Canon RF 200-800 Bird Photography with R6 Mark II
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- In today's video, I use the Canon R6 Mark II to make bird photos with the RF 200-800mm telephoto zoom lens. I go back to the Summit Knobs Equestrian trail. I managed to find and photograph several birds including Indigo Bunting, Summer tanager, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, and White-eyed Vireo. I learned that the 200-800 works better at F/10 than it does wide open at f/9 or stopped down 1/3 stop more to F/11 so all the images in this video are at f/10.
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That Indigo Bunting is a gorgeous bird!!
It really is and I love that they are not impossible to find.
Nice detail in these photos. As long as one doesn't have to compare back and forth with the Canon 100-500 it sure looks fine.
Thank you!
You got some good ones Phil. The 200-800 does pretty well.
Thanks, Ron!
I live in the UK and I ordered my lens in December 2023 and it arrived 1st May 2024, love it and it's my go to lens along with my R5
I'm glad you finally got it.
This makes me look forward to taking good photos this weekend. And finally getting my hands in that Nikon lens someday
I hope you have great success this weekend!
stunning photos but the Indigo Buntings.... WOW!!! I do like that lens a LOT - I did not at first, but I like it only on full frame cameras like the R5 and R3. I have not yet tried it on any other full frame camera so for that I have no comparison.💖🤗
Hi JP! I hope it works well with R5 Mark II.
@@PhilThach I think it will. i also think the RF 100-500 will be amazing on the new body as well. 💖
Beautiful shots Phil. Well done on getting those. And your lens is off to Iceland! Thanks for sharing 👍🙏
Thank you, Adrian! My lens has made it back home from Iceland and now I have sent it to Canon to see if the sharpness issues are normal for this lens or if I have a bad copy.
Really impressive shots! The R6 Mk II is my most recent purchase, and I am waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more, for Canon to produce more of the 200-800 RF. It's maddening that even big retailers like B&H seem to have absolutely no idea when it will be available. Some day, I hope I'll be popping that lens onto my own R6.2.
Thank you! I hope you get yours soon.
4:20 lovely shot, great colors.
Thank you!
Such amazing shots you got on that trail. Pretty much all homeruns and most birds new to me. Thanks for sharing
Thank you!
Hi Phil! At 2:31 you spoke about the electronic shutter ; "...which helps keep motion blur and shutter shock out of your shot when you're not using the mechanical shutter". This is a shockingly new thing I learned today! I'm a fairly new hobbyist photographer and till now only had the idea that electronic shutter is an absolute No-GO, as it causes rolling shutter and what not! Thank you so much ❤ I'll start experimenting with the electronic shutter on my a6700 from now on..
I should have said the electronic shutter helps eliminate motion blur from shutter shock. There will still be motion blur from birds moving around if your shutter speed is too low. However, I highly recommend the electronic shutter with the R6 Mark II and even the R7 when making photos of perched birds. For birds in flight it is usually best to switch back to the mechanical shutter.
Amazing bird pictures! Thanks for the video.
Thank you, Edward!
That's a great shot of the Yellow-Breasted Chat, this is my exact gear, so gives me things to mark myself against!
Thank you!
Phil, I’ve been to Iceland. I don’t know if I’d go there just for Puffins. I believe that the largest Atlantic Puffin colony nests in Newfoundland, Canada. Road trip! Iceland is a landscape photographer’s heaven. Huge waterfalls (think the opening scene in the SYFY movie Prometheus), black sand beaches, glaciers, geysers, volcanic mountains, etc…. I loved it for that. 👍🏻 📷
I think they went to Grimsey Island which is about 40km off the north coast of Iceland.
@@PhilThach If they went by boat, I feel for them. Being the North Atlantic the sea can be a little rough. 🤢😂
Nice and sharp and punchy colors. Great shots!
@@IntoTheMystery13 thank you!
I never get to see any of these birds down under here. Loved all the pics. My favorite ones were of the Prairie Warbler singing shots. Great shots Phil!
Thank you!
Great photos there , Phil look at that Orchard Oriole looks so much like a juvenile Hooded Oriole .
Thank you! They are similar for sure. We don't get Hooded in my part of the country.
Great finds and beautiful birds! Loving their colors.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always Phil 👍
Thank you!
Beautiful shots Phil... Nice video. Keep up the great lessons ..
Thank you!
Really nice captures, Phil! As always, it's a pleasure to view your videos.
