So I finally upgraded from my phone and got a Canon Rebel T7 a few weeks ago. I've been playing around with the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it, but the background blur just isn't there for the portrait shots I want to take. I'm trying to take some nice photos of my kids and also some couple shots for my sister's engagement next month here in rainy Seattle. My budget is pretty tight, absolutely cannot go over $200, but ideally I'd like to spend closer to $125 if possible.
I did some digging online and literally every single blog says to get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. They call it the nifty fifty and say it's the ultimate cheap portrait lens. But then I started reading forums and got super confused about the crop factor thing. Apparently the T7 has an APS-C sensor, so the 50mm actually acts like an 80mm lens? People were saying that if you're shooting indoors, you have to stand way back and basically press yourself against the wall just to get a head and shoulders shot.
Because of that, some people suggested the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 pancake lens instead since it's wider and also really cheap. But then another thread said 24mm is terrible for portraits because it distorts faces and makes people's noses look huge.
So now I'm stuck. I want that nice blurry background (bokeh, right?) but I don't want to be trapped in a corner trying to frame a shot, and I definitely don't want my sister looking weird in her engagement photos. For someone on a strict budget shooting with a T7, should I just get the 50mm and deal with the tightness, or is there another cheap option I missed?
I would suggest going with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM despite the tight crop factor. You might want to consider how focal length affects perspective. The 24mm will distort faces if you get close enough to get any decent background blur. If you get the 50mm, make sure to keep these technical points in mind:
- You need about 6 to 8 feet of working distance for a half-body shot indoors.
- The 1.6x crop gives you an 80mm equivalent field of view, which is the optical sweet spot for flattering portraits.
- Be careful shooting wide open at f/1.8; stopping down to f/2.2 improves sharpness significantly on the T7 sensor. Basically, avoid the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM for dedicated portraits. It simply wont give you the background separation you are looking for.
Over the years, I've shot tons of family events in cramped spaces, and I've learned the hard way about crop factor. For your budget, you really only have one reliable option that wont distort faces. Here is what I've learned:
- Get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. It's about $125 and the safest bet for flattering portraits. Yes, it's tight indoors, but you just have to back up into hallways or shoot through doorways. I've literally stood in bathrooms to get the shot, but the lack of facial distortion is worth it.
- Avoid the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM for portraits. I tried using a wide pancake for a family gathering once and everyone's noses looked stretched.
- For the outdoor shoot, the 50mm will be perfect since you can back up and make that background melt away.
@Reply #1 - good point! The 50mm is classic, but in my experience, shooting indoors in tight spaces with an 80mm equivalent is a massive headache, especially with kids who move fast. I politely disagree that you just have to deal with the tightness. Instead of the 50mm or the 24mm, you should look at the Yongnuo YN 35mm f/2 Lens for Canon EF. On your T7, it behaves like a 56mm lens. This is the sweet spot. You get a natural perspective without the nose-stretching distortion of the 24mm, and you wont be backed into a corner. Plus, it sits right around $100 new, fitting your budget perfectly. Hit me up if you need help finding one or want to look at some test shots!
