Lens suggestions for my trip

[alyass]

I currently have a canon r7, and a ef-s 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 as my current lens, and I love it for daily use, however I feel like I need a newer lens for when I go to costa rica soon, and this lens overall is super big and bulky. I have a price of 500 US dollars, and was looking at something like a 45mm f1.2 lens for landscape and street photography shots, as well as portraits of my family and friends. I’m scared about the sharpness of the lens and am worried I won’t like the look of it overall, however I have loved sample photos i’ve seen online. If anyone has lens suggestions for me, please let me know. I’m not scared to go used, and or us EF lenses. Thanks!

[kvbarkley]

You should have come to us sooner. I would suggest that you rent one from Lens Rentals to get the feel of it.

Are you going to do any eco-tourism? You might want a longer lens, even the 135mm will be a bit short for birds, and 45mm will be useless. Since you have in camera stabilization, the newish RF 75 to 300 might be a good choice.

I am sorry, but sometimes big and bulky are required for the shot.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

One reason your current lens might feel a little bulky to you is because you are using a lens that requires an adapter.  I owned the 18-135 for many years but was mounting it on a DSLR so I didn't have the extra length from an adapter.  If the width of the lens is bothersome to you, going with RF or RF-S lenses will offer smaller more compact options. 🤔

The RF 45 f1.2 is a very nice lens, but it's not one I would choose for landscape or street photography on the R7.  Because it is a full frame lens, it will give you a field of view equivalent of 72 mm.  This will not be conducive for landscape or street photography.  It will also be a little bit on the short end for portraits.  While it offers very good, low light performance, I think that you may be disappointed given the type of photography you are looking to do. 

I think the RF-S 18-150 might be a better choice.  It will be similar to what you have now without the additional width or length.  It's both shorter and more compact, and you won't need an adapter.  It's slightly above your budget new, but you could certainly buy used or refurbished.

If you are looking for a single lens solution, unfortunately there isn't one.  There's always a trade-off.  Other lenses you may want to consider.  The Sigma RF 18-50.  This lens is licensed by Canon for Sigma.  While it carries the RF designation It's specifically designed for APS-C body's.  It's extremely compact and has a constant f 2.8 aperture.  

Canon also makes a RF-S 55-210 which would be a nice mid-range zoom option.  You might finish out with the RF 100-400.  

Prime options worth considering.  Canon RF 16 f2.8, RF 24mm f1.8 or 35 f1.8.  Note however that the field of view equivalent on your R7 will be as follows.  26mm, 38mm and 56mm. These are not bad choices but they won't give you the same versatility as a zoom.  As I mentioned earlier, there are trade-offs.  

My personal recommendation would be that you not invest in EF or EF-S lenses further.  Sticking with RF or RF-S lenses would be a better choice from an investment standpoint.  

Not all the lenses I mentioned are within your budget.  Some are less, some are more.  We can provide additional recommendations once we better understand what's most important to you.  Size, weight, single lens versus multiple lens options.