Struggling between RF USM and STM lineup as an amateur

Myles Baker wrote:

thunder storm wrote:

ZX11 wrote:

sercheese wrote:

koenkooi wrote:

The RF50 f/1.2 I rented handled the shallow DoF things, but I didn’t encounter many situations where f/1.2 was useful, a person holding a baby rarely fits into the DoF. Unless you go for full body portraits, which enters the ‘I need a larger house’ situation again

If that's true, it would bring us back to the 2nd option with RF 24-70mm F2.8 as universal lens, with no practical need for F1.2, unless I take few stops back, i.ex. to F2, still with better IQ. Not so easy to decide...

I don't take RF 28-70mm F2.0 as an option, because it's a beast (as 85mm F1.2 is). Or... should I? 🤕

The thing about the 50 f1.2 is it is so versatile.

It can do DOF shots at f1.2, and gather dim light like f1.2 does, while still able to adjust to f2, f2.8, f4, etc to get a couple people's eyes sharp at the same time. Same can not be said about the non "L" options. You crank a RF 50 f1.8 open to f1.2 with a pair of pliers, it falls apart. It's not as photo versatile.

50mm f/1.2 is great.

You also get durablility, lens coatings, a hood, UD elements, fast AF (ignore claims that it is slow),

It's all relative, but the 40mm Art is faster, and the 50mm GM is way faster yet.

weather sealing, and edge to edge sharpness with the RF 50 f1.2.

Cries about it being expensive can be mitigated if you have the budget. Cries about it being heavy can be mitigated if you are a healthy adult. If two pounds bothers some, I offer a cell phone for photos as it is hard to beat for being light weight, and far lighter than a R5 with Sigma 40mm (truly a boat anchor ).

The 40mm Art is for indoors at home. For it's wider slightly wider focal length it's a nice addition to a fast focusing 50mm. For portability Canon is simply the wrong brand, you can't blame Sigma for that, as the Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM is the goddess of all 50mm lenses for portability, AF speed & accuracy, and the complete silence of her AF system. The heavy RF 50mm f/1.2 boat anchor can't touch it.

For portability >> go Sony. The same is true for a compact 85mm f/1.4 as well.

Canon is the brand for slow focusing boat anchors.

The Sony 50 f1.2 is 87mm x 108mm and 778g

The Canon RF f1.2 is 89.8 mm x 108mm and 950g

The 2 lenses are almost exactly the same size

I didn't state otherwise.

but the Sony is 172g lighter.

So the Sony GM wins for portability, as the Canon RF is heavy.

The Sony 85 f1.4 is 89.5mm x 107.5mm and 820g

Going Sony the FE mount enables you to go with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN which weights only 630g.

Canon doesn't have an RF 85 f1.4 but does have an EF 85 f1.4 which is 88.6mm x 105.4mm and 950g. Again almost identical in size but 130g heavier.

The EF f/1.4 IS USM requires an 100g adapter, so compared to the Sigma DN it's actually a difference of 420g. The IQ of the Sigma is stronger, except for distortion. The Canon is more expensive. The Canon will give you better stabilization and probably faster AF as well.

Personally I prefer the better IQ and 420 gram weight reduction of the Sigma.

I would expect an RF version (if & when one comes out) to be lighter.

I don't, although I hope I'm wrong and you're right here.

Canon has a larger & heavier RF 85 f1.2 and a smaller & lighter RF 85 f2. Sony doesn't have an 85 f1 2 at this time but their 85 f1.8 is quite a bit lighter than Canons RF 85 f2 but doesn't have IS nor can it match the minimum focus distance / max. magnification of the Canon.

The Sony f/1.8 has faster AF though.

I expect the rumoured Sony 85 f1.2, based on what they have done with their latest lenses, to be lighter than Canons as well but not necessarily smaller.

We'll see. For me weight is more important than size, and a light weight 50mm is more important than a light weight 85mm, as 50mm is more on my camera for walk around purposes.   At 50mm f/1.2 is also more usable than at 85mm.  I would also be happy with 85mm f/1.4 with AF as fast as the 50mm f/1.2 GM lens.

None of the f1.2 lenses are exactly what I'd call small & light, but I don't think anyone is expecting them to be, the size is virtually the same and the weight difference, not that significant.

For me the difference between 772 and 950 is important, as I like 50mm for walk around purposes.

For reference the Nikon Z 50 f1.2 is 85.9mm x 150mm and 1090g (bith larger & heavier than the Sony & Canon.

There's always a lens being even worse. Nikon shooters will mention the 1200g Samyang 50mm f/1.2 XP.