I finally pulled the trigger on the R8 and it's a beast but the kit lens is really not doing it for me for portraits. I've been obsessing over reviews and I'm stuck. I keep seeing the RF 85mm f1.2 L being called the sharpest lens ever made for Canon but the price tag is absolutely insane and honestly it looks huge on the tiny R8 body. Like, would it even be balanced? On the other hand people say the 85mm f2 macro is a great budget pick but I've read complaints about the stepping motor being slow and loud which worries me because I do a lot of candid stuff.
I have a family reunion shoot in Portland coming up next month and I really want to nail those headshots. My budget is strictly under $1600 so that basically rules out the top-tier L glass unless I find a crazy used deal which seems rare for RF stuff right now.
- extreme sharpness even wide open
- fast autofocus for kids running around
- something that wont make the R8 feel totally front-heavy
I was thinking about maybe looking at the 50mm 1.2 or even some EF glass with an adapter? But I heard adapters can sometimes mess with the eye-autofocus speed or accuracy. Is it better to stick with native RF glass or is the EF 85mm 1.4 IS still a viable contender in 2024?
Over the years, I found Canon EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM with an adapter better than native budget glass.
- Faster than Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM
- Better balanced than the f1.2
I'd be careful with that 85mm f2 motor for kids tho. Look for a used Canon RF 70-200mm f4L IS USM instead. It's incredibly sharp, fits your budget, and balances well on the R8.
I love the idea of staying native to keep your Eye-AF 100% reliable! Honestly, you should check out the Canon RF 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM. It is insanely sharp for headshots and the AF is way faster than that 85mm f2.
- Dual Nano USM motors are amazing for fast kids
- Incredible sharpness even wide open
- SA Control ring lets you get creative Have a fantastic time in Portland, you are gonna nail those shots!
Like someone mentioned, the native RF lineup for portraits is a bit of a mixed bag right now. Unfortunately, I have had issues with the focus consistency on the lower-end RF primes, and the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM was not as good as expected for fast-moving subjects. It really struggles to keep up during events. For your $1600 budget, the most reliable path is actually the Canon EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM used with the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. Here is why this setup works better:
- The AF motor is a ring-type USM which is way faster for kids than the stepping motors in the budget RF glass.
- You get built-in stabilization which the R8 desperately needs since it lacks an internal stabilizer.
- The sharpness wide open is professional grade and holds up against the much pricier L lenses. Dont worry about the adapter affecting accuracy. EF glass on an R8 is basically native. The only downside is the extra inch of length and weight, but the performance gain over the budget native options is massive. It might feel a bit front-heavy, but honestly, you need that USM motor for candid family shots.
