Canon EF Portrait & Travel 2 Review

Looking for a simple, affordable way to get into prime lenses and wide-angle photography? This Canon two-lens kit bundles the classic EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with the ultra-wide EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. It's a combo aimed at Canon DSLR users who want to move beyond their kit zoom. The 50mm is the star here, a 'nifty fifty' known for its large aperture and portrait-friendly focal length. The 10-18mm is your go-to for landscapes, architecture, or fitting more into the frame indoors. For people searching for a 'Canon portrait lens' or a 'budget wide-angle lens,' this package covers both bases without breaking the bank.

The autofocus on these lenses is a real highlight, landing in the 95th percentile. The STM motors are quick and, more importantly, whisper-quiet, which is great if you're shooting video. The 50mm's f/1.8 aperture lets in a lot of light, scoring in the 74th percentile, so you can shoot in dim conditions and get that nice, soft background blur. The image stabilization in the 10-18mm is solid too, at the 86th percentile, helping you get sharp shots at slower shutter speeds. Just know that optical performance is a weaker point, sitting in the 34th percentile. You might see some softness in the corners, especially on the wide-angle, but for the price, it's more than acceptable.

At around $419 for the pair, this kit is a steal if you need both focal lengths. Buying these lenses separately would cost you more. You're getting a capable portrait/low-light lens and a stabilized ultra-wide zoom for less than the price of many single, higher-end lenses. If you only need one type of lens, you could find a sharper single option, but as a starter bundle to expand your creative options, the value is hard to beat.

Let's look at some alternatives. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is a popular single prime that's sharper and often cheaper than this kit, but you lose the ultra-wide option and autofocus might not be as refined. The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is a direct competitor as a versatile all-in-one zoom; it's more convenient for travel but can't match the 50mm's low-light ability or the 10-18mm's width. For a similar two-lens approach, pairing a used 50mm f/1.8 with a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 would give you better optics and a constant aperture, but it'll cost more and be heavier.

So, should you buy this? If you're a Canon APS-C DSLR user (like with a Rebel T7i or 80D) and you want to try prime lenses and ultra-wide angles without a huge investment, this kit is a perfect starting point. It answers the 'is this good for portraits?' question with a resounding yes for the 50mm, and the 10-18mm handles wide shots well. But if you prioritize ultimate image sharpness, need weather sealing, or mostly shoot in low light with the wide-angle, you might want to save up for individual, higher-quality lenses. For the price, though, it's a fantastic way to learn and grow.