Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
50mm Lens:
Pros:
* Versatile: The 50mm is a very versatile focal length. You can use it for various types of photography, including portraits, street photography, landscapes, and even some event photography.
* Affordable: 50mm lenses are generally more affordable than 85mm lenses, especially the popular "nifty fifty" f/1.8 versions.
* Environment: Good for showing more of the environment around the subject. This is helpful for environmental portraits where the location is an important part of the story.
* Closer Working Distance: Requires you to be closer to your subject, which can be beneficial for communication and building rapport, especially with shy subjects.
* Easier to Handle Indoors: Less compressed perspective makes it easier to use indoors where space may be limited.
Cons:
* Less Background Blur (Bokeh): While you can still achieve shallow depth of field with a 50mm, the bokeh will generally be less pronounced than with an 85mm, especially at equivalent apertures.
* Can Distort Facial Features (Slightly): Being closer to your subject can slightly distort facial features, particularly the nose, though this is often minimal and only noticeable with very close-up shots.
* Less Isolating: The wider field of view makes it harder to isolate your subject completely from the background.
85mm Lens:
Pros:
* Excellent Background Blur (Bokeh): 85mm lenses excel at creating beautiful, creamy background blur that separates the subject from the background and adds a professional touch.
* More Flattering Perspective: The longer focal length compresses perspective, making facial features appear more balanced and flattering. It also tends to eliminate the slight nose distortion that can occur with wider lenses.
* More Isolating: The narrower field of view effectively isolates your subject, drawing attention directly to them.
* Ideal Working Distance: Allows you to stand at a comfortable distance from your subject, which can be less intimidating and more conducive to natural poses.
Cons:
* More Expensive: 85mm lenses, especially those with wide apertures, tend to be more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* Less Versatile: The narrower focal length makes the 85mm less versatile for general photography.
* Limited Indoor Use: Can be challenging to use indoors in tight spaces due to the longer focal length.
* Requires More Space: Needs more space to work, especially for full-body shots.
* Communication Barrier (Potentially): The further working distance might make it slightly harder to communicate with your subject compared to a 50mm.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Lower |
| Price | Generally Lower | Generally Higher |
| Bokeh | Less Pronounced | More Pronounced |
| Perspective | Wider, can distort slightly | More Compressed, Flattering |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Environment | Shows more | Shows less |
| Indoor Use | Easier | More Challenging |
| Subject Isolation| Less | More |
Which One Should You Choose?
* Choose 50mm if:
* You're on a budget.
* You want a versatile lens for various types of photography.
* You want to include more of the environment in your portraits.
* You often shoot indoors or in tight spaces.
* You prefer a closer working distance.
* Choose 85mm if:
* You prioritize beautiful bokeh and subject isolation.
* You want a flattering perspective for your subjects.
* You have the space to work comfortably.
* You're willing to invest in a specialized portrait lens.
* Consider both if:
* You're serious about portrait photography and want to have the best tool for different situations. Having both allows you to choose the best focal length based on the specific shot you're trying to achieve.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both lenses yourself. Rent them or borrow them from a friend and experiment with different settings and subjects. See which focal length you prefer and which one helps you achieve the look you're going for.