honestly im about to throw this camera out the window. i bought the eos rp last year because i wanted to get into full frame landscape stuff but the kit 24-105 is just not cutting it anymore. i was out at zion last weekend and i literally couldnt fit the canyon walls into the frame without doing these stupid panoramas that never line up right because of the wind and the light changing every two seconds. it is so frustrating spending all this money on a body and then having photos that look like they were taken on an old iphone because the edges are so soft and mushy.
im heading to iceland in exactly 12 days and i am panicking because i still dont have a proper wide angle lens. i tried using my old ef 17-40mm with the adapter but the autofocus is hunting like crazy and it feels so front heavy and clunky on the tiny rp body, it just feels like the mount is gonna snap off or something. i just want something native or at least something that actually works without making me want to scream every time i try to compose a shot. i looked at the rf 16mm f2.8 since its cheap but people are saying the distortion is a nightmare and i dont want my horizons looking like a cereal bowl when i get to the black sand beaches.
i have maybe $900 left in my gear budget after booking the flights so i cant go out and buy the $2000 l-series glass even though i wish i could. i need something that is sharp enough for big prints but wont break my back or my bank account. is the rf 15-30mm actually good for landscapes or is it too slow and dark for aurora stuff? or should i just suck it up and get a used ef 16-35mm f4 is? i need a solid recommendation fast.
- rf 15-30mm f4.5-6.3
- rf 16mm prime
- used ef glass with adapter
- maybe a samyang/rokinon?
which one of these is actually going to give me the best results for wide landscape shots on the rp?
Iceland is no joke for gear, so I get the panic. If you're worried about the weight of the EF glass, I'd definitely avoid the adapter route again. The RP mount is sturdy enough, but it just feels awkward and unbalanced with that old 17-40mm. I would suggest looking into the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 RF for your wide shots. It handles the aurora beautifully because of that f/2.8 speed, and it's built specifically for the mirrorless mount so it won't feel like you're holding a dumbbell. One thing to be careful about with the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is that it isn't weather-sealed. Iceland is basically one giant mist machine with all the waterfalls and rain, so keep a plastic cover handy. If you want the sharpest edges for those big prints, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is tempting but it really pushes the sensor's limits at the corners after the software fixes the barrel distortion. You might lose some of that fine detail you're after because the digital stretching can get a bit mushy in the extremes. Quick tip: set up a Custom Mode on your dial specifically for night shots before you land in Reykjavik so you arent fumbling with exposure settings in the freezing dark.
