What is the best wildlife photography lens for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?

Question

What lens is actually the best for wildlife on the new Canon R5 Mark II? honestly I feel like such an idiot because I just spent a crazy amount of money on this camera body and now I realize I cant even take a picture of a bird across the street because it didnt come with a lens. I am totally new to this whole mirrorless thing and all the numbers like 100-500mm or f/4 vs f/11 just make my head spin.

I want to go up to Estes Park here in Colorado next month to see the elk but I have no idea what to buy and I am getting so frustrated trying to research this. Someone told me to get a prime lens but then someone else said I need a zoom and I am just so confused with all the conflicting info. Is there one lens that just does it all? I really dont want to be swapping things out in the dirt and wind while I am hiking.

Budget: $2000-$2500 max

Location: Colorado mountains

Use case: Big animals like elk and maybe some backyard birds

My budget is pretty much tapped out after buying the R5II so I cant spend five thousand dollars on a piece of glass. Do I need an adapter thingy too or are there lenses that just click right on to this specific camera? Sorry if these are really basic questions I just feel way over my head right now...

Stevefek · Accepted Answer

Honestly, spending that much on an R5II and only having two grand left for glass is a tough spot to be in. Wildlife gear is just ridiculously overpriced these days and unfortunately, the high-end RF stuff is where the real quality is. I've been shooting Canon for a decade and the budget options for this mount have been pretty disappointing compared to the old EF glass. If you want one lens that does it all for Colorado, here is the reality:

Buy the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM. It usually retails for about $2,900 but you can find it on sale or refurbished within your $2,500 budget if you look hard. Its basically the only lens that makes sense for both elk and birds without swapping.

Avoid the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM. I tried it and the fixed f/11 is just not as good as expected when the sun starts dipping behind the mountains. Youll end up with grainy photos.

Stay away from the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM. It's a decent starter lens but it really struggles to resolve the detail on a high-end sensor like the R5II. Youll just be frustrated with the soft images. Quick tip: Stick to RF lenses so you dont have to mess with an adapter. For Estes Park, 500mm is usually plenty for elk, but for birds, youre always gonna wish you had more reach... just the way it goes.

Theo · Answer

Jumping in because I was in your exact shoes last year! Honestly, you dont need to spend every penny of that $2500 for great elk shots. I am super satisfied with this lens:

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM It works well because its light enough to carry on long hikes in Estes. Quick tip: use the 1.6x crop mode on your R5II to get way closer to birds without buying more gear! You're gonna love that camera!

wyatt.marshall · Answer

Both click on directly. Ive tried many over the years and recommend:Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM (Best quality)Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM (Better reach)