I really like the wide shot you took Duade. Makes a nice change from all the ‘bird on a stick’ shots that we all take. Also, for those of us watching in a different country (UK) it gives us more information about the diverse landscape. you are shooting in. Another great video, thanks for sharing.
I’ve always been a prime user, the thought being I’ll never have enough reach so always be at the top end. As my field craft skills improved, especially with mammals, I’ve found sometimes with foxes, deer and hares they got too close that they couldn’t fit in the frame or could even focus on them. Recently I added the 100-500 to my collection and had a situation with a deer that meant starting out at 500mm and ending at around 200mm. Love both the zoom and prime, like you they have their advantages and disadvantages but compliment each other perfectly.
I prefer the zoom just because of the versatility especially as I almost always go hand held and walking through the bush. That said, I simply can’t justify to myself buying/ having both (yet🤣) . Especially when you consider the prices of the primes…
@@johnrus7661depends. My dream was to meet a Kingfisher, i considered buying even ef 600 mm...i met him yesterday, shot with rf 70-200, super sharp photo..i think i wont buy 600 mm
I've just traded in my RF 100-500 and some old EF glass I don't use for an EF 500 and couldn't be happier. The 100-500 is just so slow. using it around sunrise/sunset was a real chore. I never used 100-499mm of it either so the swap was a no brainer!
Hi Stephen, yes the prime is the superior strictly birding lens that is for sure. It might be worth picking up the RF100-400 for macro, flowers etc if you do that sort of thing, it is always good to have a prime and a zoom. Cheers, Duade
It’s SO HARD to go from a 600mm f4 to a 100-500mm if shooting birds. The versatility is very nice, but once you have been used to caviar it’s hard to go down to canned tuna. The way the background disappears with the big lenses makes them so worth it. Some people don’t care as much, and don’t mind all the sticks and s$&t and busy backgrounds then the 100-500 is great, or for big game and versatility it’s wonderful to have that range. I shot some wild horses with it and it came in very handy. It’s also amazing for landscapes as I love that compressed look. But nothing beats a prime with an extender for birds. Especially matched to a R6 with the spoiled eye detection these days. We are in exciting times for photography!! I will add that if you have a nice clean background or down low at the beach, the 100-500L can be nice, as long as you control your backgrounds well. But if you have some extra money, compare the 500mm II and 600mm II first before buying a zoom in my opinion. Depending on how serious you are. And what your needs dictate.
I have the RF 100-500 and am almost always at full zoom but I’m very grateful that it is a zoom because sometimes you just need that wider shot. I also have the 2x extender but find that it reduces the sharpness considerably unless there is a LOT of light behind me. If I could afford a large prime I would gladly add one to my outfit but that’s not going to happen, lol. Also, regarding the 100-500, I’m amazed at how close it can focus, even at 500mm. It’s a great all around lens. I enjoyed this episode, keep up the good work. 👍 Those grass trees are amazing!
I agree with you that both the wider-angle shot and the zoomed in shot have merit for the very reasons you mentioned -- one gives context, the other more detail of the bird. Way to go!
Duade I really enjoy your videos. They are informative, realistic, practical and well presented. I live in Canada and currently we have 26 inches of snow and -15c temps so I am a little envious of your weather and the abundance of wildlife you have to shoot. Thank you!
My current goal lens is a 300mm f2.8 II with a 2x TC, as a way to hopefully be able to hike around with a prime. Even if it's not as sharp as getting a 600mm f4 it's still sharper than a zoom and not as crazy heavy as the bigger primes.
I have the canon 300 f/2.8 II and 100-400 II. I use both of them with 1.4 and 2x on an R5. The 300+2x produces much sharper/better micro-contrast images than the 100-400+1.4x or 2x. So for anything far/around the 600mm distance I prefer to use 300+2x for better IQ. When I know things will be closer and at variable distances I will use the 100-400 or even my 70-200. I would love a 500 or a 600 f/4 prime but weight and cost are an issue. So I’ve been debating for many years their acquisition. Realistically you cannot handhold a lens even the lightest one for extended periods of time at the same spot waiting for a bird to do something. So I divide my outings in terms of will I be stationary at a location or not and choose accordingly. When I was younger and more fit (and naive I suppose) I favoured the moving around outings as I’m getting older I’m gravitating towards the stationary ones :-))
See if you can hire a 100-500mm and try one for a few days you will be amazed at its versatility. Cost and weight are very attractive compared to a prime 500 or 600mm.
Thanks Dimitris, weight is an issue and the older I get the less I enjoy lugging it around. I do wish Canon made some fast DO lenses like Nikons 500pf. Cheers, Duade
Since I cancelled my RF 200-800 order from february, since Canon is not able (direct contact) to tell when it's available again, I've bought a used RF 100-500 and now I was lucky to get a EF 500 F4 IS and an EF x1.4 III Extender for cheap. I think the RF 100-500 could be faster, but Canon managed to put out a lense which is very light (instead of being faster) and has great image quality + focus. Perfect for walking around. The EF500 combo is when I know that I visit a lake or something like that and spend some time at one place.
A huge thing to consider with these lenses is how you do your photography. If you use a lot of tripod and can afford it, the prime is better in every way - better build quality, more light, sharper, and faster autofocus. But if you mostly just go on hikes and take images as you go, dragging around a fast prime ( 400 f2.8, 500 or 600 f4, or 800 f5.6) is probably not really feasible.
Read my comment. Wildlife, to me, is lion, leopard and a docile cheetah, hyena, caracal. A prime will be a limiting factor when I am limited to my space behind a steering wheel. Steer well clear of lions; they don't brush and their breath is stale.
I wish he'd commented on the focus and sharpness a bit more between using these 2 lenses.. because I didn't see much difference in focus speed; in fact, maybe a tad faster on the zoom... and I thought the zoom shots were a tiny bit sharper than the prime he used as well. But 'prime is better in every way' was not what I saw in this video... neither in the shooting nor in the final shots.
I like the RF100-500 very much, and use it a lot. Only when I need high shutter speed and the light is not that good I use my 500mm F4 V1 prime. As a walk around lens the RF100-500 is very good, you can keep it in front of your face when walking, or waiting for a few minuts, less change that you scare the birds away before you take the shot.
After getting more experience in the field, the answer seems easy: both, but start with a zoom first. The zoom often is not such a huge financial investment and gives you the chance to really learn the fundamentals. Also, you will get to know your preferred focal length and your shooting style. After using the RF100-500 for over two years, my mind is made up. As I find myself mostly at the long end, shooting in the early or later hours and using a teleconverter quite often, a 600mm f4 prime is the way to go for me. Also, my son has been joining me more and more for my bird photography sessions, so I kind of want him to take his own photos too. I will turn 40 next year and I will also finish my 5 year add-on training, which seems like a great opportunity to finally make such a daring investment. Great photos too!
Perhaps the key thing is whether you are shooting from a fixed spot or walking around, shooting birds at a range of distances. I tend to do the latter, so flexibility and lower weight of a zoom are good for me. There are locations I know where I am sure a prime and a couple of teleconverters will do what I need. As you say, having a plan can be important but a zoom is a friend to me when I try somewhere that I’m not so familiar with. All the best!
Both lens are great. The background do not bother me a bit in both days of shooting - they are all part of the environment. I really enjoyed you talking abut the tree...new information to me. I hope you can make more videos showing the nature around your property- not only the birds.
Great video! Music level in the background was perfect! I started into the journey of photography when I was in the military and they sent me to a reconnaissance photo course. My last year in the navy I actually got to focus as a photographer for my conman’s and all the photos put up in the hallways were mine and my mates. Just getting back into it taking pics of my girlfriends teens playing sports. Love your video and demeanor and will subscribe!
