amazed at the bird photos American photographers got. However, UA-cam videos have explained why, because when you see how close the photographer is to the bird, out in the open, I am amazed. These are often similar, or even the same species as in the UK. Yet except when using a hide/blind, you would never get that close. In the UK, except for tame birds in a public park, certain seabirds at breeding colonies, there is almost no way you could fill the frame with a FF sensor, no matter how much focal length you have. So cropping, and heavy cropping at that is fairly standard. Additionally, being a far more crowded island with less public land, you are generally stuck to walking around a lot of sites, meaning a more portable outfit. Although of course there is a big difference between bird photography, and birding with a camera, but that is a whole different subject.
Just to give some ideas of distance. With a raptor, out in the open, there are not many opportunities to get within 100yds/m of the bird. With small birds out in the open, often it is difficult to get closer than 45ft, ,15 yds, 14m. Many ducks, because they are regularly shot, like Teal, Shoveller etc, won't let you get closer than about 80m in the open.
Stephan, I live in Kentucky which is part of the mid Atlantic flyway for migratory waterfowl. If after this Covid crazy ever gets a handle and under control try to make it to the states. Either early to mid spring for songbirds and turkeys or wintertime for Bald eagles, waterfowl and other raptors. Be more than HAPPY to be your photo guide. It gives me more opportunities to get out too.
Stephen, I appreciate how difficult it must be for you, we are very fortunate with how many birds allow a semi close approach. We do have very wild ducks so I have some idea of your challenge, it is near impossible to get anywhere near them as they are shot here also. I spend a lot of time trying to find locations that have birds that are approachable or locations I can setup and have good odds of getting a shot. Chasing truly wild birds is a real challenge that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
Great, great, great
It is my pleasure, I am happy the videos are helping, Cheers, Duade
Great video, lots of excellent information. As hobbyist photographer and retired, I really can’t afford a high megapixel camera. So will apply some of the techniques you mention in your video.
Cesar, thank you for your comment, good luck with your photography, Cheers, Duade
Wow! Great information, well presented. I learned quite a bit 🙂 (Maine, USA)
That is great to hear Tom, Cheers, Duade
UA-cam put you on my video feed and I've been watching you for the last few days. What great videos you put together. I can tell you love photography too. Very informative and a joy to watch because your excitement comes through
Thanks Suzie, I do love photography and glad that comes across, Cheers, Duade
Appreciate ALL the work this took. I've been saying for a while now, that the R5 has a built-in 7D2 and why I sold it and the 5D4 to offset the cost.
Fernando, yes, it is a wonderful camera that gives you the benefit of being able to crop. Cheers, Duade
Three years ago I went on safari and happily brought my 5DMIV plus EF 100-400 and 70-200 plus TC 1.4 and 2.0. Very happy with the results but lugging that around was pretty brutal. After I started shooting hummingbirds in our backyard I began to think of MFT in a better light (no pun intended). Especially the EM1.X body which has bird detection AI, Pro Capture (helps capture birds taking off and flying), faster frames/sec, etc. I got used to removing noise w Topaz DeNoise AI, but when using the 300mm f/4 with TC14 or TC20, many of the images just weren’t sharp enough after cropping. So I sold most of my Canon gear and got the new M. Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.5 with built in TC1.25. What a huge improvement! That lens ain’t cheap, but it’s helping me get so many more keepers.
Excellent comprehensive video that mirrors my journey with gear for bird photography. One (small) thing you might have also mentioned: Weight
Depending on your age and strength, bodies with full-frame sensors weigh a lot more than mirrorless ones or ones with APS-C or MFT sensors. When we travel or go into the field, the total size and weight of our kit can be a factor. Also, if one is shooting w a really long lens, you’ll likely need a gimbal head and tripod or monopod. My EM1.X body has great IBIS, and the new lens sans extenders gives me up to 7 stops of image stabilization. So while using a support brings optimal sharpness, I’m able to run and gun if need be. Simply put, some of us need to factor in how heavy (and big) everything is going to be.
So glad to have found your channel!
