16/05/2026 9:30 am
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RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
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So I finally pulled the trigger on the Canon R8 after using a rebel for years and man the jump to full frame is crazy. Im mostly doing lifestyle portraits of my kids and some friends who are getting married in the fall so I really need to get a dedicated prime lens because the kit lens just isnt cutting it for that creamy bokeh look everyone wants. Ive been scouring YouTube and Reddit for like a week now and Im torn between a few options but honestly the more I read the more I get indecisive.
I saw everyone raving about the RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. People say its the gold standard for portraits on a budget but then I saw some reviews saying the autofocus is kinda slow because of the macro motor? Im worried if my kids are running around Ill miss the shot. Then theres the RF 50mm f/1.8 which is super cheap and small but I dont know if it feels too normal and doesnt give that compression Im looking for. I also saw some people suggest the RF 35mm but that seems too wide for what I want to do.
Here is what I am looking for:
- Budget: I can really only swing about $600 maybe $700 if I stretch it but cheaper is better since I still need to buy extra batteries for this thing (the battery life on the R8 is... well you know).
- Use case: Mostly outdoor portraits in parks around Seattle so I have space to move back but it rains a lot so maybe something that doesn't feel like a toy.
- Style: I love that blurry background look but I also want it to be sharp enough to see eye detail.
- Timeline: I need to have this figured out by mid-September for a wedding rehearsal shoot Im helping with.
Should I just go with the 85mm and deal with the slower focus or is there a third option Im totally missing like adapting an older EF lens? Ive heard the EF 85mm 1.4 is a beast but that adapter adds a lot of bulk to a small camera like the R8 and it might be out of my price range anyway... what do you guys think for someone who wants the best bang for the buck on this specific body?
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16/05/2026 9:30 am
> I saw everyone raving about the RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. People say its the gold standard for portraits on a budget but then I saw some reviews saying the autofocus is kinda slow because of the macro motor? Honestly, you are right to be cautious about that motor. The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM uses a gear-type STM system. Because it has such a long focus throw for the macro range, it definitely hunts more than a dedicated portrait lens would. For kids running around at a park, you might find yourself missing focus more often than you'd like. I would suggest looking into an adapted Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon EF. You can usually find them used for around $600. Combined with a Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, the autofocus is actually incredibly fast on the R8 body because of the dual pixel AF system. The glass is way sharper than the budget RF primes and the bokeh is significantly better at f/1.4 compared to f/2. One thing tho... be careful with the Seattle weather. Neither the R8 nor the budget RF primes like the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM are properly weather sealed. The Sigma Art series has a rubber gasket at the mount which helps, but the R8 body itself is a bit of a weak link there. Since you mentioned the rain, just make sure to carry a rain cover. That setup will be heavy but the results will look professional for that wedding rehearsal.
