Ive been shooting with my R10 for about eight months now and honestly I love the thing, especially for the size. I usually stick to the kit lens for travel stuff but now that my sisters wedding is coming up in June and a few friends have asked for graduation portraits, I really feel like I need something with more reach and bokeh. The kit lens just isnt cutting it for that creamy background look I want, you know?
I keep looking at the RF 50mm f/1.8 because it is dirt cheap, but since these cameras have the 1.6x crop factor I am worried it might feel a bit tight for indoor shots if the room is small. I dont really want to spend more than 300 bucks right now since I just dropped money on a new gimbal. I need something that is sharp enough to handle the 24mp sensor without looking mushy.
Here is what I am trying to balance:
- Budget is strictly under 300 dollars.
- Needs to work well on an APS-C sensor without the focal length being too awkward.
- Must be somewhat compact because I hate carrying a massive bag.
- Autofocus has to be reliable because I am mostly shooting moving people.
Am I basically stuck with the 50mm nifty fifty or is there some third party glass I should be looking at? I have seen some people mentioning adapted EF lenses but I am not sure if that is worth the hassle of a mount adapter or if it just ruins the form factor of the R10. Ive been reading forums all week and everyone seems to disagree. Has anyone actually used the 50mm on the R50/R10 for paid portrait work or am I gonna regret not saving up for a more premium glass? Just looking for some real world advice before I pull the trigger on something I might have to return...
Honestly, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM works well enough for portraits. It stays super compact and is basically a steal for the price, no complaints here for the R10.
Re: Honestly, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM works... yeah, it is a classic for a reason, but honestly if you are worried about that tight crop on your R10, you might want to look at the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM. It is a bit more than the nifty fifty, but you can find it used for close to your 300 dollar limit if you look around. That 35mm focal length feels way more natural on an APS-C body for indoor stuff, and the macro capability is just an awesome bonus for detail shots at weddings like rings or flowers. Adding my two cents on the adapter situation: honestly, don't sweat it. Grabbing a cheap Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R opens up so many doors. You could pick up a used Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM and it turns into an absolute bokeh machine on your R10. It is a bit longer, but for portraits, that reach is super flattering. I used that combo for a while and the autofocus speed is surprisingly punchy even with the adapter. Youre not gonna regret it. If you want to keep the kit super light and compact, though, stick with the RF 35mm. It is pretty much the sweet spot for a do-it-all lens that won't make your R10 feel front-heavy.
Honestly, if you want that creamy background without breaking the bank or dealing with bulky adapters, look into the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary. It is an absolute beast for APS-C bodies like yours! Since it was originally designed for mirrorless, it balances perfectly on the R10 and gives you a much more versatile 48mm equivalent field of view. Here is why it crushes it for portraits:
- The f/1.4 aperture is unreal for low light and crazy bokeh.
- It is super sharp wide open, which is perfect for your 24mp sensor.
- The build quality feels way more premium than the nifty fifty. Check out some Flickr sample groups to see the rendering yourself. It is basically the best portrait lens for crop sensors out there right now. Dont sweat the gear too much, just get shooting!
Same setup here, love it
