Honestly I am just so fed up with my current setup right now. I've been trying to shoot outdoor senior portraits and couple sessions with my adapted EF 50mm f/1.8 on my Canon EOS R, and I'm honestly ready to pull my hair out. The autofocus hunting is driving me crazy, and the sharpness just isn't cutting it when I try to shoot wide open (which is basically all the time because I love that creamy background separation).
I've already spent hours digging through DPReview forums and watching endless YouTube comparison videos, but everyone just keeps arguing about the RF 50mm f/1.2 L vs the RF 85mm f/1.2 L. Those lenses cost as much as a used car!! My budget is really capped around $1000-$1200 max, since I'm just an intermediate hobbyist trying to transition into some paid local gigs. I need something reliable, sharp, and with native RF mount communication so I stop missing focus on blinking subjects (seriously, my hit rate is abysmal lately).
Oh wait
- I should also mention I prefer a bit of working distance, so something in the 85mm range is probably ideal, though I could be convinced to go 50mm if the rendering is magical.
So what is actually the best portrait lens for the EOS R in that mid-tier budget? Are third-party manual focus lenses worth looking at (saw some TTArtisan stuff online, but not sure), or should I just hunt for a used RF 85mm f/2 macro and call it a day?
Rarely post but saw this and had to chime in bc I totally feel your pain with that nifty fifty adapter lag. Skip the manual focus stuff, you need native RF for paid gigs tbh.
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is easily your best bet under a grand new, or way cheaper used
- Sharp wide open and gives that creamy bokeh you want Honestly just grab the f/2 macro and save your sanity...
Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.
To add to the point above: I think you should look into used EF glass with the Canon adapter rather than third-party manual options. Not sure if it fits your exact focal length preference, but older L-series primes in that price range often outperform newer budget lenses for autofocus reliability on the EOS R.
Good to know!
👆 this
Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.
Can confirm
idk if you looked into this yet tbh, but you should seriously check out the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF paired with the standard control ring adapter. ngl it stays glued to my body for portraits. you get that crazy 1.4 bokeh without spending L-series money, and the af is way better than the nifty fifty. autofocus tracking on the R handles it surprisingly well...
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
Saved for later, ty!