Ive been shooting with my T7 for about three years now and honestly I thought I had the whole kit lens thing figured out. Like I get the exposure triangle, I know how to use my settings, but lately my portraits are just looking so flat. I keep trying to get that creamy background blur, the bokeh look, but the 18-55mm just isnt cutting it no matter how much I zoom in. It feels like I hit a wall where the glass is holding me back and it is driving me absolutely insane.
I have a family reunion coming up in about three weeks in Chicago and I promised to take some decent headshots of the cousins, but right now if I look at my test shots the separation between the subject and the background is just non-existent. Its all too sharp everywhere and looks like a basic point and shoot photo. My budget is tight because I just paid for flights, so I really dont want to spend more than 200 bucks if I can help it. I keep seeing people talk about the 50mm f/1.8 STM but I read somewhere that on the crop sensor of the Rebel it acts more like an 80mm which sounds fine for portraits but I am worried about being stuck in tight indoor spaces at the venue.
Is the 50mm actually the move or should I be looking for something else that doesnt cost a fortune? Im just frustrated because I feel like I am doing everything right in manual mode but the result is still so amateur looking. Does anyone have a better recommendation for an EF-S body that wont break the bank? Or should I just bite the bullet and get the nifty fifty and hope for the best...
To add to the point above: how much space do you actually have? In my experience, these tips help:
- Back up further
- Use Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Hope it works out.
If you are worried about the space, you might want to consider the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. It fits your budget and gives you a wider field of view than the 50mm, which is way safer for cramped family reunion spots.
- It is super compact.
- Great for group shots too. The 50mm is cool, but indoors on a crop sensor it can definitely feel restrictive. Just depends on your shooting style.
Honestly, grab the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Itll be tight indoors, but that background blur is unbeatable for the price. Forget the kit lens, this is totally the move.
