topic Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography in EF & RF Lenses

EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

rambo007 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:10:11 GMT

My wife just got a Canon EOS R8. She’s already so good with it and loves it. I don’t know anything about cameras but want to get her a lens. She says she wants to get into “documentary style photography”.

Any advice on which lenses I should consider getting her? I want to get a nice one but **bleep** some of them are expensive. Hoping to spend less than $1k so any guidance is much appreciated!

Re: Advice for EOS R8

shadowsports — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:19:01 GMT

Greetings,

What lens or lenses does she have now?

Take a look at some of Canon's refurbished lenses. Documentary style photography can probably be achieved with 24-105 range.

RF 35. F1.8

RF 24-105 f4

RF 24-105 f4-7.1

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/lenses/refurbished-lenses?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-ty8BhA_EiwAkyoa32N2OpRzb1z7JAIIN9-syMJxAjFUVPp4haeJLGNG_81MjFJan_bKeBoCAmcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You could probably get her two lenses depending on availability.

Re: Advice for EOS R8

deebatman316 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:52:13 GMT

Greetings OP first off let’s take a step back. Before purchasing any new lenses what lens does your wife have. Is it the RF 24-50mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens. Or is it a different lens than mentioned above. The RF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM is a great standard zoom lens with a constant aperture. Constant aperture lenses work well in low light conditions compared to variable aperture lenses. Such as the cheaper RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM lens. Prime (fixed focal length) lenses such as the RF 35mm F/1.8 IS Macro STM lens is great when wide apertures are needed such as F/2, F/1.8 or wider is needed. Note a prime lens is more limiting than a zoom lens. Since you simply cannot zoom in. Instead you have to “zoom with your feet”.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

skasmith — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:53:32 GMT

Would anyone recommend the OP grab a Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, to open the option of using EF mount lenses as well?

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

deebatman316 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:03:38 GMT

EF lenses can be more limiting on the RF Mount. A lot of older EF lenses DO NOT SUPPORT the highly advanced AF system in the EOS R series. I would only recommend the adapter if they’re newer EF lenses. Or if there’s no RF Mount equivalent available.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:23:29 GMT

"Would anyone recommend the OP grab a Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, to open the option of using EF mount lenses as well?

No I wouldn't, it's not a good idea and way forward.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:31:53 GMT

"Note a prime lens is more limiting than a zoom lens. Since you simply cannot zoom in. Instead you have to “zoom with your feet”."

I say that a lot of the time but for document photography it isn't a factor depending on what "documents" you are photographing. Working for Hallmark for all those years there was a lot of that type photography going on. The best set up is a camera stand or tripod and a nice flat surface for the document or art work to lie on with either good lighting or good artificial lighting. I used my darkroom enlarger stand with a fixed or prime lens that could focus at the required distance. You will need to figure that out but this is where the good ole 50mm f1.8 lens would do an admirable job. This make none of the lenses mentioned above a good choice except perhaps the 35mm f1.8 prime.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

kvbarkley — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:31:54 GMT

Only if they already have EF lenses.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:36:25 GMT

This is a document style photography stand...........

If you want to get her going good right off check it out and either the RF 50mm f1.8 lens or RF 35mm f1.8 lens. It's difficult to specify which one without actually seeing what "documents" she is wanting to copy. The aspect ratio will be a factor.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:38:11 GMT

OH, and BTW, get her DPP4 form the Canon website. It is free and will do a great job editing the photos. They almost always need to be cropped and or straightened or exposure contrast adjusted.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:40:06 GMT

"A lot of older EF lenses DO NOT SUPPORT the highly advanced AF system in the EOS R series."

That would have no bearing on document photography but I, too, do not recommend any EF lens or any adapted lens for this job.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

mdphotography — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:44:21 GMT

If she's shooting "documentary style", she'll probably be dealing with less-than-ideal lighting conditions. I'd suggest something with an aperture no smaller than f/2.8. You'll also want to get something with a wider angle of view because she may be working with limited space/mobility, like maybe 18mm (or even 10mm). Unless she's shooting wildlife or nature documentaries, she probably won't need much zoom - maybe 105mm...135mm at the most.

IE: I use an 18-50mm f/2.8 for my street photography and it has more than enough range and light for my needs

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

deebatman316 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:49:02 GMT

APS-C lenses on Full Frame is not desirable. Due to the reduction in megapixels. Using that lens would result in a 9 megapixel image. When you can get the full 24 megapixels with a Full Frame lens.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

mdphotography — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:59:53 GMT

I'm not recommending a specific lens, just the features to look for.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:44:10 GMT

"...she may be working with limited space/mobility, like maybe 18mm (or even 10mm)."

I would not recommend any UWA for documents. Distortion at the edges can be a problem if it is type or words as perhaps using the most open aperture. That is why a 50mm lens is considered the best all-around choice for document copying due to its minimal distortion. One of our copying stands even had a 75mm lens on it.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

kvbarkley — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:50:30 GMT

Not "documents", but "documentary"

Though, you might want some documents in your documentary. 8^)

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

mdphotography — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:12:41 GMT

Good point about edge distortion, but the OP said She says she wants to get into “documentary style photography”. I shoot in this style and it's more about capturing moments as they happen than it is setting up the perfect scene; wide angle is essential. In fact, my next purchase will be a 10-18mm; I have a mirrorless and with the crop factor 18mm is more like 29mm; it's wide enough, but I want a little more.

I really can't comment on photographing documents - I've never tried it.

Re: EOS R8 Lens recommendations for documentary-style photography

ebiggs1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:56:00 GMT

I really do know how to read but it doesn't show sometimes. 🙄