RF 35mm f/1.8: A must for Fashion Photography
My thoughts on the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 for portrait and fashion photography
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About two months ago, I got the Canon EOS R to further my photography skills and gear. And about a month ago, I was browsing online and found that the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 MACRO was for sale. So, I did a little bit of research, watched a few reviews, and decided to pick it up. Up until now, my main lens that I used for 90% of my photography was the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 (or the nifty-fifty). I thought new camera, may as well get a new lens, and something different that what I have been using for the last 4 years. So, I have had the 35mm for quite sometime now and have done multiple photoshoots with it, and this article is my review of the lens from the perspective of a fashion and portrait photographer.
This is the perfect beginner fashion photography lens. I regret not picking up a 35mm sooner. At this focal length, I am able to capture the complete outfit, model and background creating a beautiful picture that shows off the outfit and the model perfectly! And, with the f/1.8 aperture, I am able to shoot during golden hour without a problem and have super nice bokeh. Now, this is more of a beginner lens. Which means that there is still a bit of chromatic aberration on super bright conditions, and the bokeh balls from lights in the background aren’t the roundest, but for a lens that is less than $1000, its a bargain.
While this is the perfect fashion photography lens, I would never use it for portraiture. If I am shooting a model, I would use the 35mm for either full body or waist-up shots because the distortion does not really have an effect at that point and I am able to get more of the background. However, if I am shooting chest-up or headshots, I am moving back to the 50mm. The 50mm doesn’t have much of a distortion and for the most part, is true to how the model actually looks. So it’s very evident that this is for fashion photographers, but not at all for portraitures.
In fact, if you are looking for a more versatile lens, I would recommend the 50mm over the 35mm. 50mm can…