Awesome content, I personally like wider context shots rather than the typical photos of a bird on a stick. Also love how you show the end result, and then show the raw and the final cropped result within it.
Loved this video! Haven't heard of a grass tree so really interesting. I quite liked the wide shots for additional context of where the bird is. Thought it adds extra interest. Loved the prime shots though. I'm saving up and hoping to buy a zoom lens as I recently missed a few shots of local deer as they moved closer and my 400mm with extender couldn't get the whole animal in.
Thanks May, I appreciate your comment, having a zoom can have its benefits for sure. If I need pure reach then the prime is my choice, I guess the difficulty is knowing which lens you need before hand as it usually turns out to be wrong lol. Cheers, Duade
Thanks Duade. Just what I needed. I have the R5 and the RF 100-500, and have been dreaming of a big RF prime. But they are extremely expensive in Denmark. So watching your videos was very helpful for me. Just ordered the EF 500 F4/ L IS II USM. thanks for all your great work and videos. 🇩🇰
Kristian, congrats on the lens, it is a beautiful lens and I use mine with a 1.4 III the majority of the time. Let me know how you go with it. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade i will receive it on Saturday with express delivery. So if it’s not raining to much here during the weekend. I will for sure be testing. 🤟 have a great weekend.
@@Duade going out for a test with the 500 prime today. And just one question I hope you will help me with. Would you switch off the IS if you are using tripod.
Another great video. I prefer the zooms for versatility and portability. Easier to travel with too :). I did like the wide shot, it’s great sometimes to give the birds a larger context.
Great video as usual; informative and extremely well presented. Being a ‘Pomp’, I am always in awe of your cropped shots; how I wish we had that abundance of colour in our native species. I feel that the wider shots give me, personally, that hint of habitat missing in the tighter shots; without the video I’d have little idea of the surroundings the birds inhabit.
The zoom for versatility, but the prime every time for image quality and that most important aspect of wildlife photography, speed! A few clouds and the zoom is struggling, whereby the 500 prime is still cranking them out!
Great video. I have just bought a 600 F4 which I received a week ago after a 3 month wait and had shot with a 200-600 zoom for the previous year. From what I have seen the 600 F4 gives better quality photos than the zoom - that is better colour, contrast, resolution and bokeh. I was shooting short eared owls which only came out at dusk thee first day I got my new lens and was obtaining remarkable good results of them flying at ISO 16000 and with a shutter speed of only 1/500th. If I was using my 200-600 lens I would have not got the shots I wanted due to the lens being a lot slower (F6.3). I carry my prime around with me as it is only about 500 grams heavier than my zoom and don't use a tripod. I agree with you that the zooms have greater flexibility in terms of focal length but that is where the advantage of them appears to end. I preferred your shots with the prime over the zoom. The environmental shot however I quite liked too - in some circumstances a more environmental shot I think will be better especially if you have two birds interacting with each other and the environment helps tell the story of what they are doing.
Thanks John, there is nothing better than a 600 prime for pure IQ and it sounds like you are enjoying yours. It's nice to have both a prime and zoom so you can get the wider shots. Cheers, Duade
I just ordered my RF 100 -500 only to be told there are none in stock and no delivery date for new stock. Doh! Thanks for another great video Duade. All the best, Brian.
Excellent video as usual. Being that I love seeing what the bird does in nature as well as the bird itself I perferr the wide angle shot. For the detail in the bird itself can't beat the 500 prime with 1.4. Beautiful photos and patience paid off.
it is a delicate matter, I prefer the zooms for their greater versatility, but it is also true that the detachment that has a prime lens is priceless...today's zooms have achieved truly superb image quality, so in my view, I prefer the zoom anyway to each his own :-)
what an interesting place Duade, it's those kind of places where a photograph does not make justice to the beauty of nature! I would love to know that spot one day!Thank you for sharing beauties with us, and compliments on this new movie-volg! Best regards as usual, Daniela, from Uruguay.
@@Duade I was looking at the boots you were using, are those usual to walk out there in your country? or mainly are they used to prevent snakes bites? Sorry to ask!
fabulous video love it so much. timing is just perfect for me as the aloe vera are flowering in my garden right now and the little sunbirds love it so much. i am preparing the setting since two weeks and i got really helpful advises and ideas from this video thanks again. the only thing that male sunbirds now are in eclipse. so i hope the aloe keep on flowering until late. December.
I never knew about Australian Grass Trees but I'm now a huge fan. Beautiful plant. Also, beautiful vlog and great insight. I'm really interested in the 1--500 but the price is crazy. I'm hoping Tamron or another 3rd party lens helps me out in the near future. Thanks so much for this. It was really, really good.
Kelly, yes, they are an amazing plant, I agree the sooner Tamron and Sigma release RF zooms the better. The Tamron 150-500 for Sony is so good I think the RF versions will also be great. Cheers, Duade
Great shots again capturing those beautiful Australian birds! Which lens do I prefer? - the zoom for shooting on the walk, insects, even landscape. very versatile - the prime waiting in a hide to get the shot as desired.
Duade; You are doing an excellent job on these videos. Would it be possible to mention some of the gear you are shooting video with on these videos. Like you, l shoot stills and video so enjoy learning both.
Thanks Jeff, I use the Canon R6 and an RF24-105 f4 and RF35 1.8 most of the time. I am pretty lazy and just shoot in 4k30P and not CLOG or RAW. Cheers, Duade
Possible next video is to put a RF 1.4 on your RF100-500 zoom placed on same tripod and using same blind as your test with the 500 prime . Both setups shooting now at 700 with the only difference being the F stop of which is still in the prime lenses favour. Many thanks for all your great work in the videos
Thanks Colin, yes that would be interesting, I don't have an RF1.4 yet so may have to invest in one in the future. Would you believe the extender is $940 AUD at the moment, which is one expensive extender. Cheers, Duade
I always love the zoom pics because I like to see the small details but really liked your wider pics as well. I will try to take some wider pics as well next time. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the great comparison. I'm currently using the nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 with/out 1.7x teleconverter (on a crop and full frame body) and have a lot of appreciation for the versatility of zooms. Especially in sports situations.
I have a few primes and they spend more time in the cabinet than in the field since I got teles that cover the same range. On a side note, I use the same bird blind cover. I started out with a hunter's blind tent and found having the mobility of the cover was far suppieor.
Thanks John, it is always interesting to see what lenses/gear we gravitate too, I guess that is why it's important to try out gear for a while to get a real feel for it. Cheers, Duade
Favorite was the merged photo towards the end-hell of a “bird on a stick” shot. Action shots were outstanding as well, very cool little eco-event you got to shoot. Would enjoy to see some more wide work in the future, wild life pano is a interesting sub-genre. I enjoy doing some macro insect pano work, but birds are a real challenge to do interesting wide work, especially with only one subject. Beautiful work all around, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, yes the wider shots are tricky as the bird gets very small and the habitat can get distracting. Its just about finding a balance I guess. Cheers, Duade
Thank you Duane for the beautiful pictures, storytelling and honest advice. Much appreciated. I recently bought the R6 and 100-500 lens, unfortunately my budget doesn't allow for one of the primes... Going to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa in July, seriously considering the 1.4x or 2x converter as the park is very open and that extra reach is required. Just concerned about the f-stop with the 2x converter on the 100-500mm lens, might not be able to get me those blurry back-grounds to make the photos pop. Love your passion and bird knowledge, also knowing their habitat hugely increases the chances of the perfect photo... well done sir.