Ken, I couldn't agree with you more, as I get older the thought of lugging around my heavy lens starts to factor into my outings. I have to say having the R5 and RF100-500 has made a difference as I can handhold it all day long and can just walk around shooting what I see. 500mm is a little short for me but the R5 does allow a decent crop which helps. Cheers, Duade
My Sony a7rv has a 9k sensor. Using my 600mm lens, I can crop into 1500mm-ish (2.5x crop) and still retain a 4k crop. I have no need for a teleconverter. I use DxO deep prime 6 pro software and the sharpening capabilities of it are astonishing. I don't pay as much attention to ISO anymore because this software is absolutely amazing. It also adds dynamic range.
Thanks Jaysun, yes, that appears to be a very impressive sensor for sure. I would love to try that camera at some point. Cheers, Duade
What do you mean it adds dynamic range?
The Canon R5 with all de recent firmwares (1.52 and 1.6) is a beast of a camera. One of the best in the world. Thanks for your videos Duade !
Thanks Steve, yes, they hit the R5 out of the park that is for sure. Cheers, Duade
VERY thorough, thanks Duade. I’ve been eyeing the R6, 100-500, extenders and upscaling software as I rarely print larger than 8x10 so this video is very helpful.
Thanks Charles, glad to hear you are enjoying the R6 and 100-500, it is a wonderful light kit. Cheers, Duade
What would be your dream set up for birds and wildlife. Forget the cost. Thanks for your research in comparing gear.
Mine would be an R5 and EF400mm DO f/4 ii plus 1.4x and 2x extenders as this prime lens is the only Canon super tele light enough for hand holding at about 2kg and works brilliantly with either 1.4x or 2x extenders or even both stacked for 2.8x (need to use the EF mark ii extenders as these are the only ones that can be stacked) and I'd also use either an EF100-400mm ii or RF100-500 zoom.
@@noelchignell1048 What about the R3 and the 12,000 dollar RF 400 f2.8? Fun to dream.
@@angelogarciajr5356 the R3 is in my dream list but we won't have any unbiased tests until after it's released .
The RF400 f/2.8 weighs 2.9kg so it's too heavy for handholding for birds in flight and the extra stop of light isn't enough to justify the weight I think.
G'day Angelo, at the moment the Sony A1 is the best camera out there and coupled with the 600 f4 would be a fantastic kit. For BIF the A1 and 200-600 would be a great kit. Cheers, Duade
Wow what a great video !!! i'm a backyard birder with a canon m50(24mp) with adapter(not speed booster)for ef and efs lenses and a EFS 55 - 250mm lens. I set up a feeding station (maybe 20 to 30 feet away from the house)and most of the time I shoot through glass(patio door) and I've always had a great time and got some really good shots but I always thought I needed a high MP camera body with a huge zoom lens ! Thanks for explaining it in a simple way that everyone can understand !
It is my pleasure, sounds like a fun setup you have, good luck, Cheers, Duade
Have you considered doing part 2, now when R7 is out? I'd definitelly love to see that!
Anyways, great video and a very important one, because most of the people enjoying bird photography won't have unlimited budget so a choice like this is likely to be made....Thank you and big thumbs up!
Thanks Lukáš, be sure to check out this video where I test a number of lenses on the R7. Cheers, Duade ua-cam.com/video/qv3TxfZTttE/v-deo.html
Thanks from England mate, watched this twice to soak up the info :)
That is great to hear, I hope it was helpful, Cheers, Duade
You do a good job of explaining all the possible combos and the pluses and minuses........and in moving along at a pace to deal with ever-shortening attention spans.
Stephen, thanks for that, yes it can be hard to find time to watch longer videos. Cheers, Duade
Wow I learned a ton thanks so much!! 💚
Mike, that is great to hear, Cheers, Duade
Thanks Duade . Would love to hear this same comparison with the new R7!
Thanks Steven, I do plan on doing a video soon on lenses etc. Cheers, Duade
Nice analysis that is at a level of detail that is understandable, yet complete. One thing to consider re: mega-pixels... right now most folks have either a mobile phone or 1080p monitor... 10 years from now, what monitor will we all have, perhaps super high MP VR? Looking at low mega-pixel photos from back when 2MP was dense for a digital camera and they look like crap... so to future proof, consider higher counts MP were you can afford it and unless things like action/speed/dynamic range are more important. Obviously not simple decisions, but thought I'd throw future proofing out there as something to consider.
