So I finally saved up and got a Canon 90D because everyone said it's a great pro level camera but honestly I'm totally lost on what to put on it. I have the one that came in the box it says 18-55mm on it but everything looks kinda flat? I'm going to the Grand Canyon with my family in about three weeks and I really want photos that look like those professional ones on Instagram. My budget is probably around $600 max because the camera already cost me a fortune lol.
I was looking at this thing called a nifty fifty because people said it's cheap and good but then I realized it doesnt zoom at all? Like you have to walk back and forth to get people in the frame? That seems really hard for taking pictures of my kids running around. Then I saw a lens that was like 18-300mm and I thought oh that must be the best one because it does everything but then someone on a YouTube comment said the quality is bad if it zooms too much. I'm just so confused. Is there like one lens I can just leave on the camera all the time that does good portraits but also big landscapes? I dont want to be carrying a bag of glass around the desert in the heat. Is that even possible for a beginner...
Look, I went through this exact same thing with my 90D. Unfortunately, those massive zoom lenses like the 18-300mm are usually a huge disappointment. I bought one thinking it would be the only lens I ever needed, but the photos were soft and the autofocus was just too slow for kids. Total waste of cash. If you want those Instagram shots, you need something with a wider aperture. Here is what I found actually works after wasting too much money on gear that didnt perform:
- Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is probably your best bet. I used this for a year and it is way better than the kit lens. The f/2.8 means you get that blurry background for portraits, which you wont get with the 18-55mm.
- If you really need one lens for everything, try to find a used Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. It is better than the standard kit, tho still not as sharp as a prime. I had issues with it in low light but for a sunny desert trip, it works.
- Dont buy new. Your 600 dollars will go way further if you check used sites like MPB or KEH. I felt so ripped off buying my first lens at retail price just for it to feel like plastic junk. Skip the 50mm for now... it is great but chasing kids with a fixed lens at the Grand Canyon sounds like a nightmare honestly. Just get something that actually stays sharp.