Thanks for the feedback, the TC on the 100-500 are a bit of a pain as you lose the 100-300mm focal range. I have used the 1.4x on the 100-500 and it is acceptable, there is a jump down in IQ. The 2x would be a bit of a struggle and IQ would take a big hit, I think cropping might be better. Cheers, Duade
I’m new to your channel and really enjoy your videos. I like the tight shots of the bird because you see so much detail of these amazing animals. Thanks.
Oh, also: ofc the snazziest shot was the one you showed last, taken with the prime. But, I cannot say anything about which lens I prefer, really, bcs that prime is out of the question for me. At least 3 reasons: 1) too expensive (I had to dig deep into my wallet to buy the 100-500 and that cost is still not much in comparision), 2) too heavy, I can't handle it even short term and 3) takes too much place and weight when flying abroad! The versatility that comes with the zoom is also wonderful, as is the close focus range (I like to photograph butterflies and sometimes flowers). That the quality of the 100-500 is so good, even better than the 100-400 II, is such a bonus since it's also lighter.
Yes I agree the benefits of the 100-500 are fantastic, I have now started to really enjoy flowers, butterflies and insects that I overlooked before. Yes, the travel part is great also. Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade! So glad to back on your channel after a while! The location is mesmerizing, the photos are fantastic! Do try a wide angle habitat shot here (by wide, I mean real wide 😅) with some remote shutter-tripod-camo setup. Enjoyed the video a lot!
Depends on what I'm going to be shooting (and where). Most of the time I use a 600mm prime, otherwise 100-400 or 200-600. If I'm going somewhere where there's likely to be more (non-photographic) people or, for example, out on a boat, definitely a zoom.
Second time watching this one. I still prefer the wide habitat shot. In astrophotography, for years, everyone used telescopes (2000mm) and took images of single objects. However, now there is a huge movement towards shorter focal lengths (200-400mm) so you can see what is surrounding the objects. It really puts the object in space! I think the same trend should happen with bird photography! Maybe this trend has something to do with all of us using way higher megapixel cameras, high res monitors, and cheaper large prints. Even when the bird is small in frame, it still has great detail.
Thanks Rick, yes, wider shots do have more habitat and sometimes are more interesting, I am slowly trying to take wider shots to accompany my prime. I must admit the wider stuff is a lot more challenging which is fun. Cheers, Duade
The quality difference is noticeable but I found out that in the real world because zooms are lighter and handholdable at lower shutter speeds (lower ISO) the quality difference isn't as big as MTF charts or dollar bill/pattern tests show. Once I started shooting a lot of mammals my Nikon 500 f4 started gathering dust (its 8.5 lbs). Until Canon releases a RF 500 f4 (which I hope is in the 5 lb range or less) I am more than happy with the quality of the R5 and 100-400 (with and without the 1.4x III). Even though the RF 400 2.8 and 600 4 are only a little over 6 lbs I still think that is too heavy for walking around and photographing wildcats handheld in low light which I do a lot of now. Great video as always Duade!
Shravan, yes the weight has to be a factor when considering these lenses. I wish Canon had light DO lenses like Nikons 500pf. A 600 5.6 DO would be a great lens. Cheers, Duade
The prime shots were beautiful but I also love the fact that with 100-500, you can sometimes shoot some nice landscapes while on the field. The shot at 7:00 mark is a testament to having a zoom in your poccession. That would be an awesome cavas wall print. I am a stills first shooter but sometimes after coming home and looking 4k videos that my R5 and 100-500 capture, is amazing. Images out of primes are second to none, and that's a fact.
Thanks Danny, the 100-500 is the sharpest zoom I have used and competes very well with a prime. Just the reach and speed let it down a little. Cheers, Duade
Beautiful captures Duade! Loving your results with the R5..and the 100-500 looks like a lighter kit to take on long hikes when my 5DIV and 500mm are a bit too heavy to take along. Thanks for sharing your experience and comparisons.
Why do I keep torturing myself watching your videos ? The fantastic locations, birds and aproachability of many by the looks of things is just superb. You are so lucky to get such opportunities. A quick question, if you could only have one lens, would it be the 500 prime or 100-500 zoom ?
Thanks John, yes we are very lucky down here with our birds. I would go with the prime if I only had one lens, I find 500mm on the zoom a little short for many species. Once the R7 comes out I think that with the 100-500 could be the ideal kit. Cheers, Duade
Gran trabajo Duade!!! En realidad ambos lentes tienen grandes ventajas más que inconvenientes. Muy bien presentado el video y fotografías inspiradoras de gran calidad. Saludos desde Chile.
Thanks a lot for yet another excellent video. These grass trees are stunning and really deserve the wider shots that includes a lot of the foliage. I think that in that situation I would have cheated and put two birds on the flower :-)
Another great video. I purchased the 100-500 with the unrealistic hope that it could replace my 500 prime, which is the sharpest lens in my arsenal, but I hate lugging around that heavy 8.5 pound lens. I’m very happy with the 100-500, but, as you point out, it’s not quite as sharp as the prime, and the bokeh on the prime is better. Still, I’m a little surprised that you find the sharpness of the prime + teleconverter combo to be better than the 100-500 zoom. For me, the teleconverter knocks down IQ a bit. (I own the 500 prime version I with the 1.4 teleconverter version II.) I’m keeping both.
Daniel, thanks for sharing and congrats on the 100-500. The V2 lens and V3 TC work very well together and I rarely take off the TC to be honest. 700mm is my sweet spot and the RF100-500 does feel a little short when I use it but its flexibility is incredible. Cheers, Duade
I prefer the photo quality of the prime. I shoot a Canon 600 II f/4 it’s sharper, better details at longer distances, better bokeh, less grain compared to the 100-400 II. I use a monopod & wimberley mono gimbal & carry the 600 & monopod in a flag pole harness. I can carry it for a few hours while hiking 🥾 or moving around, no problem. I own a nice tripod but rarely use it. Even though I love the 600 prime It’s still a chore carrying a big lens around. I have the RF 100-500 on order, I’ll use it for ducks & birds around smaller ponds, quick backyard shots, or overhead raptor shots, non wildlife shots, portraits, but it’s real strength is Mammals, big horned sheep, bison, deer, elk etc. usually the 600 is too much for big game mammal shots in close canyons, out of a vehicle etc. nice to be able to dial the zoom accordingly without moving.
Thanks Johnathan, sounds like you have a good system working for you and the 100-500 will be fantastic for the scenarios you mentioned. Shame they are so delayed at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Interesting comparison Duade and such a lovely shot with the prime. The zoom is a big plus on safari in Africa, but yes the prime lenses do pay one back with exceptional image quality. For most, that 100 - 500 RF is simply perfect.
Great video as always! I liked the wider shots but the 100mm wide seemed a little bit too much. I like my Sony 200-600mm for that zoom-ability also. Shooting with the 500 mm and the 1.4 teleconverter put you at F 6.3 which is the same as I'm getting from the 200-600mm. The depths of field with these big telephotos is always a limitation and I really like to try to have the whole bird in focus when I can. It seems a lot of times even with the big primes photographers stop them down a bit for that added depth of field. When you add the size and price and limited mobility of these bigger heavier prime lenses and then often not shoot at f4 it really begins to lessen the difference between these and the telephoto's. I'm sure there is some image quality difference but that's really only when pixel peeping I bet. It's nice to have both and I'm still on the fence about which way to go. I'll probably try to find a used 500 mm F4 at a really great price to compliment the lenses I already have. Looking forward to that rf100-400mm review, Best of luck to you!
Thanks mate, yes, the differences can be pretty small considering the price difference between the big primes and the more affordable 600 zooms. I do wish Canon made a 600 zoom, we can only hope one of these patents turns into a reality. Review shouldn't be too much longer hopefully, Cheers, Duade
Nice video as always. I particularly like how you explain the set-up to position yourself for a great shot. I also like the "challenge yourself" part. For beginners like me, this is so useful (but I've been a beginner for 20 years!). I generally use zoom lenses also.
Thanks for your great comment, I think we should all consider ourselves beginners so we can be open to learning and adapting as we go. I am always learning and this channel is a great way to keep evolving. Cheers, Duade
Great video but the only thing that got me was when you said you couldn't fit both birds in and the 500mm had no flexibility to do it. You were using a 1.4x teleconverter which could have been taken off especially since you were comparing lenses which would have then widened your field of view. I use my 500mm f4 handheld the sa.e as my friends with the 100-500mm zooms and use my feet to zoom. Yes there are some advantages with the zoom but also there are many reasons for the prime as you know. I'd rather have prime than the zoom especially in England
Thanks Paul, yes, all good options, I was not expecting two birds at once and they are on the tree for 10-15 seconds max so no chance to take the converter off as the birds would have been gone. If I had moved the birds would have likely flown off so I had no option but to shoot as I did. I probably should have anticipated both birds and actually moved backwards and had a looser composition and just cropped heavier. I guess this just highlights that we make compromises whenever we shoot and we need to be thinking of all the possibilities when we setup. Cheers, Duade
I primarily shoot large animals and absolutely perfect the primes due to the aperture. Often I am shooting between first light and just after sunrise and the extra stops of aperture is almost a necessity
definitely prefer the prime lens, I used to look at the 100-400 and thought it looked like a toy cause of the telescoping (just my opinion). Either way, love that the RF lenses have come out, means all the good EF lense stapes will plummet in price and I can get a few for 1/5 of the price they were new haha
Just discovered your channel today. Will certainly return frequently. Just one question: I couldn't quite catch the name of the national park. Somewhere in FNQ I presume.
Duane, thanks for posting another very interesting and informative video. I prefer to see the birds in context to their surroundings and your wide shot is the best of the bunch imho. I think I would go for the zoom lens for better general wildlife use and crop to apc-s mode in camera for the extra reach. Cheers from Good ol’ Blighty 🏴.
Great pictures! Personally, I prefer shots with a less blurred background, but if the bird takes up most of the frame, it no longer makes sense (background blur). I just had a question about autofocus settings on the Canon P5 - is there really no autofocus setting in this camera in Tracking Spot S mode (tracking point), like on my Sony A7 IV, when you point the small autofocus square at the desired autofocus point, press the shutter button halfway shutter and autofocus tightly clings to this focus point and keeps it throughout the frame, no matter where this point moves within the frame (for example, the eye of a bird and wherever it moves). This focus tightly holds even in rather dark places (almost in the twilight). That's Sony's autofocus!
G'day, thanks for your response. With eye tracking you can place the single focus point with the joystick on the eye and then engage tracking and it follows the eye as the bird moves. On the R3 and R7 you can set the single focus point to change to tracking after placing the single focus point on the bird which I believe is similar to the Sony. Cheers, Duade 👍
Fully expecting a T-Rex to come busting through the underbrush in that amazingly primeval looking forest you have there. Tough call on the lens. My wife recently got her sharpest picture to date zoomed halfway. Would not have been able to capture the entire critter with a big prime.
Hi Duade, I really enjoyed this video and it’s great to see the flexibility of both lenses, my money is always on the prime but having owned a 600F4 and a 100-400 Mk2 they both have advantages & disadvantages! I’m awaiting the new R3 which is on preorder and I’ve sold my 600 Mk1 for a 2nd hand 500mm Mk2 with additional cash and sold my zoom to allow me money for R3! Would love to have both but funds won’t allow! Great video, cheers Richard (UK) 👍
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I really like the wide shot you took Duade. Makes a nice change from all the ‘bird on a stick’ shots that we all take. Also, for those of us watching in a different country (UK) it gives us more information about the diverse landscape. you are shooting in. Another great video, thanks for sharing.
I’ve always been a prime user, the thought being I’ll never have enough reach so always be at the top end. As my field craft skills improved, especially with mammals, I’ve found sometimes with foxes, deer and hares they got too close that they couldn’t fit in the frame or could even focus on them. Recently I added the 100-500 to my collection and had a situation with a deer that meant starting out at 500mm and ending at around 200mm. Love both the zoom and prime, like you they have their advantages and disadvantages but compliment each other perfectly.
Thanks Frank, the situation you describe shows the power of a zoom, great to have options. Cheers, Duade
I prefer the zoom just because of the versatility especially as I almost always go hand held and walking through the bush. That said, I simply can’t justify to myself buying/ having both (yet🤣) . Especially when you consider the prices of the primes…
Tod, yes the big primes are very expensive that is for sure, thankfully the zooms are getting better and better in regards to quality. Cheers, Duade
Been birding for 15 years. Finally invested in a 500mm f/4 IS.
Best thing I ever did! I'm in love with it.
@@johnrus7661depends. My dream was to meet a Kingfisher, i considered buying even ef 600 mm...i met him yesterday, shot with rf 70-200, super sharp photo..i think i wont buy 600 mm
Great stuff! I like the crop depictions, but it makes me wish I bought an R5 instead of an R6 lol.
Love the way the light hits those grass trees.
Thanks Roy, they are an impressive tree, Cheers, Duade
I've just traded in my RF 100-500 and some old EF glass I don't use for an EF 500 and couldn't be happier. The 100-500 is just so slow. using it around sunrise/sunset was a real chore. I never used 100-499mm of it either so the swap was a no brainer!
Hi Stephen, yes the prime is the superior strictly birding lens that is for sure. It might be worth picking up the RF100-400 for macro, flowers etc if you do that sort of thing, it is always good to have a prime and a zoom. Cheers, Duade
duade, both pictures are so awesome they should be presented together. love Australia's wildlife.
Thanks Marc, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Awesome bird photography tutorial... the best on TH-cam by a clear mile !!!!
Thank you, you are too kind, Cheers, Duade
It’s SO HARD to go from a 600mm f4 to a 100-500mm if shooting birds. The versatility is very nice, but once you have been used to caviar it’s hard to go down to canned tuna. The way the background disappears with the big lenses makes them so worth it. Some people don’t care as much, and don’t mind all the sticks and s$&t and busy backgrounds then the 100-500 is great, or for big game and versatility it’s wonderful to have that range. I shot some wild horses with it and it came in very handy. It’s also amazing for landscapes as I love that compressed look. But nothing beats a prime with an extender for birds. Especially matched to a R6 with the spoiled eye detection these days. We are in exciting times for photography!! I will add that if you have a nice clean background or down low at the beach, the 100-500L can be nice, as long as you control your backgrounds well. But if you have some extra money, compare the 500mm II and 600mm II first before buying a zoom in my opinion. Depending on how serious you are. And what your needs dictate.
I have the RF 100-500 and am almost always at full zoom but I’m very grateful that it is a zoom because sometimes you just need that wider shot. I also have the 2x extender but find that it reduces the sharpness considerably unless there is a LOT of light behind me. If I could afford a large prime I would gladly add one to my outfit but that’s not going to happen, lol. Also, regarding the 100-500, I’m amazed at how close it can focus, even at 500mm. It’s a great all around lens.
I enjoyed this episode, keep up the good work. 👍 Those grass trees are amazing!
yes the MFD of the 100-500 is incredible and almost macro level photos. Cheers, Duade
I agree with you that both the wider-angle shot and the zoomed in shot have merit for the very reasons you mentioned -- one gives context, the other more detail of the bird. Way to go!
Thanks Ted, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Duade I really enjoy your videos. They are informative, realistic, practical and well presented. I live in Canada and currently we have 26 inches of snow and -15c temps so I am a little envious of your weather and the abundance of wildlife you have to shoot. Thank you!