Yes, 8k screens are already what 33mp so it is interesting to see where we end up going with MP etc. I guess it all depends how you display your images. Cheers, Duade
I loved learning about the Adobe Lightroom enhance feature. Thank you!
It is my pleasure Joanne, Cheers, Duade
Excellent video and explanation that gives people new to wildlife photography and a refreshing for old hands as well.
and thanks for the comment, I'm glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Super comparison. I have r5 and 600/f4II and 200-400 and 100-400v1 and 1.4x. Mostly for grizzly, wolves, moose in dark situations. My struggle is which lens where and weight and wielding the 200-400 in my car. After watching your video, I am more inclined to use my 200-400/1.4x/and apsc mode on R5 more, knowing I can resort to topaz for upscaling. I am also more inclined to buying the 100-500 with apsc mode and retire my 100-400v1 - too heavy for what I get. You are right about losing wings but you did not mention that when you use apsc mode, you know when its futile and you will just get crappy shots. Great job. Scott
Thanks Scott, a great selection of lenses you have, I can say the RF100-500 is a wonderful lens, it is so light, the R5 and rf100-500 weighs less than 2kg which means you can use it handheld easily. I love walking with it and using for macro style shots due to the MFD. Cheers, Duade
Super informative. I have RP and just tried 1.6 crop in camera with R 100-400mm. Definitively will try in the field, but agree it might cut off part of bird. Thanks for that idea. Also, your photography is beautiful. Those bird with their fantastic colors are wonderful. I live in San Diego and we'll have our hawk watch in January, so I am excited to try your techniques on eagles, ferruginous hawks and if I can get close, burrowing owls. Meanwhile, I'm shooting red shoulder and cooper's hawk in my backyard. Very fortunate to have those visitors. Thanks, again, John
Thanks for sharing, I usually just crop in post as if we crop in camera we might miss something if the bird flaps its wings or similar. I would only crop in camera if you want the bird bigger in the frame to focus. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Just used in camera crop to photo cooper's hawk. Needed it to find him in the eucalyptus. Even if they are vocalizing, it's hard to find them in the camo. Right in my backyard, so I drop everything when they call. Used eye focus AF (Canon RP probably not as good as newer models). Thanks for the tip on that.
Thanks for comparing so many different combinations. Your illustration at 7:40 showed me why I was always frustrated with my Tamron 150-600mm on my crop sensor 7D, even though it was sharp on a full-frame 5D. Another great test would be to find the furthest distance with each combination where you can still capture a high-quality, full frame image. It's often hard to compare "100% crop" samples online because a 100% crop on an R5 zooms in much tighter than a 100% crop on an R6 (if cropping by pixels, which Lightroom does). Thanks again!
Thanks Jesse, that is a great point and I may try to do such a test. Cheers, Duade
Thank you for doing this and other you tube videos on photography. They are clear and concise. The material that you provide has helped me greatly.
It is my pleasure Paul, I am glad it is helpful. Cheers, Duade
Very informative video! It did get quite confusing for me at a certain point.. however, the conclusion was very clear and if someone has a specific question, one can just search for the topic in the video and watch the corresponding section. Thanks for sharing!
Tudor, yes it can be hard to understand all these concepts and I am still learning all the time. Cheers, Duade
Thanks a lot for all your hard work ! Those raw files are interesting because we can see the true quality of those lenses on the field without any youtube compression. And this jacky winter was so cute !
Thanks, yes, they sure are, Cheers, Duade
Hahah love the bluppers . You’re already humble to begin with hun . Love your videos 🙏
Thanks Kev, Cheers, Duade
Absolutely incredible video. I cannot imagine how hard this was to pull off comparisons using different cameras on the same birds. Awesome awesome job !
