So I finally picked up a Canon R8 because I wanted to get into photography, but I only have the kit lens and it really isnt wide enough for the landscape shots I want to take when I hike. Honestly I dont know much about glass yet, there are just too many numbers and abbreviations everywhere. My budget is probably around 500 dollars max, maybe a bit more if its really worth it. Ive been looking at the RF 16mm but I keep reading about corner softness and stuff, which sounds bad? Is there anything better for that price range or should I just stick with the 16mm prime for now?
> Is there anything better for that price range Honestly, I prefer the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM for hiking. It gives you way more flexibility than a fixed prime.
Regarding what #2 said about getting flexibility, I gotta say sticking with primes like the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is actually super fun for learning composition. If you want something sharper though, look at these:
- Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF for that ultra-wide look without breaking the bank
- Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM because honestly, the size for hiking is unbeatable Dont sweat the corner stuff too much, just get out there and shoot.
Saw this earlier but just now getting back to my computer. If you are hiking with an R8, weight is gonna matter way more than pixel-peeping corners at 100 percent crop. Nobody notices edge softness when they are looking at a compressed photo online anyway.
- Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is stupid cheap and literally disappears in your bag
- Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM gives you image stabilization and zoom for roughly the same budget Just grab the 16mm prime if you want something super light, or the 15-30 if you hate changing lenses. Both will get the job done.
> I keep reading about corner softness and stuff, which sounds bad? Honestly, dont stress the corner softness too much. For landscapes, youre usually stopped down anyway. I used the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM for a year and it is totally fine for the price. Just be careful with distortion correction settings in camera. If you want something sharper, you might want to consider the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM instead.