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RF 85mm f2: Suitable as a high-quality portrait lens for the R5?

Started 8 months ago | Discussions thread
Canon_Guy
Canon_Guy Senior Member • Posts: 1,489
Re: RF 85mm f2: Suitable as a high-quality portrait lens for the R5?
2

As a long time user of 85/1.8 I would not recommend it if OP is considering RF 85/2 or EF 100/2.8. Both lenses (as well as all other current 85mm RF/EF mount lenses) are noticeably better optically.

To my taste f/2.8 is already quite slow for portraits. Headshots with a distant background will be ok but for half body / full body shots the separation given by f/2 or faster lens will be more pleasing.

RF 85/2 is a great lens with one flaw - slow AF. The second hockey shot above shows it clearly being focused on the rear leg instead of head most probably because the AF motor did not keep the pace with rapidly approaching player.

So if OP plans more static scenes, 85/2 will deliver perfectly.

EF 85/1.4 or Sigma 85/1.4 are also worth to consider.

 Canon_Guy's gear list:Canon_Guy's gear list
Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art Sigma 105mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM +6 more
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