Honestly so fed up with the kit lens that came with my R10. It is just so slow in low light and honestly the bokeh is just non-existent, it feels like im shooting with my phone. I really want that nice blurry background look for portraits of my dog. Im based in the UK and really dont want to spend more than 300 pounds. My main constraints are:
- Needs to be autofocus capable (no manual focus stuff please)
- Compact enough for street photography
- Under 300 GBP budget
Is there actually anything good out there or did I buy the wrong system entirely? Im pretty lost honestly...
Honestly, stick with the system. You just hit the wall everyone hits with kit glass. I remember when I first jumped to mirrorless, I felt the exact same way until I stopped using the kit zoom and grabbed a prime. That's when the camera actually becomes fun to use. In my experience over the years, the difference comes down to light transmission. Your kit lens is probably f/5.6 or worse at the long end, which forces your ISO way up and kills your background blur. Moving to a prime like the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM changes the math completely. You'll get way more light and that separation you want for your dog's portraits. Couple of tips from someone who has been there:
- Prime lenses force you to move your feet. You'll get better compositions because you stop being lazy with the zoom ring.
- The bokeh isn't just about the aperture, it's about distance. Get closer to your dog and get the dog further from the background.
- Dont overthink the gear. The R10 is plenty capable, you just needed a fast lens to unlock its potential. I tried manual glass for a while to save cash, but honestly? It's a pain for moving pets. Stick to the native RF glass with autofocus. You'll thank yourself when you see those shots coming back sharp with creamy backgrounds.
^ This. Also, if you want something wider for street stuff, definitely check out the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM. It fits your budget perfectly and is tiny.
- The Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM is king for portraits though.
- The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM gives way more context for street. Honestly, dont ditch the system. You just need glass that actually lets light in. The difference compared to that kit lens is night and day.
TL;DR: Grab the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM asap. Honestly, its the only real choice for your budget. I had issues with the kit lens too, the R10 really shines once you put a prime on it. The 50mm is super sharp and tiny, perfect for street stuff. Unfortunately, the crop factor makes it a bit tight indoors, but for dog portraits? Youll love it. Definitely not the wrong system!