Thank you, Ray!
I've found the performance of this lens can be affected by heat haze/atmospheric distortion especially at the long end which will affect sharpness - remember this lens is significantly longer than those other lenses you mention in your video which won't be affected as much. Sharpness wise I prefer to use it with my R3 and f10 as you suggest and in all honesty the difference between this glass and the RF 100-500 is certainly not significant imho. I'm more than happy with the results. Another really informative video Phil - looking forward to the next!
Thank you! All lenses are affected by heat haze. In my testing the 100-500 is demonstrably sharper than the 200-800. I did send my lens in to a Canon repair center as soon as it returned from Iceland to have them check it out and see if it is performing up to spec or if it has an issue that they can correct. I'll make a video soon with their findings. I hope they can improve it but I worry that mine is performing normally.
@@PhilThach It's a shame your sample is like this. I've spoken to many other users on facebook who find it a really sharp lens (myself included) I did a few tests comparing performance when it was warm and sunny (a rarity here in the UK) and on cool days and the results were better when there was less heat around. It would be interesting to know how well it performed in Iceland.
I've never seen any of the birds you took Phil, that's why I love your channel, being in Australia we have a lot of different birds to you. By the way I'd love to see some pics from your lens once your friend returns from their Iceland trip if that's at all possible. Puffin's are and amazing bird
Thank you. We do have some interesting birds here just as you do in Australia.
Really nice shots. Donna certainly put that lense to work.
Thank you, Dan!
Brilliant video and great photos 👏🏻
Thank you!
Phil thanks for sharing your photography excellent knowledge❤
@@tomdoolin2415 thank you!
Excellent bird photography with R6 MII. Big LIKE from me. A new friend here from Singapore. 👍🔔
Thank you!
Great video, I intend to get this lens soon. Will help with framing so the bird isn't large in the video making it easier to stabilize (or easier to enhance the stab in post-production).
Thank you!
Stunning shots !!
Thank you!
Great shots! I really liked the Indigo Bunting. I will be interested in what Canon has to say about the sharpness of the lens.
Thank you! Me too! It arrived there Monday and so far all their website is telling me is "Ready to Repair". I don't know if that means they have it but haven't diagnosed it yet or if they have diagnosed it but they are waiting on parts. Their repair site is pretty vague. Nikon's is no better. I'm more than halfway expecting them to tell me my lens is performing normally.
Great photos Phil, Whats the combo like for birds in flight with fast shutter speeds.
@@blueyorks6884 it’s actually pretty good for large birds in flight. I’ll be using it on sandhill cranes soon.
nice shots
Thank you!
Great video and stunning images! Greetings from a Swedish youtuber! 🇸🇪
Thank you!
Thanks Phil, nice photos and perspectives. What is the typical distance between you and your subjects.
Thank you! In my blind, it's 10 feet. In the wild 15-50 feet probably.
Wow you had a good day and made some great shots! I love those Chat shots. I have yet to see one but hopefully I will soon. I'm on the fence with my 200-800 I am most likely going to sell it and get the 100-500. I find I just don't use it as much as I thought it would and it's overall not a great lens to use for me shooting style. Thanks so much for another great video.
Thank you! I sent my 200-800 in to Canon to see if they could get it sharper or confirm that mine is in spec. We'll see.
@@PhilThach I'll be interested to hear how that works out. I think the 100-500 will serve me better on both my R5, R8, and R7. Yes I will give up some reach but that will be ok for how I use my Canon setup. Oh I just ordered a Nikon Z8 and the 180-600. It may be a while until I see the 180-600 we will see. Can't wait to get back in to Nikon I started my photographic journey with Nikon.
@@PhotoGearFun well .. what do u say about 180-600 Nikon?
@GeorgeIXzzz it's a great lens that is fairly reasonable for Nikon. Pretty sharp and versatile with that zoom range.
Great shots Phil, you must be letting Donna use that lens lol
Thank you, Roger!
Yesterday, I received yet another email from B&H saying that my 200-800 is still backordered. I've just celebrated my 6 month backorder anniversary. Bummer.
Bummer. That tells me that B&H is not the place to get your gear if you want it near release. Did your 10-20 f/4 L ever come in? That one is on backorder everywhere too. I sent my 200-800 in to Canon repair hoping it was defective. Nope, my copy is good. I wish it was better.
@@PhilThach Yes, my 10-20 came in. It's OK, but after using it in real estate shots, I find myself yearning for the EF 11-24 that the 10-20 replaced.
