Im satisfied with Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM for studio shots. AF works well tbf and fits your budget.

• sharp optics
• hybrid IS Try Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM if you want to save even more cash.

Re: "Im satisfied with Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro..."

• I have to commiserate because honestly, these prices are just ridiculous. It drives me crazy how much we are expected to pay for glass that feels like it is mostly plastic. It feels like a total scam for hobbyists when companies keep hiking prices while quality feels like it is going downhill. It is just frustrating to see. I would suggest being very cautious before you drop that cash tho. To provide better advice, I need to ask... what are the actual dimensions of the studio space you will be using? If you are working in a cramped area, moving up from a 50mm might actually make your job a lot harder than you think.

Im happy with my gear but honestly these prices are ridiculous lately, drives me crazy how much they charge for basic glass. Its such a scam for us hobbyists.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I have been very satisfied with how the native RF system handles autofocus communication. When I first transitioned to the R8, I was meticulously checking data on focus hit rates because I do a lot of studio work where reliability is everything. I found that the native protocol between the body and the lens eliminates so much of that micro-jitter you sometimes see with older adapted glass. In my experience, even the standard motors in the modern lineup are incredibly precise because of how the R8 processes the phase detection data. I have done several long shoots now and the eye tracking is basically glue. Tbh, you really cant go wrong if you just stick with any of the native Canon RF primes. They are built specifically for this mount and the reliability has been top notch for me across the board. Sticking to the first-party ecosystem ensures you wont have any weird firmware handshake issues during a professional session.