I tried using my old 18-55mm kit lens yesterday just to see how it holds up and honestly it feels a bit soft on the new sensor especially toward the edges. Maybe its just my copy? Or maybe the lens just cant keep up with the resolution jump. I was looking at the 16-80mm f4 for the constant aperture and the extra reach but then I saw people complaining about the weight and some weird focusing issues. Then there is the 18-120mm but that looks more like a video lens?

I have about 900 bucks left in the gear budget for this year. I want something that handles street shots at night but is wide enough for the shrines and the cityscapes. Is there one lens that can actually handle the X-T5 sensor without being a total brick to carry around all day?

Right now I am looking at three different paths and I'm totally overthinking it. I want to be smart with the money but I also dont want to miss out if the current price is the best its gonna get.

• Option A: Just grabbing the R6 II body only since it's already on sale for $2,299 at most places like B&H or Adorama but then I'd have to use an adapter for my old EF glass which kinda makes the whole setup feel bulky and I'm worried it might affect the balance during a 10-hour day.


• Option B: Waiting for a real Black Friday kit deal with the 24-105mm f/4L lens. I saw a rumor on a gear blog that it might hit $2,799 which would be my entire budget gone but Id have a native RF L-series lens which would be amazing for those rainy outdoor ceremonies we get here in Oregon.


• Option C: Watching the Canon refurbished store like a hawk. I know they sometimes do these insane 15-20% off sales right around Thanksgiving but their stock is so unpredictable and I'm worried if I wait for that and miss it I'll end up paying full price for the kit elsewhere once the other sales end.

I need this camera before my first winter wedding in mid-December so the timeline is getting a bit tight and I'm getting nervous about shipping delays too. If anyone knows if Canon usually does better deals on the body vs the kits during the actual holiday week let me know... I'm leaning towards the kit but that extra $500 is a lot of money right now and I still need to buy extra batteries and high speed SD cards.

but everywhere I look the prices are still basically full retail or they say sale but its only like fifty bucks off?? i was thinking maybe there are some hidden sites or specific bundles im missing because im stuck. does anyone know which retailers usually have the actual deep discounts or is everything just a scam nowadays...

I need a solid prime for my a6400 that wont break the bank because I only have like $350 max to spend right now and need it by next weekend for a shoot.

• super fast autofocus


• quiet motor for internal mic


• wide enough for a small desk setup


• sharp enough for 4k

What are you guys actually using that isnt a thousand bucks...

I've been reading about the 50mm f/1.8 STM which is cheap but some people say it gets a bit blurry or soft if you use it wide open and I really want those sharp eyes. I also saw the 85mm f/1.8 recommended a lot but since the T7i is a crop sensor I'm worried it's gonna be way too zoomed in for shooting indoors at the reception. My budget is about $450 max. Should I just stick with the 50mm or is there something better I'm missing?

everything i see is like over a thousand dollars and i cant do that right now. i only have maybe 350 bucks left after buying the camera. i feel so stupid asking this but what is actually a cheap wide angle lens that will work for a sony? is there anything good under 400 that isnt gonna be junk?

So I was thinking about the 24-120mm f/4 S since everyone online says its basically the gold standard for versatility and the sharpness is supposedly insane for a zoom. But then my logic gets tripped up because the 24-70mm f/4 is so much smaller and way cheaper on the used market, and I wonder if that extra 50mm of reach is actually worth the extra weight and the extra 400 bucks. I also looked at the 24-200mm f/4-6.3 superzoom which sounds perfect for the travel aspect but the variable aperture makes me really nervous. Like, if Im indoors at the reception am I gonna regret not having a constant f/4 or even a prime?

Here is what I have narrowed it down to so far:

• Nikon 24-120mm f/4 S (the one I want but it stretches the budget)


• Nikon 24-70mm f/4 S (the sensible choice maybe?)


• Nikon 24-200mm f/4-6.3 (scared of the low light performance)

My budget is strictly under $1000 and I am totally fine with buying used gear from somewhere like MPB or Keh to save some cash. I just cant decide if I should prioritize the focal range or the constant aperture for a general walk-around kit. The Z6 is great in low light but I dont want to push it too far if the lens is slow. Does the 24-120 really live up to the hype or is it just a bit too bulky for a casual trip? I keep going back and forth on if I will miss that extra reach if I go with the shorter zoom...

Is the 24-105 f4 L actually sharp enough for this resolution or am I gonna regret not getting the 24-70 2.8? What is the best all-around zoom for this thing if I can only pick one...

I need something that actually keeps up with the R7s autofocus system because right now I feel like I'm wasting the camera's potential. I have maybe $1800 to spend if I stretch it but honestly lower is better if I can get away with it. I was looking at the RF 100-400 but I'm worried it's too slow for early morning light and the 200-800 is basically impossible to find in stock anywhere right now. Is there a middle ground I'm missing? What are the top wildlife lens recommendations for the Canon EOS R7 that actually work well?

So I was thinking about the 24-120mm f/4 S because everyone says the image quality is insane and that constant f/4 is nice for when the light starts dropping in the woods. But then my logic was like... wait, if I'm doing landscapes and maybe some distant wildlife stuff, maybe the 24-200mm is better? It's lighter and fits my $1100 budget better but I'm worried about that variable aperture and if it's gonna be super soft at the long end.

My priorities are basically:

• sharp enough for big prints later


• lightweight enough for 10-mile trails


• weather sealing is a big deal since it'll probably rain

I also looked at the 24-70 f/2.8 but honestly it's way too heavy for hiking and way out of my price range right now. If I go with the 24-120, am I gonna miss that extra 80mm reach? Or if I go with the 24-200, am I gonna regret the lower build quality? I need to order this by tomorrow night to get it here before my flight so which one is actually the better all-rounder...