Im freaking out a bit because Ive got my sisters graduation photos coming up in like three weeks at our local botanical gardens and I still havent picked a prime lens for my 90D. I spent all night reading reviews and everyone says to get the 50mm f/1.8 because its cheap and sharp, but then other people swear the 85mm is the absolute king of portraits.
Since the 90D is a crop sensor though, Im worried the 85mm is gonna make me stand like a mile away just to get a full body shot and I wont be able to talk to her or give directions. My budget is capped at $500 so I cant really get both. Which one is actually gonna work better for outdoor portraits on this specific body?
Youre right to be worried about that crop factor. An 85mm on a 90D is basically a 136mm equivalent, which might make things awkward in a crowded botanical garden. I would suggest sticking with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for now. Its super sharp for the price and youll actually be able to talk to your sister without yelling across the park. If you really want that professional blur and have the budget, maybe consider the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM but only if you know youll have plenty of open space to back up. Just be careful with the f/1.8 aperture because the depth of field can be thin... you dont want her eyes out of focus. Make sure to do a practice run before the graduation so you get the distance right. You got this tho!
