I’m a complete beginner with no photography experience but excited to get into it.

Budget: ~$500

Needs: High quality macro of all kinds (my main purpose for getting a camera in the first place). Secondary: portraits (full body / upper body). Tertiary to those is versatility for everything else as it’s going to be the only lens for the foreseeable future. I’d also love for the lens to have all the latest features like autofocus and the such (if there’s anything else).

I’ve done some research around macro RF lenses for R50 (ASP-C cropped sensor) and among the 24mm, 35mm, and 85mm it seems 35mm stands out the most for the above needs but since I’m on a tight budget, I need quality advice to make sure I’m not making a mistake here.

I know Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM is better due to 1:1, but it wouldn’t be as versatile as 35mm and thus annoying to use for anything other than macro due to the effective 160mm on the crop lense, right?

I could theoretically get used lenses but it’s difficult where I live. The EF to RF adapter would have to be without the ring (too expensive otherwise), and I might have real trouble finding the suggested proper older EF (or third party) lens. Plus, most used lenses here aren’t much cheaper, even the really old ones, and I really doubt they’d be in good condition either. But for a really good recommendation I might consider it.

  • ObiEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    I’m not going to look up the specific lenses and stick to general advice you can apply to your choices.

    The 100mm is great, I’ve had the EF version for many years and use it with an adapter. It is macro but it’s macro light, you’re not going fly eyes with this alone. And while it’s a great lens beyond just macro (great for portraits, product, anything where you need a mid-length telephoto really), it’s definitely gonna limit you if it’s your only lens and you’re on a crop.

    So maybe macro tubes, these shouldn’t break the bank and will transform any lens into macro (bit more finicky than using the 100mm though!)…

    But then you still need to choose the focal length for your prime, and there you have somewhat opposed requirements. For macro you don’t want too short, because even if the tubes let you focus very close, you don’t want to have to stick the lens right next to your subject lest you’ll introduce distortion, spook the living ones and/or cast shadows with the camera on it.

    So while I’d normally recommend 35mm full frame equivalent as “the one prime” if your main goal is macro you probably want significantly longer… It’s up to you, just keep in mind that while you’re telling yourself you only need one lens for now, that’s not gonna last and you’re definitely gonna get more down the line ;p