Is the RF 85mm f/2 or the RF 50mm f/1.2 actually worth the cash for portrait work on my R6? Im seriously losing my mind trying to decide because I have a wedding shoot in three weeks and my budget is super tight right now. I keep bouncing back and forth between these two and its driving me crazy. Should I just save the money for the 85 or is the 50 really that much better?
Regarding what #1 said about sticking with what you know, I kinda disagree here. If you have the budget, better glass makes a huge difference in post-processing! I have been obsessing over the optical charts for these lenses all afternoon. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM is basically a masterpiece of engineering. The sharpness wide open is just insane compared to the f/2 version. If you are doing professional wedding work, that f/1.2 aperture gives you such a creamy, dreamy background separation that just screams luxury. It is a heavy piece of glass, but the build quality is fantastic. Now, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is definitely more practical for a tight budget. It is surprisingly sharp for the price and the stabilization helps a ton if you are shooting handheld in darker reception halls. However, you are losing that extra stop of light and the unique rendering of the L-series glass. If you really want to level up your portraits, maybe look at the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM if you can find a used deal! It is the king of portrait lenses, honestly. Just rent one of these for the weekend if you're worried about the learning curve. You'll see exactly what I mean once you get those files into your editor!
Regarding what #2 said about the optical quality, I agree the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM is legendary, but be careful. Shooting wide open at 1.2 during a wedding is risky if you aren't used to the razor-thin depth of field.
- The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is way more forgiving for events.
- 85mm is arguably better for portraits anyway. Save the cash for now. Dont force a new lens for a big shoot.
Honestly, skip the expensive glass if you are three weeks out from a wedding. You dont want to be learning a new lens under that kind of pressure. Stick with what you know so you dont miss focus on the big day.
- Rent gear instead of buying right now
- Practice your lighting setups first
- Keep your existing gear as a backup Being familiar with your current setup is way more important than fancy bokeh when you are under the gun.
