What is actually the best budget lens for a Canon 5D Mark IV right now because Im seriously losing my mind trying to figure this out. I need something by next month for a casual family wedding shoot in Ohio and my wallet is crying. I only have about three hundred bucks left to spend. I looked at the nifty fifty 50mm f1.8 since everyone online swears by it, but then a bunch of forum threads said it feels too cheap and plastic on a heavy body like the 5D, while others recommended an older used 24-105mm kit lens which sounds okay but I am worried about soft corners. Why is picking glass so complicated? Which one should I actually buy?
TL;DR: Grab a used Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and dont worry about the plastic body at all! It punches way above its price tag. Quick question though - do you already have any zoom lenses at all in your bag right now, or is that 300 bucks literally your total starting budget for the whole wedding?
To add to the point above: if you want a sharp zoom that wont kill your budget, look for a used Tamron SP 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD on MPB or KEH. I've tested dozens of budget options over the years, and this old workhorse regularly sells for under two hundred bucks. You get a constant f/2.8 aperture which saves you in dim Ohio church receptions, and the sharpness punches way above its price point. Skip the kit lens worries and grab one of those instead of the prime if you need framing flexibility for family groups.
Honestly dont stress too much about how the nifty fifty feels, because the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is still your best bet for 300 bucks. Yeah it feels a bit plasticky on a heavy 5D IV, but the images look great and it wont break the bank. I used one for years before upgrading and never had real issues with it. Just grab that and save your money for the wedding.