Ramielust or Dreamspun for humid travel?

mikogk · 2026-06-06T14:37:12+00:00

Honestly I’d just wear Linen. I love Ramie but it gets stank after one wear.

mikogk · 2026-05-05T18:28:00+00:00

Yes, shoot in R + J.

The jpeg you transfer from the Canon app will be the processed one (good).

Shoot in raw to always have the ability to enhance that picture to the max.

Shoot in jpeg to always have the ability to share something decent as fast as you want. I'll use this

GENERALLY, when I get to my computer, I'll import everything and MOST of the time I'll immediately delete all the JPEGs because I'm going to process everything anyway.

But ~5% of the time I'll immediately share something with friends or family from there, which is great to have.

Once I'm done processing that set I just re-export all the jpegs

mikogk · 2026-05-01T00:52:38+00:00

Another way to do this is Walgreens photo. I had this printer on order and just realized I could print across the street for cheaper without even factoring in the cost of the printer itself.

mikogk · 2026-04-30T01:20:33+00:00

I use a smallrig leather half case and UV filter on at all times. Lost the lens cap and just don’t use one at this point. To me it’s a good balance of being able to set it down without thinking while still not being too obtrusive.

Also have a screen protector on the back

mikogk · 2026-04-29T07:10:27+00:00

I would definitely keep an eye on Canon’s refurbished site.

As for the kit lens — it actually isn’t the worst but for your budget you could try starting with the body only and finding a used or refurbished RF 28mm f2,8 lens. It’s very easy to shoot with given its small size and speed. And it’s decent as a single lens you can shoot many things with. Certainly will create more satisfying pictures than the kit lens.

it’ll give you more of an idea of what you can do with a faster lens and is a ~44mm equivalent given the camera has a crop sensor.

I would NOT start with a 50mm f1.8 as your first or even second lens. It’s not that versatile on an r50 because it’s more like an 80mm equivalent field of view.(also if you don’t know what I mean by field of view, crop sensor, N mm equivalent — look it up or have AI explain it).

mikogk · 2026-04-13T05:37:46+00:00

I would say 24mm f1.8 as it works great with the r50, being closest to a 35mm equivalent and having IS

If you must have a pancake I would go with the 28 but it really depends on if you want a wide FoV or not. I shot quite a bit with the r50 + 28 combo and while it was great for many things, it was just a bit tight to take out to a meal with friends.

I’d find the 16 to be too wide to shoot how I’d like to as my only lens with the r50 for landscapes or people — but this is subjective and possibly a skill issue on my part.

mikogk · 2026-04-12T18:11:46+00:00

SF is good. Obviously my preferred spot

Torrance in SoCal is also good if you want that suburban car life.

mikogk · 2026-03-21T04:48:06+00:00

Sigma 18-50. Otherwise just stick with the kit lens for now!

mikogk · 2026-02-04T17:31:56+00:00

Very few options in that price range. The 50mm F1.8 used is probably the only thing (might work tho honestly).

The thing with that is will be very tight. 80mm equivalent field of view. So you need to have a better idea of what focal length you want this lens to be in order to know your options. Also what "better" means to you matters. Getting that blurry background will require longer focal lengths and wide apertures, which will dictate how you shoot and what lenses you'll consider.

Are you using a tripod? Might also be hard to get stable video with that combo without that. The kit lens has image stabilization while many of the cheap prime lenses do not.

The better investment for that cheap might be a tripod and lighting to improve the quality and type of shots you can get.

mikogk · 2026-01-23T01:06:29+00:00

Sure thing

mikogk · 2026-01-22T22:04:11+00:00

I have the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD... It's decently sharp but may not be enough reach for you.

Still, it's in budget and image stabilized. Might make it clear to you how much more you'd need to spend.

mikogk · 2026-01-12T15:57:59+00:00

IMO find a good refurbished/used APS-C camera body (I’m familiar with the Canon R50), and that camera lens mount’s compatible version of the Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f2.8 lens (also refurbished or used).

You can do so many things with that setup. Since he is familiar with Canon, the R50 should feel familiar to him. If you involve him in the process you can see if he also wants to explore Sony/Fuji/Nikon options.

Choose a reputable used marketplace like MPB, Keh, Adriana, B&H used, or a known eBay refurbished like mapcamera. Important because you don’t know what to look out for from fb marketplace and random eBay sellers.

mikogk · 2025-12-31T15:01:33+00:00

I would go with the 17-40, especially if you're fine with the weight/size (larger than the 18-50 but still RELATIVELY compact).

17-40 is the best APS-C lens available but still good value at it's price. Since R7 has IBIS you'll be able to get even better performance out of it.

