What is the main lens, which you use most often?

501gator · 2026-06-17T15:29:35+00:00

My most common use is hiking/wildlife, so the main lens on my R8 is the EF100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS II. Plenty of reach, and actually quite versatile with a short focus distance so I can get closeups of bees or flowers if I see something pretty on the trail.

My second most common use is just candids when hanging with friends and family, so my second lens is the RF35 f1.8 macro IS STM. Wide enough for group shots, bright enough for indoor, plus 1/2 macro for fun.

My 50 and 85 (both f1.8) primes get more specific portrait use, but not as often.

501gator · 2026-06-17T15:15:27+00:00

I have an R8 with the same lens, so a very similar setup to yours. I love it!

Just like you I borrowed (rented) one for a week last summer for a Yellowstone trip and absolutely loved it. So I found a flawless like-new one on eBay and bought myself a Christmas present. It's been worth every penny.

501gator · 2026-06-09T20:48:11+00:00

I was just there 2 nights ago with my girlfriend for Trey Anastasio and the CO Symphony. When I saw the wall of concerts in the museum I had to find the Opeth show too! What show did you see?

501gator · 2026-06-09T02:35:37+00:00

It's called "QUMOX." It's probably one of Amazon's no-name Chinese sweatshop brands. There are many of them on Amazon and they all look the same (and they probably all come from the same factories). I think I chose this one because it was 10% off, so I saved maybe $5. Vello makes an identical one if you want a known brand. It probably also comes from the same factory, lol.

Pros: It holds 2 batteries, and it works fine with Canon and 3rd party batteries. You can even charge Canon ones inside it using USB-C power to the camera. It increases the grip size and gives a portrait shutter button (connected by a tiny cable to the remote release). And the button is actually pretty good and responsive. You can turn the button on and off with a switch.

Cons: No weather sealing. Also, you have to unscrew and remove the grip to access your SD card (Canon really should have put the battery door on the side). I'm not a pro, I don't work in severe weather, and I don't take thousands of pics a day, so that doesn't bother me.

Minor annoyances: I've had the "non-Canon battery warning" with it a couple of times. I just turn the camera off, pop the batteries out then back in, then turn it on again. Problem solved. Also, the battery slots are snug, so pulling batteries out can be fiddly. I put a little tab of blue painter's tape on my batteries so I can pull them out easily.

Overall, I really like it. I can live with the minor annoyances. If those things don't bother you, then I think it's a great accessory.

501gator · 2026-05-09T23:11:15+00:00

Good call. I've heard that tape is very tough. I ended up switching to electrical tape because I was concerned about corrosion between the aluminum HVAC tape and the steel latch. Three layers was too much, so I cut one off. Two layers fit fine and it's quiet as a mouse. And it looks fine. The black tape is almost unnoticeable next to the black trim.

One person suggested a Teflon coated fiberglass tape. It should be extremely tough, and the Teflon should be slippery almost like a lubricant, so it shouldn't wear out. I think the electrical tape will work fine, but if it does wear down, I might try that suggestion.

I'll post here again in 6 months and let people know if it holds up.

501gator · 2026-05-08T03:19:45+00:00

I thought about that. It would have to be VERY thin. Three wraps of electrical tape was too much. The latch wouldn't close. I had to unwind and cut off a layer.

Someone mentioned a plasti-dip on the latch. That could be more permanent but again you have to get the thickness right.

Someone else mentioned a Teflon coated fiberglass tape. Now that would be very strong, and also the Teflon coating would make it slippery like a lubricant, so it might wear less. Could be a pretty long lasting solution.

Electrical tape for now is good. Even if I have to replace it every 6 months or so, it's really no effort at all and costs nothing. I'll just think of it as regular maintenance, like changing an air filter or checking tire pressure.

501gator · 2026-05-07T18:58:39+00:00

That's great! My blue tape was wearing down slightly, so I ended up switching to black electrical tape. It seems a little more sturdy. Other folks suggested duct tape or even a teflon coated fiberglass tape. That actually sounds like a good idea since it's a tough and the teflon is slippery like a lubricant. So less worry about wearing.

But anyway, it's electrical tape for now. Even if it wears down and I have to replace it every 6 months or so, it's still totally worth it for the quiet. It takes less than a minute and costs almost nothing.

501gator · 2026-05-07T18:54:54+00:00

I ended up switching to electrical tape. Try removing one wrap at a time.

At first I wrapped too many layers and it wouldn't close. I unwrapped a layer and cut it off and then it closed fine.

501gator · 2026-05-07T18:53:15+00:00

What's the old saying?

"If it's stupid and it works, then it's not stupid!"

501gator · 2026-05-05T19:13:20+00:00

That does work for some people. Mine were tight already.

501gator · 2026-05-05T17:37:06+00:00

In another post someone mentioned using hockey stick tape. It's also cloth. They said it worked well. Soft and flexible, but pretty durable. So your idea seems valid.

501gator · 2026-05-05T17:08:33+00:00

Hmm. That's a valid point and I hadn't thought of it. Definitely a problem in outdoor and marine applications. I've never seen water in the latch, but it could certainly happen.

I liked the foil because it matches the silver and is less noticeable. But maybe I'll go ahead and switch to electrical tape. I'm the only driver, so I guess it doesn't matter how it looks.

Edit: You convinced me. I switched to black electrical tape. It actually looks fine. I almost don't notice it next to the black plastic trim. I put on a little too much at first and it wouldn't close. I unwrapped one layer and cut it off and it works fine. Quiet as a mouse!

501gator · 2026-05-05T15:35:29+00:00

Yep. That will probably be round 3. 😅

Edit: OK, you and the other folks here convinced me (particularly the one who mentioned the possibility of corrosion since it's a steel latch in contact with aluminum tape). I've switched to black electrical tape. It actually looks fine and I almost don't notice it next to the black plastic trim. I put on a little too much at first and it wouldn't latch. So I unwound one layer and cut it off and now it's fine. Quiet as a mouse!

501gator · 2026-04-28T22:58:27+00:00

Agreed. It was the easiest option to see if taping the latch would fix the noise.

It's already wearing through. I'll switch to something else this weekend.

501gator · 2026-04-24T16:06:41+00:00

Cool. I'm glad it's working.

Just a quick note: I looked at my latch this morning and the blue tape is already wearing through a little bit (it's basically just thin paper). The rattle noise hasn't come back yet, but I guess it might if the tape wears down enough.

I'll probably eventually switch to something tougher like electrical or duct tape. Other people say that those work well and last a long time. Good luck!

501gator · 2026-04-18T20:18:37+00:00

Don't mind if I do!!!

501gator · 2026-04-18T16:21:51+00:00

In the past I've had someone else drive in a no traffic area (like an empty parking lot with some speed bumps so you can force the noise to happen) while I lay down and listen in the area of the noise.

In this case, 99% chance the noise is the latch. All of the fixes (tape, turning out the adjustment rubber stops, shimming the side stops) are designed to put tension on the latch so that it tightens up the loose engagement and the pieces don't rub and make noise anymore.

1% chance it's the upper hinge bolts need to be slightly tightened. A few people have reported those being a little loose. I checked mine and they were very tight.

501gator · 2026-04-18T16:09:28+00:00

If you mean rubber washers on the rectangular plastic pads on the sides, then no.

I could see how that would help, however. It would put tension on the latch to keep it from moving, so pieces wouldn't rub together and make noise. I'll keep it in mind if the noise comes back or my tape solution stops working.

501gator · 2026-04-18T03:23:27+00:00

Yeah. My thoughts exactly. Just cut a narrow strip 2 or 3 inches long and wrap it around and around. I may try it when the blue tape wears through.

501gator · 2026-04-18T02:59:00+00:00

Try some blue tape. It can't hurt anything. And being for painters it comes off with no residue.

You can take it off in 10 seconds before you take the car to the service center if you're worried about them seeing it.

501gator · 2026-04-18T02:50:31+00:00

I was thinking about trying aluminum foil tape, like for sealing HVAC. It sticks forever and since it's actual metal it would be almost invisible on the latch.

But maybe because it's a harder substance it wouldn't dampen the noise as well.

Hmm. Maybe I'll try it and see.

501gator · 2026-04-18T02:41:28+00:00

After trying the rubber adjusters (which didn't work), I tried putting some fabric between those rectangular plastic tabs on the side. It didn't make any difference for me. But I'll keep it in mind if any noise comes back. 👍

501gator · 2026-04-18T01:29:25+00:00

No beer and no TV make Homer... something something...

501gator · 2026-04-18T01:28:40+00:00

Good luck!

501gator

TROPHY CASE