EOS M50 lens recommendations for portrait photography

[KailaM]

Hello! So I have the 15-45mm lens and would like to buy lens to get into photography for example: Family portraits, newborn photography.  
Im not sure what Lens would be good for such things I love to take pictures of my children and am good with editing but I feel like I need a lens that will potentially do better than the one I have!  Any suggestions please :)!

[Tronhard]

As Demetrius said, the M system is now not in the mainstream sales channel.  That said, are you happy with the M50 and intend to retain it for some time?
If you don't intend to upgrade then you could look at Canon's refurbished lenses which are serviced and essentially as new.  Here is a link to a search on their site. Canon Mirrorless Lenses: EF-M & RF | Canon U.S.A, Inc.
Alternatively, there is a company called KEH (do a search for them) that sell second-hand gear.  If you go to their site and in the search box type in EF-M, it will find you lenses compatible with your M50.   Right now there is one possibility - the EF-M 55-250, which will  be a great extension to the focal range, although you will need some light to get the best out of it.
As Demetrius suggested, an EF or EF-S lens can be adapted to the EF-M mount via an EF-EFM adapter, but that will add a lot of bulk and weight to the camera.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Lets walk through this.  2 More EF-M lenses were discontinued this month.  EF-M lens choices continue to shrink.

Since EF-M lenses cannot be adapted to other cameras, continuing to invest in them has significant diminishing returns.

Budget.  An EF-M to EF/EF-S adapter is about $175.  This is another capital expense that will need to be spent if you want to buy non EF-M lenses to use with your M50 camera.  It has no future beyond the M series camera line.  Ask yourself what the future holds.  Will you keep this camera for an extended period?  Will you be prepared to walk away from it and the adapter?

Now look at this:

Refurbished EOS R50 RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit (canon.com)

Here is a side by side comparison of the M50 and R50

Canon R50 vs Canon M50 Detailed Comparison (cameradecision.com)

The gains are significant and the body and lens are well below the budget you established.  This could be further offset by any money you got for the M50 and EF-M 15-45 lens.  

Now further.  R50 body is newer (2023) vs (2018) for M50.  Better battery life, performance, ISO, FPS...  Its lens will work on any current R series APS-C camera and no adapter is required.  2 years from now if you buy a new APS-C R series camera, the lens will work and again no adapter is needed.  In time, I might add a RF-S 55-210.  This proposition accounts for greater longevity and a clear path forward.  A much lower capital expense and the ability to offset that expense with your existing gear.  

Note: Just because I would do this doesn't mean its the best decision for you.  Its just for your consideration.  

[Tronhard]

I have the M5, a relative of the M50 and the 15-45 lens, and it is an adequate optic.  On that basis I would suggest  you little to lose and much to gain by learning more about what you have.  Often getting new gear does not, in itself solve a skill issue - one has the same problems but a smaller bank balance.
Improving your skill will cost you nothing, it will help you establish more what works or does not for you, and it will make you a better judge of what to get to improve, if that is what you need.
I have to go, but will leave this to my esteemed colleagues to continue the dialogue!

[Tronhard]

Having come back, I have had time to look through my archives for images that might be indicative of your current lens and some similar subjects and conditions and, to me, the lens does an OK job.

  45mm, f/5, 1/125sec, ISO-200 15mm, f/7.1, 1/400sec, ISO-20037mm, f/8, 1/125sec, ISO-200

[rs-eos]

What specifically do you find are issues with your current lens?  Are you finding that taking indoor photos lead to too much blur and/or noise?

Note that your 15-45mm lens would be the equivalent of 24-72mm on full frame.  For portraits (headshots), you want to typically be in the range of 70mm to 200mm.  However, when doing half-body, full-body or group photos, the wider focal lengths would be better.

However, your lens, when at the 45mm end will close down the aperture to f/6.3, so it will be very challenging to capture indoor photos unless there is a ton of light in the scene.

An EF 50mm f/1.8 used with an adapter would probably be the best bang for your buck.  It would be an 80mm equivalent on full frame, so a decent portrait lens with your camera.  And, the f/1.8 aperture would let in around 12 times the light as when using an f/6.3 aperture.  That would allow you to lower the ISO by over three stops (e.g. moving from ISO 1600 alll the way down to ISO 125).   And/or being able to raise your shutter speed to freeze action better.

[ebiggs1]

The bottom line is your current gear is all you need. You do not need any new lens. Just concentrating on a new lens is not helping. What you more likely need is a photo editor and you can get started with DPP4 form Canon. It is free so you can't go wrong. You can even move to the best there is in Photoshop but it is about $10 per month. Consider no great photo you see and love has not gone through an editor like PS. My advice is forget a new lens and get DPP4 or PS and start learning where and how great photos are made. If you have a local community college they probably have an adult Photoshop course. Spend the money on that instead of a new lens. IMHO, as always.

[Addisonjones]

I would suggest 50mm 1.4 or 1.6 at that budget. I think it is a great lens for portraits. It's like $350.

[ebiggs1]

I am not sure there is an ef-m 50mm f1.8 so it would have to be an adapted ef  lens.

[Tronhard]

The problem with an adapted lens on that body size is that:
1. There is a cost to the adapter, although that is not likely to be a deal breaker
2. It creates another set of mechanical connections between lens and body, which increases the risk of environmental ingress.  Personally, I prefer to keep those to a minimum.
3. It will really create a lot more bulk and weight forward of the body, moving the CofG well in front. If I was attaching a large long lens it would happen to any camera body, but if the need is to keep the system relatively compact, then I wonder if it is going to be a comfortable solution?

I still question that the need is actually for a new lens.  In a quick check of 5 reviews of the EF-M lenses available, the 15-45 came in close to the top in all the reviews I saw, this is in line with my own experience as per the images I shared below, which were intended to demonstrate what the lenses can do in the types of imagery our op is doing.
Remember that because this is an APS-C sensor, the Equivalent FoV is going to be 24-72mm, which is a very useful range.
If one was going to get a prime lens, then I can personally vouch for the EF-M 32mm f/1.4, which is a very compact, essentially pancake lens, with great optics and fast aperture for low light and to get a shallow DoF.  It's Equivalent FoV is approximately that of a 50mm lens on a FF body.  It is a highly-regarded optic and will retain both light weight and compactness, without needing an adapter.

[Waddizzle]

I strongly recommend the deal on the R50 that Shadowsports linked above, while it is still in stock.  IN fact, I am totally surprised that it is still in stock at the price during the holiday season.

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The best lenses for portrait photography on the M50 would mostly EF mount lenses.  These would require buying an EF-M to EF mount adapter.  And, EF lenses tend to drain the battery fairly quickly, so I would advise buying at least one spare battery.

For the record, I do not consider either the M50 or the R10 as a camera to build a portrait and wedding photography business around.  Moving to the R10 is a step in the right direction.  

In a more perfect world, you would want a camera body with dual memory card slots, most especially for weddings.  This would mean the R7, R6, or the R6 mark II camera bodies.  The R5 and R3 also feature dual memory card slots, but they are both in an entirely different price range.