So i finally picked up a Rebel T7 a few months ago and while the kit lens that came in the box is fine for basic stuff I’m starting to feel like I’m hitting a wall with it. I really want that professional look where the person is sharp but the background is all blurry but I can’t seem to get that with the f/3.5-5.6 setup I have now especially since I’m usually shooting my kids running around or trying to get some nice shots of my garden here in Ohio.

I have been doing some reading and everyone says to get the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM because it is cheap and sharp but then I saw a few videos saying that on a crop sensor like the T7 it actually acts more like an 80mm lens? That sounds like it might be way too zoomed in if I’m trying to take photos indoors or in a tight space. I also looked at the 24mm f/2.8 pancake lens since it is super small and portable but I’m worried the f/2.8 wont give me that really nice bokeh I’m looking for. It is all getting a bit confusing because one person says one thing and another says the opposite lol.

Here is what I am looking for:

• Budget is pretty tight around $150 maybe $200 if I can find a good deal used
• Needs to be good for portraits but also some general walking around stuff
• I’m going on a trip to the Smokies in three weeks so I need to decide soon
• It has to be easy to use because I am still very much a beginner with all the manual settings

Should I just bite the bullet on the 50mm and deal with the zoom or is there something else I am missing for a T7 specifically? Maybe a Sigma or Tamron option if they even make them that cheap anymore... its hard to tell what is actually worth the money when you are just starting out and dont want to waste cash on the wrong gear.