im shooting my sisters engagement portraits next month and have been stuck trying to figure out which glass is actually worth it for my canon rebel t7. i dont have a huge budget, maybe around 200 bucks, so i was thinking about just grabbing the nifty fifty because everyone online says its the holy grail, but then i read a few threads where people claimed the 50mm on a crop sensor feels way too tight indoors and that the 85mm might be better if i can find a deal? honestly im kinda torn because the logic seems to be that the 50mm is sharper for the price, but i need to be able to actually fit these people in the frame without backing into a wall. some forums swear by the ef 50mm f/1.8 stm but others say its too plasticky and focus is hit or miss on the older rebel bodies. has anyone actually used these on a crop sensor for portraits? is it worth hunting for a used 85mm or should i just stick with the 50mm and deal with the cramped space? im just really worried about buying the wrong thing and being stuck with it when the shoot happens in 4 weeks.
Honestly, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is decent, but focus consistency on the T7 has been underwhelming for me.
- Save cash on a used Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II.
To add to the point above: I actually think the 50mm is gonna be a headache if you are in a small apartment. I shot family portraits for years on a rebel body and honestly, that focal length felt like a chore indoors. If you can hunt down a used Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens, it might actually save your shoot. It is super cheap, sharp, and gives you enough room to breathe.
- Being wider helps when you cant physically back up anymore.
- Its so small you wont feel like the center of attention.
- Total steal if you find one pre-owned for like 100 bucks. Dont get me wrong, the plastic 50 is fine if you have space, but for an engagement shoot where you want natural candids, being able to move around is key. Just my two cents after dealing with tight spaces for way too long.
stumbled upon this a day late, but man i totally feel your pain on this autofocus mess. the t7 module is just notoriously sluggish in low light, and pairing it with something like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM can be super frustrating when you miss crucial engagement moments because of hunting. i had issues with the STM motor failing to lock on contrast edges indoors, and honestly, the mount tolerances on these budget copies leave a lot to be desired. unfortunately, you are stuck fighting entry-level gear limitations right before a big shoot. if you want better tracking reliability, you might actually need to look at manual focus fallback or rent an ultrasonic USM lens, though at that point it ruins the budget. hang in there though, just pump up your lighting so the phase detect sensors actually have a chance to work.
Honestly, skip the 85mm for an indoor engagement shoot on a T7. Even though it is a killer portrait length, you are gonna be constantly hitting walls. The nifty fifty Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is the move here. In my experience, it handles crop sensors just fine for portraits, and that wider aperture makes a huge difference compared to your kit lens. It is super cheap and honestly, for 200 bucks, you can probably grab one used and have enough left over for a cheap tripod or a speedlight. Dont stress the build quality, it is plenty sturdy for what you need. Stick with the 50mm, learn your space, and you will be golden. Just make sure you get the STM version for better focus. TL;DR: Get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens.