I just got a Canon 90D and honestly I have no idea what I am doing yet. My sisters graduation is literally next weekend and the pictures with the kit lens look kind of blurry and dark. Someone told me I need a prime lens but I dont even know what that really means... I think it means it doesnt zoom? I only have about 150 bucks left after buying the camera used so I need something cheap but good for people photos. Im really stressed and totally lost with all these numbers and settings. Which budget prime lens should I actually get for this camera?
^ This. Also, if you are looking at a 150 dollar limit, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is basically the standard choice for portraits. It is a decent option that performs well for the price point and is much sharper than your kit lens in low light. Since you mentioned being stressed about settings, try these for the graduation:
- Put the camera in Av mode and set it to f/1.8 or f/2.2.
- Keep the ISO on Auto so the camera handles the indoor lighting.
- Use the center focus point to make sure her face stays sharp. The 50mm focal length is a bit long on a 90D, so you will be walking back and forth to frame the shot since it doesn't zoom. It is a bit of a learning curve, but it works. Just make sure you dont stand too close or you will only get her head and shoulders in the frame.
Just saw this. I had issues with cheap off-brand glass early on and it was a total letdown. Not as good as expected and the focus missed constantly... unfortunately. I eventually just grabbed these to save my sanity:
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM The 50mm focal length is way better for graduation portraits on your 90D.
> I think it means it doesnt zoom? Yeah, exactly. A prime lens is fixed at one focal length. It sounds like a downside but it actually lets in way more light than your kit lens can handle. That blurriness youre seeing is likely from the camera using a slow shutter speed to compensate for the kit lens being slow or dark. Primes have wider apertures, which solves that. In my experience, picking the right prime depends entirely on your position. Are you gonna be sitting way back in the bleachers or right up near the stage? Also, is the ceremony inside a dim gym or outside? Since your 90D has an APS-C sensor, the effective focal length is 1.6x whatever is written on the lens. Knowing the distance and lighting helps me narrow down whether you need something wider or something with more reach for stage shots.
Helpful thread 👍
Good to know!
tbh i agree with sticking to the official brand glass rather than those random cheap ones you find on amazon. i've heard way too many stories about off-brand lenses losing connection or the autofocus just giving up, and you really dont want that happening when she is walking across the stage. reliability is huge for events like this. i think the stm motor mentioned in the previous posts is supposed to be much more reliable for tracking moving people too. not 100 percent sure how the Canon EOS 90D handles the eye-af with that specific lens, but iirc it is still miles better than struggling with a dark kit lens. just grab some extra batteries and you should be set.
