So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed an R50 after shooting on an old Rebel T3i for literally a decade and man the difference is crazy lol. Im actually shocked at how fast the eye tracking is but now Im stuck with just the 18-45mm kit lens and it feels kinda... dark? Especially when I'm trying to get some nice bokeh for portraits. Ive always known my way around manual exposure but the whole RF vs RF-S thing is confusing me since some of the full frame glass is way too expensive for me right now and I dont want to buy something that wont fit. I have about $250-300 left in my budget before I head out on a road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in two weeks and I really want something fast for low light and some sharp street shots. Was looking at the RF 50mm f1.8 because its cheap but then I remembered the crop factor makes it like an 80mm which might be too tight for walking around? Or should I just save up for the 28mm pancake lens? What do you guys think is the best first real lens for this body if I want to stay on a budget?
> the whole RF vs RF-S thing is confusing me Its honestly frustrating how thin the RF-S lineup is. I had issues with the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM since the lack of IS on your R50 makes low light shots really hit-or-miss. Not as good as expected when youre shooting handheld. Unfortunately, the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM is pricey for what you get. You might be better off adapting an older Canon EF 35mm f2 IS USM.
You have two main options within that budget. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is excellent for low light, tho the 80mm equivalent focal length is tight for street. Alternatively, the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM pancake provides a more natural 45mm equivalent view. Both lenses fit the R50 natively and stay under $300 so you dont need an adapter... worth looking into.
Just saw this thread and wanted to jump in because I went through the exact same struggle when I moved to mirrorless. Be careful with the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM on that R50 body. I learned the hard way that shooting at an 80mm equivalent without any image stabilization (IS) is way harder than it looks, especially if you're doing street photography while walking around. Since your camera doesn't have in-body stabilization, you might want to consider saving just a tiny bit more for a used Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM. I've seen them go for around $325-350 on secondary markets. It has built-in IS which is a lifesaver for low light and the 35mm focal length feels a lot more natural on a crop sensor... not too tight, not too wide. If you do stick to the $250 budget and grab the 50mm, just make sure to keep your shutter speed really high to avoid motion blur. It sucks to get back from a trip and realize your favorite shots are slightly soft because of hand shake. Either way, you're gonna love the AF on that R50 compared to the old T3i, its like night and day honestly.
Stumbled upon this thread today and honestly, I love the R50. It packs a punch for the size. Before you drop any cash, do you find yourself shooting mostly people or are you leaning more toward landscape shots during your road trip? I really enjoy using the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM but yeah, the lack of stabilization on the body makes it tricky for handheld shots if you dont have a steady hand. If you want something super compact, that pancake Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is fun, but it doesnt give you that creamy background blur like the 50mm does. Maybe try hunting for a used copy of the 50mm? You can usually snag one for way under $200, which leaves you plenty of money for extra batteries or a decent memory card for the mountains.
Late to the party, but honestly, the R50 is a solid little workhorse. I have been using it for a while now and I am perfectly satisfied with the image quality once you move past the kit lens. Before you commit your cash, are you planning on taking more environmental shots where you need to show the scenery, or are you strictly hunting for tight portraits?
- The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is sharp as a tack for portraits, but you need decent light or a tripod to avoid blur.
- Consider the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM if you find yourself needing more reach for those mountain landscapes; it covers almost everything for travel. Since you are heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains soon, having image stabilization in the lens itself makes a world of difference for hiking shots. Let me know what you lean towards!
Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.
Same boat, watching this
