So I finally saved up and got a Canon 90D which is like way fancier than anything Ive ever owned and I am so excited to use it!! My sister is graduating college in about three weeks and I really want to take those professional looking photos of her in her cap and gown where she is in focus but the trees behind her are all soft and blurry.
Right now I just have the lens that came in the box but I heard you need a special one for portraits?? I looked online and saw all these numbers and I am honestly so lost and kind of embarrassed to even ask because it probably sounds so basic lol. I tried reading some guides but I got confused about:
- what does 50mm mean vs 85mm
- what is an f-stop or f1.8
- do all canon lenses fit all canon cameras
My budget is probably around 300 or 400 dollars max since I spent most of my money on the actual camera body. I live in a pretty small town so I have to order everything online and dont want to get the wrong thing and have to send it back before the big day. Does anyone have any ideas for what would work best for a beginner like me who just wants that nice blurry background look?
Congrats on the 90D, its seriously such a solid choice for starting out. I remember when I first got into portraits, I was so confused by all the numbers too. I actually bought a lens once that didnt even fit my mount because I didnt check the specs... huge headache. Basically, since your camera is a crop sensor model, you have to be really careful about focal length. I would suggest staying away from the 85mm for now because on your 90D, it acts more like a 135mm lens. I tried using an Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM at a graduation once and I had to stand so far back I was practically in another zip code just to get a full body shot. For your budget and that blurry look, you honestly cant beat the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Its super affordable and that f/1.8 number is what gives you the blur you are looking for. Just remember, the lower the f-stop number, the blurrier the background. But be careful when shooting at f/1.8 tho... if you focus on her nose, her eyes might actually be out of focus because the depth of field is so thin. You gotta make sure that focus point is right on the eye. Also, just a heads up on compatibility. Your 90D takes EF and EF-S lenses. Whatever you do, make sure you dont accidentally order a Canon RF lens. Those are for the newer mirrorless bodies and they wont click onto your 90D at all. Stick to that 50mm stm and you will have plenty of money left over for a nice memory card or a bag.
Like someone mentioned, 50mm is standard, but unfortunately I found it way too tight on crop bodies.
- try the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
- it is much more reliable
I have been dealing with this exact same headache for my 90D for a couple of months now and it is honestly exhausting. I consider myself pretty tech-savvy usually, but this whole lens world is a different beast entirely. Every time I think I have narrowed it down to a 50mm or an 85mm, I start worrying about the crop factor or if the f-stop is going to be enough for that blurry look I am after. It is a lot of pressure when you are working with a limited budget and you have got a big event like a graduation coming up... I am in the same spot where I dont want to mess up an online order and be stuck with a lens that doesnt do what I need. I have spent way too much time looking at comparison charts and I am still basically at square one. It is frustrating because you want to get those professional shots for your family but the barrier to entry with all these numbers and compatibility questions is so high. I have literally had tabs open for weeks and havent clicked buy because I am so paranoid about getting the wrong mount or a focal length that is way too tight for portraits. It is just a relief to know I am not the only one who finds this stuff completely overwhelming... hopefully we both figure it out before the big day.
