Is the RF 85mm f/2 Macro the best bet for portraits on the R6 Mark II or should I just bite the bullet and save up for the 85mm f/1.2 L? Im honestly kinda torn here. I do a lot of senior portrait sessions around Seattle and the lighting is always super moody and hit or miss, so the extra stop of light on the L lens would be amazing, but its like three times the price and my bank account is really feeling it lately since I just bought the camera body.
I was also looking at the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art with the EF adapter but Im worried about autofocus speed since I want to make sure I dont miss any shots during paid gigs. I really need to decide by next month before the spring season starts. I keep going back and forth because I know the L glass is sharper, but for portraits, do I really need that level of clinical sharpness? Is the f/2 macro going to give me that nice buttery bokeh that I want for these outdoor shoots or am I gonna regret not spending the extra cash...
Honestly, skip the adapter and dont stress about the L lens yet. I shoot with the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM on my R6 II and it works well for my sessions.
- Sharpness is great for portraits, not too clinical
- Bokeh is surprisingly buttery at f/2
- Much lighter for long days Save the cash for now. Youll be happy with the results, and your bank account will thank you.
Like someone mentioned, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a total workhorse. In my experience over years of shooting sessions, you honestly dont need that extra stop of light with the R6 II high ISO performance. I stopped carrying my Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM because it was way too heavy for long days in the city. Just grab a fast prime and keep your kit light, trust me.
Seconded!
