sorry if this is a dumb question but I just got an R10 for my kids birthday and I want that blurry background look. my logic was to get a 50mm since they are cheap but people mention crop sensors and I have no idea what that means. my budget is $200ish, which prime is best?
OMG you are gonna love the R10! For that amazing blurry background, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the king of budget lenses. Since your sensor is a crop, it multiplies the 50mm by 1.6, so it feels like an 80mm. It is a super safe, reliable choice that gives fantastic results! Just remember to step back a bit. TL;DR: The 50mm is absolute bokeh magic!
Re: "OMG you are gonna love the R10! For..." - yeah, the 50mm is the standard answer for a reason. It works. Just remember that 1.6x crop factor means youre effectively at 80mm. Great for portraits, but might be a struggle in a small room. If you can stretch the budget later, the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM is wider, but for now the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM is the way to go.
Building on the earlier suggestion, everyone is spot on about that crop factor stuff. Tbh, I made the mistake of not listening to that advice when I first started! I was so hyped for the blurry backgrounds that I didnt realize how much I would have to move my feet. I ended up backing into a wall at a birthday party just trying to fit everyone in the frame... it was super awkward lol. So my big warning is just watch your distance! Youre gonna get that amazing pro look you want, but youll definitely be doing a lot of zooming with your feet since it feels tighter than youd expect. Basically, the consensus is that a prime is the best value for your money, just keep that extra 1.6x zoom in mind so you dont get frustrated in small rooms!
Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.
If youre looking to stay under $200, the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM is basically the only move. Ive tried many budget primes over the years across different brands, and compared to something like the Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm f2, the Canon feels a bit more robust in the hand. On the R10, that 50mm glass is light enough that my wrist doesnt ache after a long day of shooting. I once used the older Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM with an adapter and it was just clunky for travel. This native RF version has a PMo aspherical element that really helps with the image quality. I was shooting a neighbors graduation recently and even in weird lighting, the contrast held up better than any cheap third-party glass like a Yongnuo. Its basically an 80mm equivalent on your sensor, which is perfect for portraits. Quick tips:
- Get as close as possible to your subject to maximize that background blur.
- Turn on Eye Detection in your R10 settings so the lens nails the focus every time.
Helpful thread 👍
