Well, it’s a start. The American robin topping this post was the first bird photo I was able to snap with my new Canon EOS R7 camera that arrived Monday. What followed was a series of unfortunate events.
The first was that the adapter I need to mount my older-generation lenses was delayed a day and delivered yesterday. After work, I fixed the adapter on the camera and mounted the kit lens from my old Canon Rebel XT. I took a few test shots of my wife and fiddled with the settings a bit before putting it away, anticipating a morning of birding today.
It was not to be. When I hit the trail at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm a little after sunrise, the camera would not turn on. Anguish. Worry. And maybe a few foul words uttered under my breath as another birder stopped to see what the problem was.
I drove home and put the battery on the charger. It was dead. Even though I’d charged it a full three hours before exploring the menus Monday evening and the battery meter was on full when I turned the camera off last night, the battery ran out of charge.
Leaving the battery on the charger for the day, I called Canon service when I got to my office. The very helpful and sympathetic Canon rep asked me a few questions and said that I would have done better to leave the battery on the charger overnight.
He advised me to see how things go for the next day or two. If the camera doesn’t perform, I should send it back to Amazon, although I have ordered two extra batteries.
Fortunately, when I got home from work a short while ago, the camera turned on when I inserted the battery, which had been on the charger for about 10 hours.
Moments later, I spotted a chickadee on the feeder near our living room window. I wasn’t quick enough to get a shot of the little cutie, but a couple of robins were just beyond our yard on one of the tees on the adjoining golf course.
The robin shot above was literally the first bird photo I took with the camera. The picture is one I’d never post under normal circumstances. I wouldn’t even save it. But I’ve placed it as a marker in anticipation of many good photos to come and a few laughs at my own expense.
I’ll go back out with the camera tomorrow morning — after the battery has had a good night’s sleep nestled in the charger. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 
Arg! New equipment learning curve! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
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Welcome to the wonderful and exciting world of ILC (interchangeable lens cameras) that lack a reflex mirror box. My recommendations as someoen who has been using a mirror-less ILC for several years is to invest in multiple batteries. You viewfinder is an LCD. You will burn through fresh charged batteries faster than before.
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I learned that lesson immediately, oy! I ordered two extra batteries for overnight delivery and it’s delayed until tomorrow. Just looking through that new viewfinder is an adjustment. All in the name of progress! 🙂
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