50mm Lens for Portraits:
Pros:
* Versatility: A 50mm lens is incredibly versatile. It can be used for full-body shots, environmental portraits, and even tighter headshots. This makes it a good general-purpose lens.
* Affordability: 50mm lenses are typically more affordable than 85mm lenses, especially faster ones (f/1.8 or f/1.4). This makes them a great starting point for aspiring portrait photographers.
* Wider Field of View: A 50mm lens captures more of the surrounding environment. This can be great for environmental portraits, telling a story, or incorporating interesting backgrounds.
* Natural Perspective: It mimics how the human eye sees, resulting in a natural-looking perspective and less distortion.
* Smaller and Lighter: Generally, 50mm lenses are smaller and lighter than 85mm lenses, making them easier to carry and use for extended periods.
Cons:
* Requires You to Get Closer: You need to be closer to your subject to get a tight portrait, which might feel invasive to some people and can alter their expression.
* Less Background Blur (Bokeh): At the same aperture, an 85mm lens will generally create more background blur (bokeh) than a 50mm lens. This can be a desirable effect for isolating your subject.
* Not as Flattering for Certain Features: The slightly wider perspective *can* (but not always) subtly exaggerate features if you're too close, which some people might find unflattering.
85mm Lens for Portraits:
Pros:
* More Background Blur (Bokeh): 85mm lenses excel at creating beautiful, creamy background blur, which helps isolate your subject and draw attention to them.
* Flattering Compression: The longer focal length of an 85mm lens creates a flattering compression effect, making facial features appear more balanced and reducing the appearance of distortion. It tends to make faces look slimmer and more defined.
* Comfortable Distance: Allows you to maintain a more comfortable distance from your subject, which can help them feel more relaxed and natural.
* Stronger Subject Isolation: Due to the compression and bokeh, subjects really "pop" in the image.
Cons:
* Less Versatile: Primarily suited for portraits. Not ideal for wide-angle shots or environmental portraits where you want to capture a lot of the surrounding scenery.
* More Expensive: Generally more expensive than 50mm lenses, especially fast ones.
* Larger and Heavier: Typically larger and heavier than 50mm lenses, which can be a drawback for travel or extended shooting sessions.
* Requires More Space: You need more space between yourself and your subject to frame the shot properly, which can be a limitation in smaller studios or confined environments.
* Can Feel Isolating: The subject isolation *can* be too much sometimes, and you might lose the sense of place or story.
Here's a quick summary table:
| Feature | 50mm Lens | 85mm Lens |
|-------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Affordability | High | Low |
| Background Blur | Moderate | High |
| Compression | Moderate | High |
| Subject Distance | Close | Far |
| Perspective | Natural | Flattering |
| Size & Weight | Smaller & Lighter | Larger & Heavier |
| Space Required | Less | More |
Which is best for *you*? Consider these questions:
* What kind of portraits do you want to take? Environmental portraits? Close-up headshots? Full-body fashion portraits?
* What's your budget?
* What kind of shooting environment will you be in? Studio? Outdoors? Small spaces?
* What is your personal style? Do you prefer a natural look or a more stylized, dreamy look with lots of background blur?
* What camera do you have? (Crop sensor cameras effectively change the focal length, so a 50mm on a crop sensor becomes closer to an 80mm, making the 85mm redundant.)
Recommendations:
* Beginner/Budget: If you're just starting out or on a tight budget, the 50mm f/1.8 is an excellent choice. It's affordable, versatile, and a great learning tool.
* Studio/Dedicated Portrait Work: If you primarily shoot portraits in a studio or have the budget for a dedicated portrait lens, the 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 is a fantastic option.
* Versatile Professional: Many professionals carry both. The 50mm can cover environmental shots and wide situations, while the 85mm is pulled out for the classic, beautiful portrait.
Final advice: The best way to decide is to try both lenses, if possible. Rent them, borrow them from a friend, or visit a camera store to see how they feel in your hands and how they render the images you want to create. Ultimately, the best lens is the one that helps you achieve your creative vision.