Did I make the right choice picking the R7 over the R8 ?

[R7Dutch]

Good day,

I just ordered Canon EOS R7, with 18-150 STM, and considering to buy the Sigma RF-S 18-50 2.8 as well.
Later on might add EF-S 55-250 STM or the RF 100-400 STM.

After checking this option against the R8 with RF 24-105 4-7.1 STM and RF 100-400 STM.
I was tempted to go FF with R8, light weight body, although decided for R7 in the end.

Mainly taking photos of landscapes, city trips, sometimes portraits and sports photography (car racing F1 or Hockey).
Stepping up from Canon EOS80D.

The camera shops (I went to 2) both advised me the R7 over the R8 as a step up from my 80D.

Still waiting for the new camera R7 to arrive....
Sofar ok. But.....

Still have this feeling should I have gone with the R8 instead?

I thought the R7 would be better for sports with the 15 fps mechanical shutter to be safe, R8 could see rolling shutter with electronic shutter 30fps, and only 6fps 1st curtain electric (no improvement over my 6fps 80d)

On the other side I understand now that the sensor of the R7 is slower compared to the R8 and as such the rolling shutter effect of the R7 might be even bigger when shooting electronic, no mech shutter?

R8 better low light, less noise? But probably only works with a 2.8 or 4.0 L lens or very good prime? Not so much with the 24-105 STM 4-7,1 which is a slow lens
R7 would be more noise, and sensor 32Mp demanding for (older) lenses? I am not a pixel peeper, just want to make nice photos.

Would need to invest more heavy in lenses for sure with R8.

Im sure I will get different opinions here. but all feedback is welcome

cheers
R7Dutch.

 

[ACEkin]

After an initial problem, which my dealer solved, R7 has been a good camera for me. I wanted a lighter and smaller camera as my 5DM4 and its lenses were too heavy for me to handle. The fundamental difference between a full-frame and an APS-C sensor is the angle of view the lens can provide. Enjoy the lighter weight!

 

[RedCobra]

I found the AF on the R7 inferior compared to my other cameras. I sold it after 3 months. I've never owned the R8, my comparison was with the R5s and OM-1s.

 

[R7Dutch]

Thanks for your feedback, I will check out the camera when it arrives, I can always sell it again. I hope it will serve me well in the end.

 

[TwoWheeler]

How important is image stabilization on stills to you? R7 has it, R8 does not. For landscape it might not matter much, but for sports, it could.

Better buy both, just to be safe.

 

[JCBigler]

I found the AF on the R7 inferior compared to my other cameras. I sold it after 3 months. I've never owned the R8, my comparison was with the R5s and OM-1s.

Likewise, I sold my R7 after a couple of months. I found the autofocus to be less than stellar. I was more than happy with my R6 mkII and the R7 couldn’t compare. I do have an RP, and would rather have an R8 over the R7. I also just wasn’t a fan of the cropped sensor images.

 

[miuzi]

Sounds like you put a good amount of thought into your decision. You'll have to let us know how it turns out. I weighed the same two cameras against one another, and went with an R8 myself, which I adore. In certain situations though I'm positive the R7 would have been better with some of the features it has against the R8.

 

[R7Dutch]

Sounds like you put a good amount of thought into your decision. You'll have to let us know how it turns out. I weighed the same two cameras against one another, and went with an R8 myself, which I adore. In certain situations though I'm positive the R7 would have been better with some of the features it has against the R8.

It feels to me a bit that the RF-S lenses, like the 18-150 kit lense and also the sigma 18-15 2.8 don't compare well to the body of the camera, in size/estethics. The lenses look a bit to slender/small for the body. The R8 with the 24-105 STM looks more a balanced kit with a descent lens diameter.

For the rest I would say that the R8 only benefits from its lower light capabilities when you pair it with an L4 or 2.8 lense. Not so much with the standard 24-105 4-7.1 STM?

 

[R7Dutch]

I have been reading further about rolling shutter and sensor readout speed.

I learned that the R8 actually has a much faster readout speed (14ms) compared to the R7 (30ms), which means in electronic shutter mode the R8 performs better with regards to rolling shutter. The R7 can still do 15fps mech shutter, however the R8 can also do First curtain electronic shutter (similar to mech shutter and no rolling shutter issues) at a descent 6fps, which is similar to my existing EOS 80D 6fps.

