27/02/2026 3:10 am
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So I just went out and bought a Canon EOS R5 because everyone says its the best for photos but honestly I am completely lost and I feel like I have way more camera than I know how to use. Sorry if this is a stupid question but I keep hearing people talk about prime lenses and I dont really get the difference between those and the ones that zoom. I want to take really pretty pictures of my newborn daughter and our dog at the park here in Seattle but I want that professional look where the background is all soft and blurry. My budget is around 1500 to 2000 dollars for lenses right now since the camera itself already cost a fortune and I need to buy something before a family trip we have coming up in three weeks. I really dont want to mess around with those adapter things if I can help it because it just seems like another thing to break or lose. Are there specific prime lenses that are better for someone who is just starting out? I dont know if I should get a 35mm or a 50mm or what those numbers even really mean for the final picture...
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27/02/2026 4:15 am
Building on the earlier suggestion, I actually think you should skip the 50mm for now, even though everyone recommends it as a starter. When you're inside with a newborn, a 50mm can feel weirdly cramped, like you're always backing into walls just to fit her in the frame. I'd go with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM instead. The 35mm means a wider view, so it's way easier to use in a living room or nursery. For that professional blurry look at the park with the dog, you definitely want the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. Basically, a higher number like 85mm 'zooms in' more and naturally creates that creamy background you're looking for, while the lower 35mm is better for tight spaces. Since you have a healthy budget, getting these two native lenses is way smarter than messing with adapters or buying one super expensive lens you aren't ready for yet. They're both lightweight too, which helps when you're chasing a dog around.
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27/02/2026 3:55 am
I would suggest being careful with heavy gear. I once brought too much on a trip and it just made me stressed about dropping things. For your R5, these are safe, reliable choices:
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM The 85mm is perfect for that blurry background look. Both have stabilization tho, which is a lifesaver when you're still learning.
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27/02/2026 4:15 am
Focal lengths were so confusing at first! I ended up using a wider lens for my indoor shots because the tighter ones made me feel trapped. The results were amazing tho! Sticking to native glass without adapters is definitely the way to go for reliability. Electronic communication errors are my biggest fear, so that direct connection is a total lifesaver!
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27/02/2026 3:11 am
Unfortunately, I had issues with the focus speed on some cheaper RF glass, and they aren't as quiet as I expected for a pro camera. Still, you can definitely get that blurry background without spending $2k per lens. Since youre in a rush, try these:
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM The 85mm is the secret for portraits. Youve got this!