Alan, it is my pleasure, sounds like tough conditions to take photos in, we are looking at 36 degrees tomorrow which is getting hot. Cheers, Duade
My current goal lens is a 300mm f2.8 II with a 2x TC, as a way to hopefully be able to hike around with a prime. Even if it's not as sharp as getting a 600mm f4 it's still sharper than a zoom and not as crazy heavy as the bigger primes.
I have the canon 300 f/2.8 II and 100-400 II. I use both of them with 1.4 and 2x on an R5. The 300+2x produces much sharper/better micro-contrast images than the 100-400+1.4x or 2x. So for anything far/around the 600mm distance I prefer to use 300+2x for better IQ. When I know things will be closer and at variable distances I will use the 100-400 or even my 70-200. I would love a 500 or a 600 f/4 prime but weight and cost are an issue. So I’ve been debating for many years their acquisition. Realistically you cannot handhold a lens even the lightest one for extended periods of time at the same spot waiting for a bird to do something. So I divide my outings in terms of will I be stationary at a location or not and choose accordingly. When I was younger and more fit (and naive I suppose) I favoured the moving around outings as I’m getting older I’m gravitating towards the stationary ones :-))
See if you can hire a 100-500mm and try one for a few days you will be amazed at its versatility. Cost and weight are very attractive compared to a prime 500 or 600mm.
David, it is a great lens, I wish it was 600mm but that would impact the weight which is fantastic as is. Cheers, Duade
Thanks Dimitris, weight is an issue and the older I get the less I enjoy lugging it around. I do wish Canon made some fast DO lenses like Nikons 500pf. Cheers, Duade
Since I cancelled my RF 200-800 order from february, since Canon is not able (direct contact) to tell when it's available again, I've bought a used RF 100-500 and now I was lucky to get a EF 500 F4 IS and an EF x1.4 III Extender for cheap. I think the RF 100-500 could be faster, but Canon managed to put out a lense which is very light (instead of being faster) and has great image quality + focus. Perfect for walking around. The EF500 combo is when I know that I visit a lake or something like that and spend some time at one place.
LOVE ALL of these images. What incredibly beautiful birds you have!!
Thanks Jan, yes we do, Cheers, Duade
A huge thing to consider with these lenses is how you do your photography. If you use a lot of tripod and can afford it, the prime is better in every way - better build quality, more light, sharper, and faster autofocus. But if you mostly just go on hikes and take images as you go, dragging around a fast prime ( 400 f2.8, 500 or 600 f4, or 800 f5.6) is probably not really feasible.
Read my comment. Wildlife, to me, is lion, leopard and a docile cheetah, hyena, caracal. A prime will be a limiting factor when I am limited to my space behind a steering wheel. Steer well clear of lions; they don't brush and their breath is stale.
I wish he'd commented on the focus and sharpness a bit more between using these 2 lenses.. because I didn't see much difference in focus speed; in fact, maybe a tad faster on the zoom... and I thought the zoom shots were a tiny bit sharper than the prime he used as well. But 'prime is better in every way' was not what I saw in this video... neither in the shooting nor in the final shots.
@@mcmillanvideosyour observation is correct. The 100-500 usually focus faster than the EF 500mm. It’s the RF system doing its magic.
That grass tree at 8:00 is amazing!
Roland, yes they are very cool, Cheers, Duade
I like the RF100-500 very much, and use it a lot. Only when I need high shutter speed and the light is not that good I use my 500mm F4 V1 prime. As a walk around lens the RF100-500 is very good, you can keep it in front of your face when walking, or waiting for a few minuts, less change that you scare the birds away before you take the shot.
yes I am much the same, the prime comes out when I am stationary or really need the reach, Cheers, Duade
After getting more experience in the field, the answer seems easy: both, but start with a zoom first. The zoom often is not such a huge financial investment and gives you the chance to really learn the fundamentals. Also, you will get to know your preferred focal length and your shooting style. After using the RF100-500 for over two years, my mind is made up. As I find myself mostly at the long end, shooting in the early or later hours and using a teleconverter quite often, a 600mm f4 prime is the way to go for me. Also, my son has been joining me more and more for my bird photography sessions, so I kind of want him to take his own photos too. I will turn 40 next year and I will also finish my 5 year add-on training, which seems like a great opportunity to finally make such a daring investment. Great photos too!
Perhaps the key thing is whether you are shooting from a fixed spot or walking around, shooting birds at a range of distances. I tend to do the latter, so flexibility and lower weight of a zoom are good for me. There are locations I know where I am sure a prime and a couple of teleconverters will do what I need. As you say, having a plan can be important but a zoom is a friend to me when I try somewhere that I’m not so familiar with. All the best!
Yes, a zoom is perfect for what you mention, if at a hide or waiting then the prime has an advantage. Cheers, Duade
I have always enjoyed the environmental shots that give context to the closer ones. Thank you for another great video.
Verlene, thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Both lens are great.
The background do not bother me a bit in both days of shooting - they are all part of the environment.
I really enjoyed you talking abut the tree...new information to me.
I hope you can make more videos showing the nature around your property- not only the birds.
Great video! Music level in the background was perfect! I started into the journey of photography when I was in the military and they sent me to a reconnaissance photo course. My last year in the navy I actually got to focus as a photographer for my conman’s and all the photos put up in the hallways were mine and my mates. Just getting back into it taking pics of my girlfriends teens playing sports. Love your video and demeanor and will subscribe!
Thanks for the sub and comment, glad to hear you have enjoyed photography, sports photography is challenging that is for sure. Have fun, Cheers, Duade
Awesome content, I personally like wider context shots rather than the typical photos of a bird on a stick. Also love how you show the end result, and then show the raw and the final cropped result within it.
Chris, thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. Cheers, Duade
Always enjoy your videos. Well done
Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Duade
I like both wide and close. I also like your enthusiasm makes me want to get out and shoot thanks
My pleasure Kenneth, Cheers, Duade
love your images and planning to purchase à 500mm. when putting the stroke you can enfance it if you take out the stroke where it meets the tree.
Thanks Michael, good luck with the 500, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for sharing your techniques mate! This makes me want to go out and take more photos!
It is my pleasure, good luck with the photos, Cheers, Duade
Loved this video! Haven't heard of a grass tree so really interesting. I quite liked the wide shots for additional context of where the bird is. Thought it adds extra interest. Loved the prime shots though. I'm saving up and hoping to buy a zoom lens as I recently missed a few shots of local deer as they moved closer and my 400mm with extender couldn't get the whole animal in.
Thanks May, I appreciate your comment, having a zoom can have its benefits for sure. If I need pure reach then the prime is my choice, I guess the difficulty is knowing which lens you need before hand as it usually turns out to be wrong lol. Cheers, Duade
Thanks Duade. Just what I needed. I have the R5 and the RF 100-500, and have been dreaming of a big RF prime. But they are extremely expensive in Denmark. So watching your videos was very helpful for me. Just ordered the EF 500 F4/ L IS II USM. thanks for all your great work and videos. 🇩🇰
Kristian, congrats on the lens, it is a beautiful lens and I use mine with a 1.4 III the majority of the time. Let me know how you go with it. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade i will receive it on Saturday with express delivery. So if it’s not raining to much here during the weekend. I will for sure be testing. 🤟 have a great weekend.
@@Duade going out for a test with the 500 prime today. And just one question I hope you will help me with. Would you switch off the IS if you are using tripod.
Another great video. I prefer the zooms for versatility and portability. Easier to travel with too :). I did like the wide shot, it’s great sometimes to give the birds a larger context.
Thanks Lachlan, I appreciate the comment, I am happy to be trying out some wider shots. Cheers, Duade
Beautiful shots , nice to see shots taking in the surrounding instead of being zoomed in all the time .
