topic Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera in Gear Guide

RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

mglotspeich — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:34:14 GMT

Hi all,

I was wondering what your choice is for bird photography. Are you happy with the 100-400mm lens or do you use more reach? I am trying to choose between the 100-400mm or the 600mm (non-L lenses). I can't afford to purchase a 1.4 or 2.0 extender at this point.

Thank you!

Mike - St. Louis, MO

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

shadowsports — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:57:59 GMT

Greetings,

What body are you pairing the lens with?

The RF100-400 is considered "short" for most bird and wildlife photography. It's better suited for backyard and closer proximity wildlife. It's not that it can't work. It can, but your subjects may get spooked more easily. Granted it can be a little better on a APS-C body. You may just have to work at it a little harder.

I've seen some fabulous pictures from the RF600mm f11. It needs a lot of light.

Let us know what body you're shooting with. That will help us make the best recommendation.

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

March411 — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:21:16 GMT

If I remember your past posts you shoot the R6 MkII and I use this setup when traveling.

Like Rick mentioned my biggest issue with the RF100-400mm lens is reach, you either need to find a spot with good activity, be right spot at the right time or hike slowly and be stealthy. Personally I like the combo, it is light wait and easily an all day carry. On the 24MP sensor composition and filling the frame will just be a little more critical as you have less MP to work with if you crop. The sensor is great but heavy crops will result in diminished returns, the IQ suffers.

I have carried the RF600mm f11 mounted on the same camera but passed because it was simply to dark for hiking or overcast skies. When the light was good, insanely beautiful images. That being said I bought the RF100-400 because it had less compromises but it's important to know your limitations. As you start building you lens stable you will have to make compromises along the way. If you had an open budget I would recommend the RF 100-500 (love this lens) or the RF 200-800 (great price point and pretty good IQ).

In a fairly dense forest with the little fellow tucked away pretty good. If I remember correctly I would say it has has a 40% crop.

R6 MkII & RF100-400mm
f8 @ 1/100 - ISO 3200

I sat on this tree for a while, these are quick little suckers and they were on an off the tree multiple times. A 50% crop and it was overcast. Same setup f8 @ 1/800 - ISO 2000

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

ebiggs1 — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:51:15 GMT

I would say the best lens for us consumer grade bird photographers is the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM Lens. I would not even look at any other lens. IMHO, 400mm is the very shortest FL for birds so than makes the 100mm to 300mm wasted money. The only other solution is to get closer and some times that is not possible. If you don't have enough FL or can get close to a tiny bird if will remain a tiny bird in your photos.

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

mglotspeich — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:23:07 GMT

Thank you for the information Rick. I will be using the lens with my new R6 Mark II. Maybe I should take "baby steps" and get the 100-400 and enjoy my lens in the backyard. 😊

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

mglotspeich — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:29:26 GMT

Thank you Whiz. I think I will concentrate on the 100-400 and move on later from there. Waiting for a sale but I might be waiting too long. 😊 I want to thank you for posting images with the exact equipment that I will intend to use. Your images are wonderful! I hope I didn't make a mistake purchasing a full frame 24mp camera. I was really wanting a full frame and the R6 MII was within my budget. But it appears (based upon your images) that I will have a *little* leeway to crop. Thank you once again!

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

mglotspeich — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:32:33 GMT

Thank you ebiggs1! I will make the Canon RF 200-800mm a goal for the future. It looks great for the price.

I appreciate your input and advice!

Mike

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

March411 — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:46:48 GMT

mglotspeich, you didn't make a mistake, you will love the camera and once you find your sweet spot never look back. 24 Megapixels is more than enough, just know what you are working with, fill the frame as much as possible and grab some images.

If you are in the states I left a link below to the RF100-400mm in the Refurbished marketplace. There are none in stock right now but if I were you I would set up a notification for in stock. You'll see the link on the right hand side of the page. I can tell you from experience you have to move fairly quick once you get the e-mail. If you miss the in stock set up the notification again, I think it purges the list once a message is sent.

RF 100-400 in Refurbished

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

mglotspeich — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 22:25:19 GMT

Hi Marc. Thank you for your support! 😊 I just ordered the lens from B&H. You showed me an image using the 1.4x extender in a previious post and it looked great! I will check your website for used equipment for a used extender as they are very expensive. Do you recommend the 1.4x or 2.0x extender? Thank you!

Re: RF full frame lens for bird photography - Mirrorless camera

March411 — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:52:21 GMT

I use the 1.4x and it gives me what I need, doesn't add much weight to the bag and when the light is good has very little impact on the ISO. Go with the Canon adapter if you can swing it. I know they are a bit more expense then 3rd party but the communication protocols aren't shared with 3rd parties and the one's I tested gave me challenges, focus racking was bad on the three I tried consistently.

The adapter with the control ring isn't worth the money and the ring sits to close to the camera body making it easily accessible.

BH photo ships quickly to you should be having fun very shortly mglotspeich. Congrats on the new gear!

Re: RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

JFG — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 04:32:38 GMT

Hi mglotspeich,

I agree 100% with ebiggs1 "best lens for us consumer grade bird photographers, is the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM Lens. I would not even look at any other lens. IMHO, 400mm is the very shortest FL for birds so than makes the 100mm to 300mm wasted money. The only other solution is to get closer and some times that is not possible. If you don't have enough FL or can get close to a tiny bird if will remain a tiny bird in your photos.

EB".. I started with a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens, and that's because the Canon RF200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM lens wasn't around and when it did come out it sold like tequila and tacos and nowhere to be found. Canon and all retailers were sold out and everyone was on a waiting list. Rick, shadowsports, and I were both on those lists and got ours at the same time. We waited and waited, and in the meantime, we used our Sigmam150-600mm. However, when we got that RF200-800mm, it was well worth the wait. What a game changer! It is the best thing next to using a very, very expensive prime lens. The RF200-800mm lens with a canon 1.4x will give a whopping 280mm-1120mm. For birds and wildlife, one needs reach for shy wildlife and skittish subjects. The Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Contemporary is a solid performer, for bird and wildlife photography. Especially if you're looking for reach and versatility, without braking the bank. It's a favorite among wildlife shooters. However, at this time you can only get it in a EF version so you'll also need a EF-RF converter so you would be saving only a couple hundred dollars, so I would wait, save my money for the RF200-800mm. Sigma is supposed to come out with an RF version soon, but it will probably be a bit more expensive than the EF.

Used a Canon RF200-800mm f6.3-9 IS USM lens @ 800mm

Sumatran Tiger taken with a Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3mm Contemporary lens.

Sumatran Tiger Hutan Taken with a Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Contemporary Handheld

Re: RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

ebiggs1 — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 14:59:59 GMT

Love the tiger 😊

Re: RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

mglotspeich — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:23:29 GMT

Thank you Joe for taking the time to reply and give me advice. Your images are awesome!!!

Re: RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

mglotspeich — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:48:12 GMT

Hi all. Just a heads up that before I get a lens with more reach or the 1.4X extender, I am very happy with my new RF 100-400 lens! Thanks all for the recommendations! I'll get there some day. 😊

Re: RF full frame lens recommendations for bird photography

March411 — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:13:01 GMT

Excellent!