What portrait lens should I be looking at for my Rebel T7? Ive been shooting with the standard kit lens for like three years now and honestly its served me fine for general stuff but the bokeh just isnt cutting it for these senior portrait sessions Im booking next month. Im based in Chicago and really need something that can handle indoor light better without breaking the bank since I only have about 250 bucks to drop right now. Should I just grab the nifty fifty or is there something else that plays nicer with the crop sensor? I keep hearing mixed things about the sharpness on the older canon glass so I dont know what to pull the trigger on...
Honestly, skip the old non-STM versions if you can. I used a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II for years but unfortunately the autofocus was loud and pretty unreliable in low light. Save up a bit more for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM instead. Its sharper and way faster. Just watch your aperture indoors, try to stay around f/2.8 to keep the eyes sharp since your crop sensor makes depth of field tricky.
Coming back to this, I totally feel your pain with the kit lens! I spent forever trying to get that creamy background blur on my own crop sensor and just couldnt make it happen. I finally saved up for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and honestly it changed everything for me. It was the first time I actually felt like a pro during a shoot! The autofocus is super snappy and quiet, which is huge when you are working indoors with clients. I always check used sites like MPB or KEH because you can snag one for way under your budget. Seriously, dont stress about the sharpness, this thing is incredible for the price. Just keep your shutter speed up if you are shooting wide open indoors, otherwise you might get some slight blur. You are gonna love it!
Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.
