Two native RF extenders were also announced, Extender RF 1.4x ($499) and Extender RF 2x ($599). These could be great when used with the new 100-500mm RF lens. Granted, you will lose quality, but extenders seem to be getting better and better. Adding an extender to your R kit is a good solution now while we wait for a fast RF super telephoto, which could be a long way out.
The extenders just make the RF lens lineup more practical and useful for wildlife photograph. One of Canon and Nikon’s shortcoming with mirrorless right now is their lack of a native wildlife lens lineup. Canon has addressed that here with the 100-500mm and these extenders. It really is exciting – take the EOS R5, a 100-500mm, and a 1.4x extender. You get 45-megapixel stills that you can crop, 700mm in length, 20 fps, and hopefully 8 stops of image stabilization.
Closing Thoughts
I can’t emphasize enough how big of a splash this is for Canon. In the few days since the announcement, I have noticed many friends who switched from Canon to Sony already talk about going back to Canon, and for good reason. The EOS R5 looks awesome in terms of specs, I’m hoping Canon has finally taken a step forward with expanded dynamic range and better noise handling too, and I think they have…we need to see some testing and image samples though. The video capabilities alone are truly innovative.
I think the EOS R6 is excellent at its price point as well. These are both great cameras and what everyone was hoping for with the second iteration of mirrorless models. The lens releases are great too, with the highlight being the 100-500mm. It instantly makes the Canon mirrorless setup viable for wildlife. Of course, you can adapt EF lenses, but these releases make a native setup possible. If you are a current or former Canon user, it is a great time. I would definitely consider upgrading to the EOS R5 if you are looking for a new pro-grade body, you will enjoy the excellent image quality and reduction in weight.