I finally made the jump to full frame with the R8 last week and wow the autofocus is insane compared to my old Rebel. But I'm already bored with the kit lens. I really want a prime for that shallow depth of field but I'm stuck between two or maybe three options.
I'm mainly doing street photography and some portraits of my dog at the park. I've got a trip to Seattle coming up in about three weeks so I need to buy something soon so I can get used to it. My budget is around $400-500 tops since I just spent a lot on the camera body. I'm torn between the RF 35mm f1.8 and the cheap 50mm f1.8.
The 35mm seems like it would be better for walking around the city but is it worth paying triple what the 50mm costs? I also looked at the 85mm f2 because the bokeh looks incredible but I'm worried it'll be way too zoomed in for just walking around the market or whatever. What do you guys think for a first prime on this body... the 35 seems more all purpose but that 50 is so tiny and light.
> is it worth paying triple what the 50mm costs? Like someone mentioned, the 35 is way better than the 50 or 85 for street. Im very satisfied with Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM. Tip: buy used to save cash!
Like someone mentioned, that 35mm is solid, but honestly I was pretty disappointed with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. The focus motor is noisy and kinda slow for pets. If you want that dog portrait look, try to find a used Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. It fits your budget second-hand and is much sharper than the nifty fifty. TL;DR: Skip the 50mm, find a used 85mm deal for better portraits.
ngl, i suggest the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM because it works well for travel. first, the r8 lacks ibis so having lens stabilization is a big plus. second, 35mm is way more flexible than the 50mm for walking around seattle. im super satisfied with mine for dog portraits too. honestly, no complaints and it fits your budget... worth the extra cash over the basic 50.
^ This. Also, I have to respectfully disagree that there is an easy winner here because the market is just so frustrating right now! Honestly its ridiculous how much we have to stress over these choices when the manufacturers are making it harder than ever to get a reliable setup. It drives me crazy that we are forced to deal with these trade-offs!
- Build quality on these affordable lenses is getting so flimsy it is amazing they stay together.
- Prices are skyrocketing for gear that used to be considered entry-level.
- Companies are clearly prioritizing high-end glass and leaving the rest of us with scraps. I love my Canon EOS R8 and the autofocus is a fantastic leap forward, but the struggle to find affordable, durable glass is such a scam. It is just so exhausting trying to build a kit without feeling like you are being taken for a ride!
