I'm using the R5 and RF100-500 and I just can't wait until the Dragonfly season starts in the end of April here in Denmark. I got a few dragonfly shots in the end of 2020 and the AF can actually catch flying dragonflies in the air and focus on the head of the animals.
I've always wanted to try shooting dragonflies. They're so small and flying all over the place...how do you get them without locking onto the background all the time?
The RF 100-500 is such an incredibly amazing lens. And this lens in conjunction with the R5 is hands down the best photo gear I've ever owned in many years of photography, by a LOT...and I've owned plenty of 1 and 5 series bodies before. Just the amazing ability to track subjects and the beautiful high ISO delivers such amazingly sharp results with far more keepers than I've ever experienced before. Plus, the best lens is always the one you have with you. I love that the 100-500 is so light and gives you the ability to freely travel, without having to lug along the weight of a 500 or 600mm prime, which get very weary handholding for extended periods. What you lose in a little less bokeh you gain back tenfold in the sheer versatility and flexibility. I'm frequently shooting osprey coming in with fish and I never know exactly where they're going to be coming in. The ability to move quickly to track incoming birds from all angles and various locations makes all the difference for me. As Jan mentioned, this lens performs extremely well with the teleconverters. I honestly don't think I lose any AF speed with the 1.4x on. My only complaint here is that the lens cannot be fully retracted with the teleconverter on and also requires the lens to be extended to install the teleconverter which is slightly annoying.
I was hoping the rumored RF 200-500 f/4 would become reality, but I got tired of the issues with my adapted Sigma 150-600S, and bought the RF 100-500. I am very glad I did, it’s a fantastic lens, much better than the Sigma in all aspects.
I’ve just done exactly the same thing. I had a Sigma 150-600 S on my Canon r7 and just found it too heavy and cumbersome for field use. In two days of the new RF 100-500 I genuinely believe it to be the best piece of kit I’ve ever owned. The AF and Eye Detection is superb.
What kind of issues were you having? I was thinking of moving to a mirrorless body but i have the 150-600 contemporary lens and was planning on using it.
Hi Jan. Very impressive, although I don't see a need for either you or Duade to have long lenses, as the birds over there seem to come to you and pose at a very short distance. lol
@@RujulPathak13 The lens is still great, but you won't have the ye tracking or fast frame rates of the R5/6 and no IBIS. So it will still be a great lens, but more limited by what the camera can do. The photos will still look amazing I'd say
The problem that made me go to the 100-500 is that my 100-400 L II lens did not work well with my R5. Despite updated lens and camera firmware, the lens IS and camera IBIS fought each other, making constant noise as though it was set for constant AF (it was not) and eventually requiring sensor replacement in the R5. I sold the 100-400 and ordered the 100-500.
Man, the RF100-500 is an absolute beast of a lens. I have owned it for over 2 years and it is one of my most used lenses by far. It is so incredibly versatile! I will most probably treat myself the RF600 f4 for my 40th birthday next year, but my RF100-500 will stay with me for forever since it just so good and light.
This lens turns out to be the most versatile I ever used in decades of nature photography. Great handheld, great on a tripod Great for landscape Great for plants, even closeups and details Waiting season for butterfies and dragonflies will start, this lens i very promising Great for birds and mammals The IQ mounted to the R5 is outstanding in all those applications. Sure a big white prime does have an edge, but they are not close regarding versatility.
Thanks, Jan I have just purchased this lens and an R5. I’m getting my best ever images I have ever taken. Thanks for the great videos. I enjoy them immensely. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Jan I have this lens and totally agree with your assessment of it. I feel luck to own the R5 and RF100-500 best set up I’ve owned and I’m getting my best ever images
I agree. On the used market you can get the 100-400 II for like half of this one. It’s nice I’ve shot both but the 100-500 isn’t worth that extra cost. The 100-400 adapted is still quick and accurate
@@Jan-eh7nf Yes, I know that the Sony 200-600 is not the best. But what I meant was that I would have liked to have seen Canon release a lens in that focal range - that is a 200-600 instead of a 100-500.
Thanks Jan for explaining the ultimate difference between an excellent zoom lens and a dedicated prime lens, when shooting in poor lighting conditions. Not being a pro, the 100-500 really seems to be the best possible lens, probably for a long time. The RP has recently become my gateway to RF lenses, with the 100-500 being #1 in the wish list.
I agree, for most people the difference will never really show up. If you do very specialised things like I do at times, the big primes still give you an edge, but you also pay dearly for that edge.
Hay Jan, where is the forest location? I know the beach scenes look like Philip Island, but love to know where to go to get shots of those birds in the forest. Now to find the money for that lens!
Thank you for this much anticipated video. Amazing stuff. I have the 100-500 and a 1.4 extender and I just love it. Best combo ever and I can easily live without the last bit of extra quality I would get out of one of the big whites. The image quality along with the flexibility and great form factor and build quality make this an absolute stunner
@@Mikkidk2400 certainly, I just find the 100-500 a bit of a hassle to use with the extender as the barrel needs to be extended half way when working with the extender. Image quality holds up nicely though
This is my go to lens for wildlife, paired with an R5. Quality is incredibly good and the stabilisation is excellent for hand holding those long shots of African wildlife. I use it for video as much, or even more, than for stills. Great lens.
I switched to RF about 16 months ago, picked up the EOS R and the 24-240 as a simple light weight inexpensive travel set up instead of travelling with the 5DIII and several “red ring”lenses. Quickly got hooked on the R and sourced a RF 100-500 this spring. (Was nearly impossible to find anything in stock in Canada). Having used this lens now for 6 months, it is by far my favourite PBWA lens. I used it mostly for birds and the close focusing distance is amazing for insects and flowers. I love this lens so much I rarely take my landscape lenses or my f2.8 70-200 out for a walk anymore. I’ve just subscribed to your videos and they are really informative. Keep them coming!
Hi Jan, I ve watched a lot of video's to collect info about the RF 100-500. But this is one of the best! I was using a R6 with adapter and the 100-400 is usm II. Very good combination, working well, but I sell it and buy the RF 100-500. It's very expensive, but worth every euro. It's amazingly sharp, fast and nice boken. Best lens I ever had! Thanks for your video!
I just picked this combo up yesterday, I read your heading and thought I hope Jan doesn't conclude its a waste of money! looks like I've made the right decision, cant wait to use it.
Looks like a beautiful lens. A couple friends have them. The light weight is really nice. For me, for now, I have the 100-400 EF ii. I can't justify taking a loss selling it for the modest gain in reach, modest weight savings, and modest loss in maximum aperture. Also, I just took a bath selling my DSLRs to buy their mirrorless counterparts. Maybe if Canon comes out with a 150-600 I might be tempted.
The Camera like the Top Line Sony A9ii and A1 is great technology, but to create a f7.1 lens and sell it at the price point it sells is an insult to photographers. Cant fix everything with high ISO and IBIS. But then again, personal preferences, and if the coming primes would come in at $12 000 it leaves the consumer with no other choice but to be content with what the Brand push into the market. The Sony 200-600 f6.3 at least offer extra 100mm on the long end and more light. As wildlife photographers would I rather take 100mm extra to shoot with and 3 cm longer lens barrel and compromise a few grams weight increase?
It all depends on what you are going to use the lens for. Until I used this lens I thought the same as you and thought a 200-600 would've been much better. That has changed now, because I appreciate how small this lens is and how lightweight. Both of these features could only be achieved through the F7.1 and "just" 500mm I think the biggest difference here is that the MFD is just 0.9-1.2m (3-3.9ft) compared to 2.4m on the Sony for instance. So you could use this lens for macro and other things as well when travelling, which makes it very versatile. If you asked me, this lens actually leaves the door open for Canon do to a 200-600 in the future. On paper 100-500 and 200-600 sounds kinda similar, but they're actually quite different. This lens will easily sit in my backpack next to my 600 prime. The 200-600 wouldn't fit. In saying all that, I do hope Canon will bring out a 200-600 as that is a great focal range. Do you usually shoot wide open? I usually shoot at F8, to get enough DOF, so F7.1 has not really changed much for me.
