What wide-angle lens should I actually get for my new Canon EOS R8? Im super stoked about the upgrade from my old rebel but now I need glass that doesnt cost as much as the body itself. I have about 800 bucks to spend and I need something by mid-July because Im heading to the PNW for a hiking trip and really want to capture those massive mountain ranges and waterfalls.
I spent all night looking at forums and saw a lot of people pushing the RF 16mm prime, but then I read some threads about corner sharpness issues and distortion that seems like a nightmare to fix in post. Then there is the RF 15-30mm lens which seems way more flexible for landscapes but the variable aperture has me worried about low light performance since I like shooting at dusk.
I guess I just dont know if the convenience of the zoom outweighs the sharpness of the prime for my needs. Most of the reviews online are either from pro landscape photographers who have thousands to burn or total beginners just using the kit lens so I feel kinda stuck in the middle. Is there something else I should be looking at or should I just suck it up and go for one of those two...
Honestly, skip the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM prime. I had issues with heavy distortion and the corner sharpness was just not as good as expected for landscapes. For hiking, the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is definitely more versatile. Unfortunately, the aperture is slow, but the stabilization helps a ton at dusk. Grab that instead; convenience matters way more when you are out on the trails.
To add to the point above: you might want to consider the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM if you buy it used. Since you are hiking in the PNW, saving the extra cash for a Sigma MC-11 Mount Converter lets you adapt cheaper EF glass. I grabbed an older Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM for under 400 bucks and it handles landscapes beautifully on the R8. It is built like a tank for the trail.
Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷
Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