So I finally made the jump from my old 80D to the R10 and honestly the weight difference is life changing but now I am spiraling about what to bring for my trip to Kyoto and Tokyo next month. I have been shooting for about six years so I get how f-stops and focal lengths work but the RF-S lineup is still so small and I am getting major choice paralysis here. My budget is super tight like under 450 bucks because the flight was a killer.
I was thinking about just grabbing the 18-150mm because my logic was that having one lens would stop me from getting dust on the sensor while running around Shinjuku but then I worry about the image quality at the long end since it is a variable aperture. Is it actually sharp? Then I thought maybe I should just go for the RF 28mm f2.8 pancake because it is so tiny and stealthy for street photography but since the R10 is a crop sensor that puts me at roughly 45mm equivalent which feels a bit awkward for tight spaces? Or do I just suck it up and use the 18-45mm kit lens that came with it even though the f6.3 at the long end makes me want to cry.
I am really stressed about the low light situation too because I want to take photos of the neon signs at night and I am worried a slow zoom will just give me a bunch of grainy noise. I checked out the RF 50mm 1.8 because it is cheap as dirt but on the R10 that is basically an 80mm portrait lens and I feel like I would be backing into traffic just to get a building in the frame. Does anyone have experience with these on the R10 specifically? I need to buy something in the next week to make sure it arrives before I fly out and I just keep going back and forth between the versatility of the zoom vs the speed of a prime and I am totally stuck...
Just caught this thread today while looking at some gear. Quick thing though - are you planning to bring a travel tripod or is everything gonna be handheld? It makes a massive difference for those Tokyo neon shots since the R10 sensor gets pretty noisy if you have to crank the ISO. If you are worried about the aperture on the 18-150mm, you could look at two primes to stay under that 450 dollar limit. The Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM is technically very sharp and tiny, but like you said, 45mm equivalent is tight. Another solid option is the Canon RF 16mm f2.8 STM. On your crop sensor it acts like a 25mm which is way better for architecture and tight city streets.
- 28mm: Great optics and f2.8 speed, but the field of view is limiting.
- 16mm: Much wider for those big Shinjuku buildings, though it has more distortion you have to fix in post. Neither replaces a zoom for versatility, but they are safer for night shots.
Like someone mentioned, the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM is basically the gold standard for travel on this body. Over the years, Ive shot in Kyoto and Tokyo several times, and honestly, the one lens approach is a lifesaver. I remember my first trip with a bag full of primes—I spent more time swapping glass in crowded Shinjuku subways than actually taking photos. It was a total mess. Heres what I’ve learned from those trips:
- That 18-150mm is surprisingly sharp. I know the f6.3 at the long end looks scary on paper, but the R10 sensor is decent enough that you can crank the ISO a bit. For those neon signs in Tokyo, you dont actually need f1.8 because the signs are literally light sources. Youll probably be shooting at f4 or f5.6 anyway to keep the highlights from blowing out.
- If you are worried about the tight spaces, the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM is actually a classic street focal length. 45mm equivalent is what they call a normal lens—it sees pretty much what your eyes see. I used a similar setup for a week in Gion and it felt very natural for capturing the atmosphere without feeling like a tourist with a massive rig.
- If you can find a deal, the Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM is the real secret weapon for crop sensors. Its wider than the 28mm and much faster, which helps a ton with that grainy noise you mentioned. Personally? Id grab the 18-150mm and just enjoy the trip. The versatility of going from a wide temple shot to a tight detail on a pagoda without moving your feet is worth its weight in gold when you're tired from walking 20k steps a day...
> I was thinking about just grabbing the 18-150mm because my logic was that having one lens would stop me from getting dust on the sensor Honestly, just go with the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM. I have been using it on my R10 for a while now and I am really satisfied with the results. You mentioned worrying about the image quality, but it is actually surprisingly sharp for a superzoom. Way better than that basic kit lens you have now. For the neon signs in Tokyo, you dont really need f1.8 anyway because those signs are super bright. Keeping the sensor sealed while you are moving through crowds is the safest way to travel. I have never had an issue with grain at night as long as I kept my shutter speed steady. It works well and I have no complaints about the versatility. It fits your budget if you find a sale. Its the most reliable choice for a one-lens trip.