Reginald, yes it was a challenge trying to shoot two at once, thankfully the eye tracking on the mirrorless made it easier. Cheers, Duade
Thanks, Duade for a great comparison. Whilst the R5 with its 45MP is the obvious choice, my take was that you got really good images whatever combination you were using, which obviously comes from your experience and technique. Now in my early 70's I recently decided to upgrade some of my gear, but stay with DSLR's as the price of mirrorless and RF lenses is just too great. If Canon decide to bring out a decent crop sensor mirrorless body, then I may investigate that as an alternative to the 90D. Keep up the good work.
Chris, yes the RF gear is very expensive that is for sure. I hope they do release an R7 as there is a big market wanting a more affordable APSC body. Cheers, Duade
Must have taken you ages to do this, very comprehensive and great insight and detail. Excellent, thank you
Ian, yes it took some time to put this one together, but I enjoyed the process. Cheers, Duade
Duade;
Excellent video packed with practical information.
Like many people, l visit various photography forums. The common question revolves around a person wanting to improve their photography and the majority of the responses focus on buying a new camera body or lens. As you pointed out, your old Canon 40D with your 400mm f5.6 lens often times produced good photos. You are doing side by side comparisons and the differences are still marginal. The majority of photographers post their photos and don't also post the same composition shot with with let's say a higher priced set up ie R5 body and an RF 800mm f5.6 lens. My point is your video shows it's about shooting to get great shots, not buying expensive gear.
Personally l shoot high volume still photography of surfing (1300-1500 shots per day) or 2-5 hr shoots doing video of surfing. Either way, still or video my data captured each day is massive. Even if l had a R5 l would likely shoot crop for production shooting just to reduce file size. Yes, if l was literally on a shoot, thought the shot might end up being published, would opt to shoot full frame.
As you mentioned, you prefer shooting full frame then cropping post edit in fear of shooting too tight, missing something a tighter shot left out. In video work l have learned to do the same. Surfers, like bird's move and it is nearly impossible to keep a subject in a desirable rule of thirds composition. Instead, when l edit in Vegas Pro videoing software find a can literally post edit crop placing the subject in desirable places within the composition. An added benefit is in posted edit crop, when l crop in it creates a zoom effect that's smooth and desirable whereas if l tried zooming during shooting the smoothness wouldn't be there and composition off. Also in post edit, cropping one part of the video to the next, lets say 3 seconds apart, the editing software moves between the two crops smoothly and if l tried to move the subject le5s say from bottom left quadrant of rule if thirds to top right quadrant it would be jerky assuming l could pull it off atxall. To illustrate what l mean, go to 35 seconds in my video on attached link below. Notice the video shot from the rocks on the foreground is shot wide, then in post edit as the surfer rides the wave l crop in drawing the viewer to the subject. If l shot tighter, l could not achieve that effect and it would have been super challenging to shoot close up while maintaining desired surfer placement/composition as he turns up and down the face of the wave. If l zoomed in while actually shooting it woould have been jerky and l doubt l could have maintained optimal photo compostion.
My main point is a $12,000, bigger telephoto lens isn't always the answer. Sometimes less optimal gear forces you to shoot with more creativity or learn to use your gear better.
ua-cam.com/video/opgIF801I08/v-deo.html
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, looks like you have a lot of fun with the surfing videos. No doubt you have a great tripod and head. Cheers, Duade
Great demonstration video. The resolution of the R5 has made it a truly phenomenal camera for sports and wildlife.
Kevin, yes it is a fantastic camera, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for the reminder about shooting the R5 in crop mode. I started digital photography with an 8 MP Rebel then “upgraded” to a 60D. When I put both cameras on a tripod and tested with a zoom lens at identical image size I liked the Rebel better. I now have a 6D and 100-400 L zoom. I thought the R7 might be a good choice to get more reach, but the more I see, the more I think it might be a repeat of my 60D experience. A 1.4x extender probably isn’t a good choice either. Without spending a fortune, the R5 might be my best choice at this time, or I could wait for a true replacement for the 7D.
