Heading to Japan in three weeks and need a one-lens setup for my 90D. Im torn between the Canon 18-135mm USM for the zoom range or the Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary for that extra speed.
Budget is under 400 used. Which one is gonna be better for walking around Kyoto all day?
Man, Japan is literally the best place on earth for photography! I took my 90D to Kyoto a couple years back and honestly, the reach is everything when youre trying to snag a shot of a geisha or a cool temple detail across a crowded pond. I used the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and it was an absolute beast for that trip! The Nano USM focus is scary fast, like blink-and-you-miss-it speed which is huge when youre walking through Fushimi Inari. Youll love how it handles the 90D sensor... it just feels right.
- Grab a circular polarizer for the gardens, it makes the greens and temple reds absolutely pop.
- Stick to the 18-135mm for the versatility since those Kyoto streets are tighter than you think but the views are wide. I totally get the appeal of the faster aperture on the Sigma, but for walking around all day, having that 135mm long end is just a total game changer. I remember standing on a bridge in Arashiyama and being able to zoom right into the autumn colors while everyone else was struggling with their shorter lenses. Youre gonna have such a blast! Just make sure you grab a used one on a site like MPB to stay under budget. Its the ultimate one-lens solution imo.
