Adding my two cents because I have been very satisfied with the R50 lately. It is a solid choice for starting out. To get that blurry background look you want within a 250 budget, the best move is definitely the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. It works well for low light and gives you that nice separation from the background. I use it all the time and honestly have no complaints for the price point. I do need to ask a quick clarifying question though before you buy anything. Are you more focused on the cat photos at home or the zoo trip? That lens is a prime, meaning it doesnt zoom in or out at all. Itll be perfect for your cat, but you might find it tough to get close-ups of animals at the zoo. Do you think you would prefer a lens that lets you zoom or are you happy to just move your feet to get closer to your subjects?

Honestly, 250 bucks is a really tough spot to be in with the R50 right now. Unfortunately, Canon hasn't let other companies like Sigma or Tamron make cheap autofocus lenses for this system yet, which is a total letdown for beginners on a budget. I had issues finding anything decent when I first started too. Since you're confused by the numbers, here is the basic breakdown of what you're looking at:

• The mm number is the focal length. A low number like 18mm is wide, while a high number like 200mm is like a telescope for far away animals.
• The f-number (aperture) is what creates that blur. A lower number like f/1.8 means more blur. Your current kit lens probably only goes down to f/4.5 or f/6.3, which is why it looks so flat. For your cat photos, the only real option that fits your budget is the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. It's great for that blurry background, but it's a prime lens, meaning it doesnt zoom at all. You have to move your feet to frame the shot. Also, on your specific camera, it actually acts more like an 80mm lens, so you might find yourself backing into walls just to get the whole cat in the shot. For the zoo trip, you really need the Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM. It's not as good as I expected because it requires a ton of light to get sharp photos, but it's the only cheap way to actually see the animals from the path. Just dont expect much background blur with that one unless the animal is really far from the trees behind it.

Like someone mentioned, the 50mm is a total classic for that blurry look, but I'm gonna politely disagree about it being the best choice for your zoo trip. I've been super happy with my R50, but a 50mm lens doesn't zoom at all, so those lions and bears are gonna look like tiny ants in your photos. Honestly, Canon's native RF-S glass works so well for beginners because it's way lighter than the stuff you see on Sony or Nikon setups. Here are two ways to spend that 250 bucks:

• Look for a used Canon RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM. If you zoom it all the way to 210mm, it actually creates a really nice blurry background because of the long focal length, plus youll actually see the animals.
• If you really want the blurriest background for the cat, stay with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM but just know you'll have to walk back and forth to frame your shots. I'm honestly so satisfied with the RF-S 55-210mm for travel because it's tiny and fits the R50 perfectly. It's way better than carrying a heavy adapter and old lenses. You're gonna have a blast in San Diego, just keep practicing with those numbers and it'll click!

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Honestly, this whole thread is giving me major flashbacks to when my younger brother first got his camera. He was so excited to take photos of his golden retriever, but he spent literally his entire savings on this super weird vintage lens that wouldnt even attach to the body properly. It turned into this whole ordeal where he spent three weeks just trying to find an adapter online, and then when it finally arrived, the thing was so heavy he couldnt even hold it steady for more than two seconds. He ended up just using his phone for the rest of that summer and the camera sat in his closet collecting dust for like a year. It was such a bummer to watch. Since you mentioned the zoo, are you planning on taking mostly portraits of the animals or are you hoping to get those wide shots of the whole habitats? Just curious because I remember how tricky it can be to pack the right gear when you have a long day of walking ahead of you. I had a moment to think about this while grabbing coffee, and it really brought back all those memories of that lens disaster.

Yeah, youre spot on about that kit lens being kinda meh for the blurry look. It really limits you. I would suggest being careful with what you buy next tho because the mount type matters a lot and you dont want to waste your savings.

• look for a low f-number
• check the weight Just make sure to avoid anything too bulky for that tiny camera body or itll feel super unbalanced.

Big if true