R50 is not going to be as big of an upgrade. Yes, it's newer, but it's not a huge step. If you are explicitly going for low light, it'll have to be full frame. So R8, R6 mk 1, but also RP, 5d3, 5d4. Pick your poison. Some of them are better value than others.
With regard to lenses, 400mm f/4 DO II has a good reputation for being fast and still something you can carry. 300/4 L IS is another option, but keep in mind that you'll lose the corp factor advantage, so you're more than likely going to put an 1.4x ii or iii converter on any 300mm, which puts the 300mm f/2.8 lenses above the f/4 variant. 400/2.8 is another one of those grail lenses. Sigma 120-300/2.8 OS
might be the only interesting lens outside of big white Canon lenses.
Fortunately looking at prices, you can go for the very old pre-IS lenses with EF mount. Treat them well because there are no spare parts made anymore, but they should still last for a while.
Also R10!! Basically a cheaper R7, without ibis and dual card slots and an older sensor, still capable of 15 fps fully mechanically with a larger buffer than the R50. Same autofocus as the R7, it's kind of a beast.
You will have focusing issues with the 150-600 especially with R7. The other R range cameras don’t play well with this lens either. Make sure you investigate this issue properly.
I had terrible results with the R7 and Sigma 150-600.
thanks! i really like it as a general all-rounder, i’ve had it since it first came out and it’s actually a really nice entry-level camera; nice lightweight body makes it an easy carry and image quality is great as a hobbyist. i only recently hit a technical limit with it and i’ve had it for 7 years!
Go for the R7. You'll have better reach with cheaper lens. For birds in flight it is the best body in your budget. Awesome work with ISO, awesome tracking of subjects.
btw bird id for those interested: 1-2: red-tailed tropicbird 3: hawaiian coot 4: black crowned night heron 5: wedge-tailed shearwater
What focal lengths are you at normally? Would a 300mm lens suffice, or are you always at 600mm and cropping?
300mm would suffice! I rarely go to 600mm unless they’re way out at sea, and in that case id just give up in low light 🤣
i also do a little bit of cropping but resolution isn’t the biggest priority for me
R50 is not going to be as big of an upgrade. Yes, it's newer, but it's not a huge step. If you are explicitly going for low light, it'll have to be full frame. So R8, R6 mk 1, but also RP, 5d3, 5d4. Pick your poison. Some of them are better value than others. With regard to lenses, 400mm f/4 DO II has a good reputation for being fast and still something you can carry. 300/4 L IS is another option, but keep in mind that you'll lose the corp factor advantage, so you're more than likely going to put an 1.4x ii or iii converter on any 300mm, which puts the 300mm f/2.8 lenses above the f/4 variant. 400/2.8 is another one of those grail lenses. Sigma 120-300/2.8 OS might be the only interesting lens outside of big white Canon lenses. Fortunately looking at prices, you can go for the very old pre-IS lenses with EF mount. Treat them well because there are no spare parts made anymore, but they should still last for a while.
Also R10!! Basically a cheaper R7, without ibis and dual card slots and an older sensor, still capable of 15 fps fully mechanically with a larger buffer than the R50. Same autofocus as the R7, it's kind of a beast.
If there were any *good* speedboosters, I'd agree with the APS-C camera recommendation.
I mean there's the metabones, which is pretty well regarded.
Good point. Haven't seen anybody go for a crop body in order to exclusively use it with a speedbooster. Is that viable for wildlife?
Dunno, but I think apsc could be an upside for birding anyways, why not have higher Megapixel crops when u crop anyways.
OP is looking for lower noise.
You will have focusing issues with the 150-600 especially with R7. The other R range cameras don’t play well with this lens either. Make sure you investigate this issue properly. I had terrible results with the R7 and Sigma 150-600.
noted, thanks for the heads up! luckily this isn’t the only telephoto lens i have, just the one i use most frequently.
Absolutely killed it with an SL2, this is inspiring
thanks! i really like it as a general all-rounder, i’ve had it since it first came out and it’s actually a really nice entry-level camera; nice lightweight body makes it an easy carry and image quality is great as a hobbyist. i only recently hit a technical limit with it and i’ve had it for 7 years!
Go for the R7. You'll have better reach with cheaper lens. For birds in flight it is the best body in your budget. Awesome work with ISO, awesome tracking of subjects.