Newly Purchased R10: Which lens should I buy for family and pet photos and portraits?

[Tammy0286]

I am new to photography and recently bought a Canon - EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera. It only came with an RF-S18-45 f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens.  While learning I plan to take pictures of my family and pets as well as photos out in nature and things I see while on walks.  As I get better I thought I could help loved ones out by offering to take senior photos, family photos and pet photos.  Things like that.  I'm wondering which lens I should look at buying to add to my kit.  Thank you in advance!

[stevet1]

Tammy0286,

For a general purpose, walk- around camera/lens combo, it is my hope one day to have an R10 with an 18-150 lens.

Steve Thomas

[p4pictures]

It does help if you can indicate the budget, but here's a few ideas

RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM - A good small telephoto lens that will make distant subjects a lot larger in the frame

RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM or RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM - Top quality telephoto lenses the favourite being the faster f/2.8 version, but the smaller lighter f/4 is cheaper and possibly a better balance on the EOS R10.

RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM - a great lens for headshots and portraits though on the 1.6x crop sensor R10 you will need plenty of space for full-length shots of people. 

RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM 

RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM 

RF85mm F2 Macro US STM 

[March411]

I don't own the RF 85 F2 Brian mentioned but the other two lenses are always in my bag and are proven quality producers for many on the site.

He mention the RF 70-200mm F4, I own the F2.8 IS USM lens and love it because it gives me a little more latitude in low light, the f4 is still a great lens and lighter so it's nice as an all day carry. With you owning the RF-S18-45mm already either one of these two lenses would compliment that lens and give you added range in your lens choices when out and about, they will also cover the range of the areas in which you have interest.

[ebiggs1]

"...recently bought a Canon - EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera. It only came with an RF-S18-45 f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens."

You have what you need so don't buy anything until you find out what you have can't do the job. My astute forum members always seem to offer suggestions that apply more to intermediate or advanced people. It is best to learn how to walk before you run or try a marathon. Canon includes that lens in the combo kit because it is appropriately fitted to general photography.

"While learning I plan to take pictures of my family and pets as well as photos out in nature and things I see while on walks."

Key words, my young padawan. I know it's exciting starting out but find out what you need and want before you simply buy something that somebody else recommended. You may find it was a mistake and you end up buying something twice.

[March411]

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@Tammy0286 wrote:

While learning I plan to take pictures of my family and pets as well as photos out in nature and things I see while on walks.  As I get better I thought I could help loved ones out by offering to take senior photos, family photos and pet photos.  

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While ebiggs is correct that continuing to learn and grow with the lens you own is accurate it can also be a detriment to learning as the RF-S18-45mm lens is really not aligned well with the types of photography you noted in your original post. 

For cityscapes, landscapes and possibly some street the lens would be OK. If you plan on portraiture, nature, wildlife and pets the post above from p4pictures is the better recommendation.

The lens you own now is decent but the range and max focal length will be limiting and not in line with the photography style you are going to be focusing on while learning. 

If I was to pick one lens from Brian's recommendations it would be the RF70-200mm F4 (I would probably go with the f2.8). The range of the lens will give you much better results at the 85-105mm range for portraits whether it is pets or people, the entire range of the lens will give you better results if you are photography pets in action outdoors. It's a little short for wildlife but you can still use it, you just need to be aware of you composition and filling the frame. It will give you some nice shots up tight like flowers, insects and foliage.

[ebiggs1]

"If I was to pick one lens from Brian's recommendations it would be the RF70-200mm F4 (I would probably go with the f2.8)."

Which can certainly be added later as learning continues.

"... the 85-105mm range for portraits whether it is pets or people, ..."

You see here is a misleading statement as good portraits can be had with almost any lens. FL and portraits is a matter of distance from subject. It is not the so-called '85mm' is the best  portrait lens. The base reason photographers choose 85mm or nearly so is because of comfortable distance from subject. It has nothing to do with the lens being 85mm in this case. Yes shorter FL lenses are going to cause you to be closer to your subject for the exact same perspective and that may be a determent. but is possible. 

Starting out you will learn this and you will know what lens will make your portraits easier and better. However on the other hand if you have a pile of money that's burning a hole in your pocket buy all the lenses suggested above. That's what I did and now I have a half dozen lenses that are holding the shelf down so it doesn't blow away in my formerly stop bath stained darkroom. My theory was I love lenses the more the better perhaps that's you too.

[March411]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

Yes shorter FL lenses are going to cause you to be closer to your subject for the exact same perspective and that may be a determent. but is possible. 

Again flexibility, because getting closer to your subject isn't always possible and chasing a moving target (pet's) isn't even feasible. The majority of the time a good zoom, with decent range will make life much easier for the photographer and allow a person to focus on composition and exposure. Not having to move around to resolve the challenges that a lens with an inappropriate focal length can create while in a studio or out in the field. 

Common sense! 

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"If I was to pick one lens from Brian's recommendations it would be the RF70-200mm F4 (I would probably go with the f2.8)."

Which can certainly be added later as learning continues.

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Or now if we listen to the OP's request for assistance on a new lens and answer their specific question. They have conveyed a desire for help with a purchase which is how the majority of the membership has responded hoping to ensure that they use their funds appropriately.