@@jan_wegener I saw a recent video comparing the rf 100-500 to the old Nikon 200-500. The Nikon had significantly less breathing. Might be interesting to test on the z9 if you still have access to it and can get your hands on the 200-500. Keep up the GREAT work!
I have a R6 with the 100-500 and the 1.4x extender. I use the extender occasionally and I'm impressed with the focus capability, image quality and a bonus with the extender attached is the short throw of the zoom ring. 😀
Great video again, Jan. I got my R5 about 2 weeks ago and just got my 100-500. We went out today to try it. Still much ice in Idaho but managed a couple of shots. I was very pleasantly surprised. Some out of focus on BIF but that was me. Practice... practice... practice! This is a winning combination!
Depends what you compare it to. If the lens is much smaller at F 7.1 than 5.6 or 6.3 and can also share the same filters as a 100-500, then there's a good argument to be made that it's worth it to forgo that little bit of aperture.
Hi Jan, thanks once again for another excellent video. I have just bought the R6 and 100-500mm lens and after only having one trip out to photograph sea birds I am very impressed. I did have some problems using the animal eye focus at times, particularly when looking down from cliff tops towards the sea - the lens didn't seem to be able to lock onto the bird's eye hence some of the shots were blurred. Perhaps I just need more practice since I have not done too much BIF photography (my main preference is larger mammals). I am very impressed with some of the static or slow moving bird shots and also some shots of garden birds. I'm going to the Arctic in a few weeks in search of polar bears and looking forward to using the camera and lens there.
Thanks you for this great review. I really like how you mix in videos and stills between topics. I also watched your video on how to set up the R5. In that video you mentioned that you usually turn of any kind of in-camera noise reduction. When looking at your stunning pictures in this video, taken at ISO 6400 and 12800, there are hardly any noise at all. I assume you are using some kind of noise reduction software? It was one thing I was missing in your review - the weather sealing. Have you had the chance to test the lens in wet conditions? I must say I am struggling to see that this lens have similar weather sealing as primes or internal zooms, but I may be wrong. All the RF zoom lenses I have seen so far extract when zooming, which cannot be ideal in rainy conditions. Yes, I have read that the lens is weather sealed, but a real life test would be great. Thanks again for all your videos that educate and inspire so many of us.
Yes, I use DXO Pure RAW for NR, although the images I showed here were mainly RAW files in FastStone Image Viewer, with no NR applied. Only the edited images have that applied. I have used the 100-500 in heavy rain and it did well.
Thank you very much for all of your great videos, and greetings from Finland. I have also Canon RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x extender in my use. I have followed your work and UA-cam channel for quite some time , and I have also purchased your courses. I really do like your work and advice, and I consider you a very good and pleasant teacher. Can you please do a video about your current /latest camera settings with 1.3. Firmware in a similar way that you did in your previous video ”EOS R5 - The SETTINGS YOU NEED to KNOW” ? Also I would like to know your current setup for different Backbuttons please. Kind regards, Juha
That's great to hear that you are enjoying my content and learning a lot. To be honest I have not made many changes since the settings video I made. I just switched the AF-on and * button functions and activated the "Auto update settings" in the C.Fn. Menu I talked about it here ua-cam.com/video/AkcQdra-D6s/v-deo.html
Thank you. I love my R5 and the 100-500. I also have the 1.4 extender but have not used it much, My photography has made a big positive jump forward with your videos combined with the R5 and lens.
Hi Jan Thanks for the Superb Video and coverage of the R5 & 100-500mm Lens !!.I have just bought the combo and am still experimenting with it but have found it to be very sharp. Thanks for your tuition as it will assist in improving my shots especially birds in flight. I have had fantastic early results - a happy boy.
Hi Jan, Loved the overview of the 100-500. I have been using this lens for a few months now with the extenders on both the R5 and R6, and I love it. Obviously it was/is a trade-off from my 600 prime, but I found that I was leaving the 600 behind more often due to the increased flexibility and handling of this lens. I ended up trading in the 600 and sometimes regret it for limited opportunities. Hopefully the RF 600 primes that will be released soon (hopefully) will be light and compact enough to offset the EF prime weight and size. The 100-500 is such a flexible and sharp lens that I typically do not miss the prime, however.... especially when I'm carrying it around:)
Yes, the 100-500 is the closest thing to a prime lens you can get in a zoom atm I'd say. I couldn't be parting ways with my 600, but for most it will be quite a relief not having to carry a 600 prime all the time. I wonder how much smaller an 4/600 could actually get, because the front element has to remain the same size.
I must say, I am tempted by this lens to use with my R5. By the way, I sometimes switch from full frame to 1.6 crop if I need more reach quickly and haven't time to change lens or add an extender.
It's a nice lens. Switching to crop mode can be helpful to get the bird bigger in the viewfinder, however, there's no difference between crop mode and cropping the image afterwards yourself.
Hey Jan, Great video. Question, I have a beginner camera (eos 2000D) my lens is currently the EF 100-400 ( 1st edition) But am really wanting to upgrade my lens to the rf 100-500 before I upgrade my camera body. Will this lens fit my eos2000d?
I've been on the fence about trading up from my Tamron 150-600mm G2 for my R5 to this amazing lens, but I truly respect your opinion on all matters concerning bird photography, and if it has the Jan Wegener seal of approval, it's probably the lens for me. thanks Jan.
I only just saw this video today. I must say that you did a great job explaining this lens in detail. The extender comparisons really helped me to make decisions as well. Even though this video is over a year old, it is still very useful today. I am looking to buy one ASAP but of course all of the major stores are sold out. Thanks Jan.
Great stuff. I have had the 100-500 and the R5 for some months now and love the combination. For birds in flight it is amazing at 20 frames a second. am addicted. And the close ups . The difference from the 7d mk 2 is huge.
Hi, I’m using the RF 100-500 with my R6 and the results are such that I’ve even sold my EF 300 f2.8 along with its extenders. I agree with your comments on the zoom restriction on the 100-500 with the extenders fitted, although I wasn’t surprised after I found out that I couldn’t use them at all on my RF 70-200 f2.8. That was very disappointing! Thanks for the excellent videos - I’m watching so many Paton and Wegener productions my wife says I’m starting to get a Strine accent!!
Haha! Yes, quite the mix of accents there. Yes, converter use was more of an afterthought in most RF lenses so far. Glad you are enjoying the videos :)
Watched your video with interest as I'm tempted to sell my 500m f4 mk1 that I dont use much due to weight and my age and buy the RF100-500mm to go with my R5. I know the bokeh might suffer but I'm not too concerned and I like the minimum focus distance (900mm v 4162mm) which is another compelling reason to buy. I also want to compliment you for the time you put into replying to so many questions unlike most other videos discussing this lens where associated questions remain unanswered. Well done Jan and subbed.
Hi Adrian, thanks a lot! What's the point of making videos and not answering comments? Seems pointless to me, especially when they directly relate to the video. You will gain a lot of flexibility and much better AF and IS compared to the version I 500 as well as dramatic weight savings. The only thing I recently noticed is that at close range, let's say 10m, zooms lenses are shorter than primes. So side by side your 500mm, will have more reach. Not a deal breaker, but zoom 500 isn't equal to prime 500mm at closer distances at least. Because you have version I'd say you'd still have to gain a lot.
