Best Budget Lens for the Canon Rebel T7 (EOS 2000D) in 2025 - 50 mm f/1.8 STM Review & Alternatives
The Canon Rebel T7, also known as the EOS 2000D, continues to be one of the most popular entry‑level DSLRs in 2025. I bought mine a few years ago because I wanted to learn photography without spending a fortune, and the T7’s 18–55 mm kit lens served me well at first. However, I quickly hit its limits — soft images, slow autofocus, and poor low‑light performance. When I finally swapped the kit lens for the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 STM, my camera suddenly felt like a different machine. This inexpensive prime lens is often called the “nifty fifty” because it offers sharp optics and a wide aperture at a price almost anyone can afford. Even today, it remains one of Canon’s best‑selling lenses.
In short, the 50 mm f/1.8 STM is still the best budget upgrade you can make for the Rebel T7 or EOS 2000D. With an EF mount, it works seamlessly on any Canon DSLR, and on the T7’s APS‑C sensor, the 50 mm focal length behaves like an 80 mm equivalent, making it a perfect portrait and general‑purpose lens. Priced around $125, it offers sharper images, smoother bokeh, and better low‑light capability than the kit lens while teaching you to compose more deliberately.
Below, I’ll share why the 50 mm f/1.8 STM still stands out in 2025, how I use it, a few honest cons, and some affordable alternatives if you need wider or longer reach.
At a Glance
If you’re short on time and just want the essentials, here’s why the 50 mm f/1.8 STM remains my top budget pick for the Rebel T7 in 2025:
Sharper images and better low‑light performance: The wide f/1.8 aperture pulls in more light than the kit lens, producing creamy bokeh and crisp detail without raising ISO.
Great value: At around $125, it’s still Canon’s best‑selling lens because it delivers professional‑looking results on a budget.
80 mm equivalent perspective: On the T7’s crop sensor, the 50 mm focal length acts like an 80 mm short‑telephoto, perfect for portraits and general shooting.
Compact and travel‑friendly: Weighing just 162 g and measuring about 41 mm long, it fits in your pocket and goes anywhere.
Improved creative discipline: The fixed focal length forces you to move your feet, enhancing composition skills and encouraging more deliberate framing.
Shop the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lens on Amazon →
Why the 50 mm f/1.8 STM Is Still the Best Budget Lens in 2025
It Forces You to Compose Creatively
The biggest change I noticed after switching to this prime lens was my approach to composition. Without a zoom ring, you have to move your feet and think through each frame. That slower, more intentional process improved my photography far more than I expected. Instead of lazily framing everything from the same spot, I crouched, climbed, and shifted my angle until the subject popped and looked the exact way I wanted. The 50 mm focal length on an APS‑C body behaves like an 80 mm short‑telephoto, which compresses backgrounds and naturally draws attention to your subject.
Fast and Quiet Autofocus
The STM in the lens name stands for Stepper Motor. Unlike the older 50 mm f/1.8 II, Canon’s 2015 STM version uses a stepper motor focusing mechanism. This motor focuses quieter and faster than the gear drive in the older model, and it supports Movie Servo AF for continuous autofocus in video. The lens also features a metal mount and a rounded seven‑blade aperture, both upgrades over the previous plastic version. In practice, I’ve found the autofocus locks on more confidently than the kit lens; it rarely hunts in bright light and handles portraits, vehicles, and gear photos with ease.
Excellent Low‑Light Performance and Creamy Bokeh
One of the reasons photographers love the 50 mm f/1.8 is its wide f/1.8 aperture. A wide aperture means the lens gathers far more light than a kit zoom at f/3.5–5.6, so you can shoot indoors or at dusk without cranking your ISO. The 50 mm f/1.8 STM’s fast aperture gives it a huge improvement in low‑light conditions. The seven curved diaphragm blades produce smooth, circular bokeh and even 14‑point starbursts when stopped down. For me, this meant finally being able to shoot portraits with creamy backgrounds and capture natural‑light scenes around sunset without resorting to flash.
Sharp Optics and Incredible Value
Despite its low price, the 50 mm f/1.8 STM is remarkably sharp. This lens packs super high-quality optics into a small, inexpensive package and still remains Canon’s number‑one best‑selling lens, and for good reason. The lens uses the same classic six‑element double‑Gauss design as its predecessors but adds a rounded aperture and a closer minimum focus distance of 35 cm. On my Rebel T7, it delivers crisp detail and strong contrast, outperforming the soft kit zoom by a mile. It’s the definition of bang for your buck.
Compact and Portable
If you’re a traveler or minimalist, you’ll appreciate how small and light this lens is. It comes in at a staggering weight of only 5.7 oz. It also features a 49 mm filter diameter which makes lens filters, like a Variable ND Filter, cheaper as well. I can slip it into a jacket pocket or keep it on the camera all day without fatigue. The build is mostly plastic to save weight, but the metal mount feels sturdy, and I’ve taken this lens on countless trips without issue.
How I Use the 50 mm f/1.8 on the Rebel T7
After buying this lens, it quickly became my most‑used piece of gear. Here’s where it shines for me:
Portraits: The 80 mm equivalent field of view and wide aperture give beautiful compression and background separation. My friends often ask how I get that creamy blur — it’s mostly the lens!
