In my experience, high-res sensors like the R5 basically show every tiny mistake in ur lens choice. It matters cuz you want that crisp look but dont wanna spend crazy money, right?
- The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is the best value choice ngl.
- Or try the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for a lightweight 50mm option.
- Have you checked used prices to save even more??

Quick question—what's your priority?
- Weight: Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM
- Quality: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Compared to Sony's G-Master line, Canon lacks a compact L prime right now. Thoughts?

Honestly, after running the R5 for pro work since it dropped, I think we need to know one thing first: how often are you shooting in dusty or high-humidity environments? People talk about weather sealing, but from a reliability standpoint, the internal ultrasonic motor (USM) actuators in the L series, like on the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, are just built to a different industry standard for long-term duty cycles compared to the STM ones. Before I give a firm recommendation, are you open to using the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R or are you dead set on native glass? Quick tips for the R5 setup:

• Set the shutter to close on power down to protect that high-res sensor during lens swaps.
• Stick to the mechanical shutter for portraits to avoid potential frequency banding or rolling shutter artifacts. The R5 is a beast, but it basically reveals every flaw in your glass choice tbh. If you want reliability and safety for your shots, the USM motors are much more consistent for tracking moving subjects like kids than the cheaper STM options. What is your tolerance for focus hunting in low light??

Totally agree with that 35mm prime recommendation! It's sharp, but unfortunately, the lack of weather sealing is a major reliability risk for ur camera internals. I actually had moisture creep in during a light drizzle once—total nightmare. It's just not as rugged as the body, so you really gotta be careful out there, gl!

In my experience, picking the right glass for the Canon EOS R5 is a bit of a double-edged sword because that 45MP sensor is so incredibly demanding. Honestly, I’ve been pretty disappointed that Canon hasn’t released a middle-ground "compact L" series yet. I spent months lugging around the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM and while the bokeh is literally legendary, the weight is just too much for daily family stuff. It’s basically a gym workout. On the flip side, I moved to the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM for the weight, but I had issues with the autofocus speed—the STM motor just isn't as snappy as the USM ones when my kids are running around. Here is how I see the trade-offs:
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM: Pro: Unbeatable rendering and sharpness. Con: Way too heavy for "all-day" street use.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM: Pro: Perfect focal length for street/portraits and super light. Con: Not as sharp as the sensor deserves and feels a bit "plasticky."
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM: Pro: Tiny and cheap. Con: Honestly not as good as expected for the high-res R5 sensor; it's quite soft wide open. Personally, I’d suggest going with the 35mm 1.8 for your situation. It’s not 100% perfect, but for daily use, you’ll actually take it with you. The 50mm 1.2 is a masterpiece that usually ends up sitting in the gear bag because of the bulk. so yeah, hope that helps! peace

TIL! Thanks for sharing