> "image quality is fantastic, plus it's way more affordable than the f/1.2 versions" Just seeing this now and honestly, I totally agree. I ended up going with a more compact choice for my current setup because reliability is basically my biggest worry. I used to shoot with some really heavy glass and I was always paranoid about the physical strain on the camera mount or the focus motor wearing out faster (at least that’s what I told myself lol). Plus, if ur moving around a lot, a smaller lens just feels safer and less likely to get bumped against something in a tight studio. Basically, the one I got has been super consistent and hasn't let me down once. I've had zero issues with it acting up or giving me focus errors, which is more than I can say for some of the bulky, expensive gear I've rented before. It's just solid and does the job without making me worry about gear failure in the middle of a shoot.

Been using this for years, no complaints

Just jumped into the RF system and honestly, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is an ideal lens for portraiture on any full-frame Canon R camera. A true dual purpose lens that is equally good at portraits as it is with close-ups. Been using it for a few months now and the image quality is fantastic, plus it's way more affordable than the f/1.2 versions. The macro capability is just a bonus!