CANON R7 Long Term Review: It's Complicated

The Canon R7:

Main Camera:
Favorite APS-C Camera:

Lenses
My Favorite Lenses
Favorite lightweight 800mm
Favorite Telephoto Lens: (also, my favorite lens overall)
Favorite budget wildlife lens

Bags

Mics
Backup mic

[ReubenWee]

Good video Brent. For me, the R7 has flaws but it's small enough to be forgiven - 3 things, ergonomics, rolling shutter and buffer but I manage to learn to get around it through reprogramming, learning and practicing new habits. Find myself in a first-world dilemma of trying to decide to bring either the R5 or the R7 to Scotland to catch sea birds. Since I'm bringing my RF800 + RF100-500 - the R7 is small - and I'll be having the 2 telephotos, I'll bring both bodies along. When shooting birds, that extra reach is undeniable.

[leelo]

Upgrading from an 80D, I had similar experiences with the R7 not being able to get sharp photos, whether that was autofocus issues, shuttershock, rolling shutter, whatever. It was just not fun. Ultimately, I returned the camera. I tried the R6, and it was the opposite experience. What a joy. So much fun. Sharp photos, great shutter, great controls. Missing the reach, of course. But since bird photography is my hobby, and I do my hobby for fun, the R7 was not the camera for me. In the back of my mind, I keep hoping that there is some sort of Canon crop-sensor pro camera that might be in their plans down the road (perhaps an R2 or R4??).

[chriskenyon]

Really depends on what and where you are shooting as well as personal preferences and experience. I'm using my R7 out of preference to my R5 maybe 90% of the time. Main reason being the detail that I'm able to pull out of that very high linear resolution sensor in most lighting conditions. The rolling shutter/loud mechanical shutter 'trade-off' is handled by assigning the DOF button to instant electronic/mechanical switch. So I shoot electronic most of the time, but if I lock on to a fast moving bird I can switch to mechanical instantly 'on the fly'. Can't do much about the noise, but since the bird is already airborne spooking it isn't an issue. I think that my leaning to the R7 probably has something to do with the fact that I've been a Nikon shooter most of my birding life. Most late Nikon DSLRs and all (?) Nikon mirrorless have no optical low-pass filter and the retention of detail compared to the R5 (which has one) is noticeable. For me, the gorgeous images that I get out of the R7 when used with the 'workarounds' for the negative aspects of the camera make it preferable to the R5. I use a Canon 300mm 2.8 MkII with 1.4 TC to give me an effective FOV of 670mm at F4. It's a super-sharp combination. I haven't noticed any focussing issues with the R7 that aren't also a 'feature' of most other mirrorless cameras, fewer in fact.

[wellingtoncrescent]

Thanks, Brent. I appreciated your insights. As you point out, many of your concerns are based on how the physical layout compares to other R models, which may be less of a concern for those who don't own multiple bodies. Still, they are fair criticisms, fairly made and helpful.

I was however surprised by your description of how the AF readily loses its subject, which hasn't been my experience for sports or birds. Did you find any difference depending on the focus case? I'm mostly using Case 2, which Canon describes as "effective if you prefer the focus not to switch to non- subjects or the background". Canon also suggests adjusting the sensitivity further to favour the initial subject if you wish.

Thanks again.

[GeirStene-Larsen-mqvm]

Thanks for a great video. It was good to learn that others have the same problem as me with the autofocus. But I have found a way to improve this for static motives like a bird sitting relatively still, and that is to not keep the autofocus button in for more than a split second. As soon as the blue square marks that the eye or the bird has been focused, I let go of the button, and then all the fotos in that series will be sharp. I may repeat this a couple of times to be sure, but in total this has improved my keeper rates drastically.

[PatrickMartin-lwtu]

Good video Brent. I shoot aviation and wildlife with an R6 and R7. Had not shot either in a while, but on a recent trip to DC with the family, took the R6, and it reminded me why I love it. Tough to quantify, but for me, the R6 is just a much more enjoyable experience, and 9 out of 10 times, I get more consistent results from the 6. I want to love the R7, but just can't quite get there. I totally relate to the AF jumping off randomly for no reason along, missed focus that is presumably locked in, and the off putting sound of the mechanical shutter. I have an Ireland trip in 2024 that is a once in a lifetime thing, and hands down I will take the 6 over the 7. I may just sell the 7 to fund an R62. Take care of that shoulder!

[Joya]

Hi Brent, good video. I also have the R5 in addition to the R7. I love both but I’m finding that I’m grabbing the R7 more than the R5. For bird photography I’m finding the R7 and the 800mm F11 is a great combination. I’m really happy with the incredible reach and image quality, also when I pair the R7 with the 100-500mm I have a really flexible combo for wildlife. The R5 is a great camera but I feel some of the features on the R7 are superior. My hope is that some of those deficiencies are fixed with those promised firmware updates for the R5. So in conclusion the R7 for me is a fantastic backup to the R5 and I love both. Best of luck with your health problems….tea always makes things seem better!

[rossaff]

Great comprehensive review. It really confirms a lot of what I feel about my R7 vs my R5. When it’s good, it’s very good, but the focus issue is the thing that frustrates me most. Soft images when the camera is telling me it’s locked on is the most maddening thing for me. It drives your keeper rate way down. A lot of folks say the R7 focus system is better than the R5’s. It may be slightly more advanced, but in my experience the R5 is still a more reliable, accurate system.

