50mm Lens: Strengths and Weaknesses
* Strengths:
* Versatility: The 50mm is often called the "nifty fifty" for a reason. It's a general-purpose lens that can be used for portraits, street photography, landscapes, and more.
* Affordability: Many excellent 50mm lenses are very affordable, making them a great entry point into prime lenses.
* Wider Field of View: Easier to use in tighter spaces. You don't need as much distance between you and your subject. Great for environmental portraits.
* More Context: Captures more of the background, which can be beneficial for telling a story or showing the subject in their environment.
* Easier to Connect with Subject: Since you are physically closer to your subject, it can be easier to communicate and build rapport.
* Weaknesses:
* Potential for Distortion: If you're very close to your subject, a 50mm can introduce slight facial distortion, especially around the nose.
* Less Background Compression: The background appears further away, and less blurry (less bokeh) compared to longer focal lengths.
* Can Feel Ordinary: The image can sometimes look similar to what the eye sees and lack a unique visual style, especially if the background is busy.
85mm Lens: Strengths and Weaknesses
* Strengths:
* Flattering Perspective: 85mm lenses are renowned for their flattering perspective on faces. They compress features and avoid distortion, making people look their best.
* Beautiful Bokeh: Creates a shallow depth of field and creamy background blur, isolating the subject effectively.
* More Subject Isolation: The narrow field of view helps to eliminate distracting elements from the background, keeping the focus on the person.
* Professional Look: The compressed perspective and creamy bokeh often give portraits a more polished, professional feel.
* Comfortable Distance: Allows you to maintain a comfortable distance from your subject, especially important if they are shy or you're photographing strangers.
* Weaknesses:
* Less Versatile: Not as useful for general photography as a 50mm.
* More Expensive: Generally, good 85mm lenses are pricier than 50mm lenses.
* Requires More Space: You need more distance between you and your subject, making it difficult to use in small rooms or crowded locations.
* Can Feel Disconnected: The greater distance can sometimes make it harder to connect with your subject on a personal level.
* Less Environmental Context: Isolates the subject so much that the environment becomes secondary.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-----------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Affordability | High | Lower |
| Field of View | Wider | Narrower |
| Distortion | Potential slight distortion close-up | Minimal distortion |
| Bokeh | Less creamy | Creamier |
| Subject Isolation| Lower | Higher |
| Space Needed | Less | More |
| Best For | Environmental portraits, group shots| Headshots, close-up portraits, isolating subject |
When to Choose a 50mm:
* You're on a budget.
* You need a versatile lens for multiple types of photography.
* You want to capture the subject in their environment.
* You're shooting in tight spaces.
* You prefer a more natural, less-processed look.
* You like to engage with your subject closely.
When to Choose an 85mm:
* You prioritize flattering portraits and creamy bokeh.
* You have enough space to work with.
* You want to isolate the subject and minimize background distractions.
* You prefer a more compressed, stylized look.
* You prefer to maintain a comfortable distance from your subject.
* You primarily focus on portraiture.
Beyond the Focal Length: Other Considerations
* Aperture: Both 50mm and 85mm lenses are often available with wide apertures (f/1.8, f/1.4, f/1.2). A wider aperture is more important for creating shallow depth of field and allowing more light into the camera, especially in low light situations.
* Image Stabilization: Consider whether you need image stabilization (IS or VR) if you plan to shoot handheld in low light.
* Camera Sensor Size: The "reach" of each lens is affected by your sensor size. On a crop sensor camera (APS-C), the 50mm will behave more like an 80mm, and the 85mm will be closer to a 136mm lens. This can affect the amount of space you need.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best lens for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you can, rent both lenses and try them out in different scenarios. See which one you prefer the look of and which one fits your shooting style best. Many photographers own both and use them for different types of portrait sessions.