I need some help like yesterday because my cousin is getting married in exactly three weeks and I volunteered to do the portraits which I am now realizing was a massive mistake. I am shooting with a Canon EOS R8 and I have a budget of about 600 bucks tops because I already blew most of my savings on the body itself.
I keep reading that the RF 50mm f/1.8 is the holy grail for budget shooters but then I see people on Reddit swearing that it produces weird distortion and that I absolutely have to get the 85mm f/2 for proper portraits. Im based in Manchester and the shipping options are kinda garbage right now so I need to make a decision by Friday at the latest.
My logic is that maybe I should just stick to the 50mm since its cheap and I could maybe afford a decent light too but will the photos look amateurish compared to what the 85mm could do? I want that creamy background blur but im worried the 85mm might be way too tight for some of the smaller indoor reception venues. My head is spinning reading these conflicting threads everywhere. Just tell me, is the 85mm worth the extra stress or should I just grab the 50mm and call it a day...
> My logic is that maybe I should just stick to the 50mm since its cheap and I could maybe afford a decent light too but will the photos look amateurish compared to what the 85mm could do? Honestly, just get the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Its plenty sharp. Nobody sees amateur photos if you light them right. Put that extra cash into a Godox V860III TTL Li-ion Flash for Canon instead. Learning how to bounce that flash will make your shots look way more pro than the 85mm ever would alone. Youll be fine.
Look, dont panic! The R8 is an absolute beast, you're gonna be fine. Honestly, skip the 85mm for now if you are worried about space. Indoor wedding receptions get cramped fast and you dont wanna be backed into a wall trying to get a shot of the couple. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is surprisingly sharp and the bokeh is actually really solid for the price. You can grab that and still have enough leftover cash to pick up a decent flash like the Godox V860III-C Speedlight, which is way more important for a wedding than prime vs prime debates anyway! You seriously need that light for the reception dance floor. Trust me, the nifty fifty isnt amateur stuff at all. Grab the 50mm, get a flash, and go kill it.
Honestly, since you are in a pinch, the 50mm is probably safer for tight spots. I have heard the 85mm is technically better for portraits, but if you cant back up far enough in small venues, you are gonna be frustrated. Idk, maybe stick with the cheaper one and focus on your lighting setup instead. Getting the light right usually makes a bigger difference than the focal length anyway tbh. You got this, dont stress too much.