Looking for the best portrait lens for Canon EOS R.

Question

So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed an EOS R and honestly the eye-tracking is blowing my mind compared to my old 5D setups. Im so used to focus and recompose or just fighting with that center point but man the mirrorless world is wild. Anyway I have this huge shoot coming up in Sedona next month - mostly high-end lifestyle portraits for a boutique brand - and I really want to invest in a native RF portrait lens.

Ive been using my old EF 85mm f/1.2L II with the adapter and yeah it looks gorgeous but it feels like a brick and the AF motors are just... struggling to keep up with the new tech? Like the body wants to go faster than the glass can move. Im torn between going for the RF 85mm 1.2L which everyone says is the holy grail or maybe looking at the 50mm 1.2L since it might be more versatile? I also saw some stuff about that RF 135mm f/1.8 but Im worried that might be too long for some of the tighter locations we have booked.

My budget is pretty flexible since this is a business expense probably up to 3000 dollars but I dont want to buy something just because it is expensive if there is a better fit. Is the 85mm RF version really worth the weight and the price tag over the EF version I already have or should I look at something else entirely? The sharpness is obviously gonna be better but is the soul of the lens still there? I also heard some people mention the 85mm f/2 macro as a lightweight alternative but I feel like I might regret not having that extra stop of light for the dusk shots in the desert.

My timeline is pretty tight because I want to have at least two weeks to practice with it before we fly out to Arizona. What do you guys think is the absolute best glass for that creamy bokeh look on the R system?

muzxyz · Accepted Answer

Just saw this and honestly, I think youre gonna be disappointed if you expect the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM to solve all your problems. I put that lens through its paces recently and the ergonomics are just a disaster for field work. It is way too front-heavy for the original R body. For a long shoot in Sedona, your arm is gonna be dead by noon. I had issues with the sheer bulk making it hard to fit into a standard bag with other gear too. The technical side is flawless, but the soul you mentioned? Its not there. It feels clinical. If you compare it to the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM you already have, the RF version lacks that dreamy character. Also, definitely skip the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM for this specific job; the autofocus is sluggish and wont keep up with a model moving naturally in the desert wind. Its just not as good as expected for a pro shoot. Quick tip: focus on the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM if you need a native upgrade. It handles tighter compositions way better and the weight distribution is slightly more sane for lifestyle work. But really, the adapter is so good that spending 3k just for faster AF motors feels like a waste of business capital. Stick to the EF glass for the character and save your money for better lighting or travel. Youll miss the rendering of the old lens almost immediately.

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Looking for the best portrait lens for Canon EOS R.