Help with which camera and lenses to buy for action photography?

[PeteClimb]

Hi all,

I’m new to proper photography but keen to start taking professional-quality action shots — mainly people on rivers kayaking, sea surfing,  rock faces climbing and mountaineering shots  plus general outdoor/landscape work. I’ve been looking at the Canon R6 Mark II and it seems popular, so I’m wondering: is that a sensible body to start with for the sort of stuff I want to shoot?

I’d also really appreciate lens recommendations. My thinking (possibly naive) is that I’ll need:

• A fast telephoto zoom for close-up action (something in the 70–200mm range?)
• A longer reach for distant shots (100–400mm / 100–500mm or similar?)
• A versatile standard zoom for everyday/outdoor work (24–70mm?)
• A wide-angle for landscapes (16–35mm?

I’m especially interested in lenses that are reasonably well sealed for the outdoors, not ridiculously heavy to carry, and that will let me grow into more professional work with a bit of learning. If any primes are “must-haves” for action or low-light river/rock shots, let me know.

Also — if you think there’s a different camera body that would be better value or a smarter long-term choice for action/outdoor photography, I’d love to hear alternatives and why (pros/cons vs the R6 Mark II).

I don’t have a strict budget right now and am open to both new and used recommendations. Thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions, or example setups — I really appreciate the help!

Pete

[March411]

Welcome to the community PeteClimb.

Just to start out, I own and actively use all the gear you mention in your thread.

The R6 Mark II sensor is coveted for its balance of resolution and dynamic range. The 24.2-megapixel full-frame DIGIC X CMOS sensor creates detailed images and good low-light performance.The sensor also provides a wide dynamic range giving users the ability to recover details in both shadows and highlights at post production. It performs well in low-light conditions and higher ISO for cameras in the same category.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, which offers speedy and accurate autofocus including moving subjects. The autofocus system is improved by deep learning and subject identification that improves results in both photo and video with a strength in low light. Additionally, it produces accurate and natural-looking skin tones and colors.

Keep in mind the R6 MkIII is going to be released next month. I looked at the specs and will not upgrade as my R6 MkII does everything I need but the R7 MkII when released will probably end up in my bag. This release is most likely Q1 2026.

When you start talking about lenses your budget can grow fairly fast. For the type of photography you mention good weather sealing could/should be a strong consideration. You like to be around water so keep this in the back of your mind when making purchases. Also when shooting sea surfing make sure you wipe down your gear when you get home, salt and sand is your enemy. Consider a good filter to protect the front element of your lens.

The RF100–500mm is an outstanding lens, on the R6 MkII it produces tack sharp images and the focus is fast. You may not get enough reach out of the 500mm so you may want o take a look at the RF200-800mm especially for the sea surfing. It's about half the price of the RF100-500mm but not an L series lens. While there have been some reports of the RF200-800mm lenses have broken in half it has been limited but something to think about since you are planning to pack into remote locations.

If you are shooting low light you may want to purchase the fastest lens you can afford, f2,8 is great but f4 will work especially with the body you are looking at purchasing. For low light you may need to look at some type of denoising software.

I personally own most of the lenses you mention @ f2.8

70–200mm
100–400mm - Great for hiking and backpacking, easily an all day carry with some limited ranging. I carried this lens in Costa Rica and Europe along with my RF24-240mm and it covered just about all my needs a grabbed great images. There were occasions when I wanted more range.
100–500mm - Added range over the RF100-400mm and outstanding IQ
24–70mm
16–35mm - I own the RF15-35mm but both are outstanding lenses. I use mine for landscapes and street when I know I will struggle to get good lighting. If the lighting is good I carry the RF24-240mm because it simply gives me more versatility and range.

You may want to consider looking at or renting the RF200-800mm and the RF24-240mm to see how they will fit into your stable of lenses.

Also, make sure you buy from an authorized dealer and I would strongly recommend purchasing the CarePak for all of your gear. With your type of photography it will be a good investment. And keep an eye or set up notifications for lenses in the Canon Refurbished Marketplace. All the equipment in this area is discounted and supported with the Canon Warranty. I have purchased several items from the refurb area and everyone was like new.

[Waddizzle]

“ 

Hi all,

I’m new to proper photography but keen to start taking professional-quality action shots — mainly people on rivers kayaking, sea surfing,  rock faces climbing and mountaineering shots  plus general outdoor/landscape work. I’ve been looking at the Canon R6 Mark II and it seems popular, so I’m wondering: is that a sensible body to start with for the sort of stuff I want to shoot? “

if you are new, then you need to know that you will face two learning curves.  Of course, one is how to use a digital camera.  It requires more thought than using a smart phone.  The second is that thought process, the basics of photography.

I like to compare learning to use a camera to learning how to drive a car and getting a driver’s license.  There are two parts to getting a license, the written test and the road test.  Before you can get behind the wheel, you must first pass a written test.  Once done, you can begin learning how to operate a motor vehicle.

I compare operating a motor vehicle to operating and using a camera.  All cars are basically equipped with the same basic controls. Gas and brake pedals, gear shifter, steering wheel, rear and side view mirrors, etc. Once you learn how to drive a car, you can easily drive just about any car.

I compare learning the rules of the road for the written test to learning the basic pillars of photography.  If you don’t first learn about the rules of the road before you get behind the wheel, then you’ll probably cause many accidents.  You’ll never reach your destination.

You need to learn about lane markers, road signs, and more.  One of the most important skills to learn is how to read a map, and deciding which route to take to reach your destination.  I would compare reading a map to reading a photo shoot scenario and adjusting your camera.

I am pointing this out because you said that you were new to photography.  Camera gear can be expensive, especially the super telephoto lenses needed for the types of shooting scenarios that you described.  Before you start spending money, you need to make informed choices.

YouTube is a great resource to learn about “Exposure Triangle” and “Depth of Field,”. These two concepts are often referred to as the pillars of photography.  These are the ‘rules of the road” for photography.  Another great concept to learn about is the “Rule of Thirds”, which is the easiest way to frame a photograph.  

You should learn how to walk before you try to run.  The R6 Mark II is a great camera, which can handle the use cases you described.  I think one of the camera kits is a good start for general photography, a great way to learn.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/eos-r6-mark-ii-rf24-105mm-f4-l-is-usm-lens-kit?color=Black&type=New 

I would also recommend a fast prime lens like the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM.  It’s inexpensive and a great learning tool.

The RF 70-200mm f/2.8 you cited is a great next step. There’s more than one version of it, so look before you leap.