I was so lucky as a newb to choose the R5 & RF 100-500 with RF 2x extender as my first setup. It’s very encouraging to see how great your shots are. The 20 FPS capability has allowed me to get some amazing bird shots I’d never imagined were possible. Most of my shots are at the ocean or refuge at long range. As I get more experience I hope to get more closeups. Also need to learn how to process with Lightroom and Photoshop so will watch your masterclass. Really appreciate your talent and generous sharing!
Hey! Yes, that's a great combo for sure. It really opens up a lot more possibilities in bird photography. What often helps, especially as a beginner is to find areas with relatively tame birds like duck ponds. You will be able to get some really nice images there. Masterclass will help you a lot to learn how to get the most out of your images.
Just purchased my RF 100-500. I am happy with the first results. Thanks for the video, now I know better what to expect from my next trip to Patagonia in October. Bets from Brazil.
Hola Jan, please clarify a point you made in a video about how shoot better images. Say you are shooting with the 100 - 500 RF, How can one get a decent bokeh ? When the lens is stops up only to F 4.5 ? . I love the amazing video above and want to get this lens for Surf and Kitesurf photography and It would be nice if I can achieve nice blur on the waves. Not sure if long exposure is the answer. I hope question makes sense. I wish you a beautiful night. Cheers.
How smooth your background will be, depends on the distance between the subject and the background. The further away it is, the more out of focus it will be.
Awesome video. I currently have a 70-200 2.8 that has been my primary for outdoor sports pictures and videos. I don't own a lens with a greater zoom than 200. And on my R6, its causing me to constantly crop in, which drastically reduces my pixels down from the 20. Im glad you touched on both the pictures and video aspect of this lens. I think I might have to bit the bullet and get this lens. I feel really handcuffed with my current set up. You have some great informative videos, keep it up.
Thank you! Yes 200 can be pretty short. This lens can be a good all around lens. It could just be harder to get fast shutter speeds for sport at times. But the R6 can handle the high ISo well
Amazing video.. 👍 I agree with everything you said about this lens. I have been using it on the EOS R for about 3 months for wildlife and I'm very happy with my purchase
Quality Video ................... . On another note You said in another video that Sony Users didn't want a 100mp Camera on the new A1 Mrk2 .. yet i see Hasselblad have released another 100mp camera with 1tb of internal memory plus a card slot ,, What's there not to like . Would like to see you review that against you're R3 as it's a similar price point , does 100mp get you far better pic quality overall .
Thank you Jan for an excellent review. I have this lens for many years now and very happy with it. I also have 1,4 rf ext. and gives me excellent results with 24 mpix sensor. Now I got a good offer and I am finally getting my first ever R5. I am sure this body will work well with 1,4 ext and I am considering to get rf 2,0 too. It is very much lighter to get thousand mm compared to Ef 500mm f4 IS ll with ef 2x... Cheers
I really want that lens... and also an R5 or better. My priority is the lens, but that R5 has some really nice features I'm missing on the R, which is a decent camera in its own right, but it doesn't have wildlife autofocus so that can be a bit of a pain. A manageable pain, but still... Also the R5's ability to produce such crisp images at high ISOs is a major boon. On my R I try to avoid going over 3000 as much as possible.
G’day Jan, many thanks for this brilliant video, I have just bought this lens and am really looking forward to the freedom of it! Your review is excellent, has made me more confident in my decision. I can no longer carry the large weights of the big primes due to age and health issues so have traded in the big primes reluctantly for one of these, so thank you for your great review.
When I first got my EF 400mm f/5.6L I was excited to go and visit this pond and I saw some ducks in the distance and I hoped to get a closer photo. They walked and walked and walked right up to me expecting tidbits. I thought what do I expect at the local pond where people have been feeding water birds? Anyway the ducks walking right up to me was unexpected.
Great visuals on this video, I really enjoy watching these just for the images. The lens is surprisingly affordable, I will definitely get one too right after getting my R5/R6. I have already emailed Canon if they can take my old Land Rover in exchange, but I haven't heard of them yet...
I'm very happy to hear that you liked this lens so much. I'm getting one (it's backordered) to complement the Rf 800 f/11 which has also been great fun. Did you find that you could just slide the zoom when in a hurry to avoid the long turn of the zoom ring?
I just bought a 300 2.8 is, but I think maybe I should exchange it for this. I'm getting decent shots even when I use the 2x converter. It's just heavy as hell.
Great blog , thanks Jan ! I am waiting on my new R7 with this lens 100/500 .. I think it will make an excellent combination . Time will tell .. due to arrive mid July 2022 .
I have a 100 to 500 fever I really want It so bad but don't know if my r6 and the fact its f7 from 300mm will justify 3k spending in uk. Or upgrade to r5 instead amd use my 100 to 400 sigma.
Bought the 100-500 RF four weeks ago. This is a real beauty. Now I ask for some advice. Do anybody here - or you Jan - If I should choose the 1.4 or 2.0 extender IF I have to go with one of them? Mostly I'm birding. Here's why I'm asking despite Jan telling about these extensers in this video. Today I went to my photo-store and the guy told me to chose the 2.0 over the 1.4. He explained that he has been working with photo-stuff for thirty years and know a lot of this stuff. He told me, that the 2x extender together with my R5 would work perfectly and he has sold a lot of 2.0 extenders. This was today. And now, later same day I still don't know whats the best. Will 1.4 be sharper than 2.0?
The 1.4 is better than the 2x, it also only loses one stop of light, the 2x is F14 wide open, that limits your use case a fair bit. Both extenders work alright on the lens
What IS mode are you using for bird photography on this 100-500mm lens these days? Do you change it depending on the situation or one mode serves most needs? Thanks!
Great informative video as always Jan! I have the 100-500mm and both R5 and R6. So impressed with the image quality and portability. Bought the zoom mainly for photographing polar and grizzly bears up close but also a great walk around lense and backyard bird/insect/flower photography lense/camera combo. Canon never disappoints.
Made the choice this morning and waiting for delivery, I am fully blaming you lol for my decision hehe 😜 very happy chap today and didn't even got my hands on it yet. Thanks for your insights
Great video as usual Jan, I would be interested about your thoughts about how the 100-400 mm MKii compares to the 100-500 mm. Is it worth the extra money for the 100-500mm or would you stick with the 100-400mm ?
I traded my 100-400 II in on the RF. Optically I would say they are equal the RF I think focuses a little better but nothing huge. I do think the IS in the RF works with the IBIS better than the EF lens did. I got a good trade in deal that's why I upgraded I don't think I would've otherwise.
I've just traded my 500mmf4 in for this lens and its absolutely amazing, just because of the size and weight benefits straight out the box. I had a little panic at first when I noticed the centre element rattling about when the camera was off. I was on the verge of phoning the company I had just purchased the lens from, yet thought I would google it first. Apparently all new Rf lenses don't park the stabilizer when the power is off. So the centre element wobbles around freely until the power is turned on then the magnets activate and it centres itself. At first it is quite unnerving to see when you have just forked out just short of £3k! However Canon say its perfectly normal. Anyone else notice this or do I have a faulty lens?
@@jan_wegener I am also looking forward to the release of 1.4x and 2x teleconverters that can be used with the RF mount. If it gives a reasonable performance with the RF 100-500, I think it will give a marvelous mobility to the traveler nature photographers. Is there any Canon rumor that comes to you?
Always value your comments! I’m a newbie at bird and wildlife photography and use this lens with the R5. I’ve even done some night shots with very poor light and high ISO and get some decent images with just a little noise reduction. You just confirmed what a great lens this is.
