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My next prime portrait lens should be ... ?

Started 7 months ago | Questions thread
Karl_Guttag Senior Member • Posts: 1,884
Re: My next prime portrait lens should be ... ?

I'm not necessarily recommending it, but I noticed you didn't mention the RF85f2. If it is just for occasional use, the RF85f1.2 seems quite expensive. While I am not a fan of the STM focusing, it should be fine for still/portrait work. The lens is very sharp, especially compared to the EF85f1.8. The RF85f2 also gives a "semi macro" of 0.5x. I don't know how it would compare against the Sigma lenses others have mentioned, but it should be smaller and lighter and not require an adapter. If weight, size, and adapters are not an issue, the EF85f1.4L (say refurbished at canon USA for $1,439.00) would be another possibility (it is a fairly modern design, new in 2017, and should work well with the R series).

Below is a comparison I for sharpness between the RF85f2 and the old EF85f1.8, the R5. There are 3 test targets in the center, the "mid" upper (about the 1.6x crop point), and the Upper Left Corner.

RF85f2 Macro on an R5

Below is the EF85f1.8. The lens is OK in the center but falls off in the corners. Ran some subsequent tests and found that the focus plane is dished. If I set the focus on the corners, then the corners were sharp, but the center was out of focus. The RF85f2 has a much better/flatter focus plane.

atolk wrote:

I don't strictly speaking NEED a portrait lens because I don't shoot all that many portraits, and my EF 70-200mm f/2.8 and EF 85mm f/1.8 are adequate, but I have the bokeh envy from all the FB posts and YouTube reviews, and I know that I am supposed to want a prime lens for sharpness (I think my old 85mm 1.8 has issues), so I am thinking about getting a lens that I don't need but will love and use a lot. And just in time for a requested senior shoot. Make the customer's friends and family ooh and aah and start knocking my door down for more sessions.

Let's say the RF 85mm f/1.2 at $2,699 sets the upper limit of desirability and budget.

Let's say that something like Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 AF at around $499 is an acceptable low end alternative. (Oh, and I just found out than an RF version exists, except it seems that it does not.)

Not to mention the $349 manual focus version with RF mount. An option? Why not?

And the three famous Sigma ART lenses comfortable occupying the middle tier and running between $1,049 and $1,499, commanding a cult following of sorts.

In your own humble professional opinion, what lens delivers the greatest wow/price ratio? Make your recommendation as succinct or verbose as you please.

I will buy the lens YOU recommend. And if I don't, we can have a nice gear chat.

Samples are always welcome! Especially if you do senior shoots.

 Karl_Guttag's gear list:Karl_Guttag's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 +14 more
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