Honestly, that Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Fuji X is a bit of a letdown. It feels kinda plasticky and unfortunately it costs way over your $500 budget new. I had some flare issues with mine that were super annoying. Heres a better way to save cash for Zion:

• Buy a used Samyang 12mm f/2.0 AF Fuji X instead
• Check out the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF Fuji X... its way sharper

Regarding what #1 said about the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Fuji X, I actually think the glass is solid, but I agree the price is a huge hurdle for a $500 budget. Zion is all about scale, so you definitely need something wider than a kit lens. I would suggest looking at the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Fuji X. Its insanely small and might just fit your budget if you find a sale. The technical trade-off is it lacks a physical aperture ring, which some Fuji fans hate. Another solid path is a used Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS. Since youre doing landscapes, youll likely be at f/8 or f/11 anyway, so the f/4 max aperture isnt a dealbreaker. Plus, the OIS is a lifesaver if youre hiking without a tripod. Just make sure to get the version with the R in the name so you have the tactile controls. TL;DR: The Sigma is tiny and fast, while a used Fuji 10-24mm gives you stabilization and that classic Fuji feel for under $500.

@Reply #2 - good point! Zion is absolutely incredible but honestly my experience with those expensive zooms has been pretty disappointing. I had some serious issues with flare and corner softness on my last trip that just wasnt as good as I expected for the price. It can be super frustrating when you save up and the gear doesnt perform.

• look for manual primes to keep costs down
• investigate smaller boutique brands
• avoid the expensive autofocus zooms for now Unfortunately, I spent way too much on my first setup and realized later that simple is better. Just get any wide prime from a brand like TTArtisan and you really cant go wrong for landscapes. You wont need autofocus for those big mountain views anyway and you will save a ton of money. Honestly, those smaller brands usually have much better build quality than the plastic stuff the big names put out for beginners...

It is totally understandable why your head is spinning because the way these companies market things is basically a scam at this point. Honestly, I've been shooting landscapes for years and the technical jargon they throw at you is just a way to hide how much they're overcharging for gear that feels like a toy. It drives me crazy that you have to save up $500 and still feel like you're coming up short because of corporate greed. Zion is a tough environment and you need gear you can trust, but these manufacturers are making everything so flimsy while jacking up the price tags. It's ridiculous that you're expected to be an expert on focal lengths just to take a few mountain photos. You aren't doing anything wrong, the industry is just failing to make things accessible and reliable for actual photographers who aren't made of money.