James, yes all very interesting questions, I think the R5 will deliver far better quality and has many better features but at a much higher cost. The R7 really is an affordable way to get a bigger subject with amazing AF. Cheers, Duade
I've just Sold all my Sony A7 gear and gone back to a Canon 20D and 40D both with low shutter count, at 70 years old I felt that going back to old school photography suits me best now, modern cameras are ok don't get me wrong but photography seems to easy with the latest tech, great video as always Duade :)
Fantastic video! I thought about testing this myself, I really appreciate the work you put into this "super-comparison"!
I got the R5 a while ago and couldn't be happier, I can crop with confidence (and now even more, after your video ;) ) and while I prefer having the subject large in the frame in the first place, it saved some cool shots I would have missed otherwise.
LaKu, it is my pleasure, congrats on the R5, I'm glad you are enjoying it. Cheers, Duade
Absolutely epic.. this Video will stand the test of time and will be a reference for years to come... We missed ya, but so glad you took the time to produce this. I'm so happy with my R6 and you showed pretty much my workflow, by shooting, enhancing, cropping. Great to see I'm not doing anything stupid 🤣 A million thanks Duade, cheers!!!
Ramón great to hear we have a similar workflow, great to hear the R6 is performing well. Cheers, Duade
Thank you Duade. You are very good at what you do. Everything so clearly explained. I started birding and bird photography 2 years ago with a Nikon D5500 and Sigma 150-600mm. Been pushing the limits and struggling with high noise with the low light far away shots that most bird sightings present. I'm deciding between R5/R6 with 800mm/100-500mm, but wondering about a D780 and keeping my Sigma 150-600mm or even Z7 with FTZ. Your video is exactly what I needed. Now I need a video about how to approach my bank manager and my dear wife! Thank you.
Roger, yes, it is tough deciding which way to go, I think Nikon will release some nice cameras with the Z9 onwards. They really need to get the bird eye AF working as it is a big advantage. Unfortunately I don't have any advice for how to obtain the funds whilst keeping a happy marriage :-)
Great video, you pretty much answered all my questions. Being out in nature is my goal and the pictures I get will hopefully celebrate the moment. Thanks much!
Robert, great to hear, have fun out there. Cheers, Duade
Great video duade. I can say this is my fav channel for photography as I watch all ur videos!
That is great to hear, thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
The R6 is still very good with the 20 MP. I ordered today the R6. I wanted the R5 cause of the MP but the different for Social Media Post or for Websites you can see them on this plattforms. Thanks for this video this helped me out :-)
Nice work.
Good luck with your R6 when it arrives, it is a lovely camera, Cheers, Duade
The best video i’ve seen comparing focal length, crop factor and sensor size. Thank you very much about your high contribution to the photography.
Olavo, thank you for the kind comment, Cheers, Duade
Good day!
Wow, what a fantastic vídeo! Full, of comparisons and Tests, the best vídeo on UA-cam about the Matter. The results from the 1dx test, were crazy 😁
Miguel, yes, I was surprised with how well the R5 performed. Cheers, Duade
Bravo Duade. You put a great deal of work into this very excellent presentation.
Thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Even though I shoot with the Sony a1 with the 200-600mm lens, I still enjoy your videos. Great work!!
Thanks Allen, what a fantastic piece of kit you have, the a1 is the best camera on the market at the moment and was a joy to use when I had a play. Cheers, Duade
Excellent comparison! The according explanation is supporting spot on!
Kind Regards, Jan from DK
Jan, thank you for the comment, Cheers, Duade
Best video of Duade so far. Keep it up. Thanks. Cheers...
Gayan, thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Your vlogs are excellent and thorough and well thought out. Really easy to listen to and understand. Thanks so much for sharing this. Really well presented. Thank you.
Kelly, thanks for the lovely feedback, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Without doubt the best video I've seen on this subject. Thank you!
John, thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
You have done a fantastic job of testing, comparing, and clarifying the available telephoto imaging options for wildlife photography. Especially for us Canon shooters you have specifically clarified our options and choices and the relative merits and/or liabilities of each. You left no stone unturned.