I’ve just had one on loan from Canon, using it on an R6. I was seeing if I could justify the cost (it’s nearly £3,000 ($4,000)) here in the UK. I was testing it against the Sigma 150-600 I’ve had for about 5 years. Is it good? Yes, of course it is; very sharp images, amazing stabilisation (sharp images at 1/15th of a second at 500mm and I’m a shaky-hands amateur), very contrasty images even straight into the sun, extremely light weight. That said, I found the focus not to be as good as people are making out. I had a whole series of a marsh harrier pair completely unusable, and it wasn’t reliably finding small birds in trees. I didn’t think I would, but I did miss the extra reach of the Sigma too, so found myself punching in to APS-C mode on a lot of subjects, which then only gives you an 8MP image. So, a great piece of kit - but is it worth 3.5 times the price of the Sigma? Absolutely not. I wish they’d gone for, say a 200-600 (we’ve all got a 70-200 f2.8 right, so the initial part of the zoom range is a bit of a waste of time). For a working pro I guess this is a must-have, but for the average amateur, you can get results so good on the third-party 150-600s you won’t notice the difference unless you’re pixel-peeping, at fraction of the price.
Jan a question, i have a R6 and 600mm F4, but when i go on bicycle,(yes we in the Netherlands do😂😂😂) i want to buy a second lens. 100-500rf is top but expensive, 400mm f5.6 no IS( but R6 have IBIS) what is a good choise😳😳😳. I really don’t now, do you have a suggestion?
As good and light as it may be, it still just is too expensive for what it really is. Optically it doesn't seem to be superior to the Sony 200-600, but it's f/7.1 and lacks 100mm in focal length and costs roughly twice as much, where I live. If Canon had a comparable 600mm zoom, I would've gone for the R5 instead of the Z8.
I really enjoyed this video. The RF 100-500 would be the reason for me to go back into photography. I have sold my entire Nikon DSLR system (D700) as Nikon did not offer me a smooth transition to their mirrorless system (loosing AF on some of my most expensive glass). Now I am still contemplating, Nikon or Canon. Z6 MKII and Z7 MKII cannot match R6 and R5 performance.
The truth of the matter is, I really don't need a zoom lens at all. What I "need" is an RF 1200mm F8, so I could get "almost close enough, most of the time". Lets face it, it's very hard to fill the frame with the 3" to 5" birds I'm chasing, even from a relatively close distance. I'm only strongly considering this lens, for the IQ and the price, but knowing I will "have to" use a TC 95% of the time. Guess I will learn a lot more this week, as I have rented this lens + both TC's, and they are coming in today. Great video Jan :) When I watch your vids, I always have to temper my expectations, because you always show "what's possible" but their are probably not a lot of folks at your skill level, and certainly not me, but I have fun trying :)
One of the amazing product but highly priced when compared with Nikon 200 500 mm f5.6. Specifically they could have kept 25% to 30% higher price compared to Nikon in charging premium. It is almost 3 times the price in India. Disappointing for wildlife enthusiasts. Many Canon friends who are in Wildlife are shifting to either Nikon or Sony due to lense prices specifically in lenses.
I'm using the R5 and RF100-500 and I just can't wait until the Dragonfly season starts in the end of April here in Denmark. I got a few dragonfly shots in the end of 2020 and the AF can actually catch flying dragonflies in the air and focus on the head of the animals.
Am waiting for the same thing, dragonflies are my favourite subject but current camera and lens has difficulty getting flight shots.
Looking forward to that as well
I've always wanted to try shooting dragonflies. They're so small and flying all over the place...how do you get them without locking onto the background all the time?
Yes, the eye AF has been amazing and this lens allows quite a close approach as well, which can help to get the dragonfly into the frame.
I can’t wait for Ant season. Canon has incredible Ant Eye AF just really the best in the game!
The RF 100-500 is such an incredibly amazing lens. And this lens in conjunction with the R5 is hands down the best photo gear I've ever owned in many years of photography, by a LOT...and I've owned plenty of 1 and 5 series bodies before. Just the amazing ability to track subjects and the beautiful high ISO delivers such amazingly sharp results with far more keepers than I've ever experienced before. Plus, the best lens is always the one you have with you. I love that the 100-500 is so light and gives you the ability to freely travel, without having to lug along the weight of a 500 or 600mm prime, which get very weary handholding for extended periods. What you lose in a little less bokeh you gain back tenfold in the sheer versatility and flexibility. I'm frequently shooting osprey coming in with fish and I never know exactly where they're going to be coming in. The ability to move quickly to track incoming birds from all angles and various locations makes all the difference for me. As Jan mentioned, this lens performs extremely well with the teleconverters. I honestly don't think I lose any AF speed with the 1.4x on. My only complaint here is that the lens cannot be fully retracted with the teleconverter on and also requires the lens to be extended to install the teleconverter which is slightly annoying.
Thanks for sharing. The 100-500 with R5 is certainly an amazing combo. Agreed about the "issue" with the converter
I was hoping the rumored RF 200-500 f/4 would become reality, but I got tired of the issues with my adapted Sigma 150-600S, and bought the RF 100-500. I am very glad I did, it’s a fantastic lens, much better than the Sigma in all aspects.
I've just done exactly the same. The sigma was great on my DSLR, but it's a mess on my R6
I’ve just done exactly the same thing. I had a Sigma 150-600 S on my Canon r7 and just found it too heavy and cumbersome for field use. In two days of the new RF 100-500 I genuinely believe it to be the best piece of kit I’ve ever owned. The AF and Eye Detection is superb.
What kind of issues were you having? I was thinking of moving to a mirrorless body but i have the 150-600 contemporary lens and was planning on using it.
Hi Jan. Very impressive, although I don't see a need for either you or Duade to have long lenses, as the birds over there seem to come to you and pose at a very short distance. lol
Background separation and frame filling!
haha! We only make it look easy, by going to spots we can expect birds and not showing the days where we don't get any birds :D
correct! Especially the Bg part and also IQ and sharpness in low light
I especially wanted to thank Jan for explaining the ultimate difference between an excellent zoom and a long prime, in poor lighting conditions.
RF 100-500mm is US$2700 in case anyone was wondering like I was!
yep, and much more in most other countries. The prices vary a fair bit
It’s $3,699 + 13% tax (in Canada)
@@jan_wegener - I have EOS R (not R5 or R6) - would that deteriorate my photography experience with this lens??
@@RujulPathak13 The lens is still great, but you won't have the ye tracking or fast frame rates of the R5/6 and no IBIS. So it will still be a great lens, but more limited by what the camera can do. The photos will still look amazing I'd say
Attractive price but zero availability :).
The problem that made me go to the 100-500 is that my 100-400 L II lens did not work well with my R5. Despite updated lens and camera firmware, the lens IS and camera IBIS fought each other, making constant noise as though it was set for constant AF (it was not) and eventually requiring sensor replacement in the R5. I sold the 100-400 and ordered the 100-500.
Man, the RF100-500 is an absolute beast of a lens. I have owned it for over 2 years and it is one of my most used lenses by far. It is so incredibly versatile! I will most probably treat myself the RF600 f4 for my 40th birthday next year, but my RF100-500 will stay with me for forever since it just so good and light.
This lens turns out to be the most versatile I ever used in decades of nature photography.
Great handheld, great on a tripod
Great for landscape
Great for plants, even closeups and details
Waiting season for butterfies and dragonflies will start, this lens i very promising
Great for birds and mammals
The IQ mounted to the R5 is outstanding in all those applications.
Sure a big white prime does have an edge, but they are not close regarding versatility.
Couldn't agree more! The versatility combined with amazing IQ is insane
Beautiful setup Jan . Let’s get together and line up a few bank jobs so I can afford to go birding with you. 🤣😂😅
hehe, why not :D
does this lense get sharper images with comparing to 70-200?
Thanks, Jan I have just purchased this lens and an R5. I’m getting my best ever images I have ever taken. Thanks for the great videos. I enjoy them immensely. Keep up the great
work.