So the R8 is not that bad in that respect and can always be used in FCES mode, which eliminates rolling shutter.

 

[ShipleyNW]

I've been using an R7 for a couple of years now. I came to it from an 80D, then a 90D. While I mainly shoot with FF bodies, I've never not owned an APS-C body, and the R7 is the latest in that line.

I use it mainly to anchor my bird kit, and it stays mounted with a 100-500 most of the time. I also use that body as an urban walking-around kit, paired mostly with an old EF-S 15-85. That's a great focal length range on an APS-C sensor. I wish there was an RF version of that lens but I don't see it ever happening.

You do see rolling shutter, but it's most apparent when you're culling those thousands of images you made at 30 FPS. Consecutive, sequential images will be different from one frame to the next due to the rolling shutter. But if you pull one image out of the burst -- and that's your goal with 30 FPS; The One Shot -- no one would notice.

I mainly use my R7 for birds, so that means out in nature. No straight lines in nature, so rolling shutter isn't so obvious. Most of the complaints I hear are from stick-sport shooters. You mentioned hockey. Might be a deal breaker if it's the main thing you got the camera for. If you're a less-than-devoted hockey shooter, your viewers probably won't notice. It's only camera nerds like us who obsess over rolling shutter.

The first time I took my R7 out for birds, I set it for 30 FPS. I came back with 8000 images of sandpipers. I'll never do that again. It frightened me and took 2 days to cull. I looked at all 8000, one by one. Figured if I'm not willing to do that, how will I find The One Shot. I dial it back from H+/Electronic to a setting more towards the middle. I forget what they're called, but they give me 6, 12, 15 FPS, something like that. Historically, that is crazy fast, and plenty fast for me today.

I don't know what to say about autofocus. With birds in flight, I get some and I miss some. I only shoot birds with APS-C cameras, and the R7 is way better than my DSLRs, so I'm happy about that. Other than that, I don't really have anything to compare it with. I don't shoot birds with my FF bodies.

I don't really know what an R8 is. My less-than-informed impression is that it's a pretty stripped down body with a FF sensor. The R7 isn't stripped down at all. It's Canon's flagship APS-C camera. I think it's a great value.

Birds aside, I shoot with an R5 almost always. There's no question that a FF sensor makes a better raw file than the super-dense, high megapixel sensor on the R7. I call a FF raw file, buttery. I can find tones and textures that boggle my mind. Full Frame sensors win that category hands down. If image quality and the ability to handle post processing is more important to you than the features and build of a camera, the R8 might be just what you're looking for.

 

[R7Dutch]

How important is image stabilization on stills to you? R7 has it, R8 does not. For landscape it might not matter much, but for sports, it could.

Better buy both, just to be safe.

My lenses have IS, so IBIS is not a must.

 

[Chris Summers]

I've had the R7 for a few years now. Overall I like it, I moved from the 7D MKII and while the R7 was a step up in technology I missed the vertical battery grip. I also shoot with the R6 MKII for full frame. I will probably upgrade to whenever a new R7 version comes out, hopefully with a dedicated grip and no m more rolling shutter. I shoot a lot of wildlife with it and the RF 200-800mm and have been pleased with the results. Never shot with the R8 so can't comment.

 

[R7Dutch]

Just received the Canon R7 kit and unboxed , a bit mixed initial feelings, that 18-150 3.5-6.3 IS STM lens look so tiny on the body of the R7, almost like a toy lens. The physical proportions seem a bit off on the R7 body, probably fits better on the smaller body of the R10.

I will figure it out and see if I can get used to it . At least is a light weight combo around 900 grams with the R7 compared to my EOS80D and EF-S 15-85 iS USM, weighing 1.4kg....

The reviews on the internet are pretty positive on this small lense, even compared to the larger L glass lenses, and seem to work well with the R7 sensor.

Next step will be either:
- EF-S 55-250 IS STM, this is a light weight budget lense with very good image quality
- RF 100-400 IS STM, very popular
- Sigma RF-S 18-50 F/2.8 DC canon mount....

and start making some shots ...

cheers
DutchR7

 

[ShipleyNW]

Just received the Canon R7 kit and unboxed , a bit mixed initial feelings, that 18-150 3.5-6.3 IS STM lens look so tiny on the body of the R7, almost like a toy lens. The physical proportions seem a bit off on the R7 body, probably fits better on the smaller body of the R10.