Concerning the R5's option to shoot in 1.6 crop factor mode, might it also convey the benefit of applying the camera's entire internal computing power (with a buffer and autofocusing system capable of 45mp) to a smaller file size, thereby increasing buffer depth and perhaps focusing faster/better, or increasing frames per second rates, beyond just applying a crop in the camera? I wonder if you have any insight into those possibilities? Thanks for a terrific and entertaining video empowering your viewers, whatever their equipment.
Mark, thanks for your comment I appreciate it. Yes, I think you are correct in crop mode you will have a much bigger buffer as the files are so much smaller. The FPS will not change and I am unsure about the AF performance, its possible if the bird is bigger it is easier for the sensor to pick up the eye, not sure. Cheers, Duade
I have been considering a change to Canon mirrorless for my full size bodies ( currently all 5D series). I have decided to stay with my DSLR equipment for now but I have decided to add a 7D mk ii to add to my 600 f4 and 300 f 2.8 rather then using my teleconverters. Especially on my 600 as I don’t care for the image quality especially the 2x. I will keep the new mirrorless in mind for the future, but the price of the used body outweighs the investment right now for the mirrorless option. I’m just getting into birding and find it very interesting and a lot of fun. Love your video s and instructional style. Keep it up.
Mark, thanks for your comment and sharing your experience. I believe the R7 is the camera many birders are waiting for as it should give excellent IQ, AF, FPS etc but also the 1.6 crop which is great for wildlife. The big question is how it handles higher ISO. Cheers, Duade
Simple yet excellent explanation. Using gear in the field to demonstrate how things work was nice
Thanks for another great video Duade. I use the 400 f5.6 on my Eos R. The 30mp sensor is a good size but the focal length is a bit limiting. I just try getting closer to the subject to try to get frame fillers. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Can't wait for this bloody lockdown to end so I can get back out there. All the best, Brian.
Have you tried the 1.4 extender with it? That's what I use on my 5dm3. Of course getting closer would be better.
G'day Brian, yes 400 can be a bit limiting for sure, as Keith mentioned my 1.4 version 3 extender works very well when you have adequate light. I shared lots of photos in my last video using the extender. It does struggle in low light but is very good in better light. I am also waiting for the lockdown to end. Cheers, Duade
@@keithwiebe1787 Hi Keith, yep I do use the 1.4 but of course that comes with its own limitations. Thanks for your input mate. All the best, Brian.
@@Duade Hi Duade, I have the same 1.4 extender and I do use it but as you have mentioned and as I replied to Keith it has its own limitations. Maybe I'm just impatient or expect too much from my equipment. Anyway, thanks again. All the best.
Loved the kookaburra! Hehe. Thanks for this video. Loads of comparisons and information. I noted that the APS-C will always noise issues. I think I keep coming back to the R5 as my upgrade from a 1200D. But Canon rumours say they bring out a new APS-C with bigger MP and hopefully better ISO capabilities. So I will continue to wait. Nothing to lose by waiting. I'll only upgrade once as I am hobbyist photographer and don't earn money from it. It's just for fun.
Nerrel, yes, I think that is wise, I believe Canon will release an APSC mirrorless at some stage this year which will be a nice upgrade over the 1200D. Cheers, Duade
Great video, Duade! Very thorough. One thing I notice a lot of people get wrong with teleconverters is that they think it'll allow them to get better shots from further away. I prefer to use teleconverters in my normal sweet when I want a tighter frame on a smaller subject. I find that doing this minimizes the IQ hit my shots take from using teleconverters.
I should add that you've demonstrated what I consider to be the better method of utilizing teleconverters in this video, which is a good thing imo.
Austin, yes getting closer is a great way to get the bird bigger and better IQ. Cheers, Duade
Nice comparison. I always wondered about this as I want to go R5 with 500mm prime f4. Definitely the option I’ll go for now 👍
Thank you very much, was debating going for the R6 to shoot sports and your video really helped me see the differences between all different factors. In the summer, when our school is closed, I started shooting birds as practice for in mouvement shooting, so small little hobby on the side, since their are similarities.