Thank you, will do! Yes, the combo you got is amazing!
My dream setup.. congratulations😍😍
Thanks Jan I have this lens and totally agree with your assessment of it. I feel luck to own the R5 and RF100-500 best set up I’ve owned and I’m getting my best ever images
Yes, the two together are a killer combo
Thank you so much for this video, Jan! I was really looking forward to watching it and I'm in a big trouble now 🙄💸💸
Hehe! I can feel your pain. I didn't want to like it and then bought one the week after lol
As soon as you use it: No more trouble ;-)
The fact is the price of this lens in Australia is a real stealing from people of a part of the planet in comparison to its price in US!
It looks like a cool lens for sure, but at nearly double the cost of the already stellar 100-400 ii it's hard to justify for me.
I agree, the price in countries other than the US has been quite a deterrent and the main reason I only got one now and didn't jump on it right away.
I agree. On the used market you can get the 100-400 II for like half of this one. It’s nice I’ve shot both but the 100-500 isn’t worth that extra cost. The 100-400 adapted is still quick and accurate
@@gghana 200-600 is all right on 24MPx sensor but soft on 61MPx... better is buy sony 100-400...
@@Jan-eh7nf Yes, I know that the Sony 200-600 is not the best. But what I meant was that I would have liked to have seen Canon release a lens in that focal range - that is a 200-600 instead of a 100-500.
Hi guys! With the new eos R7, which lens do uou think would work better? RF 100-500mm or EF 100-400 II + ext 2x III?
Thanks Jan for explaining the ultimate difference between an excellent zoom lens and a dedicated prime lens, when shooting in poor lighting conditions. Not being a pro, the 100-500 really seems to be the best possible lens, probably for a long time. The RP has recently become my gateway to RF lenses, with the 100-500 being #1 in the wish list.
I agree, for most people the difference will never really show up. If you do very specialised things like I do at times, the big primes still give you an edge, but you also pay dearly for that edge.
You won’t like that combo
Great review mate, I can't wait to get one myself. Cheers, Duade
Hay Jan, where is the forest location? I know the beach scenes look like Philip Island, but love to know where to go to get shots of those birds in the forest.
Now to find the money for that lens!
Thanks mate, yes, hurry up :D
You will find those birds in most locations around Melbourne that has hills. Like Dandenongs, Healsville area etc
Thank you for this much anticipated video. Amazing stuff. I have the 100-500 and a 1.4 extender and I just love it. Best combo ever and I can easily live without the last bit of extra quality I would get out of one of the big whites. The image quality along with the flexibility and great form factor and build quality make this an absolute stunner
Glad you enjoyed it Aaron! Yes, the IQ, size, weight and overall performance make this lens amazing
I’m going to collect my 100-500 today. My brain is buzzing of thinking If I Can do with the 1.4 extender and avoid adding a rf800 to My collection?!
@@Mikkidk2400 certainly, I just find the 100-500 a bit of a hassle to use with the extender as the barrel needs to be extended half way when working with the extender. Image quality holds up nicely though
This is my go to lens for wildlife, paired with an R5. Quality is incredibly good and the stabilisation is excellent for hand holding those long shots of African wildlife. I use it for video as much, or even more, than for stills. Great lens.
Totally agree! I use it very similarly
I switched to RF about 16 months ago, picked up the EOS R and the 24-240 as a simple light weight inexpensive travel set up instead of travelling with the 5DIII and several “red ring”lenses. Quickly got hooked on the R and sourced a RF 100-500 this spring. (Was nearly impossible to find anything in stock in Canada). Having used this lens now for 6 months, it is by far my favourite PBWA lens. I used it mostly for birds and the close focusing distance is amazing for insects and flowers. I love this lens so much I rarely take my landscape lenses or my f2.8 70-200 out for a walk anymore. I’ve just subscribed to your videos and they are really informative. Keep them coming!
Thanks for sharing. It's a fantastic lens!
Hi Jan, I ve watched a lot of video's to collect info about the RF 100-500. But this is one of the best! I was using a R6 with adapter and the 100-400 is usm II. Very good combination, working well, but I sell it and buy the RF 100-500. It's very expensive, but worth every euro. It's amazingly sharp, fast and nice boken. Best lens I ever had! Thanks for your video!
Awesome, thank you!
this is an impossible dream to come true for me, in Brazil things are unusually expensive. nice video friend! hugs from Brazil
Yes, very pricy
I just picked this combo up yesterday, I read your heading and thought I hope Jan doesn't conclude its a waste of money! looks like I've made the right decision, cant wait to use it.
I love that combo for sure!
After this video, this lens became my dream lens 😆 Maybe after I graduate.... Greetings from Czech Republic! Love your videos and photos! :)
It's a great piece of glass and super versatile.
Glad you enjoyed the video
Looks like a beautiful lens. A couple friends have them. The light weight is really nice. For me, for now, I have the 100-400 EF ii. I can't justify taking a loss selling it for the modest gain in reach, modest weight savings, and modest loss in maximum aperture. Also, I just took a bath selling my DSLRs to buy their mirrorless counterparts. Maybe if Canon comes out with a 150-600 I might be tempted.
The Camera like the Top Line Sony A9ii and A1 is great technology, but to create a f7.1 lens and sell it at the price point it sells is an insult to photographers. Cant fix everything with high ISO and IBIS. But then again, personal preferences, and if the coming primes would come in at $12 000 it leaves the consumer with no other choice but to be content with what the Brand push into the market. The Sony 200-600 f6.3 at least offer extra 100mm on the long end and more light. As wildlife photographers would I rather take 100mm extra to shoot with and 3 cm longer lens barrel and compromise a few grams weight increase?
It all depends on what you are going to use the lens for. Until I used this lens I thought the same as you and thought a 200-600 would've been much better. That has changed now, because I appreciate how small this lens is and how lightweight. Both of these features could only be achieved through the F7.1 and "just" 500mm
I think the biggest difference here is that the MFD is just 0.9-1.2m (3-3.9ft) compared to 2.4m on the Sony for instance. So you could use this lens for macro and other things as well when travelling, which makes it very versatile.
If you asked me, this lens actually leaves the door open for Canon do to a 200-600 in the future. On paper 100-500 and 200-600 sounds kinda similar, but they're actually quite different. This lens will easily sit in my backpack next to my 600 prime. The 200-600 wouldn't fit.
In saying all that, I do hope Canon will bring out a 200-600 as that is a great focal range.
Do you usually shoot wide open? I usually shoot at F8, to get enough DOF, so F7.1 has not really changed much for me.
Its crazy how expensive this lens is considering the maximum aperture at 500mm at its MASSIVE focus breathing issue!!! Great video!
I have not found a zoom lens without the breathing unfortunately
@@jan_wegener I saw a recent video comparing the rf 100-500 to the old Nikon 200-500. The Nikon had significantly less breathing. Might be interesting to test on the z9 if you still have access to it and can get your hands on the 200-500. Keep up the GREAT work!
I have a R6 with the 100-500 and the 1.4x extender. I use the extender occasionally and I'm impressed with the focus capability, image quality and a bonus with the extender attached is the short throw of the zoom ring. 😀
Great to hear! It's a nice combo!
Uh screw it, ordered this lens, can't deal with having to pickup the 600 f4 everytime I want to take some pictures of birds...
I am sure you will like it
Great video again, Jan. I got my R5 about 2 weeks ago and just got my 100-500. We went out today to try it. Still much ice in Idaho but managed a couple of shots. I was very pleasantly surprised. Some out of focus on BIF but that was me. Practice... practice... practice! This is a winning combination!
Good stuff! Congrats on the lens! I agree, it's almost like you have to have used this combo to understand how good it is.
I'm a bit confused. Why are some of your shots marked as f8 when the 100-500 at 500 wide-open is billed as F7.1?
