So I finally pulled the trigger on the R8 after years of shooting on my old 5D Mark III and honestly Im kind of panicking right now because I didnt realize how expensive the native RF glass ecosystem is for portraits... like I spent almost my entire savings on the body and now I have a shoot for a bunch of high school seniors next Saturday and no actual lens to show for it. I have the EF-RF adapter but my old EF 85mm 1.8 has seen better days and the focus is hunting like crazy on this new body which I totally didnt expect. I thought the R8 autofocus was supposed to be magic but maybe my old lens is just dying or the motor cant keep up with the new tech?
I really need something sharp for headshots but I only have about $450 left in the budget after buying extra batteries since the R8 battery life is... well, it isnt great. I am looking at a few options but I am worried about making the wrong call and having soft shots for a paying client. Chicago weather is finally getting nice so well be outdoors in a park for most of it and I need something that can handle that bright light but still give me that creamy background.
Here is what I am looking for:
- Budget under $500 max, preferably closer to $300 so I can buy some ND filters
- Fast autofocus because these kids dont stay still and I need that eye-tracking to actually work
- Decent bokeh because the background at the park is gonna be pretty distracting and ugly this time of year
- Not too heavy because I dont want to be lugging a brick around for a 4 hour session
I keep looking at the RF 85mm f2 macro but I heard the autofocus is clunky and loud compared to the L series and I am worried it wont keep up with moving subjects. Then theres the cheap 50mm 1.8 but is that really pro enough for paid work? I feel like I might need more compression for those flattering headshots. Should I just bite the bullet on the RF 85mm or is there some third party stuff like Viltrox that actually works well with the R8 mount without throwing errors every five minutes? I feel like I am overthinking this but the clock is ticking...
Honestly, you gotta go with the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM! Its a fantastic lens and much more reliable for a paid gig than any adapted glass. I love it because:
- Sharpness is absolutely amazing for professional headshots.
- Native autofocus is way more reliable for eye-tracking.
- It fits perfectly in your remaining budget. You wont regret sticking to native glass, its just a safer bet for work.
Jumping in here! I recently did a similar park shoot with the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM and honestly its a little beast! The eye-tracking is lightyears ahead of old EF glass, and its so light you wont even feel it. Since it is so cheap, you can easily grab a K&F Concept 43mm Variable ND Filter too. It really saved my butt when the sun got too bright!
Building on the earlier suggestion, sticking to native glass is honestly your best bet for a paid gig. In my experience, third-party stuff is a gamble that usually isnt worth the stress when a client is watching you. > I feel like I might need more compression for those flattering headshots. Should I just bite the bullet on the RF 85mm or is there some third party stuff... Quick question tho, how much room do you actually have to move around at this park? If its a crowded spot, a longer focal length might be a pain if you gotta stay close to the kids. Knowing the layout would help. But yeah, just go with any Canon native prime you can afford right now. Ive tried many different setups over the years and the reliability of keeping it all in the same ecosystem is worth every penny. You wont have to deal with those annoying firmware errors or AF hunting that kills the vibe. Just grab a Canon and you will be fine, they are basically made for that R8 sensor.
100% agree
