Considering Canon R7

Looking at changing to Canon and need advice on Canon R7

Back Story
I shoot RAW.
I do not take wildlife or sport photos.
I mainly shoot travel, landscape and events.
Have been using Pentax for many years. Have two APS-C bodies – a 5 year-old K3ii with 32k clicks and a 9 year-old K3 with 46k clicks. (Life expectancy 200k clicks). Approx 90% of my shots are taken with an 18-135 lens; the remainder mainly with a Sigma 10-20 or a 55-300.
While I’m happy with the kit within its limits, miss more modern features like focus stacking
I don’t see a future with Pentax and am looking around now. However I will keep my old stuff.

Why Canon R7
Want to stay with APS-C.
I tried full-frame some years ago and concluded that the weight offset any benefits.
At the same time I decided to exclude M43.
Having had IBIS for since 2007 I also excluded cameras without it.
So my spreadsheet of possible cameras led me to the Canon R7.

Some questions
Lenses
I know the RF-S range is limited, but the18-150 will fill most needs.
I can use EF-S mount lenses with the adapter. Any downsides?
In particular I’d use a Sigma 10-20 with an adapter. Any comments welcome.

GPS Tagging via Canon Connect
How effective is this?

Weather sealing.
I’m used to not worrying about rain. Just put lens cap on to save cleaning lens. How good is the R7’s? Some reviews suggest light rain only.

What else should I know about?

And please
I have shot APS-C since 2005; RAW since 2006.
I am fully aware of the supposed advantages of FF v APS-C and have chosen APS-C
Anyway, according to charts on www.photonstophotos.net/ the R7 gives me slightly better dynamic range than existing kit.
I have zero interest in birding!
So no comments about FF or birding please!

You won’t go wrong with the R7, it’s a great camera. I do use it for birds, but I use it for other things too. Sometimes I’ll throw on the RF 70-200 and what a nice combination. Get interesting shots with that setup. You would probably use something like the RF 24-105, which is also a great combo. If you need a telephoto lens for any thing the RF 100-400 with the 1.4 extender makes a super light telephoto setup. Nevertheless, you narrowed it down to a wonderful camera with one of the best autofocusing systems in the industry. Good luck to you!

The R7 + 18-150 is a great, lightweight kit and seem perfect for your shooting style and hardware requirements. You can seamlessly adapt the excellent EF-S 55-250 STM (64mm full frame equivalent more reach at the long end compared to the new RF-S 55-210) and the EF-S 10-18 (in case you can’t wait for Canon to release their new RF-S UWA zoom). And you can also play with all the affordable and lightweight full frame zooms and primes, for portraiture, night street photography or wildlife. 5 great lenses to complement an APSC kit are the 16, 24, 35 and 50 primes and the 100-400 zoom.

if you do not need C-AF to track action like sport or so - just go with Fuji APS-C like XT-5 / XH-2 ... more MP, better or on par DR, more 3rd party lenses (and more native X-mount APS-C lenses too), etc ... no vested interest on my side in a brand ( I have camera's both brands : Canon R5 and Fuji X-H1 - but if I have to buy a new APS-C camera today it won't be Canon ... it will be Fuji )

Hi Ken,

I have that Pentax kit but not the K3mk 2...KP K3 K1 and all the lenses you mention(and a lot more), I agree Pentax?Ricoh are not moving fast with up to date stuff but the K3 mk 3 is apparently a big improvement.Have you considered the RRP 1699?Most reports are positive but they should be with what came before it.Pentax produces nice images but hasn't got the features that mirrorless has.

The technology gap from Pentax to Canon is large...Carby to fuel injected!

I use an R7 and R10 as my main 2 cameras, both are excellent.The 18-150 is every bit as good as the P 18-135 which is a good lens.

Weather sealing? I dont know but you do need EF L glass with the adapters or the RF L glass.No EFS lens is sealed.Sigma and Tamron have WR EF mount glass as well.

The 10-20s are big lenses, I have K and EF mounts...a popular WA is the EFs 10-18, its a lot smaller and lighter.Another good EFs is the 15-85(not small).

The RF 100-400 is the smallest lightest in that category, very good in good light.

Another thing to think about is the 1.6x crop factor which differs from the Pentax 1.5x.

I dont GeoTag so cant help you there.

One thing that differentiates the 2 brands is VALUE.

At one stage Pentax was known as the " bang for buck" system but thats long gone...the K3/3 was 1999 release price( 500 overs imo)

Now canon being so popular, the deals pop up.Around 6 months after release I scored my R7 with 18-150 for the equivalent of U$ 1430.Pretty happy then and still am.

IF, you go the Canon way, you will have much more capable equipment but consider others because all the brands are excellent.We are spoilt for choice.

I was thinking the same thing. The XT-5 seems like a really good camera and there is lots of high quality apsc glass available. I would try to handle both in store to see which one feels better. Either would probably work well.

I just picked up the R7 and am very happy with it, but I wanted the better autofocus for wildlife (with wings 😉)

Edit: try handling both in store to see which one feels better to you.

Hi Paldi
Thanks for your advice.
Went and had a play with an R7 in a Bricks & Mortar store.
Decided there and then to get one.
All stores and web dealerd seem out of stock in UK so it's ordered but it will come when it comes.
You were lucky with that price! B&H is quoting $1799 and the UK price is the same but in GBP.
Thanks again
Ken

Congratulations! I'm sure you will enjoy the new camera ... when it arrives. I have not seen any stock issues here in Canada and the price has actually dropped slightly.

