With the chatter of the anticipated R7 mk ll , here is one of shots I took with a 7d mkll. The location is in Spain North of Cadiz near the Portuguese border. There was only a 40 minute window that the sun was on the cliff face in the morning and to add to that these birds prefer staying in the shadows of their nest holes.

Bald Ibis 7D mk ll , EF 600mm f4

neuroanatomist said:

When (if) we get to 60 MP APS-C and 150 MP FF, then BSI will offer significant benefit (and I suspect if we get to those densities, they won't be FSI).

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Can you explain what these benefits are? Thanks.

Brown said:

Why won't the R100 work with RF teleconverters or the control ring adapter?

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Etnaphele said:

Just the normal amount of cripple

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Del Paso said:

A $350 camera and a $500 extender? And, for acceptable results, a $800 + lens is needed...

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neuroanatomist said:

But that lens cannot be the RF 85/1.2 DS…because it also is incompatible with the R100.

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Exploreshootshare said:

Wow, I did not know that. Do you happen to know the reason for it?

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neuroanatomist said:

No idea, not even enough to speculate. I’ve seen a post blaming ‘the older hardware in the camera body’. Maybe? The R100 uses Digic 8 but so do the R and RP, and those work with the TCs and the 85L DS. However, there are probably different Digic 8 variants.

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AlanF said:

I also trawled for the reason and only came across the same post. It's indeed a mystery.

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EthenJ said:

Probably something related to autofocus and that "defocus smoothing" coating? As the R100 works with the 85mm 1.2 without the coating.

Look through Canon's supplemental info tables, and the R100 has uniquely limited AF on many lenses: https://cam.start.canon/en/H001/supplement_0110.html

That 85mm DS, specifically, also loses support for other autofocus-adjacent features, like DoF preview, that other lenses have.

Perhaps the DS coating "muddies" autofocus performance enough to break it on the R100. To avoid the (admittedly rare) scenario of someone trying the DS on the R100 and finding it's manual focus only, I'd wager Canon decided to exclude support entirely.

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neuroanatomist said:

Defocus smoothing should not affect autofocus. What it does affect is exposure metering at apertures wider than f/5.6, wide open the lens is f/1.2 but T/2.2. DS also makes DoF deeper at apertures wider than f/2…I expect that is why DOF preview is problematic.

Checking into it, I noticed that the other two Digic 8 R-series cameras (R and RP) required a firmware update to enable compatibility with the 85L DS, specifically to address proper metering with the lens. Thinking about the implications of that, I expect Canon decided it wasn’t worth the investment in a firmware update for the R100, given the presumably minuscule number of users who would pair that lens with that camera.

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Out of curiosity I tried the R100 with the RF 1.4xTC and the RF 100-500mm. There are no error messages and the camera focuses and takes the pictures. However, the camera doesn't seem to register the presence of the TC and the EXIF, as diplayed in Lightroom Classic, doesn't register the presence of the TC either. I also tried DxO PL 9 and it doesn't register the presence of the TC.

I hope the R10 II gets the LP-E6 battery, just like the xx DSLRs before it, make it a true 90D replacement.

InternalRevenue said:

Been using the R7 exclusively since early 2023 (and exclusively ES since Early 2025), the shutter shock and rolling shutter are vastly overstated IMO, I pretty much only notice the latter with hummingbirds and clearwings. Auto-level is fine in stills, but in video it can wreck footage. I forgot to turn it off in the linked video and the rocking was quite unsightly, especially around 1:29

https://youtu.be/erMBOzRybfA?si=7FTEZZgq_w0qHe91&t=16

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Oh hey, I’ve seen your videos before! I love all the HDR uploads.

That’s exactly what I wanted to see though, thanks. Yeah it looks a bit annoying, but not deal breaking, and I suppose I can use Gyroflow+phone gyro data if I need something more stable.

EthenJ said:

Apparently it disables EFC (electronic first curtain) too!

Canon : Product Manual : EOS R7 : Auto Level

That’s a bummer. As the full shutter has shutter shock, and full ES has so much rolling shutter.

***

But if you don’t mind, could you clarify what you mean by “rocks back and forth?” Does auto level just stop working in pans? I’m asking because I’m considering trading up to an R7I for stabilized video on primes, and auto-leveling for stills.

