What's the absolute best budget prime lens I should grab for my new Canon EOS R50? I finally pulled the trigger on the camera last week because Im heading to Japan next month for a three week trip and I really want to step up my photography game beyond just using my iPhone. Ive been playing around with the kit lens that came in the box but honestly its kind of a letdown when the sun starts going down and everything gets all grainy and noisy.
I did a bunch of reading and found a couple options:
- RF 50mm f1.8
- RF 28mm f2.8 pancake
Everyone says to get the 50mm because its super cheap and has that nifty fifty reputation but then I saw some people saying on a crop sensor like the R50 it actually acts like an 80mm lens? That seems way too zoomed in for walking around cities or taking food pics at a table. Then I saw that 28mm one which looks awesome because its so tiny but its only f2.8 and Im worried that wont be fast enough for cool night street shots in Tokyo or dark restaurants.
My budget is pretty tight after buying the camera body so Im looking to stay under like 250 or 300 bucks tops. Should I just deal with the 50mm being tight or is there something else Im missing that works better for a beginner who just wants blurry backgrounds and good low light performance?
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed with the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM when I first used it on a crop sensor like yours. Everyone hypes it up because of the price, but unfortunately it ends up being way too tight for regular travel. Youll basically be backing into traffic just to fit a building in the frame... it isnt as good as expected for general city walks. I also tried the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM and while the size is amazing, that f2.8 aperture was a bit of a letdown in dark Tokyo izakayas compared to faster glass. Since your budget is tight, Id say go with the 28mm anyway. Its much safer for those narrow streets than the 50mm. Just watch your shutter speed and you should be fine. I really want you to get those shots, so if you need help with settings later, just let me know.
