What is the absolute best budget lens for a Canon Rebel T7 right now? Im so hyped because I finally picked up the camera for some street photography in Chicago next month, but the kit lens is already killing my vibe. I read that the nifty fifty 50mm f/1.8 is the gold standard for beginners, but then some folks on reddit said its too zoomed in for tight city alleys and I should look at a pancake lens instead? Im honestly just confused by all the focal length talk and I dont wanna waste my last 200 bucks on something that wont work for my trip. Any advice on what to grab?
Honestly, grab the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. I took that exact setup to downtown Chicago a couple years back and it changed everything. The 50mm is cool, but on your Rebel, the crop factor makes it way too tight for those narrow alleys. This pancake lens is tiny, super sharp, and basically makes the camera feel like a point-and-shoot which is perfect for street stuff. I was really happy with how it handled the low light under the L tracks too. It stays under your 200 buck limit easily, so you might even have enough cash left over for a coffee. Just stick with this one, it works well and you wont regret the extra space in your bag.
Building on the earlier suggestion, the 24mm is solid but honestly, I had issues with its autofocus speed in low light. It hunt a bit too much for my liking. If you want something sharper for street stuff, maybe look at these:
- Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM - slightly tighter but razor sharp.
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art - way better low light but it will push your budget. The pancake is fine, just dont expect perfection.
Like someone mentioned, the 24mm pancake is a staple but honestly I had issues with mine feeling super plasticky and the manual focus ring is just abysmal. It really wasnt as good as I expected for street stuff tbh. Since you are heading to Chicago, those alleys are notoriously tight. You might actually want to consider the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. It isnt a prime lens, but for architecture and urban shots, it is a total game changer. I was kinda bummed when I first saw how much wider my shots got compared to the kit lens. It really opens up the frame. Just dont expect it to be great in the dark since the aperture is a bit slow. But for your upcoming trip, its way better than feeling cramped.