So Im super excited about my new R8! Shooting my sisters engagement party in Seattle soon and need a portrait prime. So I was thinking about the 85mm f2 stm but heard the focus is kinda loud, plus the 50mm 1.8 seems tiny. My logic was the 85mm looks better for bokeh but is it worth the extra cash?
> My logic was the 85mm looks better for bokeh but is it worth the extra cash? Like someone mentioned, the 85mm is usually the way to go for portraits, but I just found this thread and wanted to warn you that the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM was honestly a letdown for me. The motor is an older gear-type STM design, which is unfortunately loud and hunts quite a bit in dim party lighting. It is not as snappy as I would like for candid shots and the external barrel extension is kinda annoying. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is okay if you are on a budget, but the bokeh is pretty nervous and the corners are soft wide open. If you want actual pro results, you would usually look at the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, but that thing is huge and costs a fortune. I would still pick the 85mm over the 50mm for the look, but the AF performance is definitely frustrating for the price.
Congrats on the R8, thats a solid body choice. I've spent a lot of time shooting events and I would suggest being careful with your lens choice depending on the venue size. The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is absolutely worth the extra cash for portraits compared to the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, mostly because of the lens compression. 85mm is way more flattering... it slims the face and creates much smoother bokeh than the 50mm can. I've definitely noticed the difference when doing side-by-side comparisons... Honestly, I have to warn you about the focus noise though. Since its an STM motor, it has a distinct whirring. If you are planning to record any video of the speeches, that noise might bleed into the internal mic, so make sure to use an external one. Also, the autofocus isnt quite as snappy as the expensive L-series glass. It can hunt a little in low light, which Seattle parties usually have. If you're in a tight indoor space, the 85mm might actually be too long. You might want to consider how much room you'll have to back up. If its a small house party, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is actually a great alternative for wider environmental portraits. Basically, the 85mm is specialized but worth it. TL;DR: The 85mm f/2 is the best for pure portrait aesthetics, just be mindful of the slower, slightly noisier autofocus and the long focal length in tight rooms.
^ This. Also, remember the R8 doesnt have IBIS, so picking the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a massive technical win because of its built-in stabilization! You get 5 stops of IS which is fantastic for low light engagement parties. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is tiny but lacks that stabilization, making it way harder to use. Love the 85mm compression too... definitely worth the extra cash.
Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.
