Best budget travel lenses for Canon EOS Rebel T7 users?

Question

Im heading to Mexico in about three weeks and finally decided to bring my T7 instead of just using my phone. I want to keep things light so I dont look like a total tourist lol. Ive been looking online and everyone keeps saying to get the 50mm f/1.8 because its cheap and sharp but then I read it might be too zoomed in on a crop sensor for like street stuff or tight alleys. Then I saw the 24mm pancake lens which seems perfect for size but Im worried it wont be zoomed enough if I see something cool far away. My budget is pretty tight like under $200 since I spent all my money on the flights... should I just stick with the kit lens or is one of these actually worth the swap?

Davo Koala · Accepted Answer

I remember my first trip to Oaxaca with an old T6i and just the basic kit lens... honestly I felt so limited. After years of trying different primes, flexibility is king for travel. If you need more reach than that 24mm pancake but dont want to be swapping glass in the humidity, track down a used Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. You can find them for like $170 on sites like MPB or KEH. It covers wide street shots and zooms way in for those details on old cathedrals. It is slightly bigger than the pancake, but way less obvious than a massive pro lens. It’s my go-to because carrying a heavy gear bag is the absolute worst when youre just trying to grab some tacos. TL;DR: Grab a used Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM for under $200; it replaces your kit lens and gives you way more range.

BlueJay92 · Answer

In my experience, the nifty fifty is way too tight on a T7 for travel. Since the Rebel has a crop sensor, that 50mm behaves like an 80mm lens... youll be backing into walls trying to get a shot of a street or a cafe. For Mexico, just get the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. Its tiny and way more versatile for walking around.

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM: Sharp, fits in a pocket, feels natural for street shots.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM: Better bokeh, but useless in tight alleys. Ive used both over the years and the pancake is definitely worth it. It makes the T7 feel less bulky so you dont look like such a tourist. Stick with that and keep your Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens in the bag for when you need some zoom.

timothy.butler · Answer

I was so nervous about bringing my gear to Puerto Vallarta last year! Honestly I went with the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens and it was literally a game changer for keeping my camera low-profile and safe.

The 1.6x crop factor makes it look like a 38mm view which is super natural

Its sharp enough to crop your photos later if things are too far away I love it because it is wide enough for those amazing colorful buildings but fast enough for dinner shots! Ngl having a tiny lens made me feel way less like a target in crowded markets. Plus that f/2.8 aperture is fantastic for those dimly lit taco stalls at night... it blows the kit lens away for low light.