Thanks Debbie, yes, that is an advantage of the zoom for sure. Cheers, Duade
I liked the shot you liked wirh the bird lowers down wirh very little background color change.
Thanks, yes, a lovely shot, Cheers, Duade
Duade
I prefer the zoom I have tried both and I prefer flexibility of the zoom as it gives me more options in taking bird pictures
Thanks, yes, the zoom is a great option, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Duade
Great video as usual; informative and extremely well presented. Being a ‘Pomp’, I am always in awe of your cropped shots; how I wish we had that abundance of colour in our native species. I feel that the wider shots give me, personally, that hint of habitat missing in the tighter shots; without the video I’d have little idea of the surroundings the birds inhabit.
Thanks Keith, yes it is always nice to include some of the habitat for sure, Cheers, Duade
The zoom for versatility, but the prime every time for image quality and that most important aspect of wildlife photography, speed! A few clouds and the zoom is struggling, whereby the 500 prime is still cranking them out!
Thanks Alan, yes, great to have both but as you say if I want the best IQ the prime wins every time. Cheers, Duade
On a big screen the wider shots looks better than on a small screen 👌 on a small screen the close up shots looks better in mine opinion. Nice video 👌
Thanks Ruben, Cheers, Duade
I do like both according to the situation and place where I would take my photos.
Yes, it is great to have both options, Cheers, Duade
Great video. I have just bought a 600 F4 which I received a week ago after a 3 month wait and had shot with a 200-600 zoom for the previous year. From what I have seen the 600 F4 gives better quality photos than the zoom - that is better colour, contrast, resolution and bokeh. I was shooting short eared owls which only came out at dusk thee first day I got my new lens and was obtaining remarkable good results of them flying at ISO 16000 and with a shutter speed of only 1/500th. If I was using my 200-600 lens I would have not got the shots I wanted due to the lens being a lot slower (F6.3). I carry my prime around with me as it is only about 500 grams heavier than my zoom and don't use a tripod. I agree with you that the zooms have greater flexibility in terms of focal length but that is where the advantage of them appears to end. I preferred your shots with the prime over the zoom. The environmental shot however I quite liked too - in some circumstances a more environmental shot I think will be better especially if you have two birds interacting with each other and the environment helps tell the story of what they are doing.
Thanks John, there is nothing better than a 600 prime for pure IQ and it sounds like you are enjoying yours. It's nice to have both a prime and zoom so you can get the wider shots. Cheers, Duade
Great images Duade! Thanks for bringing us along!
Jon, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
I just ordered my RF 100 -500 only to be told there are none in stock and no delivery date for new stock. Doh! Thanks for another great video Duade. All the best, Brian.
Thanks Brian, that is annoying, they seem to have a shortage everywhere. Cheers, Duade 👍
Excellent video as usual. Being that I love seeing what the bird does in nature as well as the bird itself I perferr the wide angle shot. For the detail in the bird itself can't beat the 500 prime with 1.4. Beautiful photos and patience paid off.
Thanks Guy, I appreciate your feedback, Cheers, Duade
it is a delicate matter, I prefer the zooms for their greater versatility, but it is also true that the detachment that has a prime lens is priceless...today's zooms have achieved truly superb image quality, so in my view, I prefer the zoom
anyway to each his own :-)
Alessandro, I must admit I am very impressed with the 100-500 quality, it really is impressive. Cheers, Duade
Try and use primes as much as possible but hard to beat the flexibility of zooms for filming awesome video Duade !
Thanks mate, yes primes are excellent but sometimes the weight of the zoom makes it a nice alternative. Cheers, Duade
what an interesting place Duade, it's those kind of places where a photograph does not make justice to the beauty of nature! I would love to know that spot one day!Thank you for sharing beauties with us, and compliments on this new movie-volg! Best regards as usual, Daniela, from Uruguay.
Thanks Daniela, yes, it is a wonderful patch of bush. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I was looking at the boots you were using, are those usual to walk out there in your country? or mainly are they used to prevent snakes bites? Sorry to ask!
fabulous video love it so much. timing is just perfect for me as the aloe vera are flowering in my garden right now and the little sunbirds love it so much. i am preparing the setting since two weeks and i got really helpful advises and ideas from this video thanks again.
the only thing that male sunbirds now are in eclipse. so i hope the aloe keep on flowering until late. December.
Thank you for your feedback, good luck with the sunbirds, I would love a good session with them. Cheers, Duade
I never knew about Australian Grass Trees but I'm now a huge fan. Beautiful plant. Also, beautiful vlog and great insight. I'm really interested in the 1--500 but the price is crazy. I'm hoping Tamron or another 3rd party lens helps me out in the near future. Thanks so much for this. It was really, really good.
Kelly, yes, they are an amazing plant, I agree the sooner Tamron and Sigma release RF zooms the better. The Tamron 150-500 for Sony is so good I think the RF versions will also be great. Cheers, Duade
Great shots again capturing those beautiful Australian birds!
Which lens do I prefer?
- the zoom for shooting on the walk, insects, even landscape. very versatile
- the prime waiting in a hide to get the shot as desired.
Peter, yes I agree, great to have both options, Cheers, Duade
Duade;
You are doing an excellent job on these videos. Would it be possible to mention some of the gear you are shooting video with on these videos. Like you, l shoot stills and video so enjoy learning both.
Thanks Jeff, I use the Canon R6 and an RF24-105 f4 and RF35 1.8 most of the time. I am pretty lazy and just shoot in 4k30P and not CLOG or RAW. Cheers, Duade
Thank you very much for your work, it is truly beautiful... Beautiful photos. Greetings from El Quisco, Valparaiso, Chile.
Thanks Jorge, you are too kind, Cheers, Duade
Possible next video is to put a RF 1.4 on your RF100-500 zoom placed on same tripod and using same blind as your test with the 500 prime . Both setups shooting now at 700 with the only difference being the F stop of which is still in the prime lenses favour. Many thanks for all your great work in the videos
Thanks Colin, yes that would be interesting, I don't have an RF1.4 yet so may have to invest in one in the future. Would you believe the extender is $940 AUD at the moment, which is one expensive extender. Cheers, Duade
I always love the zoom pics because I like to see the small details but really liked your wider pics as well. I will try to take some wider pics as well next time. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, good luck with your photography, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thanks!
Enjoying your videos Duade, Thanks heaps
Glen, glad you are enjoying them, Cheers, Duade
Great video Duade! Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks mate, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
I love the 100-500 but it will never replace my 600 F4. They are a great combo though.
Yes I think the prime and zoom combo is fantastic, Cheers, Duade
Thank u Mate Another Awesome Video Keep them rolling Hope your well and Safe Take Care Mate and Thank u Again
Thank you, I will do my best, Cheers, Duade
Learning every time something new, while watching your videos! Really appreciate it, thanks Duade!
Arto, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for the great comparison. I'm currently using the nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 with/out 1.7x teleconverter (on a crop and full frame body) and have a lot of appreciation for the versatility of zooms. Especially in sports situations.
Greg, yes the zooms are very versatile, Cheers, Duade
I have a few primes and they spend more time in the cabinet than in the field since I got teles that cover the same range. On a side note, I use the same bird blind cover. I started out with a hunter's blind tent and found having the mobility of the cover was far suppieor.
