Ioannis

I have a Canon M50 camera that I’m very happy with 18-55mm lens. I would like to purchase a zoom lens for landscapes, portraits, birds and every day use on vacations or at home. I need to stay with prices no more than $ 500-600 and here is why I’m asking for help from my fellow HH. I know Canon makes M zoom lens of 18-150 and 50-200 (‘if I’m correct with their focal length) I don’t like their bottle type of style! Please advise for any brand with an average size lens up to 200 mm focal length.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I would look into Tamron or other companies as well as used lenses. With the new "R" cameras good buys are available. Buy from reliable places.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

PS I used a Tamron 28-300 fore years as my go to lens (US, Europe, Asia).

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Look up Cameras for sale in this page a28-300 for $60.00

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You want a telephoto lens (a zoom lens can be wide angle, standard or telephoto).

I assume you want autofocus. The only telephoto lens with autofocus made to fit the M50 is the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM that sells for $349. I don't know what you mean by "bottle style". If you mean the length of the lens, you will find that with pretty much all telephoto lenses... they have to be larger to work!

Tamron and Samyang/Rokinon each make a 300mm f/6.3 "mirror" lens to fit the Canon M-series cameras. They each cost a little under $300. They are fixed aperture and MANUAL FOCUS ONLY.

You also can use EF-S and EF lenses on your M50, but will need an adapter to do so. This gives you a large number of possibilities because far more lenses were made in those mounts. And many of them can work quite well adapted for use on an M-series camera. I've recently been using a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 adapted for use on my M5. The adapter I got is the Commlite and I use removed the tripod foot.

There are many adapters available... they all work pretty much the same. Some have a "tripod mounting foot". And on some that can optionally be removed, only used when you want it. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Lens-Adapters/ci/3420/N/4077634486?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_accelerator-booster-turbo-hidden_6898%3Ano%2Cfct_camera-body-mount_1595%3Acanon-eos-m%2Cfct_lens-mount_1596%3Acanon-ef-eos

Lenses I would recommend...

- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM... quite a good lens for the money. $300 new. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1180778-REG/canon_9517b002_ef_m_55_200mm_f_4_5_6_3_is.html Widely available used, often for under $200. (Note the "STM". There are also two cheaper versions without that, but they are not as fast or smooth focusing.)

- Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM... there are two versions, the original and the "II". Either one is good, though the newer one is the best of the two. The "II" sells for $600 new https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1281379-REG/canon_0571c002aa_ef_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_is.html. Used ones are pretty easy to find and sell for between $200 and $500, depending upon version and condition. Note: There also is an "L" version of this lens, which is quite good too, but a lot more expensive.

- AVOID any of the Canon EF 75-300mm lenses... they simply aren't all that great. Canon's cheapest telephoto zoom ($200 new, under $100 used), the "III" in particular is not very good. It has slow autofocus, lacks image stabilization and image quality at the longer focal lengths is among the worst of any Canon lens.

- There are other, longer telephotos... but they are also a lot bigger, heavier, will feel awkward on a small camera like the M50 and typically cost a lot more than you planned to spend.

- Tamron and Sigma both make some 70-300mm lenses for Canon EF mount too, which can be found both used and new. I imagine they are fine, but have no idea how well they work adapted for use on an M50. I'd stick with the Canon lenses, which I know will work well.

Those telephoto zooms will work well for birds and other wildlife. Frankly 200mm is a bit "short".... 250mm would be better and 300mm even better still. These telephotos also will be good for sports and other purposes.

My "portrait" lenses on my M5 are the adapted EF 85mm f/1.8 USM that I mentioned above and a very nice Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DG DN that's a direct fit onto the M-series cameras (no adapter needed). A large aperture like these lenses have is useful to blur down the backgrounds in portraits, to make the subject "pop".

Ioannis

Thank you very much for all of the wonderful suggestions you have given me and take time to help me. You made some excellent points that I will be following.

Mcwane Loc: Southwestern Virginia

I loved my M-50 and used it often while traveling and for just about anything else. I used the 18-150 m zoom lens and it worked well for me also. I just sold it and ordered a new R10 with the same lens so that I could use my collection of RF lenses. I am hoping is is as good a camera as my M-50 was.

knutte

Sigma make a trio of lenses for the Canon M bodies, I've had a couple of Sigmas (for my EF) that were excellent. I also had an Rokinon (12mm was it?) that was very sharp. Also the Canon EF-M 22mm was excellent. never shot portraits with the M.

Zooman 1

Get the adaptor for EF to M. Then you will have many choices to add beyond the 200mm range. Currently have the Canon EF 75-300 on my M50 with the adaptor, works well. Also use the Canon EF-300mm F4 lens on the M5 or M50.

John Hicks Loc: Sible Hedinham North Essex England

If you buy the EF adaptor for your M50 you can use all of the range of EF and EFS lenses I do and they range from a 10-18 mms EDS lens up to a 400 mm zoom lens and I often use a 1.4 adaptor with the 400 mms lens.

Nickaroo

Talk To CHG_Canon. He has the best Knowledge when it comes to Canon Products, and even though He Bugs Me at Times, This Guy Knows His Stuff when it Comes to what You Are Asking.