Honestly im so fed up with my RF 50mm f/1.8 on my R6. I thought it would be a decent budget option for outdoor portraits but the autofocus keeps hunting in backlit situations and the bokeh is just so busy and distracting. I missed like half the shots at my last family session here in Chicago because it just wouldnt lock focus fast enough and im ready to just sell it and get something proper.
I need a real portrait lens before a big couple shoot next month. My budget is strictly under $1000. So I was thinking about the RF 85mm f/2 macro because my logic was that native RF glass would be best, but then I read reviews saying the autofocus is actually pretty slow and noisy too which makes me hesitate.
Then I started looking at EF adapters and maybe getting a used EF 85mm f/1.4L IS or even a Sigma 85mm Art. But will the adapter make the setup too bulky and ruin the balance on the R6? I just want something sharp with creamy background blur that actually locks focus without driving me crazy... should I go EF adapted or is there an RF option I am overlooking?
Disagree on adapting heavy EF glass, it ruins the R6 balance. Grab the native Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM! The 5-stop optical IS is fantastic and firmware v1.8.0 fixed the AF issues.
I grabbed a used Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF last year and love it!
- AF is blazing fast
- Bokeh is pure cream Its heavy but totally worth it!
Yeah, that cheap 50mm STM can be super frustrating when it starts hunting. I had the exact same issue and honestly, you should just go the adapted EF route. Dont worry about the bulk too much. The balance on the R6 is actually totally fine, even with a heavier lens. I've been using the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Canon EF with the standard Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R on my R6 for over a year now and I couldn't be happier. The autofocus is insanely fast and sticky, even in tough backlit situations, because the R6 dual pixel AF system works so well with it. No calibration needed like on old DSLRs. You can easily grab the Sigma used for about $600 to $700 these days, which is a massive bargain and well under your $1000 limit. Sure, it is a bit heavy at 1.13kg, but the optical quality is stunning and the bokeh is incredibly smooth. If you want to save even more weight and still get image stabilization, look for a used Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Canon EF. It is super sharp, has great VC, and goes for around $450 used. But for that creamy f/1.4 look, the Sigma is the absolute sweet spot for value. The RF 85mm f/2 is okay, but that STM motor is just too sluggish for professional work. Go adapted and save your cash.
