Top recommended prime lenses for Canon portrait photography?

sooo i totally get the struggle! honestly, the jump from that kit lens to a prime is gonna blow ur mind. technically, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM is objectively one of the best lenses Canon has ever made - it uses Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics to basically eliminate chromatic aberration - but it weighs like 2.6 lbs and costs way more than your budget. it's kinda overkill for most semi-pro setups tbh. Since you're worried about tight spaces but want that 'creamy' look, here's how I see the options for your $1,200 budget: * Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: This is super light and the Image Stabilization is great for video, but the bokeh can be a bit 'busy' compared to the f/1.2 or f/1.4 glass. * Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon EF with the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R: This is LITERALLY a bokeh machine. Used, it fits your budget perfectly and the sharpness at f/1.4 is just unreal.
* Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM: It's tiny and cheap but works wonders for those tight indoor shoots where an 85mm would have you backing into a wall lol. Best choice? I'd actually suggest getting the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon EF used and then adding the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for your indoor work. You get the 'signature look' with the Sigma and the 50mm covers your bases for space. (at least thats what worked for me) good luck!! 👍

unfortunately i've had issues with bulky lenses straining mounts. not as good as expected. just grab the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for $200; its safer, provides that classic look, and fits indoors.

Following this thread

honestly im still a beginner and i was so nervous about spending my savings on the wrong thing. i decided to take a more diy approach to figuring out what i actually needed instead of just following the pro guides. i spent a few weeks really pushing my current setup to its limits to see exactly where it was failing me.

• i taped my zoom lens at certain marks to see if i could handle a fixed length indoors
• i used some cheap rental sites to try the heavy glass for just a weekend
• i even tried some diy lighting tricks to see if that helped my background look better it was a bit of a slow way to do it i guess? but it made me feel way more secure about the whole thing. doing that self-service testing really cleared up some of my worries about the weight and the space before i committed. i think i learned more from that weekend of experimenting than i did from months of reading reviews.

In my experience, you gotta be cautious about dropping huge cash on a single lens right away. I was in your shoes a while back and almost pulled the trigger on the top-tier f/1.2 glass, but I'm glad I hesitated. When I compared the high-end version to the more entry-level f/2 alternative, the weight was the biggest deal-breaker for me. The pro version is literally a brick. For outdoor lifestyle stuff, youre gonna be walking a lot, and your wrists will definitely feel it. Plus, the f/2 version I got has some macro capabilities which is lowkey a lifesaver for close-up details. Option A (Top-tier): Insane bokeh, but heavy and super pricey. Option B (Budget prime): Lightweight, sharp enough, and way more affordable.
Option C (Adapted glass): Best value per dollar, but feels kinda clunky with the extra length. Honestly, I think the cheaper one is the better choice. It works great for a semi-pro setup and saves ur budget for a second lens later, especially since 85mm is waaay too long for tight indoor rooms. Just my two cents... good luck! 👍