What do you guys think is the absolute best portrait lens for the new R8? I finally pulled the trigger on the body and I'm so excited to get out there and shoot some headshots for my friends in Seattle next month. I did some digging and everyone points to the RF 85mm f2 but then I read a bunch of reviews saying the autofocus is kinda clunky and loud? That's got me worried because I'm also looking at the 50mm 1.8 as a budget option but maybe that's too wide for tight portraits. I have about 550 bucks left in my budget for glass and I really want that nice bokeh. Should I just deal with the slow focus on the 85 or is there a better hidden gem I missed?
Late to the party but omg youre gonna love the R8! It is seriously such a fantastic body for portraits and the sensor is amazing. Before I dive in with my fav choice, are you planning to do these headshots mostly outdoors in the parks or in a tighter indoor space? Seattle weather can be tricky so that matters a lot for your focal length! If you want that creamy background on a budget, you gotta look at the Canon EF 100mm f2 USM used. It is a total hidden gem and feels way faster than the RF 85mm f2 for tracking. My big tip: if you end up with any lens that has slower focus motors, just lean hard on the eye tracking feature of the R8... it is literally magic and helps so much with your hit rate. You can definitely find that 100mm for a steal and still have money left for a nice bag!
Adding my two cents! I actually went the old school route and grabbed a used Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. Honestly, even with an adapter, that ultrasonic motor is so much faster and quieter than the new RF 85mm f2. It is fantastic for those tight headshots you want and stays well under your budget! TL;DR: Go EF glass. Its way cheaper used and the focus is snappier for portraits.
I grabbed the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM for a street shoot and the clunky motor was a huge letdown. That thing kept hunting while my subject was moving and I missed some great shots. Tips:
- Flip the focus limiter switch to 0.5m-infinity.
- Grab a used Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and an old Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. Its not as snappy as I hoped, so dont expect miracles.
