Portrait lens for international travel?

Tango 55 said:

Hi All,

As a VERY happy new owner of an R8 and 28/2.8 pancake, I’m now thinking I’ll need a portrait lens for trips overseas with a two-prime setup. What would you recommend that’s not too heavy? I usually like my portraits shot at f/2.8, so I don’t need a particularly bright lens, and I’m even flexible on focal lengths (anything between 50 and 90mm could work), although I want it to be optically very good.

So, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Ricardo

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Alastair Norcross said:

Tango 55 said:

Hi All,

As a VERY happy new owner of an R8 and 28/2.8 pancake, I’m now thinking I’ll need a portrait lens for trips overseas with a two-prime setup. What would you recommend that’s not too heavy? I usually like my portraits shot at f/2.8, so I don’t need a particularly bright lens, and I’m even flexible on focal lengths (anything between 50 and 90mm could work), although I want it to be optically very good.

So, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Ricardo

Click to expand...

For pretty light, and optically very good, you really can't beat the RF 85 F2. Pretty much the only knock against it is that the AF isn't lightning fast, but I haven't seen anyone claim it isn't fast enough for portraits. And I don't find the AF to be particularly slow (though it's obviously not as fast as the new VCM lenses, or the RF 135 F1.8, all of which are lightning fast). The added advantage of the 85 F2 is that it is a semi-macro lens (half life size), focusing more than twice as close as any other 85 currently on the market.

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gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

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bodeswell said:

The RF 85 f/2 is sharp, relatively inexpensive, and relatively light. It is also stabilized, close focusing, and half macro. Would it be better if Canon made several different inexpensive 85s instead of packing all that goodness into one?

I can’t imagine fussing with a manual focus lens on vacation these days, though long ago I did just that. The worthies of old used them to great effect, but then they had to. There’s a very practical reason why manual focus lenses are niche today.

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HobbyPhotog said:

I travelled with 85 f2 in my last trip to Europe and it was great. Generally, I bring 24-105 F4L and find it a very convenient all purpose lens.

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Tango 55 said:

I usually like my portraits shot at f/2.8, so I don’t need a particularly bright lens, and I’m even flexible on focal lengths (anything between 50 and 90mm could work), although I want it to be optically very good.

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brandysquirrelweasel said:

Tango 55 said:

I usually like my portraits shot at f/2.8, so I don’t need a particularly bright lens, and I’m even flexible on focal lengths (anything between 50 and 90mm could work), although I want it to be optically very good.

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I have a very boring answer for you: the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8. At 70mm f/2.8, it has a 25mm iris, so your bokeh will be similar to a nifty fifty. But you'll also get a full focal length range, IS, and weather sealing.

For general portraiture, my go-to setup is the RF 35mm f/1.8, RF 50mm f/1.8, and RF 85mm f/2. But for travel portraiture, I’d pick a zoom—and maybe add the RF 16mm f/2.8 for landscapes.

If you just need a second lens to pair with the pancake, then the obvious choice is the RF 50mm f/1.8. However, this setup lacks IS and weather sealing.

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Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

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drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

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drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

Click to expand...

drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

Click to expand...

bodeswell said:

drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

Click to expand...

You must be eating the good chips! MPB is asking between 2 and 3 hundred dollars US.

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Mark B. said:

drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

Click to expand...

I was wondering about the AF on the RF 85; I'm also using an adapted EF 85/1.8. The AF isn't near as fast as the RF 50,

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Member said:

so your comment on the RF 85 is very interesting. I had been thinking about selling the EF 85 for the RF, but I guess I'll hang on to it for now.

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Member said:

Mark

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Alastair Norcross said:

Mark B. said:

drsnoopy said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

Just a curve ball - as you like older lenses, you could consider the venerable EF 85/1.8 USM, with an RF adapter. The AF is faster than the RF 85/2, it’s pretty sharp and it has a nice rendering, though with a little purple fringing wide open. Obviously no IS. It’s “cheap as chips” on the used market.

Click to expand...

I was wondering about the AF on the RF 85; I'm also using an adapted EF 85/1.8. The AF isn't near as fast as the RF 50,

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Which RF 50?

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Alastair Norcross said:

There are three of them (I own all three). I had the old EF 85 F1.8 for many years, and the AF on my DSLRs was faster than the AF of the RF 50 F1.8 on mirrorless. The RF 50 F1.2 is maybe a little faster than the RF 50 F1.8, but similar. The RF 50 F1.4 (the new VCM lens) has lightning-fast AF. The RF 85 F2 is faster focusing, in my experience, than the RF 50 F1.8, but nothing like as fast as the 50 F1.4.

Alastair Norcross said:

so your comment on the RF 85 is very interesting. I had been thinking about selling the EF 85 for the RF, but I guess I'll hang on to it for now.

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Don't do that based on this anecdote about AF speed. I'm pretty sure that the old 85 is faster focusing than the new 85, but not by enough to make a difference to anything except really fast action photography. And the 85 F2 is simply miles ahead of the old 85 F1.8 in every other respect.

Alastair Norcross said:

Mark

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Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Click to expand...

Tango 55 said:

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

Click to expand...

thunder storm said:

Tango 55 said:

gipper51 said:

Options are quite limited in native RF lenses here, leaving only the nifty fifty 50 f1.8 and the 85 f2 as your only choices. Everything else is big and heavy.

I think the perfect lens here doesn't exist for RF...Sigma's 90mm f2.8 I-series is probably ideal, but only for Sony and L mount, unfortunately This is a lens I wish would come to RF mount.

Is autofocus a requirement? The new Voigtlander 75 f1.5 in RF mount looks very interesting. Small, all metal build quality, and everyone raves about the optics and user experience of Voigtlanders.

Click to expand...

I agree that we have fairly limited choices in the system. I think I'll get the 85 f/2 and the 50 f/1.8, and see which one works best for street portraits. The advantage of the 50/1.8 is that I'd also like the focal length for "general" street photography, while the 85/2 would be too long for me for that purpose.

In general I enjoy manual focus lenses very much, and I use them often, but I think they are not a good choice for portraits of strangers, for which I feel I must act quickly and take advantage of eye AF.

Click to expand...

I think the Viltrox lens will give you both eye recognition and focus confirmation at the same time, making it pretty easy to focus manually for posed portraits.

thunder storm said:

Thank for your input!

Ricardo

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