So I just got this Canon 90D for my birthday and I really want to take those blurry background photos of my dog in the backyard. I keep hearing about prime lenses being better than the kit one I have but I'm kinda lost. I was looking at the 50mm one because it's cheap (I only have about 250 bucks left) but then I read somewhere that on my camera it actually acts like an 80mm? I don't really get how that works or if it's gonna be too zoomed in for my small living room. Is there something else I should be looking at or is that 50mm the right way to go... sorry if this is super basic i literally just opened the box yesterday.
Congrats on the gift! Honestly, the 90D is a total powerhouse. Unfortunately, I had a pretty disappointing experience when I first tried using that specific focal length on my own crop sensor camera. I thought it would be a game changer for indoor pet photos, but it really wasnt as good as expected for my small house. Here is what I struggled with:
- I was constantly backed up into corners just to get my dog in the shot.
- The magnification made every tiny hand shake look like a massive blur.
- It felt way too zoomed in for casual living room moments. I really wanted it to work, but the space just wasnt there. If your living room is tight like mine was, you might feel a bit suffocated by how much it zooms in. Its a learning curve for sure, but dont let it discourage you! Youll definitely get those blurry backgrounds once you find the right distance.
I went through this exact same thing and honestly, it was kind of a letdown. I bought the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM because everyone on YouTube says you need it, but inside my house it was a total nightmare. Since the 90D has that crop sensor, the 50mm acts like an 80mm... which means you're basically zoomed into your dogs ear if you're sitting on the couch. I was constantly hitting my head against the wall trying to get enough distance to fit him in the shot. If you're in a small room, the 50mm is gonna be way too tight. I eventually switched to the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM which is super cheap and actually lets you see the room. It doesnt get the background quite as blurry as the f/1.8 does, but at least you can actually use it without moving all your furniture. Ngl, I wish someone told me about the 24mm before I spent money on the 50mm. If you can find a used Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM it might be closer to what you want for blur, but for $250 the 24mm pancake is a much safer bet for indoors.
