Re: Transition from NIkon (DSLR) to Canon - Good move?
GreenHaven wrote: Under serious consideration: Canon EOS R5 Mk II with RF 100-500 mm
This lens is one of those in the Canon system which is the outright best in its category by far (the other is the 85mm f/1.2, either version). I have the 100–500mm and use it for birds and other things. For small birds you’ll probably want the RF 1.4× extender, which gets you to 700mm. I have it since my camera body only has 24Mpx and cropping instead is not an option. There has been endless whinging about how the lens must be extended past 300mm to take the converter, but I think of it as “I’ve changed my lens from a 100–500 to a 420–700 by adding this gizmo” so it doesn’t bother me.
That said, I’m not sure its category is really that of specialist birding lens. It’s more a lens which you can take on outdoor adventures which is useful for landscape and there if you encounter an interesting animal – which was exactly why I bought it. But I live right near some good birding locations and have taken a lot of pictures of birds with mine.
Can the focus be fine tuned or calibrated in camera?
Not necessary, since the sensor is in the sensor plane.
Regarding some of your other concerns about autofocus, my experience with the R3 and this lens is that it struggles, rarely, in low-contrast low-light backlit conditions where my old Canon DSLR doesn’t. This is just a disadvantage of mirrorless cameras not restricted to Canon. In my case it’s clearly outweighed by the camera being able to track the bird around the frame, which my old DSLR couldn’t, but as I understand it your D850 can already do that.
One big advantage of the R3 for wildlife is the totally silent electronic shutter with negligible rolling shutter. My old DSLR was very loud. I believe the R5 Mk II is almost as good (unlike the Mk I).
IBIS quality while handheld, especially for BIF since I am 65+, have limited arm strength and my hands are shaky when gear is elevated or otherwise pointed up.
I’m in that age group and have no trouble at all holding this lens on my R3 steady. The portrait grip does help when shooting in portrait orientation and when carrying the rig on walks. You might consider getting the accessory grip for the R5 MkII – perhaps that would also help with battery capacity. If it’s at all medically possible for you, I’d recommend adressing this problem through exercise rather than camera gear.
The 100–500mm lens has its own optical stablisation (on Canon, it is either on for both the lens and body or off for both).
What is pre-capture good at and what is it used for? What types of scenarios.
For bird photography, you’d use it when you’re waiting for a bird to do something sudden like take off. I don’t have it on my R3 and don’t miss it. Canon’s implementation is said to be less configurable than the ones on other brands. One thing to note is that, since it’s continously recording images before you press the shutter in order to have them to “shoot in the past” when you do, it runs the battery down.
Finally, what other lenses, if any, are you considering? Some of the Canon RF offerings I just wouldn’t buy – it shouldn’t be the case that an old EF (DSLR) mount lens outperforms the RF replacements, but in several cases it is. Those of us who were already in the EF system already have our EF lenses, but many are discontinued and you quiite reasonably don’t want to buy used. The Canon RF system is closed and not like the Sony system where you can be pretty sure someone makes a good whatever it is you want; but, on the other hand, I don’t think there’s anything available in Sony mount that as good as the 100–500 in its use cases.
May 07, 2026 at 07:02 AM
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