topic Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:41:52 GMT

Im wanting to get my partner the EOS R10 when i take her to see the northern lights.

Im hoping to get some advice to see if this camera is capabale of good photos of them?

Any advice is welcomed.

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

Tronhard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:20:10 GMT

Hi Tom and welcome to the forum:

To advise you, it would be helpful to get some more information:
Budget $value - we would be wasting your time if we suggest gear you can't afford.
What equipment does your partner have now?
Specifically, precisely what lenses? The camera is only part of the issue, the lens has a profound impact on the image-taking process and is arguably more significant. Note in being precise, I am saying that there are often multiple versions of one lens type, especially kit lenses. The information you need is written around the front element of the lens: identified as Focal Length(s) and Lens Markings

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:31:12 GMT

Trevor thank you! Sorry im new to this.

She use to have a canon camera but got rid of it when we moved house, she loves photography but just uses her Iphone (16 now) to take it and now wwant to get her one back.

Im looking at getting this for her: [for safety reasons, posting links to third-party sites is not allowed]

With this lense:

Is this good enough or?

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

Tronhard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:18:28 GMT

The body is OK, the kit lens that comes with it, not so good. The 50mm lens on that body will be too narrow for northern lights I think - on that body, a lens like the RF 16mm f/2.8 would be a better choice specifically for northern lights but will also do a good job for landscapes. Shop Canon Refurbished RF16mm F2.8 STM | Canon U.S.A., Inc.
(Refurb lenses are usually new but overstock, open box but unused, show or demo units but 'good as new' and with a Canon warranty - and you get a price break)

Assumedly you are not making a journey just to look at the sky, so an ultra wide-angle lens is going to be less useful for other subjects. You might get away with the 18-45 but its focal length is quite limited so, if the site offers an option for the RF-S 18-150, I would go for that.
Having checked, I see: EOS R10 RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit (canon.com)

The point is that afterwards the combination of lens and body will offer much more flexibility use options and ultimately better value for money if they continue to use the gear.

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:58:42 GMT

Trevor

I would say 1000-1200 GBP?

Does that work?

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

Tronhard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:01:07 GMT

Where abouts are you going to shoot the Northern Lights?

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:02:23 GMT

Maybe push it to 1500 GBP

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:05:44 GMT

Were going to Kiruna in Sweden,

But she will then use the camera for trips after this holiday, Northern lights will just be the first one

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

stevet1 — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:02:53 GMT

Tom,

I would concur with Trevor's advice. The R10 with an 18-150mm lens kit would be a good choice - for the Northern lights and beyond.

The kit he suggested is currently running at $1,279. You'll want to add some money for a couple of memory cards, a spare battery, a camera bag and perhaps a good tripod.

Those are all considered to be accessories, and are not included in the camera price.

Steve Thomas

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

TomBea — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:05:30 GMT

Do you have a picture of the lens kit??

thanks

Tom

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

Tronhard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:28:14 GMT

Then based on the fact that you are considering further trips and that in going that far you are investing a lot in a trip you will want to fully record, that reinforces my suggestion if making the extra investment for the optics. The RF-S 18-150 IS STM will make a great general walk-around lens on the R10, while the RF 16mm f/2.8 will be great for landscapes and also inside architectural subjects - Sweden has some great building and cityscapes and, of course some serious mountains!

As regards cards: you need to get a couple of FULL-SIZE SD cards, not the micro ones with adapters - they are not designed for cameras. Get decent brands like Lexar, SanDisk or Prograde, maybe 64GB Class 10 ones from reputable dealers - there are lots of dodgy one for sale on line.
If you are taking a computer or tablet, you need to set it up so that you can download each day's images to it. You then format the card clean in the camera - don't delete files.
Definitely a couple of spare LP-17B batteries (take a charger with you, they are multi-voltage) and you want a lens brush, some optical cleaning cloths and a small optical lens spray.

Some stuff to look at:
Canon R10 Tutorial Training Video Overview Users Guide Set Up - Part 1 - Made for Beginners (youtube.com)

Also take a copy of the Advanced User Guide with you as a PDF to refer to. c006.pdf (start.canon)

Is your partner experienced in using a dedicated camera?

Re: EOS R10 - Good enough to shoot northern lights?

Tronhard — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:44:57 GMT

Go to the links I provided, they show you everything you need to know. Picture, specs etc. Here is a page on the RF-S 18-150 STM, if you need to see that separately:
Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM review | Digital Camera World

A review of the lens by a reliable reviewer:
Canon RF-S 18-150mm review: HANDS-ON first-looks (youtube.com)