What prime lens should I buy for taking portraits on my Canon R8 because I am totally lost and everything I read makes no sense? I just got this camera for my sisters wedding next month in Vermont and everyone keeps saying I need a prime lens but I dont even really know what that means or why it matters. I keep looking at the website and there are so many numbers like 35mm or 50 or 85 and some say f1.8 or f1.2 and the prices are all over the place like how can one be $200 and another be $2000? Im so frustrated because I just want that blurry background look but I dont want to spend a fortune maybe like $500 tops because I already spent so much on the camera itself.
I tried using the lens that came in the box but the pictures just look like my phone photos and I feel like I wasted my money honestly. Is the 50mm the one everyone talks about? Or should I get the 85? I heard the 85 makes people look better but then someone said it zooms in too much and I wont have space in the church. Im really sorry if this is a dumb question but I have no idea where to start and the wedding is coming up fast and I just want things to look professional for once...
Just saw this. Be careful, I once missed shots because an 85mm was way too zoomed in for the room.
Honestly, those high end lenses are totally overkill for what you need, but unfortunately the cheap ones can be a real letdown too. I had issues with the autofocus hunting on the basic primes when the lighting inside a venue isnt perfect. The performance is not as good as expected if you are trying to catch a quick moment like the first kiss. Since your budget is $500, here is the reality:
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is your cheapest way to get that blur, tho it feels kinda plasticky.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is actually better for tight indoor spaces like a church aisle. I tried using a longer lens at a wedding once and it was a nightmare because I kept having to move way too far back to fit anyone in. Grab the 50mm and just accept that it is not gonna feel like a professional piece of gear. It gets the blurry background you want but you gotta be careful with focus. Just dont waste money on the f/1.2 stuff right now... its way too heavy and hard to use for a beginner anyway.
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
Same setup here, love it
Yo! Since you are on a budget, that f-stop number is basically everything! It represents the ratio of the lens focal length to the diameter of the entrance pupil, and that is what gives you that insane blurry bokeh everyone loves. Honestly though, Vermont weddings are absolutely amazing! I went to one near Burlington a couple years back and the foliage was just incredible. We stayed at this quirky little inn that served these massive sourdough waffles every morning. I basically lived on those and maple lattes the whole weekend. I actually ended up missing half the rehearsal because I got distracted trying to photograph a moose I saw near the trailhead. Those things are huge! I spent like two hours just following it through the brush from a distance. I think I have more photos of that moose than of the actual bride... anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there!
