Which prime lens is best for portraits on the Canon EOS R8?

Question

I finally saved up and got the Canon EOS R8 because my sisters wedding is in six weeks and I really want to take some professional looking photos of her. Im so excited to start but honestly I have no idea what Im doing or what the numbers on the lenses mean lol. I heard prime lenses are the way to go if I want that really blurry background for portraits but there are so many options and I dont want to buy the wrong thing. My budget is around $500 right now.

Sorry if this is a total beginner question but which prime lens is best for portraits on the Canon EOS R8? I just want the photos to look pretty...

lucas.schmidt · Accepted Answer

Late to the party but for a $500 budget you basically have these two:

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM: Its very affordable. Decent for general portraits but the motor is kinda loud and focus can lag sometimes.

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM: More versatile for group shots. It has stabilization which helps if you dont have a tripod. Check the side-by-side tool on DPReview to see which focal length fits your style better.

Idellanww · Answer

Just saw this thread and wanted to share some experience from the trenches. I did my first wedding years ago and learned that being prepared matters more than just having a nice lens. Be careful about spending your entire $500 on one piece of glass and ignoring the extras. The R8 is great but it burns through power, so you'll definitely want some cushion in your budget for spares. Quick tips:

Grab at least two extra Canon LP-E17 Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Buy a used Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM to save some cash. When I started, I used a 50mm and felt like I was constantly in the way. Switching to an 85mm was a game changer... it lets you stay back and capture natural moments without being a distraction. Just make sure to practice with it before the big day.

Jessica Marie Miller · Answer

Unfortunately $500 is a bit tight for wedding gear. I had issues with the cheaper 50mm lenses in the past, they were not as good as expected for professional shots. You should probably look at the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM instead. Its more reliable for portraits and keeps things sharp. Just dont rely on the auto mode for everything if you want that blur.