Im shooting a family reunion in Chicago next weekend and desperately need a prime lens for my Canon 90D. Budget is $350 max. I read the 50mm f1.8 is a must-have but people online keep saying it's too tight on a crop body and I should get a 24mm or 35mm instead. Which one actually works best for outdoor portraits?
Honestly I have been super happy with the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM on my 90D. It works well for those bigger group shots at reunions. The 50mm is nice for background blur but youll struggle to fit everyone in the frame outdoors.
- Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM for groups
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for solo headshots The 24mm pancake is a steal, go with that.
Unfortunately, I had a rough time with that 50mm at a park gathering last year. It was not as good as expected since I spent the whole time backing into trees just to fit my cousins in the frame... it was a mess.
- Look for the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM.
- Its way more flexible for outdoor groups.
- Used copies are usually under $300, fitting your budget perfectly.
To add to the point above: unfortunately I had a pretty mediocre experience trying to cram people into frame with the 50mm at a similar event. IIRC, the 1.6x crop factor on the 90D makes it behave like an 80mm lens, which is purely for tight portraits. Someone told me the 35mm is better, but I found the edge sharpness can be quite underwhelming on those cheaper primes... honestly, not sure if you can get what you need under $350.
