Honestly so fed up with my current setup. I bought the RF 50mm 1.8 because everyone said it was a cheap starter lens but the autofocus on my R5 is constantly hunting during portrait sessions and it is driving me absolutely insane. I have a shoot for a friend in downtown Chicago coming up in two weeks and I just cant rely on this thing anymore. The focus keeps shifting to the background right when I press the shutter and Im losing half my shots. Its super embarrassing to tell clients to hold still while my gear decides to take a nap.
Im looking for something that just works. My budget is around 1500 bucks or so. Im trying to decide if I should just bite the bullet and get the RF 85mm f/2 or if there is something else that is actually sharp enough to justify the price. Is the 85mm worth the extra cash or should I be looking at third party options like Sigma if they even work well with the adapter? Im just so done with blurry eyes and missed focus. Does anyone have a lens that actually locks on perfectly every single time...
Jumping in here because that hunting issue is honestly a nightmare on a pro body like the R5. If you want speed, you gotta stop relying on the entry-level STM motors. The RF 85mm f/2 is decent, but the focus throw is actually quite long, which is why it feels sluggish compared to the L-series glass. If you want it to lock on instantly, here is what I would look at:
- Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
- Okay, this is way over budget, but if you can find a used copy, the ring-type USM motor is practically telepathic with the R5 eye tracking.
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
- It is sharper than the 50mm, but honestly, the focus hunting might still bug you if you're chasing action.
- Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
- This is my personal pick. It is surgical, fast, and the build quality is insane for portraits. Third party stuff is cool, but with the R5, native RF glass is just optimized better for the Dual Pixel AF algorithm. Don't bother with adapters if you need 100% reliability.
I totally feel your pain. I spent years fighting that same hunting issue before I finally upgraded. When I switched to the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM it was like night and day, but man the price is brutal. Honestly, if you want something reliable without going broke, I was super satisfied with the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM for a while. It doesnt have that lightning-fast L-series speed, but it definitely tracks better than the 50mm. I actually ended up picking up a used Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM with the adapter, and honestly, that thing is a tank. It hits focus every time and I have no complaints about the sharpness. Just my two cents, but saving for L-series glass is usually the best move for your sanity.
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
Man, that 50mm f/1.8 is definitely known for being a bit sluggish on the R5. If you want something that actually locks on, just look at the native glass from Canon. They really know how to make their own stuff snap into focus.
- Try any of the prime lenses from Canon
- Look into professional L-series glass Honestly, just sticking to their high-end native lineup should solve those hunting issues for your Chicago shoot.
