> Is the image quality really that much better on the 85mm for the price difference? Honestly, for an R50 user on a budget, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is usually the smarter pick. Since the R50 has a crop sensor, that 50mm lens gives you a field of view similar to an 80mm on full frame. Thats basically the sweet spot for portraits. The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a great piece of glass, but it ends up being a 136mm equivalent on your camera. That might feel way too tight if you're trying to take photos in a crowded graduation area. The 85mm has stabilization, but it costs nearly three times as much. The 50mm is tiny and wont make your camera feel lopsided when walking around all day. For outdoor shots with decent light, the image quality difference isnt huge enough to justify the extra weight or the hit to your wallet. Plus, you'll stay well under your $500 limit.

Regarding what #1 said about "> Is the image quality really that much better", honestly on a crop sensor the 50mm is amazing! I totally agree. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is such a fantastic deal for an R50!!

• way lighter for walking around
• basically acts like an 80mm lens
• huge money saver Go for the 50mm and grab a Canon Lens Hood ES-63 for those outdoor shots. You wont regret it!

Same setup here, love it