Upgrading from Canon Rebel T7 for wildlife on a budget — best options?

[mmacwwester]

I’ve been using my Canon Rebel T7 for nearly eight years, but lately my wildlife photos just aren’t cutting it. I travel, visit zoos, and hike, so I’m often shooting moving animals from a distance — and I think the autofocus and shutter speed are holding me back.

I don’t know much about cameras, and I’ve been using shutter priority mode, which helps a bit, but it feels like it’s time for an upgrade. I’m looking for a wildlife-friendly camera around $800 with a basic lens. I’ll buy a longer lens (around 400mm) separately. I’m a college student, so budget definitely matters.

I’ve attached some pictures — about 90% of mine end up blurry or “eww.”

Any good recommendations for sharper, faster shots without breaking the bank?

[deebatman316]

The problem that I see is that the shutter speed is too slow causing camera shake to be visible. Also what doesn't help is that the lens you're using doesn't have any Image Stabilization (IS) to counteract this movement. Most of your pictures the focal length that you're shooting the shutter speed is too slow to hand hold. In every picture the shutter speed was 1/125th of sec. But your focal length is longer than 125mm. This is a technique issue rather than a camera issue. The lens you're using the EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 lens is not know for its optics or AF speed. Its an old slow lens and it also lacks IS. The lens was originally released in 1999 so its an old design.

[mmacwwester]

So if I want a longer lens it wouldn't work hand held? The lens I'm looking into is the Canon RF 100-400mm f5 6-8

[deebatman316 · Accepted solution]

For longer lenses it is recommended that you use a tripod or a lens with Image Stabilization (IS). Now the RF 100-400mm F/5-6.3 IS USM lens is INCOMPATIBLE with your camera. It is designed specifically for use on EOS R series cameras. There is NO reverse adapter to make the lens work. Canon has discontinued DSLR cameras and lenses. Which is what your EOS Rebel T7 is which is a DSLR camera. So no new development for that system anymore it’s been discontinued. Everything has shifted to the EOS R Series lineup now. Now EF lenses can be adapted to the EOS R series. Just keep in mind that there will be compatibility limitations with older lenses.