What lens should I actually buy for taking portraits on my Canon R6? Im seriously so lost looking at all these numbers and stuff. I just got the camera a month ago and the lens that came with it is fine but my photos dont look like the cool blurry background ones I see online. Im totally new to this so sorry if that sounds stupid. Im based in Chicago and really dont want to spend more than 600 bucks if I can help it. My sister is getting married in June and I really wanna be able to take some nice shots of her. Is there something easy to use that wont break the bank?
Honestly, the kit lens is a total letdown for portraits. You really need a wider aperture to get that background blur. If you want to stay under budget, check these out:
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM - super cheap and sharp but can be a bit noisy
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM - bit more expensive but way better for portraits imo Dont bother with anything else. The 85mm is basically magic for weddings.
Just catching up on this thread. Honestly, that creamy background blur you see online is all about aperture and compression. Since you are on a budget and shooting a wedding, grab the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. I remember using an 85mm on my first full-frame setup years ago and it completely changed my portrait game. It gives you that classic look without you having to stand right on top of the bride. Quick tip: move your subject further away from the background. The more distance between them and the wall or trees behind them, the blurrier it gets. Also, set your camera to aperture priority mode and keep that f-number as low as it goes. Youll be surprised how much better your shots look just by changing your positioning. Good luck with the wedding, just dont stress too much about the gear.
TL;DR: The glass matters more than the sensor, but cheap lenses often suffer from optical aberrations that drive me crazy. Stumbled upon this today. Man, I remember when I first picked up a full-frame body and expected magic. Unfortunately, my first prime was honestly disappointing. The chromatic aberration was rampant and the focus breathing made shooting video a total nightmare. I learned the hard way that a wide aperture is only half the battle. If the optics arent sharp, you just get a blurry mess instead of a nice bokeh. My current setup is way more consistent, though it took some trial and error to accept that you usually get what you pay for. Dont stress about the numbers too much, just keep testing the focal lengths until the perspective looks right to your eye.