That RF-S 18-150 is a retrofit of the same lens from the M-series line. Those cameras are (were) tiny, P&S-sized bodies so it doesn't surprise me that your lens tiny as well. I've never used one, but I'm considering one. I've got both an R7 and an R10. I'm looking for a small zoom for urban prowling, but my options are pretty limited.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[RickyRed]

You made a great choice with the R7. Full size battery, Solid AF,Ibis, Great Sensor. Can use any Rf-Ef lens. Sigma has and more coming Rf lens offerings. I have the great 16-50 2.8
My advice is dont change all the settings , this is not your 80D David Bush has a book Called Canon EOS R7 Guide .

 

[R7Dutch]

Happy with the R7 sofar, took it out for a day on the street, and 1 night out to chase some weak Aurora in Netherlands.
The Electronic VF works fine, clear and sharp for me.
Default shooting mode is First curtain Electronic, seems fine for most shots.

The "kit" lens 18-150mm is pretty sharp, spot on with focus. Nice walkaround lens with considerable range.

I bought the EF/S RF adapter and my other EF(S) lenses work fine with the R7, e.g.EF-S 10-18, EF 50mm 1.8, EF-S 55-250 IS STM.

Today i got the new RF-S canon mount Sigma DC 18-150 F/2.8 which is a really nice lens for lower light conditions and fits perfect to the camera, using its IBIS capabilities because the lens itself doesnt have any IS.

I would say standard setup is the Sigma 18-50 on the camera, with the EF-S 10-18 and EF-S 55-250 IS STM standby in the backpack.

When i would go for a casual day out/holiday I would take the R7 with just the 18-150, that would do the job.

Some first shots in the back of my garden with the 18-150 kit lens, resized & transferred to my phone, no editing/post processing.

Cheers

 

[miuzi]

It feels to me a bit that the RF-S lenses, like the 18-150 kit lense and also the sigma 18-15 2.8 don't compare well to the body of the camera, in size/estethics. The lenses look a bit to slender/small for the body. The R8 with the 24-105 STM looks more a balanced kit with a descent lens diameter.

For the rest I would say that the R8 only benefits from its lower light capabilities when you pair it with an L4 or 2.8 lense. Not so much with the standard 24-105 4-7.1 STM?

I love the higher ISO capabilities of my R8, which allow me to get away with ridiculously slow lens options. As an example, I use the RF100-400mm with the 2x extender frequently, and that combo when folly zoomed starts at f/16. I don't have the budget for crazy fast L-series telephotos, but even with that slow combo I get many images that I'm overjoyed with.

Reading further down through this thread, it sounds like you're enjoying your R7 so far. Keep at it!

 

[Philnick]

I'm an R7 user who upgraded from a long line of APS-C Canon DSLRs, ending with the 80D.

Sigma's lenses are the way to go with the R7. I have the 18-50 and 10-18 f/2.8 zooms and the 56mm f/1.4, which is called the sharpest APS-C lens.

I've already pre-ordered the Sigma RF 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art lens, which reviewers are calling "a bag of primes."

Also look at Canon's full-frame RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS, which is blessedly sharp - it took all the shots in the butterfly gallery at my photo website.

My longest lens is Canon's film-era design - but not discontinued until 2021, since it's so sharp - EF 200mm f/2.8L USM II. On the R7 it's a 320mm lens, and if you add the EF 1.4X Telextender III you'll have a very sharp f/4 448mm lens! The R7's IBIS makes it hand-holdable with no problem.

My only lens that has Optical IS is the 85, but the R7's IBIS makes that irrelevant, keeping the cost and weight of lenses down. That - plus the bigger battery - make the R7 far superior to the R8.

Fast glass overcomes full-frame's 1-stop noise advantage, so my three fastest lenses (f/2, f/1.8, and f/1.4) all leapfrog the standard f/2.8 trinity lenses on a full-frame by a stop or more, avoiding APS-C's noise problem.

The first three galleries on my photo website go back to my DSLRs, but everything after those were taken with the R7.

Also look at DxO PhotoLab for your RAW editing. They create their own lens profiles, which correct for more things than usual, and they have class-leading noise reduction.