Lifestyle and product photos: Whether I’m shooting overlanding gear, candid moments on the trail, or handmade products, the lens’s sharpness and natural perspective make subjects pop.
Low‑light scenes: Indoors, at dusk or under cloud cover, f/1.8 lets in much more light than a kit zoom. I can keep shutter speeds handheld without cranking ISO.
Astrophotography and night scenes: The 50 mm f/1.8 STM’s fast aperture makes it useful for astrophotography. While the field of view is narrow for Milky Way landscapes, it works well for constellations or longer exposures of the moon.
Content creation: I use this lens for blog photos, client work, YouTube thumbnails, social‑media posts, and just about everything because it produces professional‑looking results with minimal setup.
Because the lens is inexpensive, I’m not afraid to take it on hikes or road trips. It’s always in my bag as a general‑purpose lens.
Who Should Buy This Lens?
Honestly, I think every Canon DSLR owner should own a 50 mm prime. If you just picked up a Canon Rebel T7 or EOS 2000D, this should be your first upgrade. The 50 mm f/1.8 STM offers excellent portraits, strong low‑light performance, and more creative control than the kit lens for very little money. It works on full‑frame, APS‑C, and even older 35 mm film bodies, so you can continue using it if you upgrade cameras.
Affordable Alternatives and Complementary Lenses
While the 50 mm f/1.8 STM is the best value portrait lens, you may need other focal lengths for landscapes, wildlife or macro work. Here are a few budget‑friendly lenses that complement the 50 mm:
Canon EF‑S 10–18 mm f/4.5–5.6 IS STM: An ultra‑wide zoom perfect for landscapes, travel and vlogging. Its image stabilization helps hand‑held video, and it costs around $300.
Canon EF 55–250 mm f/4–5.6 IS STM: A lightweight telephoto zoom that’s great for wildlife, sports or compressing backgrounds. It has built‑in image stabilisation and pairs well with the 50 mm for a two‑lens kit.
Canon EF‑S 24 mm f/2.8 STM (pancake): If you want a compact wide‑angle prime, the 24 mm pancake lens is tiny and sharp. It’s great for street photography and travel.
Canon EF 50 mm f/2.5 Compact Macro: For close‑up work, the 50 mm f/2.5 macro lens focuses as close as 23 cm and offers 0.5× magnification. Other reviewers note that it provides very good color and contrast with negligible distortion, though its autofocus is slower.
These lenses aren’t required, but they round out your kit and allow you to shoot everything from sweeping vistas to tiny flowers.
A Few Honest Cons
Even though I love the 50 mm f/1.8 STM, it’s not perfect. Here are some drawbacks to consider:
No zoom means less flexibility: You must physically move to frame your shot. That can be inconvenient in tight spaces, though it forces you to think creatively.
Plastic build: Aside from the metal mount, the barrel is plastic to keep weight down. It’s durable enough for everyday use but isn’t weather‑sealed.
No image stabilisation: The lens relies on your technique and the camera’s ISO performance. At 80 mm equivalent, slower shutter speeds may introduce blur. A monopod or image‑stabilised body helps.
Autofocus hunting in very low light: The STM motor is quiet and generally quick, but like all budget lenses it can hunt in very dim scenes or when subjects move rapidly.
Tight framing indoors: On the Rebel T7’s crop sensor, the 50 mm behaves like an 80 mm lens. That makes it fantastic for portraits but a bit cramped in small rooms. Pair it with a 24 mm or 10–18 mm lens if you need wider shots.
None of these issues are deal‑breakers given the price. The creative freedom, sharpness, and low‑light performance far outweigh the inconveniences.
Final Verdict
I’ve used a variety of lenses in my photography journey, but the Canon 50 mm f/1.8 STM is the one that truly made me feel like I was leveling up. It taught me to shoot more deliberately, opened up low‑light photography, and delivered images I’m proud to share. For around $125, you get a lens that’s sharp, fast, and compact — no wonder it’s the world’s best‑selling camera lens. If you own a Canon Rebel T7/EOS 2000D and want sharper photos, creamy backgrounds, and an affordable path to professional‑looking results, I can’t recommend this lens enough.
FAQ
Q1: Is the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 STM compatible with the Canon Rebel T7/EOS 2000D?
Yes. The Rebel T7 uses Canon’s EF‑S mount but accepts both EF‑S and EF lenses. The 50 mm f/1.8 STM is an EF‑mount lens that works on every Canon EOS camera. On the T7’s APS‑C sensor, the 50 mm focal length gives an 80 mm equivalent field of view.
Q2: Does the 50 mm f/1.8 STM have image stabilisation?
No. The lens has no optical image stabiliser, so you may need to use faster shutter speeds or higher ISO when shooting hand‑held at lower light levels. Its wide f/1.8 aperture helps keep shutter speeds short.
Q3: Is the 50 mm f/1.8 STM good for video on the Rebel T7?
Yes. The STM stepping motor focuses quietly and supports Movie Servo AF, making it suitable for video. However, there is still some focus breathing and minor noise, so an external microphone is recommended.
Q4: What other budget lenses should I consider for the Rebel T7?
If you need different focal lengths, consider the EF‑S 10–18 mm IS STM for ultra‑wide landscapes, the EF 55–250 mm IS STM for telephoto work, the EF‑S 24 mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for street photography and the EF 50 mm f/2.5 Compact Macro for close‑up subjects.
