topic Re: Trouble choosing a lens in Gear Guide

EOS R50 Lens recommendations for portraits and weddings

wedniaa2 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:04:51 GMT

Hi so I have a Canon R50, and I mainly shoot portraits and I have a wedding coming up so I am looking to get a new lens that’s better suited for those occasions. I am debating between a 24-70 f4 or a 17-55 f2.8, I do use a flash (Godox V1) so maybe the f4 won’t be an issue but I am not sure.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

Re: Trouble choosing a lens

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 19:52:17 GMT

@wedniaa2 wrote:

Hi so I have a Canon R50, and I mainly shoot portraits and I have a wedding coming up so I am looking to get a new lens that’s better suited for those occasions. I am debating between a 24-70 f4 or a 17-55 f2.8, I do use a flash (Godox V1) so maybe the f4 won’t be an issue but I am not sure.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

I would choose the f/2.8 lens. Shallower depth of field to help emphasize subject away from background more chance of avoiding flash for more natural lighting.

Re: Trouble choosing a lens

deebatman316 — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:05:36 GMT

The EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM is specially designed for crop sensor cameras such as the EOS R50. The EF or RF 24-70 F/4 is more suitable as a standard zoom on Full Frame cameras. It won’t be an ideal focal range on the EOS R50.

Re: Trouble choosing a lens

SamiK — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:02:46 GMT

Are you wanting something for wider shots or portraits? I would not shoot portraits with the 17-55 as the distortion would be unflattering. Portrait length is usually best around 85 so I would recommend the 24-70 but get the 2.8 if able to!

Re: Trouble choosing a lens

deebatman316 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:47:56 GMT

85mm is very difficult to use on a crop sensor camera. The ideal focal length for portraits is 50mm on crop. Believe me I’ve used both crop and Full Frame. I found longer focal lengths difficult to use. So the best lens is the 17-55mm in this case. The camera can more than likely correct for distortion along with other lens corrections. Don’t forget how APS-C and Full Frame lenses act on crop bodies.

Re: EOS R50 Lens recommendations for portraits and weddings

ebiggs1 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:31:37 GMT

" I would not shoot portraits with the 17-55 as the distortion would be unflattering."

This is totally wrong so disregard it.

"85mm is very difficult to use on a crop sensor camera."

This is true.

"The ideal focal length for portraits is 50mm on crop."

But this isn't true either unless distance is known and why this statement isn't accurate, "... the distortion would be unflattering."

Portrait photography has several things to consider. All lenses will exhibit the exact same DOF and "flattering" abilities if the distance VS focal length is equaled out. In other words if you are using a 50mm lens and are 15 feet from the subject you may need to be another 5 feet further away if you have an 85mm lens and want the same perspective. The ideal portrait lens was at first way back determined by room size and/or available distance or comfortable distance from subject, not by focal length alone. Several factors must be known before we can say what the ideal or perfect "portrait" lens is. Probably the top reason to select a certain FL is to be, far enough back or away as to not be right up in the subject's or model's face as that tends to make people feel self conscious and less natural.

Re: EOS R50 Lens recommendations for portraits and weddings

ebiggs1 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:39:46 GMT

"I am debating between a 24-70 f4 or a 17-55 f2.8, ..."

You have an R50 but you are wanting to buy an EF or EF-S lens. I am not sure that is a wise decision. You will need the EF to RF adapter. Always get the Canon adapter and not an off-brand. However, given those two choices, I would buy the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. Unless there's some RF lenses I am not aware of.