Jean-Pierre, I am glad it helped, good luck with the sports, Cheers, Duade
I really like your straightforward presentational style. I would love to see a comparison between the R5 and R7 using the 100-500 in different lighting conditions to see how they compare. Thanks
Thanks Nick, I will try to compare the two at some stage, Cheers, Duade
I am very pleased with the videos you produce. I am not a photographer more of a cowboy and back country guide. I use an old Tamron 150-600 on Nikon now looking to up grade. You are so clear to me and present such organized information. Learning from you has helped me increase my interest in making photos. Many of my activities are becoming less available to me as I age so using you as a guide is encouraging to me. Ken retired law enforcement.
Thank you very much!
Great video, as always. I love the bloopers at the end 🤣
Great detailed video Duade. I figure that my 20MP D7500 aps-c camera is about equal to a 45MP camera such as the R5 because if I was stood right next to you with my D7500 and you had an R5 and we both had a 600mm lens attached photographing the same bird at the same distance, in order to get the same field of view you would have to crop the R5 image by about 50% to make the images appear similar and around the same file size. Just one correction too; you stated at 7:36 that Four Thirds sensors are '2 times as small' as FF, but in fact they are 4x smaller than FF (but the crop factor is 2x).
Thanks Steve, I am learning all the time. Yes, I would need to go into 1.6 crop mode to get the same field of view as somebody using an APSC sensor. In good light they would no doubt be similar but in low light the FF body would produce much better files. Cheers, Duade
Good catch on the m4/3 sensor gaff, Steve. I was gonna mention this in my comment, but you had it covered. Minor mistake from an otherwise very knowledgeable man with a very thorough and knowledgeable video! Peace
@@georgedavall9449 Thanks George, I will know for next time, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I'm pretty sure that two sensors, one FF and one APS-C, using the same generation sensors with similar pixel density will have near identical noise when the FF sensor is in crop mode. The readout will have the same settings, same light, same equivalent focal length. The APS-C will have a slightly larger DOF, but the amount of light impinging the read portion of the sensor is identical. The Canon 40D is a 14 year old camera, and the R5 is a bit over a year old at this point. I'm actually impressed at how well the 40D compared to the R5 given the massive tech difference. A much better comparison would be something like a Nikon Z50 to a Z7 or a Canon 40D to a EOS-1Ds Mark III.
Will, I suspect Canon are working on a high megapixel body and perhaps an APSC version of that will make its way into the R7 hopefully. Cheers, Duade
Thanks from Toronto.having 600 mm Prime with R6 Mark II
Great video Duade!
Thanks mate, it was fun putting it together, Cheers, Duade
Super video. I see someone mentioned Gigapixel and Sharpen AI which seem to be a game changer and worth mentioning in this context.
Thanks Robert, yes, software has been a big gamechanger for sure, Cheers, Duade
Excellent presentation, really informative, but as you say the subjects and light conditions were perfect. Not wanting you to get wet or cold, but some in-field, differing lighting conditions would be challenging.
Thanks Bob, yes poor light would have had very different results. Cheers, Duade
Having been a professional photographer all my life, I am well aware about the difference pixels make, I bought a pro digital DSLR in 2000, £10,500, 2.1 MP. Shocking isn't it. I am glad to see that you mentioned the problem with a crop sensor, noise mainly, and that extenders cause a drop in quality. It can be frustrating that vendors rely on megapixels. The P1000 has a fantastic zoom, plenty of MP, but the sensor is the size of a fingernail. After watching your videos I bought an R6 [use mainly 5D4] mainly for the animal eye focusing as I do a lot of wildlife, especially birds in Spain. Incidentally I did wonder if more MP could be a disadvantage, using my 50-500 Sigma images were softer on a 7D2 than 5D4, possibly because the lens was not resolving enough, and the higher pixel count as seeing the flaws. Keep up the good word, the main problem with Spain is natives with guns, but I have some cracking vultures, hopefully now the focus will follow the eye. Oh, it is Derek HIbbert, only the wife managed to change the settings, Google me if you are curious.
Derek, thanks for sharing your experience and I agree, the R6 is a great camera and the eye af should make photographing the vultures a little easier. I am looking forward to going out on a boat and photographing seabirds once Covid restrictions ease. Not sure I looked at the right account but if it was the one with the Ford Escorts then they looked great. Cheers, Duade
interesting video! I'd probably seen hundreds on the topic but yours is so much better. Cant't wait for the next one, cheers!