[andrewkeir]

I have switched from M mode to Fv which enables quick easy control of the 4 main adjustments very easily.
When I do shoot in M mode I use Auto ISO so its not a problem I uograded from a 90D to the R7 and love the camera.

[rumin]

I had an r7 on order, cancelled it and bought an r62. Really like the r62. First mirrorless for me but also first full frame. One wheel for iso, one for aperature one for shutter, and a histogram in the viewfinder to supplement viewfinder brightness. Makes shooting in manual really much much better, plus the autofocus. I would buy an aps version of an r62 in a heartbeat. Make the camera identical except for the sensor size and pixel density (24 or 32 mp on an aps sensor). I like to carry 2 bodies, but if they could have IDENTICAL controls life would be so easy. It is not easy to switch back and forth. Iso buttons suck no matter where they are. Good review

[rui]

I have the Nikon P1000, I already had the 90D and I'm tired of the APSC and its limitations, I'm going to buy the R8 or the R6M2, these noise reduction software are good, I agree with you but they have a price, less quality. Full sensor gives me more satisfaction! The R7 is just a 90D decorated with the same mechanical shutter problems as the 90D with improved iso worked internally by digic X but I see lifeless images! Thank you for your review, I completely agree! You were even kind to R7.

[rustyanddebbieperkins]

Thanks for the update! We lived in Tucson for a short time and loved taking pictures of birds and planes there.

[bockiesix]

32mp on a apc means every little shake Will give a photo out of focus. You have to shoot at higher shutterspeed than you are used to. For me i have to shoot at 20% higher shutterspeeds to get sharp photos.

[sprayhawk]

Appreciated this vid. The qualified negativity was perfect for me, because I am coming from an R5. Hearing your negative perspective gives me a better idea of how this lens functions in my bag. IF it makes it in, it's purpose would be the second body, likely with the RF800, when we are exploring Yellowstone this fall. IF it works well in that roll, then I likely keep the RF800 on it all the time and use the R5 with everything else. I am hesitant to pull the trigger on an R7 because of the focus issues and the layout issues. I know others are jazzed by the 'reach' it creates with the APS-C sensor, but part of me is arguing that an R6 might not be a better solution. Put the RF800 on the R5 and crop in as needed and run whatever second lense is appropriate on the R6. Anyway, appreciated your observations; hope you are healing up by this time.

[jameslove]

Hi brent. Hope you feel better soon. Enjoy your trip . Best regards from james in scotland.

[rreichar]

Nice review! I ordered the R7 and got it the day after they started shipping. I was blown away by it’s IQ on day one with the 100-500 lens. It focused quickly and I loved some of the images I was getting. I used it for 6 months. The more I used it the less happy I was with it. In the end I sold it and went with an OM-1 as my primary body. I sold all my Canon gear mainly because I was annoyed with the choices Canon made on the R7. I wanted crop sensor reach in a premium body. It hurt me to sell the 100-500. Had the R6ii been out at that time I might have held on to my RF lenses. Canon could have easily made a pro crop sensor body for $2500. I would have bought 2 of them.

[supernovaB]

I really appreciate your “R5/R6 user” disclaimer. That explains your disappointment in form factor and buttons disposition. on the opposite, I am a Sony user, and when I used to shoot with R5 it was me to be disappointed for button. But with the R7 I really feel comfortable with buttons disposition, they’re more logic to me.
Nice video, hope you’ll be healthy

[cooloox]

If you program the control ring to control ISO (or whatever you like), that automatically works with every RF lens and the control ring adapter for EF lenses. You don't set it up for each lens separately.

Because the control ring gives the 3rd dial, the 4-way pad on the back is far more useful than another dial as it gives you 4 programmable buttons instead, while still acting as a navigation control too (when scrolling through photos or menus).

[salmandrin]

Thank you Brent, I'm using 7D M2 since 2017, now i'm having focus issue with Tamron 150-600 G2, I'm planning to switch to mirrorless since last year but as it coast too much for me, my few years saving worth half after devalue of our currency against US$, since last few months I'm watching/reading the reviews before spending much money on body, your review is eye opener for me, I'm planing between R7 and R8. I do lot of walk in dry habitats and here birds are very shy due to hunting practices, I can't afford two body/lens at all, I travel via motorbike, so it have problem of carrying more weight.

[glenharriman]

Great video, Brent and spot on. I've had the R7 since it came out and reach with the RF100-500 sold me. 800mm at F7.1 isn't too bad. Yes, the AF jumping around has been an (unpredictable) issue, but when it does work, it's spot-on. Like so many others have said or implied, the small buffer all but forced me to change my way of shooting and being conservative on the shutter button. No more 'spray and pray'. More like 'spray sparely'. Anyway, I have most of the same gripes as you and maybe a few more likes, which is why I still have it for wildlife. With 3rd party software, the noise isn't an issue with most of my keepers, so I go back to the 800mm and how much closer it brings me. When it captures an image, they're very sharp as well, but that lens (RF100-500) is part of the equation. Nice and sharp.