Which prime lens is best for Canon mirrorless portrait photography?

yo, honestly, i think you gotta be careful before dropping a few grand on glass. for your situation, i'm gonna give you a quick breakdown because i've been super satisfied with my R6 setup but I always prioritize ergonomics and gear safety so i dont end up with a broken lens or a sore wrist... 1. Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: this is the dream, but seriously it is SO heavy. it's a literal tank. if ur not used to holding that much weight, you're gonna get tired fast and thats when accidents happen... or you just end up with shaky shots. 2. Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM: maybe not as 'pro' looking but it’s a much safer bet for long days. it has built-in Image Stabilization which basically acts like a safety net for your handheld work, especially if your hands get shaky!
3. Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM: it's a great middle ground but basically you lose that compression you mentioned. honestly, i'd suggest renting first or consulting a pro to see if you can handle the weight... i'm happy with lighter gear cuz it just works well without the stress. gl!

> chasing that creamy, compressed background look In my experience, compression comes from focal length, so the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is basically literal magic. I've tried many over the years and it's sooo professional??

Seconding the recommendation above! Compression comes from focal length, but ur comfort matters too. I've had issues with heavy gear causing fatigue... it's not as good as expected when u can't hold it steady. The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is magic, but it’s a brick. A practical solution is the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. It’s budget-friendly and way lighter for long sessions. Better safe than sorry!! 👍

In my experience, you really cant beat the 85mm for that specific compression youre after, tho the 50mm is way more versatile if youre in tight spots. I usually go for the lighter stuff because lugging heavy gear reminds me way too much of when I tried to build my own studio shed in the backyard last spring. I figured I could save a few grand doing the framing myself.

• used pressure treated pine
• bought a massive miter saw
• nearly took a finger off with a rogue nail gun I spent weeks obsessing over the foundation level, only to realize I built it right over my main water line. Had to tear half of it down when a pipe burst in July. My wife still wont let me live it down. Anyway lol, sorry kinda went off topic there.

+1 to what was said earlier. That 85mm look is literally the dream for outdoor lifestyle stuff! I've been there and honestly, nothing beats that compression... but it’s a BIG investment. Before you pull the trigger, I had a couple questions to help narrow it down: 1. Do you usually have a ton of space to move around, or are you often in tighter outdoor spots?
2. Are you planning on shooting wide open at f/1.2 most of the time, or do you usually stop down anyway for more sharpness?? I mean, the f/1.2 glass is basically a brick to carry around all day. I’ve used heavy setups like that for long sessions and my wrist was screaming lol. You might want to consider if the "holy grail" look is worth the physical weight if you're shooting handheld for hours. Just be careful cuz that super thin depth of field can be tricky to nail! gl!

Curious about one thing: what's ur actual hard budget cap? NGL, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is amazing, but the market value is wild... If you're looking for better ROI, consider: 1. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon EF - around $1,100 used, realy great compression!
2. Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 RF - way cheaper at $600-700. Basically, do u need the brand name or just that look?? lol