Which Canon 85mm? EF f/1.4L IS or RF f/1.2L Locked

lawny13 wrote:

I read you have the sony system. And I read that you also have the R.

But we are all unaware of the lenses you currently own. Do you own the GM 85 or are you considering getting it vs getting the RF and EF 85?

So up until a year ago Canon was my main system but had backed down my gear to a single 5D Mark IV body. Prior I also had a 1DX. When I bought into Sony it was primarily for Landscape and Architecture where I could get 36 or 42 Mpixels. Then I jumped to an A9 and took the risk to replace my 1DX.  For Canon lens I had a full collection and used EF 50/1.2L, EF 85/1.2L II, and EF 135/2L for portrait work.

When the newer Sony's like the A7RIII and A7III came out I switched over almost completely using the Sony for portrait and events. The portrait came slower because I started with the Batis 85/1.8 as the only real pro-level lens even though I was adapting my 85/1.2L II. 
Eventually the 85/1.4 GM and then the 135/1.8 GM came out and I jumped at those along with the Planar 50/1.4 ZA.

I had held of getting involved with the EOS R even thought I new the sensor well. Its lack of a few features kept me away until it was offered at a great price. I then decided to buy one and give it a try and while still limited I did enjoy it. They key reluctance was to spend money on the great fast RF lenses unless I knew there was a body on the way that justified the cost of the lenses. The development announcement and now the original targeted release in July rekindled my interest and willingness to spend more money with Canon and see if I wanted to go back to it for portraits and events. I personally have not considered the EOS R an event camera like the 5D Mark IV.

What is your budget?

I have lots of gear that is expensive so the cost of the RF 85/1.2L itself is not the issue but the unknown cost of the EOS R5 is. So I have to learn more about it and its price before I decide to return from Sony. If I do that there is gear I would sell off.

If you are in it for the long run (sticking with canon) I would definitely suggest you go native. For portraits you don't need IS. You either control your light or you bump up ISO a bit. You will be shooting around f1.4 most of the time based on what you have stated, so you should be shooting at ISO 100-1600 and not higher generally. Afterwards you would get the R5 as you stated, probably because of IBIS, and the higher MP count. That is in essence what you want right? The R5 and the RF 85 f1.2.

Am I in it for the long haul? Well lets learn more about the R5.

When buying lenses I always ask myself the following. If I buy a cheaper lens because I want that FL or FL range now... will I end up selling it for an upgrade within a year for a more expensive one? If the answer is yes, then I just hold off and get the one I really want. If the answer is no, then I get the cheaper one.

Alternatively consider this. You can adapt the EF to both the sony and the R. And if you buy second hand you can always sell it at little loss and upgrade later.

Choices... good luck