Best prime lens for portrait photography on a Canon mirrorless system?

> budget is around 2k but I dont want to spend it all I totally feel this! I remember stressing over the same thing before my first big outdoor gig. Look, the Canon RF 85mm f1.2L USM is an absolute beast and the images are pure magic, but its also heavy as a literal rock. I carried it for eight hours once and basically couldnt feel my wrist the next day! If you have the cash, the image quality is life-changing, seriously. For an outdoor wedding, you should also look at the Canon RF 135mm f1.8L IS USM. I actually switched to it because the reach is better for ceremonies and the background melt is just ridiculous! The Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM is okay for casual stuff, but the build quality is night and day compared to the L glass. The L lenses handle sun flare way better, which is huge for outdoor shoots. Go big or go home, trust me!

I saw this thread earlier and wanted to chime in before you pull the trigger for your Friday deadline. Since you're shooting a wedding, you really need to be cautious about the autofocus reliability in outdoor backlit situations. If you check out the technical breakdowns on sites like The Digital Picture, the sharpness charts for the f2 are actually quite good, but they don't show how much that STM motor can hunt during a moving ceremony. I would suggest considering these options based on your 2k budget:

• Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: Its a heavy beast but the focus is dead on and the weather sealing is crucial for outdoor gigs.
• Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: Way lighter and cheaper, but be careful with the slow focus reset if you lose your subject while tracking.
• Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM: This usually sits right at your $2,000 budget. For outdoor weddings, the compression and reach are actually superior to any 85mm lens imo. The RF market is still pretty pricey since Canon hasn't opened up to third parties for autofocus glass yet, so you're mostly stuck with these high L-series prices for now. Make sure you think about the physical toll of the glass too. That f1.2 is basically a lead weight on your wrist after four hours of shooting. Tbh, you might want to consider a quick rental from Lensrentals to see if the weight is a dealbreaker before dropping two grand. Its better to test it for $100 than to regret a huge purchase.

The Canon RF 85mm f1.2L USM works best if youre worried about weather since it has full sealing for outdoors. The Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM is a decent option to save cash, but it feels a bit fragile. I usually lean toward L glass for weddings because the build quality is better insurance against accidental bumps. It is a big price jump, but the reliability is worth it for big events.

Be careful tho, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM focus motor is way slower. I'd suggest the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM because that USM speed is just crucial for weddings.