What glass for EOS R7

[carvat]

So I just upgraded from 80D to R7. I'm just a bit lost to which lenses to keep/get. I have the RF-S 18-150 which I read is well rated, but it just seemed... Small. I know it's the dumbest thing ever to say but I was really taken aback at how cheap it feels, yet reviews seem pretty good. Mind you I also don't have great EF lenses so anyway all that to say, looking for advice.

I have an EF 70-300 USM II which I struggle with the softness at times for wildlife, a EF-S 18-135 (kit) which was fine I guess but not great, an EF-S 10-18 which doesn't seem well rated yet I really enjoy and finally a 50 1.8 which I barely use but is still quite fun.

I mostly do landscape with a bit of wildlife, and travel a lot so portability is a factor, but not to the point of sacrificing quality.

Which lenses would you say are musts, which are good quality for money (I'm a hobbyist) and which of mine could I repurpose with an adapter? Thanks

[p4pictures]

The EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is rather good, and I would suggest getting the Canon EF to EOS R mount adapter to use with it as an initial step with the EOS R7. This will help you determine if the lens is actually soft or if it was a limitation of the EOS 80D. 

The RF-S 18-150mm kit lens is quite a revelation and actually performs very well. I have one and it is sharp and good, while also being small and light. Great for a lens with an effective 28.8 to 240mm range. I certainly think it is better than the EF-S 18-135mm lenses. It is certainly a great travel lens in my view. 

The reality is that the EF and EF-S lenses you have can be used with the adapter on the new camera, and that is a good initial step. However there are other options with RF lenses. You might find that the RF 100-400mm lens is ideal for wildlife having a bit more reach than your current 70-300mm, and it is also great value. The downside is the f/5.6-f/8 maximum aperture which might need a little more light than your current 70-300mm. Don't be put off by its small size and light weight.

There is an RF-S 10-18mm lens that you might choose to replace your existing EF-S 10-18mm. 

RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM 

RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM 

[Wandalynn]

Since p4pictures mentioned the RF 100-400, I thought I'd jump in and say that when that lens was announced, I got on the preorder list. It's a terrific lens, a real bargain. I was at first concerned about f/8 at the long end but that's been pretty much a non-issue because Photoshop, Lightroom, and other processing apps have gotten so good at removing noise. Yes, there have been some times in very low light situations that I wish I had had a faster lens, but my general feeling is it's a great lens, especially for carrying on hikes. Very lightweight, and the minimum focus distance (weight and MFD are two of the main specs I look at) is about 3.5 ft. at 400mm. This is excellent, comparable to the MFD for the much more expensive RF 100-500 L lens at 400mm. I also find that the RF 100-400 gives me more sharp images than when I was using an EF 100-300 II--maybe the problem was me, I don't know. At some point after I got the RF 100-400, however, I started keeping my camera set on high-speed continuous shooting because sometimes the first image in a set wouldn't be as sharp as the second one (this is handheld). Just my experience.

If you decide to buy an adapter, get a Canon brand adapter rather than third party. Now you can find these adapters in the used market pretty easily. And I recommend buying only from authorized Canon dealers.

[March411]

I'll be the third to say that you can't go wrong with the RF100-400, it's an outstanding lens for $650! As Wandalynn mentioned the concern for low light and I was in the same boat when I bought mine. I use DXO and PS for noise and it quickly relieved my concerns regarding low light/noise.

Here is a sample image in a low light situation.  

[ebiggs1]

Agree the RF 100-400mm zoom is a good choice. But by you own admission you aren't super satisfied with the EF lenses you have so the EF-RF adapter is not a logical option. Why try to adapt lenses you don't really care for? Go forward with all RF lenses.

I don't know how much "wildlife" you like to do a or want to do but I consider 400mm to be the shortest FL for that purpose. Certainly 300mm is too short. Wildlife shooting biggest parameter is how close you can get to the subject. The FL of the lens is secondary. Naturally the bigger the "wildlife" the farther away you can be and still get a frame filling shot. Most of the time for wildlife you need to think in terms of feet from subject and not yards or meters. And  adding zeros to the yards or even the feet isn't good.

[March411]

ebiggs makes a valid point and personally the RF100-400 is my wildlife carry when I have a weight restriction that is associated with travel. 

If you had a decent budget I would suggest the RF200-800. The EF-RF adapter may have a benefit if you were to purchase the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 or the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C. Both are EF mount but proven to perform excellently on the R bodies. Both can be found new at a good price and the second hand market has both in excellent condition at an even better price. 

If you decide to pick up the EF - RF adapter the basic one for $129 is really you best bet. I got both the basic and the control ring adapter in a package deal, the control ring rarely gets used and is collecting dust. The ring sits to close to the body and is a pain to use easily.

[Wandalynn]

I was re-reading your original post and wanted to comment on "I mostly do landscape" and your remarks about the RF-S 18-150 lens. Every time I get a new camera and/or new lens, there's a learning curve so let me encourage you to get out there and practice-practice-practice with your new R7 and the EF-S18-150. When I went from my 90D and 6Dii to my first mirrorless, the R in 2019, I was a bit intimidated by the difference in capabilities and yet I was ready to embrace them. So I spent considerable time just going through the menu discovering capabilities that were new to me and customizing the camera buttons. I also used to own an EF-S 10-18mm lens and really liked it, but now have switched to full frame.

And one more suggestion: if you haven't already, download or at least bookmark the full user manual for your R7. It can be found via the Canon product page for R7. Have fun with your new camera, and congratulations!