Wildlife Photography with the Canon R8 vs R7: Same Price, Who Wins?

The does-it-all R8: https://amzn.to/3B0BUNK

With Canon's recent expansion of the $1500 offerings--the new R8 coming alongside the R7--I wanted to see which was the better option for wildlife, so I took both bodies out for an evening of challenging animal imaging--tracking small birds through a marsh as the light disappeared. Who came out on top? Join me for my final test of this fascinating budget full-frame powerhouse.

Essential R8-compatible kit:
My favorite camera sling bag for active use: https://amzn.to/3sWvwSY
The $11 WONDER STRAP: https://amzn.to/36rAOOW
2 batteries w/ backpackable charger: https://amzn.to/42wa1t1
Small tripod QR plate--get a pair & have a spare: https://amzn.to/44ZWqLS
Fast-write SD Cards: https://amzn.to/42NnWdC

I can't believe how little Canon held back in cleaving the new EOS R8 intro-full-framer from the guts of the marvelously high-tech R6 Mark II--so much so, that I had to test it and see for myself! After a hit-and-miss experience pitting the new arrival against my staple R7 and EOS R bodies photographing waterfalls, I bring my test samples into the studio for a revealing deep-dive into the cameras' imaging capabilities. If you're considering one of these for your next landscape photo adventure, you don't want to miss this essential info.

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Where to stalk me, digitally:
Commercial: https://www.optiviz.media
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Affiliate links to other gear I recommend:

Featured for the summer: I love these high-quality, no-nonsense Hoya circular polarizing filters:
Uncoated: https://amzn.to/3sThqBR
With Protective Coating: https://amzn.to/3fkVdtJ

In My Bag:
Cameras.
https://amzn.to/3FDKEdn : The Canon EOS R is all about results: 30 megapixel mirrorless stills technology and 4k video at the enthusiast price point.
https://amzn.to/3PwArU3: Canon EOS R7: Great for wildlife. AMAZING for video.

Lenses.
https://amzn.to/30TEma9 : Canon EF 16-35mm f/4 L IS USM
https://amzn.to/3FqaPnp : Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II
https://amzn.to/3JfLsXI : Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM (Renewed)
https://amzn.to/3qrAQNc : Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
https://amzn.to/3qjaCw4 : Benro Tall Aluminum Tripod
https://amzn.to/3EoKHbx : Manfrotto 290 Aluminum Light Tripod

Stuff That Helps Me Make Videos.

Canon EOS R7 with versatile 18-150mm kit lens: https://amzn.to/3PwArU3
https://amzn.to/32ocSKd : Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM
https://amzn.to/3EhlteY : Rode Wireless Go audio transmitter/receiver
https://amzn.to/32vNSR7 : Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod
https://amzn.to/3H5iyI6 : The GoPro Hero 6 Black is that third camera I need sometimes.

More Recommended Accessories:

A good circular polarizer at the right price: https://amzn.to/3sThqBR
Coated version: https://amzn.to/3fkVdtJ
Best budget 3 Stop ND filter, IMHO: https://amzn.to/33CRAto
https://amzn.to/3pn3waP : A shockingly affordable gimbal head that just keeps going for me 🤯
https://amzn.to/3yPY9E4 :Adobe Creative Cloud—Access Lightroom, Lightroom CC, Photoshop and 20 GB of cloud storage for $9.99/month.
https://amzn.to/3FqbRQm : The 13” Macbook Pro with the M1 processor fits in any backpack and edits photos and videos for D-A-Y-S without recharging.