topic Re: Advice on beginner camera/lens in General Discussion

Advice on beginner camera/lens

matirdamb — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:37:32 GMT

Recently went on a trip and had the opportunity to use a canon m50 that my girlfriend was kind enough to share with me. Honestly fell in love with taking pictures (even though i literally knew nothing about what I was doing). Since I've gotten back it's been the only thing I've been able to think about, it just scratches an itch that i didn't know I had.

Anyways Ive done some research and have either settled on getting a eos r50 or the eos r10. I'm leaning towards getting the r10 since I'm the kind of person that grows out of beginner things quite quickly, and I know the r10 just has more to offer for the price. The main question I have now is, do I get the r10 kit with a 18-150 lens for $1300, or do I get just the r10 body for about $900 and buy a lens for 200-400. But if i should go for the second option, what lens should i look at. Im mostly interested in landscape and portrait photography, i know that can make a difference in lens choice. Any advice/help would be very welcome. Super new to this, but very enthusiastic to learn and explore!

Re: Advice on beginner camera/lens

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 03 May 2026 10:11:48 GMT

@matirdamb wrote:

Recently went on a trip and had the opportunity to use a canon m50 that my girlfriend was kind enough to share with me. Honestly fell in love with taking pictures (even though i literally knew nothing about what I was doing). Since I've gotten back it's been the only thing I've been able to think about, it just scratches an itch that i didn't know I had.

Anyways Ive done some research and have either settled on getting a eos r50 or the eos r10. I'm leaning towards getting the r10 since I'm the kind of person that grows out of beginner things quite quickly, and I know the r10 just has more to offer for the price. The main question I have now is, do I get the r10 kit with a 18-150 lens for $1300, or do I get just the r10 body for about $900 and buy a lens for 200-400. But if i should go for the second option, what lens should i look at. Im mostly interested in landscape and portrait photography, i know that can make a difference in lens choice. Any advice/help would be very welcome. Super new to this, but very enthusiastic to learn and explore!

My suggestion would be the kit you referenced. The 18-150 lens is a good all around lens. Since it is small, light and inexpensive consider adding the 16mm lens for landscape.

Re: Advice on beginner camera/lens

stevet1 — Sun, 03 May 2026 16:17:14 GMT

matirdamb,

While the 200-400 would give you the opportunity to shoot far-away shots, my advice would be to get the 18-150 for the flexibility of wide vista shots as well as things that are only 5 - 10 feet away from you.

Steve Thomas

Re: Advice on beginner camera/lens

March411 — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:50:30 GMT

Also a consideration with going to a longer lens is In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) which none of the bodies you mentioned in your post have installed. As you get into longer lenses it's not required but a huge bonus unless you have a very steady hand.

The RF-S 18-150mm Steve mention does have 4.5 stops of IS as well as the RF100-400mm F5.6-8. which will help.

If the budget allows you may also want to look at the R7 which will give you more megapixels and IBIS. The combination of the body and a lens with IS will provide about 8 stops of IS.

Re: Advice on beginner camera/lens

JFG — Tue, 05 May 2026 03:20:22 GMT

Hi matirdamb,

If this is is your first camera, get the RF18-150mm lens f3.5-6.3. It covers wide angle to telephoto, its light, and it lets you learn every type of photography. Canon makes the RF100-400mm f5.6-8 lens that is awesome for wildlife/sports, but it's too specialized as your only lens. Start with the 18-150mm, it lets you shoot everything and learn the camera. The RF18-150mm lens gives you a Wide angle length for landscapes, Normal range portraits, Telephoto for wildlife/sports and Close-focus for macro-ish shots. It is also great for Street and Architectural Photography. It is a more versatile lens and since you stated "I'm mostly interested in landscape and portrait photography" and since you know that the choice in lens will make a difference then the RF18-150mm is the right lens for you. I agree with John Hoffman; "My suggestion would be the kit you referenced. The 18-150mm lens is a good all around lens. Since it is small, light and inexpensive consider adding the 16mm lens for landscape." Once you have expanded your camera knowledge and your interests starts leaning to Wildlife/Sports photography you can get the RF100-400mm. Let us know what you decide. Photography is a journey where the map keeps changing, the light keeps shifting, and somehow you fall in love with every wrong turn. I's a journey where every mistake becomes a lesson, every shot becomes a step, and every step pulls you deeper into the craft. We're here to help you and give you our penny's worth of advice.