Best Budget Lens for the Canon rebel T7 - 50mm f/1.8 Review
Upgrade Your Canon Rebel T7 with the 50mm f/1.8 for Sharper Images and Low Light Performance
The Canon Rebel T7 is a great camera for beginners or people looking to get into photography without spending outrageous amounts on a camera. Unfortunately, the kit lens it comes with (usually the 18-55mm) only takes you so far. The day I finally swapped it for the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM was the day I truly believe my photography started to evolve.
It didn’t only give me better photos, I became a better photographer. This lens is compact, crazy sharp, and one of the best bang-for-your-buck upgrades you can make if you’re using a Canon DSLR like the T7 Rebel. If you’re serious about improving you work, especially on a budget, this lens belongs in your camera bag.
Check Price on Amazon - Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM LensWhat Makes the Canon 50mm f/1.8 So Good on a Rebel T7?
It Changed the Way I Think About Composition
Since it’s a prime lens, there’s no zoom. That forced me to move around, look at angles differently, and really slow down. In doing so, I started thinking more intentionally about every shot and that’s where the magic happens and you start to hone in your photography skills.
It Focuses Faster than the Kit Lens
One thing I didn’t expect was how much faster and more confident the autofocus was compared to the Rebel T7’s kit lens. It locks on quickly and doesn’t hunt nearly as much, especially in bright light. That made a huge difference in capturing spontaneous moments or shooting portraits or car photos when the subject was moving.
Huge Improvement in Low Lights
Let’s be honest, DSLR cameras struggle in low light especially with basic lenses. But the f/1.8 aperture on this 50mm lets in a lot more light which allowed me to be able to shoot indoors or at dusk without having to boost the ISO as much. This lens opened up a whole new world of natural light shooting for me.
Insane Sharpness for the PRice
Despite being under $150, this thing is shockingly sharp. The details I was able to capture with the 50mm blew the kit lens out of the water and I was able to see a lot more contrast between the subject I was focusing on and the background. For outdoor photography especially, it delivered super sharp results right when I needed them like when shooting gear, macro photos, and more.
Super Portable
This lens is small, so small you could slip it in your jacket pocket and go. It’s often called a “pancake” style lens, and that portability is one of my favorite things about it. Whether I’m heading out to shoot lifestyle content or just want to travel light, this lens fits the minimalist workflow perfectly.
How I Used It with the Canon Rebel T7
This lens has followed me through city shoots, camping trips, backseat editing sessions, and weekend projects. Here’s what it has been perfect for:
Portraits - adds great bokeh and compression
Lifestyle Photos - products, candid, and gear shots
Low-light Scenes - Indoors, at dusk or sunrise, and on cloudy days
Content Creation - for blogs, thumbnails, and social media
It quickly become my most-used lens because of it’s versatility, speed, quality, and I wasn’t afraid to use it even in outdoor situations due to the lower price point.
Who Should Buy This Lens?
In all honestly, I think every Canon owner should own this lens, but more specifically if you just picked up a Canon Rebel T7, this is a great lens for you.
The 50mm f/1.8 lens when compared to the kit lens, or even some of the higher end lenses, provides excellent portraits, great low light performance, and even more creative control over your photos. If you are on a budget but want more professional looking results, you should take a look at picking one up.
A Few Honest Cons
Even with how much I love this lens, it’s not perfect. Here’s some of the things I’ve noticed:
No zoom = less flexibility - It makes you move around to get the shot, which is great for learning or pushing yourself creatively but not always convenient.
Plastic build - It’s light and compact, but don’t expect a premium weather-sealed body.
Autofocus can hunt - It doesn’t completely solve the autofocus hunting problem, which happens on almost every lens and camera body but especially in very low light or fast-moving scenes, the auto focus can be a little slow to lock on.
That said, for the price, none of these are dealbreakers or issues you won’t see with other lenses on the market. You’ll adapt quickly and likely fall in love with the creative freedom and sharp results it gives you.
Final Verdict
I’ve used a few lenses in my photography career, but the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is the one that truly made me feel like I was leveling up as a photographer as it taught me to shoot more deliberately, it let me create in light I used to avoid, and it delivered images I was actually proud to share.
If you’re a Canon Rebel T7 user looking for sharper images, better low-light performance, and an affordable way to shoot like a professional, I can’t recommend this lens enough.
