Honestly, the native RF glass prices are pretty depressing for those of us on a budget. I had issues finding anything affordable when I first switched too. Unfortunately, there really isnt a secret cheap native prime that fits your needs right now. Your best bet is definitely going the adapter route. I use the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM with the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and it works like a charm. You can easily find that lens used for under $150, and the adapter is about $100. It stays right at your $250 limit. The native Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is tiny and light but it usually costs way more than it should tbh, especially for a slower aperture. Don't sweat the adapter bulk, you will love the shots you get at the Grand Canyon with that setup. I am here if you have more questions about where to buy used!

I politely disagree about the adapter route. On a tiny body like the R50, an adapter plus old DSLR glass feels like a brick. In my experience, you should just hunt for a Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM.

• Check Canons refurbished store
• Look for open-box units on eBay Its way more compact for hiking and much sharper than the EF-S version, tho it might be tight on your budget.

Adding my two cents... Ive tried many budget setups over the years and found that for big landscapes, autofocus is kinda overrated. I used a TTArtisan 10mm f/2 ASPH Canon RF recently and for under 200 bucks, the value is insane. Its fully manual, but honestly just set it to infinity and youre good... It gets way more of the canyon in frame than that kit lens ever could.

ngl i have been struggling with this exact same thing for my r50 for like three months now. it is honestly so frustrating because i upgraded for the small size but every affordable wide lens option either makes the camera way too bulky or just costs a fortune...

• i have been refreshing the refurbished sites every morning
• checked every used gear shop in the city
• even looked at weird manual glass that i know i will probably regret unfortunately i still havent found a solution that works for me either. i actually got so distracted looking for gear last night that i ended up falling down a rabbit hole of looking at vintage leather camera bags on marketplace... spent two hours looking at bags from the 70s when i should have been packing for my own hiking trip next week. anyway but yeah i am right there with you still searching for the same thing.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

Ugh, jumping in here because I am in the exact same boat and its honestly so exhausting. I have been scouring the forums and watching used listings for like four months now, but I still havent found a decent wide-angle setup that doesnt feel like a total gamble or add a pound of plastic to my R50. It really sucks that the native options are either way out of my budget or just not performing the way I expected for landscape work. I had issues with some cheap third-party stuff in the past, so I have been super hesitant to pull the trigger on anything that isnt rock-solid reliable. Unfortunately, it feels like we are stuck waiting for a decent affordable lens that doesnt require a massive adapter brick. I really wish there was a clear answer for us, but I have pretty much given up on finding something perfect before my next trip too.

Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.

> Is it better to just buy an EF-EOS R adapter and find an old EF-S 10-18mm on eBay or is there a native RF-S prime Im missing? Adding my two cents, but I would suggest being really cautious about the eBay route right before a big trip. Doing something similar once taught me a lesson when a used adapter I bought had wonky pins that kept losing connection. It is a total nightmare. Standing in front of something amazing while your gear just wont play nice? No thanks. Be careful with third-party brands too. Some of those older lenses from other companies do not always talk to Canons newer mirrorless bodies perfectly. I have had way better luck sticking to native stuff lately, even if it hurts the wallet a bit more upfront. If you do go the used route, just make sure you have enough time to really put it through its paces before you leave... you dont want to find out it has a focus issue while you are actually at the canyon.