Thanks John, it is always interesting to see what lenses/gear we gravitate too, I guess that is why it's important to try out gear for a while to get a real feel for it. Cheers, Duade
Favorite was the merged photo towards the end-hell of a “bird on a stick” shot. Action shots were outstanding as well, very cool little eco-event you got to shoot. Would enjoy to see some more wide work in the future, wild life pano is a interesting sub-genre. I enjoy doing some macro insect pano work, but birds are a real challenge to do interesting wide work, especially with only one subject. Beautiful work all around, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, yes the wider shots are tricky as the bird gets very small and the habitat can get distracting. Its just about finding a balance I guess. Cheers, Duade
Perfect this has just answered my question on one of your other videos brill 👍👍👍
Glad to hear it, Cheers, Duade
Thank you Duane for the beautiful pictures, storytelling and honest advice. Much appreciated. I recently bought the R6 and 100-500 lens, unfortunately my budget doesn't allow for one of the primes... Going to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa in July, seriously considering the 1.4x or 2x converter as the park is very open and that extra reach is required. Just concerned about the f-stop with the 2x converter on the 100-500mm lens, might not be able to get me those blurry back-grounds to make the photos pop. Love your passion and bird knowledge, also knowing their habitat hugely increases the chances of the perfect photo... well done sir.
Thanks for the feedback, the TC on the 100-500 are a bit of a pain as you lose the 100-300mm focal range. I have used the 1.4x on the 100-500 and it is acceptable, there is a jump down in IQ. The 2x would be a bit of a struggle and IQ would take a big hit, I think cropping might be better. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Much appreciated.
I’m new to your channel and really enjoy your videos. I like the tight shots of the bird because you see so much detail of these amazing animals. Thanks.
Great video, wonderful shots and beautiful nature. Greetings from an Norwegian living in Brasil 📷🐦
Thanks Bjørn-Einar, I appreciate the comment, Cheers, Duade
Oh, also: ofc the snazziest shot was the one you showed last, taken with the prime.
But, I cannot say anything about which lens I prefer, really, bcs that prime is out of the question for me. At least 3 reasons: 1) too expensive (I had to dig deep into my wallet to buy the 100-500 and that cost is still not much in comparision), 2) too heavy, I can't handle it even short term and 3) takes too much place and weight when flying abroad! The versatility that comes with the zoom is also wonderful, as is the close focus range (I like to photograph butterflies and sometimes flowers). That the quality of the 100-500 is so good, even better than the 100-400 II, is such a bonus since it's also lighter.
Yes I agree the benefits of the 100-500 are fantastic, I have now started to really enjoy flowers, butterflies and insects that I overlooked before. Yes, the travel part is great also. Cheers, Duade
Amazing video Duade,lots of useful information.Thank you!
Nick, my pleasure, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade! So glad to back on your channel after a while! The location is mesmerizing, the photos are fantastic! Do try a wide angle habitat shot here (by wide, I mean real wide 😅) with some remote shutter-tripod-camo setup. Enjoyed the video a lot!
Welcome back :-) I am glad you enjoyed it, take care, Duade
Depends on what I'm going to be shooting (and where). Most of the time I use a 600mm prime, otherwise 100-400 or 200-600. If I'm going somewhere where there's likely to be more (non-photographic) people or, for example, out on a boat, definitely a zoom.
John, yes, I am the same as you, for the boat the 100-500 should be fantastic. Cheers, Duade
Great video. Liked the last photo the best
Thanks Richard, yes I like that one also. Cheers, Duade
Second time watching this one. I still prefer the wide habitat shot. In astrophotography, for years, everyone used telescopes (2000mm) and took images of single objects. However, now there is a huge movement towards shorter focal lengths (200-400mm) so you can see what is surrounding the objects. It really puts the object in space! I think the same trend should happen with bird photography! Maybe this trend has something to do with all of us using way higher megapixel cameras, high res monitors, and cheaper large prints. Even when the bird is small in frame, it still has great detail.
Thanks Rick, yes, wider shots do have more habitat and sometimes are more interesting, I am slowly trying to take wider shots to accompany my prime. I must admit the wider stuff is a lot more challenging which is fun. Cheers, Duade
The quality difference is noticeable but I found out that in the real world because zooms are lighter and handholdable at lower shutter speeds (lower ISO) the quality difference isn't as big as MTF charts or dollar bill/pattern tests show. Once I started shooting a lot of mammals my Nikon 500 f4 started gathering dust (its 8.5 lbs). Until Canon releases a RF 500 f4 (which I hope is in the 5 lb range or less) I am more than happy with the quality of the R5 and 100-400 (with and without the 1.4x III). Even though the RF 400 2.8 and 600 4 are only a little over 6 lbs I still think that is too heavy for walking around and photographing wildcats handheld in low light which I do a lot of now. Great video as always Duade!
Shravan, yes the weight has to be a factor when considering these lenses. I wish Canon had light DO lenses like Nikons 500pf. A 600 5.6 DO would be a great lens. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I'd buy a 600 DO in a heartbeat!
Always love the content... Love from India 🇮🇳
Thank you, Cheers, Duade
The prime shots were beautiful but I also love the fact that with 100-500, you can sometimes shoot some nice landscapes while on the field. The shot at 7:00 mark is a testament to having a zoom in your poccession. That would be an awesome cavas wall print. I am a stills first shooter but sometimes after coming home and looking 4k videos that my R5 and 100-500 capture, is amazing. Images out of primes are second to none, and that's a fact.
Thanks Danny, the 100-500 is the sharpest zoom I have used and competes very well with a prime. Just the reach and speed let it down a little. Cheers, Duade
Great shots Duade. I am keen to get down there and try out my 800 mm prime.
Paul, it is a great spot for photography for sure. Cheers, Duade
Next time I try it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Thanks sir
Beautiful captures Duade! Loving your results with the R5..and the 100-500 looks like a lighter kit to take on long hikes when my 5DIV and 500mm are a bit too heavy to take along. Thanks for sharing your experience and comparisons.
Kim, yes, it is a fantastic companion to the prime. It is so light its crazy. Cheers, Duade
Great video! I really liked the environmental shots.
Thanks Louisa, I appreciate the comment, Cheers, Duade 👍
Why do I keep torturing myself watching your videos ? The fantastic locations, birds and aproachability of many by the looks of things is just superb. You are so lucky to get such opportunities. A quick question, if you could only have one lens, would it be the 500 prime or 100-500 zoom ?
Thanks John, yes we are very lucky down here with our birds. I would go with the prime if I only had one lens, I find 500mm on the zoom a little short for many species. Once the R7 comes out I think that with the 100-500 could be the ideal kit. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade . Interesting thought. It depends how much of a hit the high iso performance takes compared to the full frames.
@@Duade Have you ever tried the crop option in R5? I haven't myself but I plan to shoot some crop this weekend and compare. Thanks as always.
Prime lens all the way. Simply the best choice for bird photography!
Yes, the prime has many advantages for sure, Cheers, Duade
Gran trabajo Duade!!! En realidad ambos lentes tienen grandes ventajas más que inconvenientes. Muy bien presentado el video y fotografías inspiradoras de gran calidad. Saludos desde Chile.
Thank you for the feedback, yes, both lenses are very good, Cheers, Duade
Thanks a lot for yet another excellent video. These grass trees are stunning and really deserve the wider shots that includes a lot of the foliage. I think that in that situation I would have cheated and put two birds on the flower :-)
Thanks for the comment, yes merging shots is always an option with a prime. Cheers, Duade
Another great video. I purchased the 100-500 with the unrealistic hope that it could replace my 500 prime, which is the sharpest lens in my arsenal, but I hate lugging around that heavy 8.5 pound lens. I’m very happy with the 100-500, but, as you point out, it’s not quite as sharp as the prime, and the bokeh on the prime is better. Still, I’m a little surprised that you find the sharpness of the prime + teleconverter combo to be better than the 100-500 zoom. For me, the teleconverter knocks down IQ a bit. (I own the 500 prime version I with the 1.4 teleconverter version II.) I’m keeping both.