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Been using the R7 exclusively since early 2023 (and exclusively ES since Early 2025), the shutter shock and rolling shutter are vastly overstated IMO, I pretty much only notice the latter with hummingbirds and clearwings. Auto-level is fine in stills, but in video it can wreck footage. I forgot to turn it off in the linked video and the rocking was quite unsightly, especially around 1:29

https://youtu.be/erMBOzRybfA?si=7FTEZZgq_w0qHe91&t=16

InternalRevenue said:

The auto-level is great, I think until the R5ii/R1 the R7 was the only Canon camera with the feature. It could use some improvement for video however; right now if it's active and your pans aren't completely straight it rocks back and forth, hampering handheld use.

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Apparently it disables EFC (electronic first curtain) too!


That’s a bummer. As the full shutter has shutter shock, and full ES has so much rolling shutter.

***

But if you don’t mind, could you clarify what you mean by “rocks back and forth?” Does auto level just stop working in pans? I’m asking because I’m considering trading up to an R7I for stabilized video on primes, and auto-leveling for stills.

mb66energy said:

A detail I like on the R7 too. And the thumb wheel is easier to acces compared to that of the R6. But the third wheel is missing in comparison to R6.
One unique feature of the R7 is the auto level by IBIS which is a great advantage when shooting with long focal lengths - it helps me to concentrate on breathing and keeping the composition without fiddling with other parameters.

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The auto-level is great, I think until the R5ii/R1 the R7 was the only Canon camera with the feature. It could use some improvement for video however; right now if it's active and your pans aren't completely straight it rocks back and forth, hampering handheld use.

Exploreshootshare said:

It'll be interesting to see how the R10 evolves in terms of specs and pricing. The R7ii is supposedly going upmarket which might leave a gap to fill. Spec-wise I could imagine the R10ii not only getting the 32mp sensor from the R7, but also the IBIS unit. If IBIS is included I´d expect the price to go up, making pricing more difficult because the competition with these types of cameras.

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With 32MP IBIS, it would basically be an R7 MKI.

That's tricky to price, indeed.

While I would like such a thing, I don’t see an R10II going IBIS unless competitors make cheaper crop IBIS bodies, too. Or if it outright replaces the R7I.

Looking around, Fuji's X-E5, Sony's A6700 and the Lumix S9 are priced more like an R7I, Nikon has no aps-c IBIS, leaving M4/3 bodies as the only IBIS competitors around the R10. Hence I think Canon has more incentive to leave IBIS out and “protect” the R7 unless another maker puts pressure on them.

It'll be interesting to see how the R10 evolves in terms of specs and pricing. The R7ii is supposedly going upmarket which might leave a gap to fill. Spec-wise I could imagine the R10ii not only getting the 32mp sensor from the R7, but also the IBIS unit. If IBIS is included I´d expect the price to go up, making pricing more difficult because the competition with these types of cameras.

SeriouslyItsTom said:

The other day I had this little observer while I was photographing his fellows!

#nuthatch

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Lovely shot. Keep posting.

CRFan said:

Any sample astro pics that weren’t taken during a full moon?

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Petapixel has a review of the RF14mm f1.4 with a few astro pics. They complain about stars in the corner streaking towards the image center.

EDIT: Petapixel used the profile of the RF16mm f2.8 lens to correct the astro pictures.

See: https://petapixel.com/2026/02/12/canon-14mm-f-1-4l-vcm-review-major-trade-offs-for-compactness/

SeriouslyItsTom said:

The other day I had this little observer while I was photographing his fellows!

#nuthatch

View attachment 227972
R5ii • EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II + EXTENDER EF 2x III • 600 mm • ƒ/5.6 • 1/500 • ISO 1250

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Cute shot

The other day I had this little observer while I was photographing his fellows!

#nuthatch


R5ii • EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II + EXTENDER EF 2x III • 600 mm • ƒ/5.6 • 1/500 • ISO 1250

InternalRevenue said:

As an R7-only hybrid shooter, count me unexcited about the R6-style body and layout, ESPECIALLY if it means that awful left-sided video dial. Sure the thumbwheel/joystick combo needed some refinement, and the off/stills/video switch could have been tucked a bit further back to prevent accidental activation in the camera bag, but everything you needed was right there at the flick of a thumb.No awkward arching arm to reach the video switch because your left hand is busy bracing a telephoto lens. I hope they at least make use of the larger body and improve the IBIS/Auto Level and we don't have a G9ii situation.

