Today’s post is all about the best beginner lens for those of you who are wanting to start photography on a budget. Looking at lenses and equipment can be so overwhelming when you’re new to the world of photography. You’re learning all about prime lenses, zoom lenses, and their different apertures and focal lengths – it’s a lot! I have been there. During those early days, I was overwhelmed by my options and wondering how much it was going to cost me to pursue my passion. I was so happy to learn about this lens that helped me get my start and build my portfolio before I had the funding to upgrade to the equipment that I have now.
Keep reading for more info about this lens that has great value for a small price.
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Going beyond the kit lens
When purchasing a camera, it might seem like a dream to buy an all-inclusive “kit” that already includes lenses. It’s everything you need, all packaged into one price… right? Not exactly…
To keep these bundles in an affordable range, many starter cameras (like the Canon Rebel series) include kit lenses. The main disadvantage of kit lenses is that they do not have the ability to go to a wide aperture. Many of them have a max aperture of f/4 and this can be very limiting. Being able to open up to a wider aperture is great for letting more light into your camera and being able to capture photos in low-light situations. A wide aperture also helps to create a more shallow depth of field, separating your subject from the background.
The #1 lens you need instead
Say hello to the nifty fifty! The 50mm f/1.8 lens is a fast pass to a wide aperture without having to make a huge investment. The Canon 50mm f/1.8 is around $125! I used this lens for the first two years of my career and used it to capture so many great images. I still use a 50mm lens quite often but have now upgraded to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens.
50mm is also a great starter prime lens because it is pretty universal. It’s neither wide nor telephoto.
If you’re overwhelmed by lenses, I’m here to help! You can follow me on TikTok for lots of educational videos and more about lenses. You can also view my lens collection and full gear list, here.
I hope this was helpful and that you’re excited to try out the 50mm 1.8 lens – the #1 affordable lens for beginner photographers!
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