Daniel, thanks for sharing and congrats on the 100-500. The V2 lens and V3 TC work very well together and I rarely take off the TC to be honest. 700mm is my sweet spot and the RF100-500 does feel a little short when I use it but its flexibility is incredible. Cheers, Duade
The wide angle is for bird/landscape view and the zoom in shot is for the bird. They both look nice.
Thank you, yes it is nice to have both options, Cheers, Duade
Excellent video Duade!
I have been on the fence with the 100-500mm since I have the 500mm prime. Your video just tipped me over :-)
Deepak, it is a wonderful lens, a little short at 500 but very versatile for tame birds or when you can get closer. Cheers, Duade
I prefer the photo quality of the prime. I shoot a Canon 600 II f/4 it’s sharper, better details at longer distances, better bokeh, less grain compared to the 100-400 II. I use a monopod & wimberley mono gimbal & carry the 600 & monopod in a flag pole harness. I can carry it for a few hours while hiking 🥾 or moving around, no problem. I own a nice tripod but rarely use it. Even though I love the 600 prime It’s still a chore carrying a big lens around. I have the RF 100-500 on order, I’ll use it for ducks & birds around smaller ponds, quick backyard shots, or overhead raptor shots, non wildlife shots, portraits, but it’s real strength is Mammals, big horned sheep, bison, deer, elk etc. usually the 600 is too much for big game mammal shots in close canyons, out of a vehicle etc. nice to be able to dial the zoom accordingly without moving.
Thanks Johnathan, sounds like you have a good system working for you and the 100-500 will be fantastic for the scenarios you mentioned. Shame they are so delayed at the moment. Cheers, Duade
Wow. Lovely composition...
Thank you, Cheers, Duade
Interesting comparison Duade and such a lovely shot with the prime. The zoom is a big plus on safari in Africa, but yes the prime lenses do pay one back with exceptional image quality. For most, that 100 - 500 RF is simply perfect.
Yes the 100-500 would be great on safari no doubt. I hope to one day visit Africa to photograph the diverse wildlife there. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade We hold thumbs that you can fill your lens with the amazing wildlife on your first African safari soon. Cheers, Riaan & Caroline
Great video as always! I liked the wider shots but the 100mm wide seemed a little bit too much. I like my Sony 200-600mm for that zoom-ability also. Shooting with the 500 mm and the 1.4 teleconverter put you at F 6.3 which is the same as I'm getting from the 200-600mm. The depths of field with these big telephotos is always a limitation and I really like to try to have the whole bird in focus when I can. It seems a lot of times even with the big primes photographers stop them down a bit for that added depth of field. When you add the size and price and limited mobility of these bigger heavier prime lenses and then often not shoot at f4 it really begins to lessen the difference between these and the telephoto's. I'm sure there is some image quality difference but that's really only when pixel peeping I bet. It's nice to have both and I'm still on the fence about which way to go. I'll probably try to find a used 500 mm F4 at a really great price to compliment the lenses I already have. Looking forward to that rf100-400mm review, Best of luck to you!
Thanks mate, yes, the differences can be pretty small considering the price difference between the big primes and the more affordable 600 zooms. I do wish Canon made a 600 zoom, we can only hope one of these patents turns into a reality. Review shouldn't be too much longer hopefully, Cheers, Duade
Nice video as always. I particularly like how you explain the set-up to position yourself for a great shot. I also like the "challenge yourself" part. For beginners like me, this is so useful (but I've been a beginner for 20 years!). I generally use zoom lenses also.
Thanks for your great comment, I think we should all consider ourselves beginners so we can be open to learning and adapting as we go. I am always learning and this channel is a great way to keep evolving. Cheers, Duade
Great video but the only thing that got me was when you said you couldn't fit both birds in and the 500mm had no flexibility to do it. You were using a 1.4x teleconverter which could have been taken off especially since you were comparing lenses which would have then widened your field of view. I use my 500mm f4 handheld the sa.e as my friends with the 100-500mm zooms and use my feet to zoom. Yes there are some advantages with the zoom but also there are many reasons for the prime as you know. I'd rather have prime than the zoom especially in England
Thanks Paul, yes, all good options, I was not expecting two birds at once and they are on the tree for 10-15 seconds max so no chance to take the converter off as the birds would have been gone.
If I had moved the birds would have likely flown off so I had no option but to shoot as I did.
I probably should have anticipated both birds and actually moved backwards and had a looser composition and just cropped heavier.
I guess this just highlights that we make compromises whenever we shoot and we need to be thinking of all the possibilities when we setup.
Cheers, Duade
I primarily shoot large animals and absolutely perfect the primes due to the aperture. Often I am shooting between first light and just after sunrise and the extra stops of aperture is almost a necessity
Thanks Micah, yes that extra light is helpful. Cheers, Duade 👍
@@Duade you as well. I really appreciate your videos, they are extremely helpful. Dream setup is the R5 and either a 500 or a 600 f4
definitely prefer the prime lens, I used to look at the 100-400 and thought it looked like a toy cause of the telescoping (just my opinion). Either way, love that the RF lenses have come out, means all the good EF lense stapes will plummet in price and I can get a few for 1/5 of the price they were new haha
Just discovered your channel today. Will certainly return frequently. Just one question: I couldn't quite catch the name of the national park. Somewhere in FNQ I presume.
G'day, welcome to the channel, it was the Warby Ovens Park which is in Northeast Victoria. Cheers, Duade 👍
Duane, thanks for posting another very interesting and informative video. I prefer to see the birds in context to their surroundings and your wide shot is the best of the bunch imho. I think I would go for the zoom lens for better general wildlife use and crop to apc-s mode in camera for the extra reach. Cheers from Good ol’ Blighty 🏴.
Beautiful. Both photos are great.
Thank you, Cheers, Duade
I wish you a good day I'm from Vietnam I love your photography🥰🥰
Thank you, I appreciate the comment, Cheers, Duade
Great pictures! Personally, I prefer shots with a less blurred background, but if the bird takes up most of the frame, it no longer makes sense (background blur).
I just had a question about autofocus settings on the Canon P5 - is there really no autofocus setting in this camera in Tracking Spot S mode (tracking point), like on my Sony A7 IV, when you point the small autofocus square at the desired autofocus point, press the shutter button halfway shutter and autofocus tightly clings to this focus point and keeps it throughout the frame, no matter where this point moves within the frame (for example, the eye of a bird and wherever it moves). This focus tightly holds even in rather dark places (almost in the twilight). That's Sony's autofocus!
G'day, thanks for your response. With eye tracking you can place the single focus point with the joystick on the eye and then engage tracking and it follows the eye as the bird moves. On the R3 and R7 you can set the single focus point to change to tracking after placing the single focus point on the bird which I believe is similar to the Sony. Cheers, Duade 👍
Fully expecting a T-Rex to come busting through the underbrush in that amazingly primeval looking forest you have there. Tough call on the lens. My wife recently got her sharpest picture to date zoomed halfway. Would not have been able to capture the entire critter with a big prime.
Thanks Sam, yes it is a wonderful park full of plenty of birds and other wildlife, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade, I really enjoyed this video and it’s great to see the flexibility of both lenses, my money is always on the prime but having owned a 600F4 and a 100-400 Mk2 they both have advantages & disadvantages! I’m awaiting the new R3 which is on preorder and I’ve sold my 600 Mk1 for a 2nd hand 500mm Mk2 with additional cash and sold my zoom to allow me money for R3! Would love to have both but funds won’t allow! Great video, cheers Richard (UK) 👍
Richard, congrats on the R3 & 500, no doubt a fantastic combo, I can't wait to try out the camera at some stage. Cheers, Duade