Canon RF 100-500 sacrifices the aperture AND reach, to get a smaller size lens. To me, it is not worthy.
Depends what you compare it to. If the lens is much smaller at F 7.1 than 5.6 or 6.3 and can also share the same filters as a 100-500, then there's a good argument to be made that it's worth it to forgo that little bit of aperture.
Hi Jan, thanks once again for another excellent video. I have just bought the R6 and 100-500mm lens and after only having one trip out to photograph sea birds I am very impressed. I did have some problems using the animal eye focus at times, particularly when looking down from cliff tops towards the sea - the lens didn't seem to be able to lock onto the bird's eye hence some of the shots were blurred. Perhaps I just need more practice since I have not done too much BIF photography (my main preference is larger mammals). I am very impressed with some of the static or slow moving bird shots and also some shots of garden birds. I'm going to the Arctic in a few weeks in search of polar bears and looking forward to using the camera and lens there.
Keep it up. You’ll get better with practice.
Excellent video!!! Buying it will be your fault. hahaha.
Thanks you for this great review. I really like how you mix in videos and stills between topics. I also watched your video on how to set up the R5. In that video you mentioned that you usually turn of any kind of in-camera noise reduction. When looking at your stunning pictures in this video, taken at ISO 6400 and 12800, there are hardly any noise at all. I assume you are using some kind of noise reduction software?
It was one thing I was missing in your review - the weather sealing. Have you had the chance to test the lens in wet conditions? I must say I am struggling to see that this lens have similar weather sealing as primes or internal zooms, but I may be wrong. All the RF zoom lenses I have seen so far extract when zooming, which cannot be ideal in rainy conditions. Yes, I have read that the lens is weather sealed, but a real life test would be great.
Thanks again for all your videos that educate and inspire so many of us.
Yes, I use DXO Pure RAW for NR, although the images I showed here were mainly RAW files in FastStone Image Viewer, with no NR applied. Only the edited images have that applied.
I have used the 100-500 in heavy rain and it did well.
Great review, thank you so much! This will be my next lens for sure
Thank you! Good choice!
Thank you very much for all of your great videos, and greetings from Finland. I have also Canon RF 100-500mm + RF 1.4x extender in my use. I have followed your work and UA-cam channel for quite some time , and I have also purchased your courses. I really do like your work and advice, and I consider you a very good and pleasant teacher.
Can you please do a video about your current /latest camera settings with 1.3. Firmware in a similar way that you did in your previous video ”EOS R5 - The SETTINGS YOU NEED to KNOW” ? Also I would like to know your current setup for different Backbuttons please.
Kind regards,
Juha
That's great to hear that you are enjoying my content and learning a lot.
To be honest I have not made many changes since the settings video I made.
I just switched the AF-on and * button functions and activated the "Auto update settings" in the C.Fn. Menu
I talked about it here
ua-cam.com/video/AkcQdra-D6s/v-deo.html
Thank you. I love my R5 and the 100-500. I also have the 1.4 extender but have not used it much, My photography has made a big positive jump forward with your videos combined with the R5 and lens.
Great to hear!
Hi Jan
Thanks for the Superb Video and coverage of the R5 & 100-500mm Lens !!.I have just bought the combo and am still experimenting with it but have found it to be very sharp. Thanks for your tuition as it will assist in improving my shots especially birds in flight. I have had fantastic early results - a happy boy.
Have fun! Glad you find some value ion my videos :)
Hi Jan, Loved the overview of the 100-500. I have been using this lens for a few months now with the extenders on both the R5 and R6, and I love it. Obviously it was/is a trade-off from my 600 prime, but I found that I was leaving the 600 behind more often due to the increased flexibility and handling of this lens. I ended up trading in the 600 and sometimes regret it for limited opportunities. Hopefully the RF 600 primes that will be released soon (hopefully) will be light and compact enough to offset the EF prime weight and size.
The 100-500 is such a flexible and sharp lens that I typically do not miss the prime, however.... especially when I'm carrying it around:)
Yes, the 100-500 is the closest thing to a prime lens you can get in a zoom atm I'd say. I couldn't be parting ways with my 600, but for most it will be quite a relief not having to carry a 600 prime all the time.
I wonder how much smaller an 4/600 could actually get, because the front element has to remain the same size.
Best video yet with just the facts!!!! Thank you very much! 🤗
Glad you enjoyed it!
I must say, I am tempted by this lens to use with my R5. By the way, I sometimes switch from full frame to 1.6 crop if I need more reach quickly and haven't time to change lens or add an extender.
It's a nice lens. Switching to crop mode can be helpful to get the bird bigger in the viewfinder, however, there's no difference between crop mode and cropping the image afterwards yourself.
at 1153 you removed the shadow and it make it look fake. when i draw i spend hours trying to get my shadows and high lights right.
Hey Jan, Great video. Question, I have a beginner camera (eos 2000D) my lens is currently the EF 100-400 ( 1st edition) But am really wanting to upgrade my lens to the rf 100-500 before I upgrade my camera body. Will this lens fit my eos2000d?
No, it only fits RF bodies
I've been on the fence about trading up from my Tamron 150-600mm G2 for my R5 to this amazing lens, but I truly respect your opinion on all matters concerning bird photography, and if it has the Jan Wegener seal of approval, it's probably the lens for me. thanks Jan.
I have used the Tamron and it did ok, but you cannot compare it to this lens.
I only just saw this video today. I must say that you did a great job explaining this lens in detail. The extender comparisons really helped me to make decisions as well. Even though this video is over a year old, it is still very useful today. I am looking to buy one ASAP but of course all of the major stores are sold out. Thanks Jan.
Great stuff. I have had the 100-500 and the R5 for some months now and love the combination. For birds in flight it is amazing at 20 frames a second. am addicted. And the close ups . The difference from the 7d mk 2 is huge.
Yes, it's great combo!
Hi, I’m using the RF 100-500 with my R6 and the results are such that I’ve even sold my EF 300 f2.8 along with its extenders. I agree with your comments on the zoom restriction on the 100-500 with the extenders fitted, although I wasn’t surprised after I found out that I couldn’t use them at all on my RF 70-200 f2.8. That was very disappointing! Thanks for the excellent videos - I’m watching so many Paton and Wegener productions my wife says I’m starting to get a Strine accent!!
Haha! Yes, quite the mix of accents there.
Yes, converter use was more of an afterthought in most RF lenses so far.
Glad you are enjoying the videos :)
Unfortunately this lense falls flat compared to the Sony 200 - 600, so much so that I would encourage everyone to make the switch to Sony.
In which way? I made a video about both of those lenses :) Quite interesting and kinda hard to compare in the end
Im sure its a nice lens but damm it is expensive for a f7.1 lens, a rip off really.
Great video! Q; What Eizo monitor Are y using? Any Svalling problems, if y Are using Apple
CG277, quite old these days, would go for a 4k one now
What about using it with the 1.6 Crop simulation in the R5?
Watched your video with interest as I'm tempted to sell my 500m f4 mk1 that I dont use much due to weight and my age and buy the RF100-500mm to go with my R5. I know the bokeh might suffer but I'm not too concerned and I like the minimum focus distance (900mm v 4162mm) which is another compelling reason to buy.
I also want to compliment you for the time you put into replying to so many questions unlike most other videos discussing this lens where associated questions remain unanswered. Well done Jan and subbed.
Hi Adrian,
thanks a lot! What's the point of making videos and not answering comments? Seems pointless to me, especially when they directly relate to the video.
You will gain a lot of flexibility and much better AF and IS compared to the version I 500 as well as dramatic weight savings.
The only thing I recently noticed is that at close range, let's say 10m, zooms lenses are shorter than primes. So side by side your 500mm, will have more reach. Not a deal breaker, but zoom 500 isn't equal to prime 500mm at closer distances at least.
