The Only 3 Lenses You Need For The Canon R50!
Introduction
The Canon R50 is a versatile APS-C mirrorless camera with a ton of potential. But choosing which lenses to get can be tricky—especially if you’re on a budget and want a compact, high-performing kit that covers all your bases.
Below are three budget lenses that will give you coverage from ultra-wide to super telephoto, letting you tackle everything from vlogging and travel photography to portraits and distant wildlife. Best of all, this trio totals around $1,000, which is impressive given how much range and quality you get.
1. Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3
Why It’s Great:
- Ultra-Wide Coverage: On the APS-C R50, 10-18mm translates to roughly 16-29mm full-frame equivalent. That’s perfect for vlogging, landscapes, interiors, and any scenario where you need a wide field of view.
- Light & Compact: This lens is tiny and barely adds weight to your camera—ideal for travel and handheld shooting.
- Stabilized & Sharp: It features optical stabilization and offers good center sharpness. The close focusing distance allows for unique ultra-wide close-ups.
Trade-Offs:
- Slower aperture (f/4.5-6.3) makes it less ideal for low-light scenarios. You’ll likely need higher ISO in dim environments.
Verdict:
A must-have for content creators, vloggers, and anyone who loves ultra-wide perspectives. Its small size and versatility make it a perfect first addition.
2. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8
Why It’s Great:
- Portrait & Low-Light Champ: 50mm on APS-C is about 80mm full-frame equivalent—great for portraits, product photography, and creating that blurred background “portrait look.”
- Bright Aperture: The f/1.8 aperture helps in low-light, minimizing ISO noise and enabling creamy background blur.
- Affordable & Lightweight: At under $200, it’s Canon’s cheapest RF lens. It’s also tiny and adds almost no bulk to your kit.
Trade-Offs:
- Not the sharpest lens wide open, but still impressive for the price.
- No special weather sealing or high-end build materials, but that’s expected at this price point.
Verdict:
The 50mm f/1.8 is the best budget-friendly prime lens you can add. It covers portraits, low-light events, and adds a professional touch to your photos and videos.
3. Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8
Why It’s Great:
- Massive Reach: On the R50, 100-400mm is roughly 160-640mm full-frame equivalent—enough to capture distant wildlife, sports, or even the moon.
- Sharp, Stabilized, & Fast AF: Surprisingly good image quality, optical stabilization, and quick autofocus make it standout at its price point.
- Incredible Value: Around $600 gives you a super-telephoto range that’s otherwise hard to match without spending thousands.
Trade-Offs:
- Larger and heavier than the other two lenses. It can be front-heavy on the small R50 body.
- Narrow aperture (f/5.6-8) demands bright lighting conditions for best results.
Verdict:
If you want to cover every scenario—especially distant subjects—this lens is your ticket. The telephoto range and stabilization open up opportunities you couldn’t get otherwise, all at a fraction of the cost of premium telephotos.
Total Cost & Versatility
For around $1,000 total, these three lenses cover an incredible focal range:
- 10-18mm: Ultra-wide for vlogs, interiors, landscapes.
- 50mm f/1.8: Portraits, low-light, artistic shallow depth-of-field shots.
- 100-400mm: Wildlife, sports, distant details.
You’ll have a compact, high-performing kit ready for almost any photographic challenge.
Final Thoughts
The Canon R50 may be a budget APS-C camera, but paired with these three lenses, you can handle nearly any shooting scenario. From ultra-wide vlogs to distant wildlife, this trio ensures you’re never stuck wishing you had another lens.