I have a wedding shoot coming up in like three weeks and I am honestly panicking a little bit. I have been using my Canon R6 for a while now but I have been stuck using the kit lens and some old EF glass with the adapter which is getting super annoying because the focus speed isnt always what I need for portraits when people are moving around. I really need to commit to a native RF lens ASAP because I dont want to be stressed on the day of.
So I have been going back and forth between the RF 85mm f/2 Macro and the RF 50mm f/1.2 L. The 85mm is super tempting because its way more in my budget range right now, especially since I need to buy a new flash and some memory cards too. My logic was that 85mm is basically the gold standard for portraits and the stabilization would be nice for low light. But then I keep looking at photos taken with that 50mm 1.2 and the bokeh is just insane. Its a huge price jump though and I really dont know if I can justify spending that much money right now when I could put it toward other gear.
- RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
- RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
Im based in Chicago and the lighting in the venue is probably going to be pretty dim which makes me lean toward the 1.2, but is it overkill for just portraits? I am worried the 50 might be too wide if I get too close to the subjects and distort their faces a bit. Should I just save the cash and go for the 85 or is the build quality and sharpness of the L lens worth missing a rent payment or something lol. Has anyone used these specifically on the R6 for professional work? I am just totally stuck and need to pull the trigger on this tonight so it arrives on time...
Honestly, grab the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM and dont look back! Look, I totally get the obsession with that dreamy 1.2 look, but for a wedding, you really need reliability and versatility more than just pure bokeh. That 85mm is such a steal for the price and the stabilization is a total lifesaver when the lights get dim at the reception.
- The focus on the 85 is super snappy on the R6, perfect for when guests start dancing.
- Youre gonna save enough cash to pick up a solid Godox V860III Flash or some fast SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I cards, which are way more critical for your peace of mind.
- 85mm is just way more flattering for portraits than a 50mm, so you wont have to worry about weird facial distortion. Trust me, you'll be way less stressed with a kit that actually works for your budget!
Like someone mentioned, you really need to be careful with the budget before a big gig! I honestly love my Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM for that dreamy look, but if you're tight on cash, have you checked out the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art?
- The focus is lightning fast
- Tack sharp results every time
- Much cheaper than the L glass Save that extra dough for a reliable SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC UHS-I card so you dont sweat the storage!
Works great for me