Because you have version I'd say you'd still have to gain a lot.
Also software like LR, PS, Luminar, etc..can manipulate the noise and bokeh close to that of an f4.
wow fantastic photos , thank you for explain the details from the lens , now I must economise money to buy first the R5 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gang gangs my favourite Australia parrot,I miss them since I moved to Qld
Great video
Yes, they're the best!
Really great review, Jan. I have an R6 and a backordered 100-500. Can't wait to receive it and share your experience!
Great. You will love it
I was so lucky as a newb to choose the R5 & RF 100-500 with RF 2x extender as my first setup. It’s very encouraging to see how great your shots are. The 20 FPS capability has allowed me to get some amazing bird shots I’d never imagined were possible. Most of my shots are at the ocean or refuge at long range. As I get more experience I hope to get more closeups. Also need to learn how to process with Lightroom and Photoshop so will watch your masterclass. Really appreciate your talent and generous sharing!
Hey!
Yes, that's a great combo for sure. It really opens up a lot more possibilities in bird photography. What often helps, especially as a beginner is to find areas with relatively tame birds like duck ponds. You will be able to get some really nice images there. Masterclass will help you a lot to learn how to get the most out of your images.
Shooting at F14.2 at 1000mm? Seems like it wouldn’t be beneficial in low light.
Just purchased my RF 100-500. I am happy with the first results. Thanks for the video, now I know better what to expect from my next trip to Patagonia in October. Bets from Brazil.
Hola Jan, please clarify a point you made in a video about how shoot better images.
Say you are shooting with the 100 - 500 RF,
How can one get a decent bokeh ? When the lens is stops up only to F 4.5 ? .
I love the amazing video above and want to get this lens for Surf and Kitesurf photography and It would be nice if I can achieve nice blur on the waves. Not sure if long exposure is the answer.
I hope question makes sense.
I wish you a beautiful night. Cheers.
How smooth your background will be, depends on the distance between the subject and the background. The further away it is, the more out of focus it will be.
Awesome video. I currently have a 70-200 2.8 that has been my primary for outdoor sports pictures and videos. I don't own a lens with a greater zoom than 200. And on my R6, its causing me to constantly crop in, which drastically reduces my pixels down from the 20. Im glad you touched on both the pictures and video aspect of this lens. I think I might have to bit the bullet and get this lens. I feel really handcuffed with my current set up. You have some great informative videos, keep it up.
Thank you!
Yes 200 can be pretty short. This lens can be a good all around lens. It could just be harder to get fast shutter speeds for sport at times. But the R6 can handle the high ISo well
Amazing video.. 👍 I agree with everything you said about this lens. I have been using it on the EOS R for about 3 months for wildlife and I'm very happy with my purchase
Great to hear!
Quality Video ................... .
On another note
You said in another video that Sony Users didn't want a 100mp Camera on the new A1 Mrk2 .. yet i see Hasselblad have released another 100mp camera with 1tb of internal memory plus a card slot ,, What's there not to like .
Would like to see you review that against you're R3 as it's a similar price point , does 100mp get you far better pic quality overall .
Thank you Jan for an excellent review. I have this lens for many years now and very happy with it. I also have 1,4 rf ext. and gives me excellent results with 24 mpix sensor. Now I got a good offer and I am finally getting my first ever R5. I am sure this body will work well with 1,4 ext and I am considering to get rf 2,0 too. It is very much lighter to get thousand mm compared to Ef 500mm f4 IS ll with ef 2x... Cheers
Excelente review. Gracias por la información. Tengo la Canon R5 y el 100-500, es realmente bueno. Saludos desde Talca, Chile :)
Great video as always. I have the R5 and RF 100-500. What a great combo. The lens is outstanding and is very sharp, very close to my 600 mm f4 IS II.
Thanks for sharing, exactly my experiences
I really want that lens... and also an R5 or better. My priority is the lens, but that R5 has some really nice features I'm missing on the R, which is a decent camera in its own right, but it doesn't have wildlife autofocus so that can be a bit of a pain. A manageable pain, but still... Also the R5's ability to produce such crisp images at high ISOs is a major boon. On my R I try to avoid going over 3000 as much as possible.
G’day Jan, many thanks for this brilliant video, I have just bought this lens and am really looking forward to the freedom of it! Your review is excellent, has made me more confident in my decision. I can no longer carry the large weights of the big primes due to age and health issues so have traded in the big primes reluctantly for one of these, so thank you for your great review.
Great to hear. Enjoy the lens!
When I first got my EF 400mm f/5.6L I was excited to go and visit this pond and I saw some ducks in the distance and I hoped to get a closer photo. They walked and walked and walked right up to me expecting tidbits. I thought what do I expect at the local pond where people have been feeding water birds? Anyway the ducks walking right up to me was unexpected.
Another Day, Another video of "Something that I cannot afford."
.
Was your daughter crying in the background?😅
yes :D
Great visuals on this video, I really enjoy watching these just for the images. The lens is surprisingly affordable, I will definitely get one too right after getting my R5/R6. I have already emailed Canon if they can take my old Land Rover in exchange, but I haven't heard of them yet...
haha! Glad you enjoyed the video. I try to put in a lot of photos and videos
I'm very happy to hear that you liked this lens so much. I'm getting one (it's backordered) to complement the Rf 800 f/11 which has also been great fun. Did you find that you could just slide the zoom when in a hurry to avoid the long turn of the zoom ring?
Those two lenses will be fun together. Yes, you can still do that
I just bought a 300 2.8 is, but I think maybe I should exchange it for this. I'm getting decent shots even when I use the 2x converter. It's just heavy as hell.
Great blog , thanks Jan ! I am waiting on my new R7 with this lens 100/500 .. I think it will make an excellent combination . Time will tell .. due to arrive mid July 2022 .
I have a 100 to 500 fever I really want It so bad but don't know if my r6 and the fact its f7 from 300mm will justify 3k spending in uk. Or upgrade to r5 instead amd use my 100 to 400 sigma.
I wouldn't want to be without it. But you will have to use higher ISO
Well it's on order 💪
Great review. GORGEOUS birds! Didn’t realize they were sexually dimorphic as a species.
I just got my r5 and 100-500 lens. Lens still in the box. I wanted to watch your video first. Now I am ready to shoot. Thanks
But more than 3100e for this lens in my country (France), is it too much ... 2100e will be a fair price.
It's very pricy, but probably the second most important lens I ever bought
I will like to know what Canon body did you use with the lens? thanks for the video
R5
Waste of money. (Sarcastic impromptu)
hehe
Bought the 100-500 RF four weeks ago. This is a real beauty.
Now I ask for some advice. Do anybody here - or you Jan - If I should choose the 1.4 or 2.0 extender IF I have to go with one of them? Mostly I'm birding.
Here's why I'm asking despite Jan telling about these extensers in this video. Today I went to my photo-store and the guy told me to chose the 2.0 over the 1.4. He explained that he has been working with photo-stuff for thirty years and know a lot of this stuff. He told me, that the 2x extender together with my R5 would work perfectly and he has sold a lot of 2.0 extenders. This was today. And now, later same day I still don't know whats the best. Will 1.4 be sharper than 2.0?
The 1.4 is better than the 2x, it also only loses one stop of light, the 2x is F14 wide open, that limits your use case a fair bit. Both extenders work alright on the lens
@@jan_wegener Thanks Jan. I returned the 2.0 today and ordered the 1.4
i will receive this week .. and i will try on my new R7 hope its a good match thank you for this video was excellent !
Makes me want to get out the credit card
Great work!
Before that, I was hesitant, until I saw your comparison video of these two lenses. I am firmly sure, it is the RF100-500.
