So I finally got my hands on a Canon 90D after saving up forever and I am so stoked to start using it but honestly I feel like a total idiot looking at all these lens options online lol. I went to the park near my place in Austin yesterday to try and take some photos of my best friend for her graduation and they just looked... okay? Like they look like phone pictures but a little sharper? I want that really pretty blurry background look that you see in professional portraits but I have no idea how to get it with the lens that came in the box. I think its called an 18-135 thingy?
Anyway I started googling and there are just way too many numbers and letters like EF and EF-S and f/1.8 and I am drowning in jargon. I really want to get a portrait lens specifically because my sister is getting married next month and I promised I would take some nice shots of the family at the rehearsal dinner. I dont want to let her down or show up with something that looks like I used an old iPhone!
Heres what I am looking for I guess:
- something that makes the background really soft and blurry so the person pops
- my budget is probably around 300 or 400 bucks max because the camera already cost me a ton
- it needs to be easy for a beginner to use without me having to watch ten hours of youtube videos
- I mostly take photos of people standing still or posing
I saw something about a nifty fifty which sounds cool and cheap but then someone else said on a crop sensor it might be too zoomed in? I dont even know what a crop sensor is really sorry if that sounds dumb. Is there a specific one you guys would suggest for someone who is literally just starting out and has no clue what they are doing? I just want the pictures to look professional for my sisters big day...
To add to the point above: if the 50mm feels too tight indoors, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art is a beast for crop sensors. In my experience, it gives you that crazy blur even in tight spots. Honestly tho, just start with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Set your dial to Av and use the lowest f-number possible. It is basically a cheat code for pro-looking shots.
Coming back to this... you're gonna love that camera, honestly. I've used the 90D for a ton of shoots and it never lets me down. Before you buy anything though, how much room will you actually have at the dinner? Like is it a tiny private room at a restaurant or a big open space? That matters a lot for which zoom level you need. Since you're worried about the crop sensor thing, basically it just means any lens you put on there looks closer than it would on a pro film camera. So a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the classic choice. It is super cheap and honestly works so well for that blurry look. You really cant go wrong for a first lens. If you want even more of that wow factor and have the budget, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is incredible for portraits. The background just melts away. The downside is you have to stand pretty far back from people, which sucks in small rooms. If you find out the place is really small, maybe look at the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. It wont give you as much blur as the 50mm, but it makes it way easier to take photos of groups of people without having to run into the hallway lol. Personally I think you'll be happiest with the 50mm, its a classic for a reason. Let me know about the venue size tho!
Yo, congrats on the 90D! It is such a killer camera but yeah, that kit lens you have isnt gonna give you that creamy blur you're after. That nifty fifty everyone talks about is honestly the best place to start, but you gotta be careful because on your 90D it acts like an 80mm lens... basically it means you'll have to stand pretty far back from people to get them in the frame. I would definitely suggest these two for your budget:
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- Its super cheap and basically the king of blurry backgrounds for beginners. Just watch out in small rooms.
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art for Canon EF
- This is closer to your max budget but it lets in even more light and isnt as zoomed in as the 50mm. Since you're doing a wedding rehearsal, just make sure to practice focusing before the big night. Use that f/1.8 or f/1.4 setting and you'll see the magic immediately. It might feel weird standing so far away at first with the 50mm but the photos will look way more pro than any phone.
Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷
