so i just got this panasonic s5ii camera because i want to take better pictures of people but honestly i am so lost with all these numbers. i have my sisters wedding coming up in three weeks in chicago and i really want to get those shots where the person is sharp but the background is all blurry and pretty but i dont even know what lens does that.
i think people call them prime lenses? like they dont zoom in or out right? that sounds kind of hard to use but everyone says they are better for portraits. my budget is maybe 700 or 800 dollars which is already a lot for me after buying the camera body. i was looking at some sigma lenses and then panasonic has their own but there are so many f-numbers like 1.8 and 1.4 and i have no clue if the 1.4 is worth the extra money or if it even fits my camera.
my logic was that a bigger number like 85mm would be better for faces but then i saw a 50mm and now im just overthinking everything and worried i'll buy the wrong one and ruin the wedding photos. is there one thats like... the easiest for a total beginner to get that professional look without being too heavy? i am really panicking because i dont want to waste my money on something i cant even use properly.
Hey! First off, dont panic. The S5II is a beast and you're gonna love it for the wedding. I've been using that system for a while now and honestly, you can't go wrong if you stick to a few basics. For that blurry background look, which people call bokeh, you definitely want an 85mm. It is basically the gold standard for portraits because it flattens the features slightly. This makes everyone look way more flattering than a wider lens like a 50mm would. I am extremely happy with the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f1.8. Since you are worried about weight and money, this is the one. The f1.4 lenses are technically better in low light, but they are twice as heavy and way more expensive. Trust me, at f1.8 you are still gonna get that creamy, professional background you are after. Plus, since it is a native lens, the autofocus works perfectly with your camera's eye-tracking. No complaints at all with how fast it locks on. If you really want to spend the whole budget, you could look at the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art for L-Mount, which is a masterpiece, but it might feel like a brick on your camera after three hours of shooting. I would stick with the Panasonic 1.8. It is light, simple, and hits that sweet spot for beginners without any headache. Just point at your sisters face, let the camera lock on her eye, and the lens does the rest of the magic. You will do great!