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A detail I like on the R7 too. And the thumb wheel is easier to acces compared to that of the R6. But the third wheel is missing in comparison to R6.
One unique feature of the R7 is the auto level by IBIS which is a great advantage when shooting with long focal lengths - it helps me to concentrate on breathing and keeping the composition without fiddling with other parameters.

CRFan said:

Any sample astro pics that weren’t taken during a full moon?

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Not that I’ve seen. Might have to wait a bit since the lens ships in late Feb and the moon is waxing toward a March 3rd full moon at that point.

EthenJ said:

TBH I don't know much about this stuff; I just heard BSI helped dense sensors a bit. But I was thinking ISO noise:

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The graph you posted shows that the stacked/BSI sensor of the R5II has more read noise than the FSI sensor of the R5. More read noise is not a good thing, it adds noise to the image and that reduces the dynamic range, which is why the R5II has slightly lower DR than the R5 (at lower ISOs, at higher ISOs another type of noise called shot noise is the key determinant).

BSI does help lower noise in 'dense' sensors but think smartphones not MILCs (at least, not yet). There is marginal benefit with pixel sizes of <3 µm and meaningful benefit with pixel sizes of <2 µm. The R5II has 4.3 µm pixels, the R7 has 3.2 µm pixels. When FF sensors get above 90 MP or Canon APS-C sensors get above 35 MP, there will start to be some benefit from BSI (though it will be marginal at that point, meaning probably not enough to notice in actual images).

So if the R7II is 40 MP, BSI might make a tiny difference. Sensors can be BSI but not stacked, but all stacked sensors are BSI. It the R7II is stacked as well, it may be slightly worse than the R7 in terms of read noise. When (if) we get to 60 MP APS-C and 150 MP FF, then BSI will offer significant benefit (and I suspect if we get to those densities, they won't be FSI).

For science, here's an autofocus test on my RF Yongnuo 23mm F1.4:


Tested on this little R50V:



I don't have a VCM RF lens for reference, but... well, see for yourself. It's quick, it doesn't focus hunt. And whatever Yongnuo uses is already inaudible.

neuroanatomist said:

What do you mean by 'sensitive'? I would not bet on any improvements. BSI/stacking will not offer meaningful improvements (if anything, stacking has a slightly deleterious effect on IQ, rolling shutter notwithstanding).

View attachment 227969

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TBH I don't know much about this stuff; I just heard BSI helped dense sensors a bit. But I was thinking ISO noise:

Any sample astro pics that weren’t taken during a full moon?

AlanF said:

And, despite negative comments from some, the R7 beats the 7Dii.

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I couldn't agree more, as a longtime D7 and D7II user. But with the R7, I really had a bumpy begin and a steep learning curve. (1) I had to find out that I need to turn the settings of the EVF to fast refresh rate, with the standard settings I missed nearly all birds-in-flight shots the first day I was out shooting birds. (2) I had to work out in which setting it is better to switch off some little AI helpers such as eye recognition to get more reliable in-focus results. With growing experience, I got much more in-focus images than with the old DSLRs.

EthenJ said:

If you need more light on the sensor, that's what the R5 is for. It's 17MP in crop mode, enough to crop half the area and still display every pixel 1:1 on a 4K TV. And if you're paying for FF lenses, it feels more cost effective to be able to use the whole image circle.

Still, I agree, the BSI/stacking will be nice. I'd bet it's at least as sensitive as the R7I; how much more sensitive will be interesting.

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What do you mean by 'sensitive'? I would not bet on any improvements. BSI/stacking will not offer meaningful improvements (if anything, stacking has a slightly deleterious effect on IQ, rolling shutter notwithstanding).

Jamie8848 said:

I would love a high rez R7 mark II with a 1.3 crop sensor (APS-H) and still with good resolution at the 1.6 crop (from full frame). This would offer great versatility if being able to switch between them with a simple push of a button ...
Looking through my R7 photos, I feel the R7m2 sensor performance must improve the colour, noise and high ISO performance to be interesting for me. I am guessing that the coming camera will have more resolution but will it have noticeably better sensor performance? Yes, it will be fast, and having the same controls as an R6m2/3

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If you need more light on the sensor, that's what the R5 is for. It's 17MP in crop mode, enough to crop half the area and still display every pixel 1:1 on a 4K TV. And if you're paying for FF lenses, it feels more cost effective to be able to use the whole image circle.

Still, I agree, the BSI/stacking will be nice. I'd bet it's at least as sensitive as the R7I; how much more sensitive will be interesting.

Beautiful shot, Sir!

Sun dogs...