I have an R7 and R6. Size and weight is no longer a reason to go APS-C. The RP and R8 are quite compact. I'd suggest evaluating them. The low light performance of the R6 is stunning and much better than the R7. I believe the R8 has the same sensor as the R6 MII. On the R6 I don't even think about ISOs of 12800 or sometimes higher. On the R7 I stay at or below 3200. That said, you can get excellent results with the R7.

Great advice PF,but Ken specifically said he was firmly in the crop corner.

However, I have an RP and when the Xmas deals come,my intention is to get an R8.Sounds from all reports a near perfect body if you dont need hiRes, dual cards and another few bells that whistle.

You will notice the advanced capability over Pentax which are nice cameras but limited(as is the glass) ha ha.

We,Downunder get slugged with "early adopter tax" for about 6 months but then the deals come.My RP was U$210 under retail and the R10 was about the same.So all in all my Canon bodies came with a couple of free lenses so to speak.

I think there’s a lot to like about the R7.
The biggest criticism I’ve heard is about the location of the rear dial, but I tried it at a store and I loved it. Far easier to use with camera to eye than the standard rear wheel.

Not only is APS-C less expensive, it is dramatically lighter. Not just camera but lenses. If you travel with a kit that covers ultra wide to telephoto, APS-C weighs several kilos less. It’s a big and noticeable difference and I think the R7 is an excellent choice. People love that camera and with good reason.

Agree totally about the weight.
Several years ago I was in a camera store looking at a (then new) Pentax APS-C camera.
I noticed they also had the full frame Pentax K1 so I had a play with that.
Absolutely gorgeous with (I think) a 24-70 lens but...
No way could I walk round all day with that, never mind extra lens.
Fortunately I got the "Where are you?" call from my wife so was able to make my exit.

Congrats on getting the R7. It's an excellent camera. I have it, and the R6II, and the M6II, but that's just overindulgence. The R7 certainly does everything, and does it well. I've loved that 32.5MP sensor ever since I got the M6II, which has the same, or at least similar, sensor. In-camera focus stacking is simply magic! A good lightweight portrait lens for the R7 is the RF 50 F1.8. It's almost small enough to be a pancake, and gives great results. I process with DXO Photolab, which allows me to get great results with the R7 up to ISO 12,800. It also has the best lens correction modules that I've used. The last time I did a test, I got significantly sharper results from the 50 F1.8 with DXO than with Lightroom. LR has just introduced an AI noise reduction filter, which maybe closes the gap with DXO a bit on the NR front. I think DXO is still better for lens corrections, though. The 18-150 is also an excellent all-around lens. It's surprisingly good for the size, weight, and price. I had the EF-S 10-18 for a while when I had the 7DII. It's a pretty good UWA zoom. Very light and cheap. The EF-M 11-22 is definitely better, though. If Canon brings that to the RF mount, it's probably worth waiting for. On the other hand, you can probably get a 2nd hand 10-18 quite cheaply as a stopgap. The last thing I'll say about the R7 is that I love the handling. It's very well designed, and customizable. Having the 4-way controller on the back, instead of a wheel, actually gives you more buttons to customize, so I'm not sure that I prefer the wheel on my R6II.

The R7 is my favorite camera of all time. I did not expect it to be. I was expecting a nice carry about little jobber but got a camera that every time gives me a bit of a thrill to use.

While I'm hardly one who has owned dozens and dozens of cameras, I've had my share plus company equipment during my spotty pro experience. AFAIK, unmentioned on this thread is the huge selection of EF lenses all of which work well on the RF mount so you have a large supply of (often clunky by comparison) lenses to start off with if you wish more than the kit one.

Like you, I got the body with the 18-150 lens. Right there was my next surprise. Unlike every kit lens I've tried, I think this one both a winner and a keeper. No, it's not an L in disguise but it's light, has a remarkably useful zoom range and has quality sufficient to my casual needs. I do have an L RF lens for one area where I was willing to spend the money to get the top quality glass.

Based on my use and what I remember from dpreview user comments, my views are common.

Thanks for your comments.
Many people say that an RF version of the 11-22 is likely to be good, meanwhile use the EF-S 10-18.
MPB seem to have loads, so one is on its way to me. Will beat the R7!
When the R7 arrives I'll spend a while playing and getting things set up.
I'm not going to buy anything else until then

That what I like to hear.
Looking forward to my R7 arriving and getting things set up

Enjoy - the R7 is a very good camera - I like mine. It is very good value for money - and great shots if you are aware of its quirks which include the hybrid joystick and control dial (still don't like it 3 months on, but fine when I get used to it and stay away from my R5 and R10 for a little while) and the rolling shutter - use mechanical for action.
Works seamlessly with EF and EF-S glass.
I think I would have preferred to pay another $500 for a R5 body and faster read out - but guess the latter not possible at this price point given this is a M6II/90D developed and improved slightly sensor.
Nothing comparable at this price point and the RFS 11-22 will O think plug the main current lens gap.
Combined with DXO Deep Prime or the new Adobe Noise AI - the high iso performance is fine.
Enjoy!!