Im stressing out trying to pick a portrait lens for my T7 before my sisters wedding next month. Everyone keeps suggesting the 50mm f/1.8, but I read that the crop factor might make it too tight for indoor shots. Is that true? Should I just get the 35mm instead? Im totally lost and on a tight 200 dollar budget...
^ This. Also, if you really want that extra breathing room indoors, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens is a killer budget pick. It fits your budget perfectly and acts more like a 35mm on your crop sensor. It is super sharp and tiny, so you wont feel like a tourist lugging around a huge rig at the wedding. Def worth considering.
> I read that the crop factor might make it too tight for indoor shots. Honestly, it can be a bit cramped indoors with a T7. I used the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for years, and it is a solid value, but you gotta back up quite a bit. If you really feel restricted, look at the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. It is cheaper and gives you way more room.
Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.
Oh man, reading your post brought back so much stress. Honestly, it reminds me of when my cousin tried to shoot her own friend's wedding with a setup that sounded just like yours. She spent weeks agonizing over gear, and then, unfortunately, she ended up dropping her backup body into a fountain right before the ceremony started. It turned into a whole ordeal involving rice, hair dryers, and a lot of frantic running around in the hotel lobby. I still have nightmares about that day whenever I see a wedding invitation. It really makes you appreciate just how unpredictable things get when you're under pressure. I remember standing there just watching the chaos unfold while the bridesmaids were all trying to help, but let's just say it didnt end well for her photos. Anyway, weddings are wild, good luck with your shoot though!
> Oh man, reading your post brought back so much stress. Adding my two cents here, but honestly, weddings are stressful enough without worrying about focal lengths. Be careful with those pancake lenses mentioned earlier, as sometimes they just dont have the optical glass quality you really want for portraits when you zoom in on the photos later. Before you drop any cash, are you planning to be up close for headshots or are you trying to capture the whole group at the altar? That makes a massive difference for your depth of field. I would suggest sticking with Sigma or maybe even Tamron for glass. Just grab any fast prime from those third-party guys and you usually get way more bang for your buck than the native stuff. Just make sure to double check the mount compatibility since you are on a T7. Honestly, finding a used prime from one of those brands might be your best bet to stay under budget while getting that pro look.