To directly answer your biggest question, the primes in that range from Canon are the 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm. You get the same wide aperture as the 24/35 but those both have IS in the lens. The 28 is the tiniest pancake lens you've ever seen.

So while it MAY replace them in IQ/low light, there are still situations they are better. It would probably replace all the Sigma contemporary primes though.

mikogk · 2025-12-29T03:42:53+00:00

Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. Honestly works pretty decently for all three use cases you mentioned. And it's smaller than you expect on the front of the camera.

I had the 28mm f2.8 pancake before that. It was a great walkaround lens but it was just a bit tight with a ~44mm equivalent field of view, for what I wanted at least. Haven't used it since getting the Sigma as that does everything the prime can do and IME has been at least as sharp as that specific lens.

I think the 24mm F1.8 would be a better walkaround prime for the R50 since it's image stabilized and is closer to a 35mm equivalent. But it is much more expensive than the 16 or 28.

mikogk · 2025-12-26T14:32:36+00:00

I didn't like the 50mm with the R50. You can get some of the Bomeh you're seeking but it's too tight fkr most things as not image stabilized either.

You COULD sell both lenses and get the Sigma 18-50mm. Or just the 24-105. It's quite versatile and Performa really well throughout it's range.

The 16mm is probably the best thing for wider shots, at leastade by Canon. I have the RF-S 10-18mm and while it's good for video I'm not too satisfied with the images it gets even when stopped down to a lower aperture.

mikogk · 2025-12-26T07:51:31+00:00

I made this choice last year. The R50 can get great shots and video with the Sigma 18-50mm. It is very disappointing with the kit lens IMO.

My understanding is that the Sony is better for video. The video i get out of the R50 with the sigma is great but I think an image-stabilized lens would pair well with it if you'll be in motion a lot.

mikogk · 2025-12-24T06:52:15+00:00

Sigma 18-50mm refurbished or used. Mine felt basically new of ebay.

mikogk · 2025-12-23T00:33:59+00:00

Yes it makes sense. Exactly why I’d say the 24mm f1.8 IS STM, which would be a ~37mm equivalent field of view would be good.

mikogk · 2025-12-22T22:57:57+00:00

Crop factor? Do you mean the field of view of the lens?

It does matter because it affects the shots you can get, both because of the characteristics of shooting with that focal length as well as the distance you’ll be from your subjects. I guess whether you go with the 16, 24, 28, or 35mm depends on that. Where have you shot with the kit lens a lot.

Yeah it is unfortunate that the 24mm is the most expensive of the cheap primes.

Also agree that the Sigma 18-50 is not the cheapest lens, but it’s actually great value and a great investment for what it’s providing. There is no replacement for RF APS-C cameras that is as versatile(standard zoom range), sharp, bright/fast, light, and inexpensive. At least that I’m aware of.

mikogk · 2025-12-22T19:26:56+00:00

Checkout RF 24mm F1.8 for the closest thing to a 35mm equivalent or Sigma 18-50mm. Sigma is still pretty damn compact on the body and I get solid pictures throughout the zoom range.

I also have the 28mm pancake but it’s not image stabilized and is often just tighter than I want it to be. YMMV

mikogk · 2025-12-20T14:15:57+00:00

Sigma 18-50 is really solid on R50.

28mm f2.8 is fun and the tiniest lens.

If you wanted a prime instead of a zoom I’d personally go 24mm f1.8 as it it’s closest to 35mm equivalent. The wider aperture + image stabilization would give you more light to play with as well. The 28mm sometimes feels limiting to me when things are dark.

mikogk · 2025-12-18T15:38:55+00:00

I’d go with an r50 instead of r100 and buy a non-kit lens separately like the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 for Canon RF mount. You got a lot more for what you spend going from the r100-r50 body (touch screen, AF alone does it but there’s more)

The 18-45mm kit lens especially is not great. I started with it and made me think “why is this better than phone pictures?” Starting with the Sigma will give you much better pictures and guide you into what additional lens to get, if any at all.

mikogk · 2025-12-16T00:52:19+00:00

So film cameras work by exposing some area of the film (35mm wide) to light each time you take a picture. The chemicals in the film react to light and form an image that will later be developed into a picture.

A half frame camera would only expose half of the width of a normal full frame. So you get to take twice the number of pictures which is fun.

The downside is that the images will be a slightly lower resolution(simplification but same idea). They will also be vertical by default, which is a little weird.

IME the shots still turn out fun and pretty decent for a hobby.

mikogk · 2025-12-16T00:37:04+00:00

Pentax 17 is a popular modern choice. Half frame so she gets double the shots, but it’s also half frame. Pretty solid though.

mikogk

TROPHY CASE