Finally upgraded to the 90D but honestly that 32.5MP sensor is stressing me out for my Yosemite trip next month. I was thinking the 18-135mm nano-usm for the reach but then Im worried about edge softness.
Maybe the 17-55mm 2.8 is better? My budget is $600 and I cant decide if I need reach or speed...
Look, Ive spent years lugging gear through national parks and that 90D sensor is a beast. Youre right to be worried because it definitely shows lens flaws more than the older 24MP bodies did. But for Yosemite? Reach is king. I remember being at Tunnel View trying to catch the light on El Capitan and wishing I had more than 55mm to really frame the textures of the rock. In my experience, the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Nano is the way to go for this trip. Yeah, the edges get a bit soft at 135mm wide open, but if you stop down to f/8, its actually surprisingly sharp. The Nano USM motor is also dead silent and incredibly fast, which is great if you spot any wildlife. If youre worried about the budget, dont buy new. You can easily find a used copy of that 18-135mm for around $300 to $350. That leaves you plenty of room in your $600 budget. I'd use the leftover cash to grab a Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for when you want to go light at night or just want a sharper prime for landscapes. The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is legendary for its glass, but its heavy and the zoom range is just too limiting for a big park. Trust me, when youre hiking, you wont want to be swapping lenses every five minutes while your group waits on you... basically just grab the versatile zoom and enjoy the views.
