I need a lens for my R10 like yesterday because I'm going to New York next Thursday and the kit lens just isnt cutting it for night shots. I looked at the RF 50mm f/1.8 since it's cheap but my logic was that on my crop sensor it's gonna be like 80mm and thats way too zoomed in for walking around the city. So then I saw the 16mm f/2.8 but some reviews say it has crazy distortion and might be too wide for just regular shots? Im stuck between being too close or too far and my budget is strictly under 300 bucks. Should I just get the 50mm and deal with it or is there something else I missed...
I've been in the Canon ecosystem for over a decade and you hit the nail on the head regarding the 50mm. Its way too tight for NYC streets unless you are just doing portraits. That little pancake works well for exactly what you're doing. Its basically the perfect walk around lens for a crop body like the R10.
- The 28mm gives you about a 45mm field of view. Its that classic natural feel but on your crop sensor.
- Being a pancake lens makes the R10 tiny. It will literally fit in a jacket pocket which is huge for travel.
- Sharpness is great for the price point. No complaints from me on the image quality.
- Price is right. Usually sits around 250 bucks so it fits your budget perfectly... maybe even leaves room for a spare battery. The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is my top pick for you. The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is alright but the distortion is kinda wild if you dont have the software corrections turned on. For the city at night, that 28mm is the real sweet spot. I've used it for street shots in low light and the results are usually great. Check the Canon refurbished store online before you buy new. You can often find deals there that save you a ton of cash.
Unfortunately, that 16mm was a letdown for me, ngl. The native barrel distortion is massive and software corrections really eat into the resolution on an APS-C sensor like yours.
- Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - gives you a 44.8mm effective field of view.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM - try to snag a used one under 300. Its a shame about the distortion issues, but youll definitely get better results with these. Enjoy NYC!
Building on the earlier suggestion, the 50mm is seriously a nightmare in tight city streets. I once took my old Rebel to Chicago with just a 50mm and honestly... I spent the whole time backing into traffic just to fit a building in the frame. It was sketchy. Since youre on a budget, you might want to consider the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM pancake instead. Its right at that $300 mark and gives you a much more natural field of view. Be careful with the 16mm though because it can be pretty polarizing:
- the barrel distortion is massive without software corrections
- it makes people look kinda stretched near the edges
- its almost too wide for regular street candids If you find a used Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM it might be the dream choice, but usually its over your budget. The 28mm is the way to go.
Building on the earlier suggestion, I'm actually dealing with this exact same headache right now and it is honestly so frustrating. For almost three months, the hunt for a reliable prime for my Canon EOS R10 has been going on but nothing feels right. Every time a choice seems solid, worries about the build quality or autofocus speed start creeping in and I just cant pull the trigger. It's such a letdown because I had high hopes for this system. Honestly, the loop of indecision is real and I'm right there with you... it's been ages and an answer that actually works just hasn't happened. It sucks.
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
