topic Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits? in Gear Guide

RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits vs RF 85mm?

drimit — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:30:05 GMT

I'd like to get into taking portraits of friends and family, and I have question about camera/lens combinations. I have the RF 50mm 1.8 lens and both the R8 (full frame) and R10 (APS-C), and I'm wondering: Would purchasing the RF 85 mm 2.0 to use with the R8 be significantly better than using the RF 50mm on the R10 (equivalent to ~80mm)? Or would the 50mm/R10 combo be good enough for non-professional photos?

Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits?

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:25:21 GMT

You can compare the lenses here:

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=1528&Camera=1508&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=1514&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits?

kvbarkley — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:14:07 GMT

What lenses do you have now? Have you tried them? What did you find wrong with them?

Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits?

SignifDigits — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:46:11 GMT

I've owned both and shot them on the R8. Personally, I didn't love either of them and moved on. The 85mm was clearly a better quality lens and image, though.

There is nothing magical about 85mm. It's just creates a distance that seems to "work" for a lot of people between the photographer and the subject. I think you should work on your framing and depth of field skills with the 50mm wide open to maximize bokeh on the R10 and find out how your family feels with you doing their portraits then decide.

I personally chose a good used multipurpose EF lens and adapter - the EF 100mm f/2.8 IS USM. I can use that lens for learning the world of macros, astrophotography and it has a really smooth bokeh at a distance that's comfortable for working with my family. That all came in at about the same price range. But you are you and your family might love you being a bit closer. Using the 50mm that you have on the R10 should help you learn what you need to know before you buy a lens that might or might not be a good fit.

I just got an EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L III USM that I will probably try. But it's bigger and white so I don't know how the family will react to it when I start pointing it at them yet. Much of my family doesn't really want to be photographed so my "portraits" are most often candid, not posed. I have one grandson that still loves to pose, but given most everyone them doesn't feel the same way I worry that may not last.

Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits vs RF 85mm?

bapohis982 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:52:19 GMT

Hello,

Your RF 50mm f/1.8 on the R10 (~80mm equivalent) is already very well suited for portraits and is absolutely good enough for non-professional photos of friends and family, giving flattering perspective kdealer and good background blur; while the RF 85mm f/2 on the R8 would offer slightly better subject isolation, smoother bokeh, and a more classic portrait “look,” the improvement is modest rather than dramatic.

Re: RF 50mm 1.8 on APS-C for portraits vs RF 85mm?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:47:15 GMT

I used to shoot a lot of portraits, 1000's of them. Some time ago I found as did several of my photography buds that the 70-200mm f2.8L is the best "portrait" lens on FF. I have both the a 50mm f1.2L and a 85mm f12L and I love'em. They have their place for sure.but the 70-200mm f2.8L is still my go to portrait lens by far.