Should I grab the RF-S 18-150mm or just stick with the 18-45mm kit lens and add a 50mm f1.8 for my trip to Japan next month? Im really torn because the 18-150 seems like the perfect one-and-done travel lens but it's stretching my $400 budget a little thin right now after buying the R50 body. I really want to travel light since we're doing a lot of walking in Tokyo and Osaka and I dont want to be fumbling with lens caps in a crowd. But then again the 50mm is so tiny and would be great for food shots and night street stuff. Is the extra zoom on the 18-150 worth the extra cash or should I just stay cheap and go with the two lens setup...
> I tried the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM in Kyoto and unfortunately it was a letdown. Agree. Looking at the technical specs, the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM is the more logical choice for your R50. It covers wide to telephoto ranges, which is vital in Tokyo. The Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM is sharp for low light but limits you in crowds, tbh. Check comparison galleries on DPReview for samples. It is the most efficient one-lens setup for Japan.
I tried the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM in Kyoto and unfortunately it was a letdown. Range is just too short. Swapping to a Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM in crowded Tokyo stations was a total nightmare tho... almost dropped it twice. Plus the 50mm is often too tight for cramped restaurants. Honestly, just get the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM. Its way more versatile.
^ This. Also, I actually have a slightly different take on the budget side of things. While the 18-150mm is versatile, I have been very satisfied with the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM for general travel. It works well and I have no real complaints about the quality for a basic kit lens. A couple of quick tips to make the cheaper setup work:
- Use the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM specifically for indoor food shots and night street scenes. The f1.8 aperture is a lifesaver in low light where the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM would really struggle.
- Stick to the kit lens during the day and dont worry about the extra zoom range. Tokyo is dense anyway, so you usually wont feel limited by the 45mm end. Basically, saving that money for your actual travel experiences is a better move. You wont regret having the faster 50mm when you are walking through Dotonbori at night.
