I am honestly so fed up with the kit lens that came with my 90D. I’ve been trying to make it work for a year but I’m just done, every time I take a portrait it looks flat and the background is barely blurry at all. It feels like I’m shooting with a phone and it is driving me crazy because I know this camera can do better. I have my sisters graduation coming up in about three weeks here in Chicago and I really need to find something that gives me that creamy look before then.
I’ve been looking around but the options are honestly overwhelming and I dont want to waste more money on something that sucks. I'm looking for recommendations that actually fit these goals:
- budget is max $500-600 if I push it
- needs to be great in lower light because the ceremony is later in the day
- has to be sharp because I hate soft images
- something that fits the crop sensor well without being too zoomed in
I keep hearing about the 50mm f1.8 because it is cheap but then some people say the 85mm is the way to go, but wouldnt that be way too tight on a 90D? I just want something that works without me having to fight the gear every single time I press the shutter. What are you guys actually using for this?
Ive used many lenses over the years and the 85mm is way too tight for a 90D indoors. Youll be backing into walls trying to frame the shot.
- Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC HSM Art for Canon EF
- Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM The Sigma is the one to get. Its super sharp and that f1.4 aperture is how you get that creamy background without fighting the gear.
Jumping in because I learned this the hard way at a graduation years ago. I thought a long lens was smart but spent the whole time bumping into people... Be careful with fixed focal lengths if you cant move around much.
- Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD for Canon EF
- Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM The Tamron has stabilization which is a lifesaver in dim gyms.
> 50mm f1.8 because it is cheap but then some people say the 85mm is the way to go, but wouldnt that be way too tight on a 90D? You are spot on about the 85mm being tight. I learned that lesson at a wedding years ago when I was still shooting on an old APS-C body. I thought the extra reach would be nice, but I spent half the night backed into corners trying to fit more than one person in the frame. It was a mess. If you have $500 to spend, skip the cheap plastic stuff. I eventually upgraded to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art and the difference was night and day. It is a bit of a brick weight-wise, but it is incredibly sharp even wide open at f/1.4, which you will need for a dim Chicago ceremony. It is way more reliable than the older Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM which has a focus motor that can be a bit fragile. If you want something with stabilization tho, look at the Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD. It is a slightly wider focal length but it feels very natural on a crop body like the 90D. It handles low light well because of the VC, even if it is a half stop slower than the Sigma. Both are lightyears ahead of that kit lens you are fighting right now. Plus, they both work great if you ever move to an R-series camera later with an adapter.
Regarding what #2 said about jumping in because I learned this the hard way... man, graduations are pure chaos! I remember my cousins big day. I spent a fortune on travel and then forgot my extra battery at home! Missing the stage walk because I was frantically asking random strangers for a charger was such a disaster... total mess tho! Saving money on gear is great but dont forget to check your bag first!
Solid advice 👍
