Which Is The BEST Wildlife Camera? | Canon R6 Mark II vs R7 | What About The R8?

Get ready for the ultimate "budget" wildlife camera showdown! We've field tested the Canon R6 Mark II and the Canon R7 to see which one reigns supreme when it comes to capturing breathtaking bird photos and videos. Which one would you chose?
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Face Off
0:20 R6 Mark II The Good & The Bad
5:38 R7 The Good & The Bad
10:04 Which One To Chose
11:20 What About The R8
12:57 Photos of the Week!

[speecher]

Since the R7 is my first experience with a control wheel and joystick, I have no complaints about its position and am very glad that they're there!

[dr_squirrel]

I bought the R7 as a second camera to my R5 and, well, It’s become my first camera for wildlife now. I love the reach and the the body layout. But I agree with Glenn, I would rather have spent a little more to see that dreadful rolling shutter improved and a slightly better lowlight performance. Still it‘s an amazing cam

[Chris_Wolfgram]

Wow ! This video was pertinent on SO many levels for me 🙂
I owned the R5 for a year, but after buying the R7, I loved it so much, I sold my R5 and bought a second R7 for my backup. So yes, for me, reach was everything !
Oh, and my favorite lens for my R7's, is my RF 800 F11 👍 1280mm all day long !
Jan, I'm SO anxious to see you do a full vid on this combo. I know how well it has worked for me, so I'm sure your results are going to be even better 🙂
The Allen's Hummer is awesome, AND it was my buddy who shot it 👍
And that final shot of the Blue Grosbeak, Fantastic ! What are the odds, I just got some really great shots of a BG myself only a few days ago.
Still trying to decide on some shots to send you guys.... But your viewers shoot some crazy good stuff ! Stiff competition for sure 🙂
Thanks for the awesome video guys.

[FraterABYA]

I used to have the R5, and sold it after I got my R7. May sound crazy to some, but I haven't found a ton of downsides for the "reach". It doesn't do as well with low light, but I accept it. I also gave up my much more expensive 500mm mkii for the 100-500mm. The stabilizer is so good, I just don't feel like I need to carry around so much gear. Personal tastes. F4 is great and everything, but how often do we actually shoot wildlife at F4? Very rarely for me.

[joanhuggett]

Another beautiful and entertaining Bird Photography Show. We always look forward to it. Thank you Jan and Glenn, you are totally awesome.

[derekmidgley]

My thumb likes where that round wheel is on the R7 and I love the resolution. It's not a perfect camera by a long shot. But it's excellent for the price and actually seems to spend more time in my hands lately than my R5.

[clairehachey]

As of January 2023, I've been using the Canon R7 with my Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary. At times, the lens will not focus properly, but this does not happen often. When it does, I simply turn the camera off and then back on, and everything works well afterwards. A few days ago, I read where someone had updated the lens firmware and that brought on many problems, hence I won't bother doing that. I've tried Electronic 1st shutter curtain but switched back to mechanical shutter as my go to option. I must say I like the camera-lens combo very much and am amazed at the quality of the photos I've taken, including many of Cooper's hawks and the elusive brown creeper. On a side note, I was out up to 3 times per week all winter doing bird photography in Montreal. Canada, and I must say the camera battery held up real well in the cold. I was very impressed! Cheers and thanks for another amazing video guys :)

[rafam]

FF quality is the most important thing for me that why I use m6mk2 for birding😅

[nivedhaceaay]

Like the judging of the bird shots. Thx

[keeganflahive]

I have had my R5 and got the R7 about 6 months ago. I run the RF 100-500. I do tons of other photography so the R5 is best for that but man the R7 has been amazing for wildlife. R7 + 100-500mm combo is perfect.

[Mariner]

I am fortunate to have both and can say each performs so well that I think it does come down to reach (both long and short). I actually prefer the R7 ergonomics, but do wish it had the quieter shutter and battery grip option of the R6ii. The biggest issue, as you guys pointed out, is getting confused when I switch back and forth. I don’t shoot wildlife, but the R7 is outstanding in my most challenging shoots, event photography in large poorly lit churches. Love the images I’m getting with both the 70–200 f/2.8 and 400 f/2.8. Now, when I need to go wide that crop factor is a problem. Enter the R6ii . . .

[Joya]

Good show, Jan and Glenn. I have the R5 and the R7 and I love the R7. I’ve had 3 friends switch to the R7 since I’ve had it. We are all birders and wildlife photographers and the reach that I get with the RF 100-500 and the RF 800 on the R7 can be really good and very portable. Today I was out after osprey, as usual it dove at a distance, but extra reach with the crop on the R7 really helped pull it in.

[Duade]

Great video gents, both cameras have their place, I agree would have been amazing with say the Fuji X-H2S stacked sensor. Cheers, Duade

[mvp_kryptonite]

Good suggestion the R7 should have been an R9 but Canon sold the R7 on name alone really. Would love the R7 to be a true successor to the 7D line as a body with all the wheels/grip etc.

[kennethcheong]

I have both the R6ii and the R7, and I sold the R5. I think you guys did not give due consideration to the R6ii AF capabilities. I gave up on the R5 because the AF just could not get the bird fast enough. I've missed so many photo opportunities it was becoming frustrating using the R5. The R6ii is a huge step up in this respect because I can get the shot which I'd previously missed with the R5. Another birding friend also gave up on the higher MP R5 for the R3 and his backup is the R6ii. In terms of the MP count, through my month long use of the R6ii, I don't feel any major lost of resolution compared to the R5. I'm able to crop up to 66% quite easily and get good sharp shots.
Bird photography in the South East Asian jungles isn't like putting up a branch and getting the birds to perch nicely on them. Babblers and especially wren-babblers are not attracted to open branches, so you won't get them on the 'ideal' perch as you like to postulate. Similarly trogons and broadbills won't sit nicely on open branches. I do appreciate PS's 'remove' tool in this respect, but most of the time we have to shoot them in-situ. I think you guys should be more 'open' to alternative bird photography, not every bird will sit nicely for a portrait.

[Hummingbirder]

12:19 - 12:57 You and me both, Glenn. 100% correct!

[sswildlifevideos]

Thanks for the feature! That actually is in the Australian Garden section of a park here in California, hence the familiar plant!

[b.g.]

Agree on the R7 sensor and body. I would rather pay a little more for something with a similar body, build to the R6II and faster censor readout. The shutter is much louder than the R5 and R6 and due to the poor sensor readout you will use it more often than on the other bodies.

[ammadoux]

fabulous episode as ever, love your discussion and the shots you picked. thanks a million Jan and Glenn.

[garrywatters]

Bought the R6 when it first came out and loved it. Then two years later I bought the R5. If I want to crop then I go to the 1.6 crop using my 800 f11. This suits me fine and don't see the need for a crop sensor camera. To add to the fun I also have the 1.4 RF converter.