Gorgeous photos. Why did you land on 742mm. I’m considering the new 200-800. Was it not as sharp at 800 or just didn’t need that much reach?
@@trekJason It’s definitely a little less sharp at 800 mm and it’s definitely a little less sharp wide-open at F9 but at 742 or the next step down which is 707mm and stopped down to f10 you can achieve some acceptable results.
Hi Phil I am lucky to have a choice between the Canon 200-800 or the Canon 100-500 F7.1. I have the R7 at the moment? I have to make a decision at the end of this week as to which lens to buy. Would you go for the 100-500 with a 1.4 teleconverter as your first choice? And is it worth upgrading to the R6 ii for its better high iso performance over the R7 or is the lack of a crop factor an issue? I hope you can do a bird photography trip to Iceland soon. Finland is also great for the Northern Owls and Dotterel
Hello! With the R7, I would get the 100-500 and use it without a teleconverter.
@@PhilThachagreed. You don’t need more than 500mm with a crop sensor.
I have the R7, R6mk2, and both of those lenses. In my opinion the best image comes from the R7 with the 100-500 IF you are close enough. However, in my testing the 200-800 is very close to the 100-500 and then the extra range just makes it more versatile. The R6mk2 I use for early morning or late evening shots for the better light but the lack of range and lower resolution do have to be considered. I more often reserve the R6mk2 for people portrait and video. I am waiting on canon to release the R5mk2 to see if its a good middle ground.
Would you mind share the settings on your canon R6 mark II thanks
For me up to now I do use the R6M2 with the RF 100-500mm 4.5-7.1 L and the RF 24-105 mm f4 L. Thinking about getting the Rf 1.4 extender to go on the RF 100-500MM. Looked at the other video's about the RF 200-800 and it seems not as sharp and stable. Problem do with the combo RF 100-500mm with RF 1.4 extender you lose the 100-300 mm and starts of from 300 × 1.4 = 420 mm.
As one of your viewers in Iceland I would be very interested to see what a photographer with your skills would come up with :)
That is very kind of you. Maybe I will get to go there someday.
What we need is for somebody to come up with a Bird Alert system so that when a specific Bird makes a call, we can go grab our camera and go outside. Because I hate going outside in the Summer if I have a much cooler place I can be. I know some of the Bird Calls, but at some point I get lost. For instance, I wouldn't know the Indigo Bunting Call. However either a Orchard Oriole or a Baltimore Oriole was in my Front Yard making calls for almost 2 months. They are now gone. I have not seen a Indigo, in several years. Pretty sure I have heard a Tanager but not seen it. The other 2 birds, never seen those yet. But I bet a Ton of birds go by our Homes, unbeknown to us. Each year.
I agree, I bet some of these birds have landed in my yard and I’ve never seen them.
Have you used the Merlin Bird ID app? You can listen to bird sounds and will come up on your screen with the bird it identifies. It doesn’t alert you but if you are sitting outside just listening, you can at least watch the screen as it captures the calls and see the birds.
@@chiliverde66 Never used it. But I do want some genius to make it even easier for me. But thanks for the tip. When one is taking a Nap, that's exactly when those critters show up.
Phil, what is the red accessory(?) on the rear control dial, looks like it's rubberized and increases diameter? Thank you.
@@RogerDiFiore amzn.to/3V8uL8u
@PhilThach thank you
Okay...what do you prefer, Phil?
- 200-800 or 800mm f11?
- R6 mark II or R7?
Can you share in a video how you use Photo AI to edit your photo's?
Enjoyed this video a lot! My favourite is the Indigo Bunting!!
The Jury is still out on 800 f/11 VS 200-800. I sent my 200-800 in for service to see if it is in spec. R6 Mark II is better with the 200-800 but R7 with 100-500 is better than R6 Mark II with 200-800. Autofocus is not as consistent though with the R7 but when you get a sharp one it is the best. I actually don't use Photo AI, I do use Topaz DeNoise AI which I don't think they support anymore. I run the photos through DeNoise AI after I complete my edit in lightroom. I use the default auto settings and am almost always happy with the results.
I’ve believe you have a bad copy of the 200-800 and surprised you didn’t return it. I received one on the 2nd round just by luck and it is tack wide open. I’ve made a wonderful living with my camera for over 60 years and the experience helps.
