14/03/2026 11:40 pm
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RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
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So i finally pulled the trigger on a Canon R7 and im honestly so hyped to start shooting my friends graduation portraits next month! Been doing some digging and everyone keeps suggesting the RF 50mm 1.8 since its a budget beast but then i saw some reviews for the RF 85mm f2 and now im just confused. Like people say the 50mm is basically an 80mm on this crop body which sounds great but then others say the 85mm is way better for that blurry background look even if i have to stand like a mile away lol. My budgets around 500-600 bucks and I really wanna make sure i get the right one before we head to the campus in Jersey... which one actually looks better on the R7?
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15/03/2026 12:45 am
Jumping in here because I totally agree about the space. Honestly, the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM was a bit of a letdown on my R7... unfortunately it felt way too tight and wasnt as good as expected for group shots.
- Just get the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM.
- Its way more versatile for a beginner.
- Grab a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I with the leftover cash. Youll do great!
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14/03/2026 11:55 pm
Just saw this while scrolling and wanted to chime in. @Reply #1 - good point! Space is definitely the biggest factor here. > do you have space to back up on campus? I totally agree with that perspective. Over the years, I've found that the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM produces much better background separation because of that 136mm effective reach on your R7, but it is super tight. Youll be shouting at your friends from across the quad just to get a waist-up shot. In my experience, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is way more practical for graduation day walk-arounds. It gives you that classic 80mm feel. If you want something even more versatile though, definitely check out the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM. It fits your budget and lets you get those environmental portraits where you actually see the campus architecture without being a mile away. The 35mm is honestly a sleeper hit for crop sensor portraits.
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14/03/2026 11:40 pm
Ive used both and they are honestly amazing! To narrow it down:
- do you have space to back up on campus?
- are you doing tight headshots or full body?
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25/03/2026 5:40 am
Re: "Jumping in here because I totally agree about..." - you really gotta be careful with the focal lengths on that sensor. 136mm (the 85mm equivalent) is extremely tight for graduation shots where you might want some campus background. I would suggest looking at these technical factors before you buy:
- The Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM features Coordinated IS. It works with your R7 IBIS to give you up to 8 stops of shake correction. The 50mm relies entirely on the camera body, which is less reliable for handheld shots.
- Check the optical limitations. The Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM is a budget build and often shows chromatic aberration in high-contrast outdoor light. This can mean purple lines around white graduation gowns.
- Make sure to leave room in your budget for a hood. Canon doesnt include them. Youll need the Canon ES-63 Lens Hood or Canon ET-77 Lens Hood to keep your contrast high in the sun. If you are on a strict budget, the 50mm is the winner, but the 85mm is technically superior for subject isolation... just dont forget you will be standing pretty far back.
