I just got my Canon R10 last week and Im so excited to start taking photos of my friends but I realized the kit lens is kinda meh for portraits. Im super new to this whole camera thing so sorry if this is a dumb question but what should I get? I only have about 200 or 300 bucks to spend right now. I live in the US and really just want that blurry background look everyone has on Instagram. Im totally lost looking at all the different numbers on the lenses online. Is there a cheap one that just works for beginners?
TL;DR: Grab the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for the best bang for your buck. Honestly, it is the classic choice for a reason. Since you are rocking the R10, the crop factor makes that 50mm lens act like an 80mm, which is basically the sweet spot for portraits. The f/1.8 aperture is super wide, so it will give you that creamy blurry background you want without breaking the bank. It usually sits right around 180 bucks, so you will definitely stay under your budget. I have used this glass for years and it works well for the price point. No complaints here, it is sharp enough and surprisingly light. Just keep in mind you will need to grab the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R if you ever decide to pick up cheaper older lenses, but for now, stick with the native RF mount stuff. Happy shooting!
Had a moment to think about this more. If you really want that background separation, aperture is your best friend. In my experience, manual focus lenses can be a headache for beginners, but the optics on some budget primes are surprisingly sharp for the price. If you want to expand your kit without breaking the bank, check these out:
- TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Lens for a wider view that is great for environmental portraits.
- Meike 50mm f/1.7 Manual Focus Lens which offers a slightly faster aperture than the standard starter gear. Just remember, you will need to enable release shutter without lens in your R10 settings since these do not have electronic contacts. It takes a little practice to nail focus manually, but the depth of field you get at f/1.4 is worth the effort.
Re: TL;DR: Grab the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM... Yeah, that is definitely the standard move for R10 users. It is super light and really sharp for the price. If you want something a bit different, or maybe a bit wider for group shots, you could look at manual options to save cash, but stick to autofocus for now while you are learning. Since you are just starting out, maybe check these out too:
- Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
- Nice for wider portraits where you want some scenery in the back.
- Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
- A bit pricier but way more versatile than the kit lens. Just be careful with generic third-party glass online, some of it is hit or miss with autofocus accuracy. Stick to Canon native stuff and you should be good.
Just catching up on this thread. Honestly, trying to save a buck on third-party glass for a new mount can be super frustrating sometimes. I bought a cheap off-brand prime a while back hoping to get that exact look, but unfortunately had issues with the autofocus hunting constantly and the mount felt super loose. Not fun when you are trying to grab a quick candid of a friend.
- Look into used gear if you want better build quality without spending a ton
- Sometimes local camera shops have old EF glass with a reliable adapter for cheap It is definitely worth checking out the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM paired with the official adapter if you find a good deal used. That setup treated me way better than the sketchy third-party stuff I tried first.
Great info, saved!