So I finally upgraded to the R8 last month and I love it but my wallet is crying and I need a decent landscape lens for a trip to Zion in three weeks. Im trying to keep the budget strictly under 400 bucks and want to travel light since we will be doing some long day hikes.
Im currently torn between these options:
- Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM: It is super cheap and tiny but I worry 16mm might be too wide and have nasty distortion.
- Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: More versatile zoom range but it is slower and stretches my budget.
- Adapting an old EF 17-40mm f/4L: Can find these used cheap but adding the adapter makes it bulky.
I am leaning towards the 16mm prime just for the weight saving but that zoom range on the 15-30 seems way more useful for framing. Has anyone compared these on the R8? Which would you go with for desert landscapes?
I ran tests on the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM last year. Without in-camera profile corrections, the barrel distortion is massive—nearly 11%—and the corners get pretty mushy. Tbh, for Zions scale, 16mm often makes massive cliffs look like tiny hills. Over the years, I've found a cheap Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM actually works better for landscape compression there, and it easily fits your budget.
Yeah, I had issues with cheap wide lenses too. Unfortunately, glass under 400 usually sucks.
- try the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM
- stitch panoramas... its safer. Hope it stays dry... anyway.
Just saw this thread. I have to disagree politely with the idea that sub-400 zooms are a waste of time. In my experience, zoom flexibility is absolutely critical for framing in Zion because you often cannot walk closer to your subject due to steep cliffs. I highly recommend looking for a refurbished Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. Canon sells these directly on their refurbished store with a full warranty, often dropping the price down to 299, which easily fits your budget. Here is why that zoom makes the most sense for desert hiking:
- Native RF communication: You get full electronic correction and zero adapter bulk, keeping the R8 setup balanced.
- Image stabilization: The 5.5 stops of IS are vital when you are shooting in deep, shaded canyon walls where the light drops fast.
- Composition control: Being able to zoom out to 30mm lets you crop out messy foregrounds without losing resolution. It is just a much more reliable tool for a trip like this than a single wide prime.
In my experience, lugging adapted glass on long hikes just isnt worth the hassle anymore. I used to carry an old EF L zoom with the adapter, and honestly, the extra weight and weird balance on a small body like the R8 got annoying real fast. When I did a week-long trek last year, I decided to risk it and only brought the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. It felt like a gamble because of the distortion reviews, but the in-camera corrections work wonders. The lens is so light you forget it is there, which is exactly what you want when scrambling up Angels Landing. Just be careful with dust when swapping lenses in the desert. Go with the 16mm and save your back.