Good choice!
Love this lens. Still would like more reach for birds.
Hi Jan, thanks for a great review. Will this lens work on a Canon EOS R7 body? Ah, just saw the previous comment. I have the R7, so good to know 👍
Yes it will
What IS mode are you using for bird photography on this 100-500mm lens these days? Do you change it depending on the situation or one mode serves most needs? Thanks!
Almost always 1
@@jan_wegener thanks!!
Great informative video as always Jan! I have the 100-500mm and both R5 and R6. So impressed with the image quality and portability. Bought the zoom mainly for photographing polar and grizzly bears up close but also a great walk around lense and backyard bird/insect/flower photography lense/camera combo. Canon never disappoints.
Agreed! The versatility combined with great IQ is really what makes this lens great and unique
7.1 at 500 and u can get 6.3 at 600...
It's great that we can have so many choices and the right gear for everyone :)
@@jan_wegener that's true. It would be a much better lens if it was that 5.6 like the 100-400 ii.
@@Rvb_25 yes and no. 5.6 would mean the lens would have to be much bigger at the front.
Made the choice this morning and waiting for delivery, I am fully blaming you lol for my decision hehe 😜 very happy chap today and didn't even got my hands on it yet.
Thanks for your insights
Hope you enjoy it!
Great video as usual Jan, I would be interested about your thoughts about how the 100-400 mm MKii compares to the 100-500 mm.
Is it worth the extra money for the 100-500mm or would you stick with the 100-400mm ?
I traded my 100-400 II in on the RF. Optically I would say they are equal the RF I think focuses a little better but nothing huge. I do think the IS in the RF works with the IBIS better than the EF lens did. I got a good trade in deal that's why I upgraded I don't think I would've otherwise.
Hi Ron,
I also borrowed a 100-400 from a friend, so I will make that one of my next videos. I think it will be interesting to see how they compare
@@jan_wegener Thanks Jan, that would be good.
I've just traded my 500mmf4 in for this lens and its absolutely amazing, just because of the size and weight benefits straight out the box. I had a little panic at first when I noticed the centre element rattling about when the camera was off. I was on the verge of phoning the company I had just purchased the lens from, yet thought I would google it first.
Apparently all new Rf lenses don't park the stabilizer when the power is off. So the centre element wobbles around freely until the power is turned on then the magnets activate and it centres itself. At first it is quite unnerving to see when you have just forked out just short of £3k! However Canon say its perfectly normal. Anyone else notice this or do I have a faulty lens?
All 100-500 do this
I will watch the video with pleasure when I get home. The RF 100-500 is the first lens I will buy. Unfortunately, my location is now overly expensive.
Yes, it's quite expensive here as well, but well worth it.
@@jan_wegener I am also looking forward to the release of 1.4x and 2x teleconverters that can be used with the RF mount. If it gives a reasonable performance with the RF 100-500, I think it will give a marvelous mobility to the traveler nature photographers. Is there any Canon rumor that comes to you?
@@mhakangunes That's the extenders that I used in the video. RF 1.4 & 2x. They have been available for a while
@@jan_wegener You are right, I missed it. Thanks.
Always value your comments! I’m a newbie at bird and wildlife photography and use this lens with the R5. I’ve even done some night shots with very poor light and high ISO and get some decent images with just a little noise reduction. You just confirmed what a great lens this is.
Consider watching Whistling Wings Photography and his views on the 100 - 500. You'll learn a lot.
I’m hoping it will improve my Barn Owl shots in poor light. My current camera does not cut the mustard in this area. All on order, cannot wait!
@@patthompson1253 Quite agree, Whistling wings seems to be the place to go on R5 and 100-500mm combo.
Thanks Jim, yes it's a really nice combo
I hope yours arrives soon!
consider turning the lens and the camera in opposite direction may get you extended much quicker.
im eager to buy this lens, but everywhere out of stock, why is that you think.
Production issues & it's very popular. They seems to be more available in Australia for some reason
I’ve just had one on loan from Canon, using it on an R6. I was seeing if I could justify the cost (it’s nearly £3,000 ($4,000)) here in the UK. I was testing it against the Sigma 150-600 I’ve had for about 5 years. Is it good? Yes, of course it is; very sharp images, amazing stabilisation (sharp images at 1/15th of a second at 500mm and I’m a shaky-hands amateur), very contrasty images even straight into the sun, extremely light weight. That said, I found the focus not to be as good as people are making out. I had a whole series of a marsh harrier pair completely unusable, and it wasn’t reliably finding small birds in trees. I didn’t think I would, but I did miss the extra reach of the Sigma too, so found myself punching in to APS-C mode on a lot of subjects, which then only gives you an 8MP image. So, a great piece of kit - but is it worth 3.5 times the price of the Sigma? Absolutely not. I wish they’d gone for, say a 200-600 (we’ve all got a 70-200 f2.8 right, so the initial part of the zoom range is a bit of a waste of time). For a working pro I guess this is a must-have, but for the average amateur, you can get results so good on the third-party 150-600s you won’t notice the difference unless you’re pixel-peeping, at fraction of the price.
Thanks for sharing. The main difference I see is AF accuracy and Image Stabilisation compared to the Sigma. Reach is hard to compensate
Jan a question, i have a R6 and 600mm F4, but when i go on bicycle,(yes we in the Netherlands do😂😂😂) i want to buy a second lens. 100-500rf is top but expensive, 400mm f5.6 no IS( but R6 have IBIS) what is a good choise😳😳😳. I really don’t now, do you have a suggestion?
I suppose you could buy a used 100-400 II maybe
As good and light as it may be, it still just is too expensive for what it really is.
Optically it doesn't seem to be superior to the Sony 200-600, but it's f/7.1 and lacks 100mm in focal length and costs roughly twice as much, where I live.
If Canon had a comparable 600mm zoom, I would've gone for the R5 instead of the Z8.
You need to compare it to the Sony 100-400 and Nikon 100-400. They cost about the same and offer 100mm less
@@jan_wegener everyone keeps saying that, but I don't see why I shouldn't compare it to the Sony/Nikon 600mm zooms. 🤷🏼♂️
@@cy9nvs you totally can, and it’s a fair comparison as well. But there’s a reason for instance the Nikon 100-400 cost 2499 and the 180-600 1699
I really enjoyed this video. The RF 100-500 would be the reason for me to go back into photography. I have sold my entire Nikon DSLR system (D700) as Nikon did not offer me a smooth transition to their mirrorless system (loosing AF on some of my most expensive glass). Now I am still contemplating, Nikon or Canon. Z6 MKII and Z7 MKII cannot match R6 and R5 performance.
The only “great” Nikon camera atm is the Z9, the other lack a lot compared to canon and Sony
The truth of the matter is, I really don't need a zoom lens at all. What I "need" is an RF 1200mm F8, so I could get "almost close enough, most of the time". Lets face it, it's very hard to fill the frame with the 3" to 5" birds I'm chasing, even from a relatively close distance. I'm only strongly considering this lens, for the IQ and the price, but knowing I will "have to" use a TC 95% of the time. Guess I will learn a lot more this week, as I have rented this lens + both TC's, and they are coming in today. Great video Jan :) When I watch your vids, I always have to temper my expectations, because you always show "what's possible" but their are probably not a lot of folks at your skill level, and certainly not me, but I have fun trying :)
It's all about having fun in the end :)
One of the amazing product but highly priced when compared with Nikon 200 500 mm f5.6. Specifically they could have kept 25% to 30% higher price compared to Nikon in charging premium. It is almost 3 times the price in India. Disappointing for wildlife enthusiasts. Many Canon friends who are in Wildlife are shifting to either Nikon or Sony due to lense prices specifically in lenses.
It's definitely expensive, but also the best zoom I have ever used