Hey everyone! I’ve recently made the jump to the Canon mirrorless system with an EOS R6 Mark II, and I’m absolutely loving the autofocus speed and the overall feel of the camera. However, I’m currently still relying on my old EF 50mm f/1.8 via an adapter. While it gets the job done, I really want to invest in a native RF lens to fully take advantage of the system's capabilities, specifically for high-end portrait photography.

I’ve been doing a lot of research, but I’m honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options and the massive price gaps between them. On one hand, the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM looks like the absolute "holy grail" for that creamy bokeh and incredible sharpness, but that price tag is definitely making me hesitate. On the other hand, I’ve heard surprisingly good things about the much more affordable RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. Is the jump in image quality and build really worth the extra thousands of dollars for someone who is doing semi-professional headshots and family sessions?

I’m also considering the RF 50mm f/1.2L or even the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L. I love the compression you get at the longer end of a zoom lens, but there’s just something magical about a fast prime for portraits. Most of my work happens outdoors in natural light, but I do occasionally work in smaller indoor spaces where a 135mm might be too tight. I’m looking for that specific "pop" where the subject is tack-sharp but the background just melts away beautifully.

I really want to make an informed choice since this is a big investment for my kit. For those of you who have spent time shooting with the various RF glass, which lens do you find yourself reaching for most often during a portrait session? If you had to pick just one "must-have" portrait lens for the RF mount, which one would it be and why?