I sent mine in to Canon for repair, and they said it was operating properly.
Have you used the Sigma 150-600 lens and if so, what are your thoughts on image quality between the 2? I have this lens in my notifications from B&H to let me know when it is available and debating if I want to sell the sigma and get this one once it is available. I also have the Canon R6 Mark II
I haven't used the Sigma 160-600. Sorry.
Phil can you please advise when you got your 200-800? I order mine in January and still haven’t received it. In fact I haven’t heard a word on it.
I got mine in December. I had my name on a waiting list at my camera store before the lens was actually announced so I got the very first one that my camera store received.
How do you learn about bird names , species and habitats
I slowly learned them over years of bird photography. I use the allaboutbirds.org website.
Where did you get this lens? It is not available to purchase in US. I waited for it for so long time and bought RF 100-500 L lens instead.
You bought the better lens. I had my name on the waiting list at my camera store before it was officially announced. I got mine on the first shipment in December 2023.
@@PhilThach Thanks for reply. I am very satisfied with my "new" lens. Will post some Videos on my UA-cam channel. All my photos in my videos so far were taken with R7 & RF 100-400mm and 2x Extender. Now I have R6 Mark II and RF 100-500 L Lens and pictures are fantastic. Like your channel.
It took me six months (Nov 23 - May 24) to get my 200mm-800mm lens.
It’s in very high demand and I don’t know if they’re making a lot of them or not very many but they certainly don’t stay at a store very long. I just wish mine was a little bit sharper. Hopefully when it gets back from Canon service, they will have a problem and fixed it. My biggest worry is that they will say there is nothing wrong with it.
Well, I guess in a few days, I'm going to be back in the market for the 200-800. JMPO, but that lens is the Holy Grail for bird photography. At least for the style, and birds that I shoot. Canon has really dropped the ball, on getting this lens out to the folks that want one :( But no other company makes such a lens.... Or, a new, pro level APS-C body to put it on :( If these two things became available from another company today, I'd leave Canon immediately (after testing, of course).
I sent mine to Canon right after it came back from Iceland. I don’t think they were able to find anything wrong with it. Which means the level of sharpness I’m getting is about as good as you can get with it. Honestly, I find that a little bit disappointing. But I am going to keep it. I’m pretty sure.
@@PhilThach and you are not the first person who I have heard say this. Yet most folks say that it is at least as sharp as the 800 F11, which to my eyes, is plenty sharp.
Also JMPO, but by the time a shot is sized down from 24 or 32 mp, to 3 or 4 for posting digitally (99% of peoples uses nowadays) the sharpness of these lenses.... and heck, you can go on and include a $13K 600 F4, or $16K 800 F5.6... Is virtually indistinguishable from one another. {when each of these lenses and camera combos do their best}
I have a good friend who is a pro photographer and birding guide. Earlier this year, he took his 800 F11, his 200-800, and his 500 F4 + 1.4 TC to Costa Rica. He got great shots with all these lenses (as he always does). After the trip, he posted shots from each. Nobody could tell which shots came from which lens.
I believe the variances of sharpness (and especially the consistency) from shot to shot, have more to do with the body, and how well the AF and EAF perform. I have read that the R6 Mk II is really great ! Better than my R7's for sure. Too bad it is a FF, and only 24mp's.
I'm super hopeful about the R7 Mk II ;)
PS, Keep in mind, I did rent the 200-800 for a week, and so part of my opinions on this lens are from first hand experience. I took about 6000 shots with it, about 12 of which made it all the way to my Flickr page :) Freaking LOVED that lens. I rented the 100-500 too. It was never long enough, and sucked with TC's. None of those shots made it to my Flickr page :(
Took me 6mo to get my 200-800
I received my lens today and I am very disappointed. Sharpness and colors are very very poor. It's like I'm shooting with a 5mp camera. I wish I had bought a 100-500mm. I hope I will like it in time
@@yavuz7248 I ended up selling mine.
What camera with this lens?
@@kangayi700
My camera is r6 mark II but I need to fix some things with this lens, I hope it will guide someone.
In fact, the more I used the lens, the more I liked it. Sharpness is a bit relative and depends on the cameraman and mostly on the lighting conditions. The high zoom range creates the illusion that you can get sharp images from a distance. I got very sharp images when I was close to the subject. It's no less sharp than other brands' 200-600 lenses and it's up to the cameraman to get sharp images with this lens. I experienced this during my use and now I love this lens.