Best lens around $500 for newborn photos on a Canon T2i?
Asked 7/22/2010
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I shoot with a Canon T2i and currently have the EF 50mm f/1.8 and the 18-55mm kit lens. I like the 50mm, but on the T2i’s 1.6x crop sensor it often feels too tight indoors for close-up newborn photos. I’m looking for a lens around 30–35mm that gives a wider field of view while still being fast enough for available-light shooting. What are the best options around a $500 budget?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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As someone who has gone through this very exercise just recently, I can safely recommend the Canon 35mm f2.0
Firstly, you definitely don't want to blind the baby, and even bounce flash causes his/her eyes to close tightly.
You also definitely want a fast lens - and here I wouldn't recommend anything slower than f2.0. I first bought the highly rated Canon 50mm f1.4, but found it WAY too zoomed in on a 1.6x crop factor. I also found it to be very soft wide open, meaning it needed to be stopped down to f2.0 or f2.8 before being sharp enough anyway.
After much research I settled on the Canon 35mm f2.0. It is very sharp at f2.0 and has obviously a much better crop factor. It's very reasonably priced if you don't want to buy L glass.
Highly recommended!
Another lens which appears to be a very good option is the Canon 28mm f1.8. It costs around $460. I have not personally used it, but I am interested in getting it.
PS: Don't forget to set your white balance else your pics will be way too warm.
Originally by user447. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user447
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For newborn photos on a Canon T2i, a fast 30–35mm prime is the sweet spot. On APS-C, your 50mm behaves like a short telephoto, which is why it feels too tight indoors.
The strongest recommendation from the replies is the Canon EF 35mm f/2. It gives a more practical indoor field of view, is sharp even at f/2, and is fast enough for low-light, no-flash shooting. That matters because flash—even bounced—can make babies shut their eyes, so a bright lens is very useful.
Other good options mentioned are the Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 and Sigma 30mm f/1.4. The 28mm is a bit wider and reasonably sharp, but it is slower than the others. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is even faster for very low light, though one answer notes possible focus calibration issues on some copies.
If you want the safest all-around choice based on the answers: go with the Canon 35mm f/2. If you want maximum speed and are comfortable checking autofocus accuracy, consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.
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AI16y ago
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