Thinking about getting a r50 but need help with lenses

[w1alsh]

I started photography a couple months ago with a Powershot sx 540hs which i loved the zoom but felt really limited with the settings i like to take wildlife pictures, landscape and everyday photos that use a bit of zoom. I am currently thinking of ordering the r50 refurbished with the kit lenses 18-45mm but i’m have a very low budget (at least for right now after buying the camera) any recommendations on what lenses to buy that will help me have my zoom back?

[Anonymous]

Depends on how much zoom you need and how low a very low budget is.

[jrhoffman75]

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@w1alsh wrote:

I started photography a couple months ago with a Powershot sx 540hs which i loved the zoom but felt really limited with the settings i like to take wildlife pictures, landscape and everyday photos that use a bit of zoom. I am currently thinking of ordering the r50 refurbished with the kit lenses 18-45mm but i’m have a very low budget (at least for right now after buying the camera) any recommendations on what lenses to buy that will help me have my zoom back?

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The SX540 HS has a combined mechanical and optical zoom that ranges from 24mm to 1200mm full frame equivalent. That would be approximately 15mm to 750mm on your R50. There are RF lenses that can give you that, but they would dwarf your R50 in both size and price.

This is a moderate zoom that is tailored for your R50.

Cropping your images and using some of the new upscaling products like Topaz Gigapixel could give usable images. I don't know when the SX540 shifts to digital zoom, but although the effect is impressive the longer focal lengths are digitally enlarged by the camera and the algorithms used are older than the current AI developed software.

[ebiggs1]

There is nothing that even approaches the same specs for anywhere near the same money or even close to it. Until money, much more money, becomes disposable you are far better off using your Powershot SX540HS. It is a nice camera for what it is. All of the Canon Powershot cameras are very good in their own rights.

IMHO, I would not go for a R50 as my first upgrade choice. Wait until you can get something in at least the R8 or R10 series and at least two zoom lenses. The R100 and R50 are still in the beginner category level and you are probably past that.

[TomRamsey]

You may want to do a little more research before jumping in to the fire.  Wildlife shooting generally requires longer lenses of which most will cost more than your R50.  For this reason you should need to look at lenses first and their cost.  Then make sure the camera you buy is right for the job.  Personally, I want the camera and lens to have stabilization that works together.  Canon has several zooms and long prime lenses in various price ranges and a wide range of R series cameras.  Don't make cost your top priority, find the best camera and lens for you that you can afford and it may not be easy, but in the end you'll be happier.  

[ebiggs1]

"Don't make cost your top priority, find the best camera and lens ... you can afford a ... in the end you'll be happier."

If you don't think in that manner, you will probably buy the wrong gear and end up buying stuff twice which is not good if money is tight. Sometimes cheap is not the cheapest.