50mm Lens:
* Pros:
* Versatility: It's considered a "standard" lens and can be used for a wider range of subjects beyond just portraits. You can shoot street photography, landscapes, and general everyday photography with a 50mm.
* Affordability: Generally, 50mm lenses are more affordable than 85mm lenses, especially in their faster aperture versions (e.g., f/1.8, f/1.4).
* Environmental Portraits: The wider field of view allows you to include more of the surrounding environment in your portraits. This is great for telling a story or setting a scene.
* Closer Working Distance: You don't need as much space between you and your subject, making it suitable for smaller studios or indoor spaces. Easier to communicate.
* Can be more forgiving: Especially with less experienced models, the closer distance can help build rapport.
* Cons:
* Distortion: Can exhibit some minor distortion, especially when shooting very close to the subject. This can sometimes make features like the nose appear larger.
* Less Background Blur (Bokeh): While you can still achieve a shallow depth of field, it generally won't be as pronounced as with an 85mm, especially at similar apertures.
* Less Compression: Doesn't compress the subject's features as much as an 85mm, which some find less flattering.
* Forces You Closer: You need to get closer to your subject, which some people might find uncomfortable or intrusive.
85mm Lens:
* Pros:
* Excellent Compression: Flattens the subject's features in a pleasing way, making it generally considered more flattering for portraits.
* Beautiful Bokeh: Creates a very shallow depth of field with a creamy, blurred background, isolating the subject and drawing attention to them.
* Comfortable Distance: Allows you to maintain a more comfortable distance from your subject, which can help them relax and appear more natural.
* Separation from Background: The longer focal length and shallow depth of field effectively separate the subject from the background, creating a more professional and polished look.
* Minimal Distortion: Virtually no distortion, resulting in a very natural and pleasing representation of the subject's features.
* Cons:
* Less Versatile: More specialized for portraits and less suitable for other types of photography.
* More Expensive: Generally more expensive than 50mm lenses, particularly at similar aperture values.
* Requires More Space: You need more space to work, making it less ideal for small studios or tight indoor spaces.
* Longer Working Distance: Makes it harder to communicate and direct your subject.
* Can feel isolating: The distance can feel impersonal for both the photographer and model.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Affordability | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Distortion | Some (minor) | Minimal |
| Bokeh | Good, but less pronounced | Excellent, very creamy |
| Compression | Less | More |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Space Required | Less | More |
| Ideal For | Environmental portraits, tighter spaces | Classic headshots, flattering portraits |
Which Should You Choose?
* Beginner: If you're just starting out with portrait photography, a 50mm lens is a great place to start. It's more affordable, versatile, and will teach you a lot about composition.
* Limited Space: If you often shoot in small studios or indoor spaces, a 50mm is likely a better choice.
* Environmental Portraits: If you want to capture more of the environment and tell a story with your portraits, a 50mm is a good option.
* Classic Headshots: If you primarily shoot headshots and want that beautifully blurred background, an 85mm is the way to go.
* Flattering Portraits: If you prioritize flattering compression and separation from the background, an 85mm is a great choice.
* Budget: If budget is a major concern, a 50mm lens will be more affordable.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both focal lengths yourself. Rent a lens or borrow one from a friend and experiment to see which one you prefer and which one best suits your style and the type of portraits you want to create. Many photographers eventually own and use both!
Consider your crop factor: The above recommendations are based on using these lenses on a full-frame camera. If you're using a camera with a crop sensor (like APS-C), you'll need to consider the crop factor. For example:
* A 50mm lens on an APS-C camera with a 1.5x crop factor will behave like a 75mm lens.
* An 85mm lens on an APS-C camera with a 1.5x crop factor will behave like a 127.5mm lens.
Therefore, on a crop sensor camera, a 35mm lens might be a good equivalent to a 50mm on full frame, and a 50mm lens might be a good alternative to an 85mm on full frame.