Picked up a Canon EOS R50 a few weeks ago mainly to take pics of my dog and do some casual portraits of my friends when we hang out. I only have the kit lens right now and its just not cutting it for blurry backgrounds. Ive been looking into the RF 50mm f1.8 cause its cheap, but Ive also read that on an apsc sensor like the r50, 50mm acts more like an 80mm which might be way too tight indoors since my living room is tiny. But then people say the RF 35mm is better for indoor space even tho it costs more... Im stressing out cause I only have like 250 bucks to spend and my sisters graduation is literally next month and I need to get this right. What should I actually buy?
In my experience testing crop sensor bodies over the years, focal length math gets people every time. An 80mm equivalent in a cramped living room is definitely a struggle. With a tight 250 dollar budget and a graduation coming up fast, you actually have a solid path forward. Skip the pricier alternatives and grab the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM. Yes, it acts like an 80mm on your R50, which is tight indoors, but you can always step back or shoot outside for portraits. If indoor space is an absolute dealbreaker and your living room is tiny, look for a used Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM instead, or check refurbished sites to stay under budget. The 50mm gives you that background blur you want for dirt cheap though.
Late to the party here, but focal length math definitely trips people up. That 1.6x crop factor on your R50 turns a standard 50mm into an 80mm full-frame equivalent field of view, which honestly destroys any hope of indoor group shots in a small space. Minimum focus distance matters too. With your 250 dollar limit, look into getting a manual focus prime or adapted vintage glass via an adapter. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM paired with a basic EF-RF adapter fits well under your budget and gives you that background blur you want. Autofocus wont be lightning fast, but it gets the job done for portraits if your friends and dog arent sprinting around. Another solid data point is the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 RF mount manual lens. It sits right around 80 bucks brand new, hits a 56mm full frame equivalent on your crop sensor, and lets in a ton of light for low-light indoor graduation parties. You lose electronic communication with the camera body, but peaking focus makes manual a breeze once you practice for ten minutes. Hang in there, you'll figure it out before the big day!
Man, watching every single dollar disappear on camera gear is so stressful, especially when graduation is right around the corner. Prices are just ridiculous lately and taxes always sneak up on you at checkout. I feel your pain so much right now.