I just got the R50 for my trip to Tokyo next month and Im honestly so overwhelmed. The kit lens it came with is okay I guess but I really want that blurry background look for street photos and portraits of my girlfriend. I only have about $250 left to spend which I know isnt much. I saw people talking about a 50mm 1.8 lens but then I read something about crop sensors and numbers changing? Does that mean the 50mm becomes a 80mm? Im so confused. My logic was just buy the cheapest one but I dont want to waste money on something that wont even fit. Do I need an adapter or something? Sorry if this is a total facepalm question I just really dont want to mess this up before the trip...
> Does that mean the 50mm becomes a 80mm? Exactly. That 1.6x crop makes the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM a 80mm equivalent. In my experience, its unbeatable for bokeh. I remember using it in Shinjuku; that f/1.8 aperture is essential for night street shots. The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is wider but offers less background separation. Honestly, just get the 50mm. You wont need an adapter since it fits the RF mount natively.
Jumping in real quick. You dont need an adapter for the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM because it fits your R50 natively. Just be careful though, that 80mm view is gonna feel really tight in crowded Tokyo spots. It is honestly the best budget choice for that blurry background look, just make sure you have room to back up from your subject! Itll be great for portraits.
Tokyo is amazing! I spent ages researching safe setups so I wouldnt mess up my trip there...
- search R50 adapter YouTube
- check Reddit Those videos are honestly lifesavers!
thought about this for a bit... you really gotta be careful with that crop factor thing. i remember my first trip to tokyo, i brought a setup i thought was perfect but it was way too tight for those narrow shinjuku alleys. i literally had to stand in the middle of the road just to get a decent shot and almost got hit by a taxi. not fun. before you buy anything else, check these out:
- dpreview's sample galleries for your specific camera body
- the official canon focal length simulator tool
- flickr groups for the r50 to see what others are actually getting i learned the hard way that a blurry background doesnt mean much if you cant actually fit your girlfriend in the frame. make sure to prioritize how much room you'll actually have in those crowds. i would suggest really looking at those simulators before you drop the cash.
