Best budget zoom lens recommendations for the Canon EOS R50?

Question

I just got this Canon EOS R50 for my birthday and I honestly dont know what Im doing yet. It came with a small lens but I cant really zoom in on my daughter when shes playing soccer across the field. She looks like a tiny dot in the pictures. So I was thinking I need a zoom lens but when I look online there are so many options and some of them cost way more than the camera itself which is crazy to me. My budget is like maybe $300 or $400 tops because I already spent a lot on the kit and the bag and stuff. I saw one that said 55-210mm and another that was 100-400mm and my logic was that the bigger number means it zooms more? But the 100-400 one looks huge and I dont want to carry a giant telescope around the park. Plus I read something about an adapter online? Do I need that for this camera? Im just so confused by all the letters like RF and RF-S and I dont want to buy the wrong thing and have it not fit. Is there a cheap one that is good for a beginner who just wants to see the other side of the field clearly? Sorry if this is a really basic question but Im just totally lost in all the technical talk...

Charlessaf · Accepted Answer

Saw this a few hours ago and wanted to chime in before you buy the wrong thing. Be careful about just looking at the price tag because sports photography is tricky. You really want to make sure the lens can keep up with a kid running around or youll just get blurry shots. Here are a few things to consider for your R50:I would suggest looking at the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM. It is specifically designed for your camera sensor size. It is compact and very budget friendly, usually well under $400.If you want more reach for a big soccer field, the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM is way better for sports. It is bigger, but surprisingly light. New it might be over your budget, but look for a refurbished one on the official Canon site to save cash.Forget the adapter for now. Seriously. You would need the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R to use older lenses, but that is just extra money and bulk you dont need as a beginner.Make sure you see RF or RF-S on the box. If it says EF or EF-S it wont fit without that adapter I mentioned. The 55-210 is fine for close play, but if she is way across the field, you might still find yourself cropping the photo later. If you can find a deal on that 100-400, jump on it. It is worth the extra bit of size for the zoom you get... just make sure you are buying from a reputable place.

Milan-B · Answer

Yeah, totally agree that size is a huge factor when you're starting out. In my experience, lugging around a heavy setup actually makes you want to leave the camera at home.

Focus on RF-S lenses to keep your kit lightweight

They fit your R50 perfectly without needing any annoying adapters Keeping it simple is key so you actually enjoy the game instead of fiddling with gear.

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Best budget zoom lens recommendations for the Canon EOS R50?