One Day with the RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 IS USM.

[Click]

+1

Beautiful series, docsmith.

​

 

[docsmith]

Thanks everyone....

I included the BIF of the merganser, but here are a few others plus the eagles from yesterday.







Last one was @ 800 mm....never enough reach .

Anyways...give this lens enough light, it really does well, IMO.

 

[docsmith]

Backing off and not using it as much at 800 mm is paying some dividends, 600-750 mm seems like a sweet spot. Also, electronic shutter seems to help the AF a bit in low light.

R5, RF 200-800 @ 672 mm, 1/800, f/9 ISO 3200...cropped to ~2.8 MP


same as above, 3.9 MPs



Same settings as above, 15.3 MPs (so, almost a cropped sensor on the R5), exported to 2500px


@800 mm, same settings. 21.1 MPs, exported to 2500

 

[danfaz]

So I went out to a local park that has a great combination of estuary and trees that birds like to frequent. It did not disappoint.

BTW...my first cedar Waxwing....
View attachment 214192
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And one more from my feeder from yesterday (rainy).
View attachment 214199

Wow, great variety and shots!

 

[danfaz]

Excellent series!
Did you happen to see this perfect snow flake?

 

[docsmith]

Excellent series!
Did you happen to see this perfect snow flake?

Yep... I know it is subtle, but glad you picked up on it. That snowflake is actually why I picked those three images rather than earlier ones.

 

[Click]

Lovely series. Nicely done, docsmith.

 

[shire_guy]

Really nice photos @docsmith
Appreciate the feedback on the lens.

 

[Dragon]

Backing off and not using it as much at 800 mm is paying some dividends, 600-750 mm seems like a sweet spot. Also, electronic shutter seems to help the AF a bit in low light.

R5, RF 200-800 @ 672 mm, 1/800, f/9 ISO 3200...cropped to ~2.8 MP


same as above, 3.9 MPs



Same settings as above, 15.3 MPs (so, almost a cropped sensor on the R5), exported to 2500px


@800 mm, same settings. 21.1 MPs, exported to 2500

From what I have seen, I think you are correct in your observation of a sweet spot. I don't think it loses resolution going from 700 to 800, but it doesn't gain much, if any, either, so it really gets down to how much magnification you want. If you are shooting an R5 or R7, then you can go to 650 or 700 and get more of the background in the image without losing much, if any, detail. If you are shooting an R6, then the move to 800 might well be advantageous.

 

[docsmith]

I used the RF 200-800 for a full day while walking different preserves in the Tampa/Bradenton area of Florida.

Pointing out the obvious, which is my specialty, it is nice to have a zoom range. My usage from the day when I exclusively used the 200-800 on my R5:

Focal Length​	Images​	Usage (%)​
​ 200-299​	​ 69​	​ 8%​
​ 300-399​	​ 53​	​ 6%​
​ 400-499​	​ 135​	​ 16%​
​ 500-599​	​ 59​	​ 7%​
​ 600-699​	​ 177​	​ 20%​
​ 700-799​	​ 99​	​ 11%​
​ 800​	​ 278​	​ 32%​
Total Images​	​ 870​	​

As an illustration as how this might be used....walking amongst some mangroves, seeing an ibis to your right. But the body is obscured so, headshot:

RF 200-800 @ 800, 1/160, f/9, ISO 400 (could I have increased ISO for shutterspeed...yes, I think I could have)



Then the Ibis moves into a small opening:
@ 268 mm (otherwise same settings)


Then you see something a bit further off...cropped to 3301x4949, @800 mm, 1/160, f/9, ISO1600



There was a span of 1 minute between those images (3:22 pm to 3:23 pm).

This is why I wanted this lens.