Is the RF 85mm f/1.2 actually worth the crazy price tag or should I just stick with the f/2 version for my R6 Mark II? Ive been shooting portraiture for about seven years now, mostly doing senior sessions and some weddings here in Seattle, but lately the autofocus inconsistency I keep getting with my adapted EF glass is making me super anxious. Like, I cant risk missing focus on a paying clients big day anymore.
I have a budget of maybe 2500 dollars max, though I really dont want to spend every penny if I dont have to. Im aiming to get a new lens before my June wedding season starts because the current setup is just driving me nuts. I love that creamy bokeh look, but I keep reading mixed things about the weight of that f/1.2 monster. Is it too heavy for a full day of shooting hand-held? Is the f/2 sharp enough for what I need, or will I regret not going for the L-series? Ive tried looking at reviews but everyone just talks about lab charts instead of real world use cases. Honestly I just need something that locks onto the eye every single time without fail because the gear stress is honestly killing my vibe lately...
> I keep reading mixed things about the weight of that f/1.2 monster. Is it too heavy for a full day of shooting hand-held? ^ This. Honestly, if you want that creamy look without the chiropractor bill, check out the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS if you hate your wallet, but seriously, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a total dream for weddings. You'll love the lighter bag, trust me!
Coming back to this, you really dont need the 1.2 weight for a whole day if you value your wrists. The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is honestly plenty sharp for client work and way easier to carry.
- The f/2 is super light and tracks perfectly on the R6 II.
- You wont regret the lighter bag. Are you shooting mostly wide open or do you stop down a bit anyway? Might help figure out if you actually need that extra stop of light.
Bump - same question here
Honestly, I totally get where you're coming from with the gear anxiety. I spent years fighting with my old adapted glass during wedding sessions and there is nothing worse than chimping your screen mid-shoot wondering if you actually nailed the eye or if the focus hunt ruined the shot. When I finally made the jump to native RF glass, it was like the camera finally woke up. The difference in eye tracking is honestly night and day compared to those adapters. I went back and forth on the heavy f/1.2 glass for the longest time. I rented it for a weekend and yeah, that bokeh is gorgeous, but by the end of a ten hour wedding day, my wrist was absolutely killing me. It feels like a brick after a few hours of chasing seniors around or trying to capture candid reception moments. I ended up picking something way lighter and honestly, I dont miss the extra weight one bit. My images are still tack sharp and the reliability is there, which is all that matters when you have a client breathing down your neck. If I were you, I'd prioritize the weight and the autofocus speed over that extra bit of light gathering. Youre gonna be way happier having your energy at the end of the day than having a slightly thinner depth of field.