Jordan, thanks for the feedback, Im glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Awesome work Duade can't keep up with your output , great comparison between crop and full MP !
Thanks mate, it was a fun video to make. Cheers, Duade
Great video, as always, with some practicality built in; agree: canon r5 and 100-500
Ray, thanks for the feedback, Cheers, Duade
I found your video very informative. I, too, see that this took a fair amount of work to produce and edit to a watchable video. Thank you very much. I learned a whole lot.
Yes it took some time to put together but it was fun to produce, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for photography tips 👍
Abdul, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
This comparison video was awesome!!
Thanks Abraham, glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
And here I am shooting my 20mp Olympus EM1X. My main two lenses are the 300mm F4 which is FF 600mm eq. And the 40-150mm F2.8 FF 80-300mm.
Terry, I have heard lots of good things about the 300 f4, would love to try it one day. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Yesterday I took some short video of a Bull Elk about 30 yards away. Used the 40-150 he was tearing the crap out of the trees and ground. Exciting :)
Excellent comparison with great information. I have a Sony a6000 (aps-c) and a Sony a7c (FF) that I couple with Sony's 100-400 zoom. Your video of has caused me to think that I really need to go out and do some comparisons with my system before I go and buy a 1.4x extender. Aps-c vs vs full frame in crop mode vs cropping in post-production. The tools to minimize noise, sharpen, and upscale resolution in post-production also need to be considered as I consider how to best achieve my desired outcome. Thank you for a very thought-provoking video.
Paul, good luck with the testing, I would probably be inclined to save for the Sony 200-600, that is one nice lens. Cheers, Duade
I just wanted to take the time to thank you. Your videos are very informative as well as very inspiring. Your joy for what you do is contagious. Mahalo
You are so welcome!
Dropped across this channel! Fantastic information.
Welcome to the channel John, happy to have you here. Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade!
Thank you for your very interesting and enjoyable videos. The very serious approache in this video was very helpfull with very nice picture examples. Thank for your quality work!! Paul
Thanks Paul, it is my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Best video yet to compare megapixels, extenders and focal length. I used to use my 7D II for birds but if I needed higher ISO it was terrible for noise. I sold it along with my Mark IV for the R5 and love it. I’ve got great high ISO and can crop significantly. Thanks for all your work in this video.
Bruce, yes, the R5 is a real groundbreaking camera that has really set the standard going forward. Cheers, Duade
I was waiting for a video like this one, thanks duade!
Alonso, my pleasure, glad you enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Really interesting comparisons, Duade. Have you added an R5 to your permanent kit now? What are you using most often in the field now?
Craig, yes, I recently picked up the R5 in an end of financial year sale which made it much more affordable. I need two cameras for UA-cam, so a second mirrorless makes sense. I use the R6 for filming and the R5 for stills at the moment. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I wish I could find one of those sales!!! :-)
Great video with very interesting content. However, one technical nitpick: For Canon the full frame sensor is actually 2.6 times larger than the APS-C sensor. Field of view is 1.6 times larger but the surface area of the sensor is 2.6. The size of the sensor and the field of view are two different specs.
Jose, thanks for the pickup and yes, I got that wrong, I am always learning which is great. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade we're all learning from each other, the beauty of UA-cam, thanks for putting yourself out there. 👍
Nice comparisons there - all makes sense - thanks for doing this work
Rob, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Wow!! Fantastic video, full of everything I wanted to know on this subject. Thanks
that is great to hear, I'm glad your enjoyed it, Cheers, Duade
Good grief that was a packed video! Kudos for going through all those combinations it must have taken a long time. I think you must have answered every question I've ever had on the subject. Sadly I'm in the budget camp for now but on a good day...well I now know I can't blame the gear. Thanks for a great presentation. Fabulous shots.
Jim, it is my pleasure and thanks for the nice comment. Good luck with your kit, Cheers, Duade
Now I understand the law of photography. Well explained.
glad to hear it helped, Cheers, Duade