50mm Lens - Pros:
* Versatility: A 50mm lens is more versatile in various situations. You can use it for full-body portraits, environmental portraits, and even some landscape shots.
* Wider Field of View: The wider field of view allows you to include more of the surrounding environment in the frame. This is great for telling a story or showing the subject in their natural context.
* More Affordable: Generally, 50mm lenses are more affordable than 85mm lenses, especially faster apertures (e.g., f/1.8, f/1.4).
* Smaller and Lighter: 50mm lenses are typically more compact and lightweight, making them easier to carry around for extended periods.
* Closer to Human Perspective: The 50mm focal length is often said to mimic the natural human perspective, making images feel more natural and relatable.
50mm Lens - Cons:
* Less Background Compression: The wider field of view provides less background compression, meaning the background appears more distant and less blurred.
* May Require More Cropping: For tighter headshots, you might need to crop the image in post-processing, which can slightly reduce image quality.
* Potential for Distortion: When shooting close-up portraits, a 50mm lens can introduce some slight distortion, especially around the edges of the frame, which might not be as flattering for facial features. You may need to be further away from the subject.
85mm Lens - Pros:
* Beautiful Background Blur (Bokeh): The longer focal length of an 85mm lens creates a shallower depth of field, resulting in a creamy, blurred background that isolates the subject beautifully. This is often considered one of the biggest advantages.
* Excellent Background Compression: The 85mm lens compresses the background, making it appear closer to the subject and creating a more intimate feel.
* Flattering Perspective: This focal length is known for its flattering perspective on facial features. It avoids the distortion that can sometimes occur with wider lenses.
* Greater Subject Isolation: The shallow depth of field and background compression draw the viewer's attention directly to the subject.
* More "Professional" Look (Debatable): Many photographers find the images produced by an 85mm lens inherently more "professional" or "cinematic" due to the background blur and compression.
85mm Lens - Cons:
* Less Versatile: The narrower field of view makes an 85mm lens less versatile for different types of photography beyond portraits.
* More Expensive: High-quality 85mm lenses, especially those with fast apertures, tend to be more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* Larger and Heavier: 85mm lenses are generally larger and heavier, which can be a consideration for carrying them around.
* Requires More Space: You need more space between you and your subject to frame the shot, which can be limiting in smaller environments.
* Can Feel Disconnected: Since you need to be further away, it can sometimes feel less intimate with the subject during the shoot.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm Lens | 85mm Lens |
|----------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Lower |
| Background Blur | Less | More |
| Background Compression | Less | More |
| Flattering Perspective| Good | Excellent |
| Price | More Affordable | More Expensive |
| Size/Weight | Smaller/Lighter | Larger/Heavier |
| Space Required | Less | More |
| Distortion | More potential near edges | Less |
| Ideal for | Environmental Portraits, Full Body | Headshots, Close-Up Portraits |
In Conclusion:
* Choose the 50mm if: You want a versatile, affordable lens that's great for environmental portraits, full-body shots, and capturing more of the scene. It's also a good choice if you're working in tight spaces.
* Choose the 85mm if: You want a lens specifically designed for portraits with beautiful background blur, flattering perspective, and excellent subject isolation. It's ideal for headshots, close-ups, and creating a more intimate feel.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both lenses (or similar focal lengths) and see which one you prefer for your style and the types of portraits you want to create. Renting lenses before buying is a great way to do this.
Additional Considerations:
* Crop Sensor vs. Full Frame: If you're using a crop sensor camera, the focal length will be effectively longer. For example, a 50mm lens on a camera with a 1.5x crop factor will behave like a 75mm lens. This can influence which lens is more suitable for your needs.
* Aperture: A fast aperture (e.g., f/1.8, f/1.4) is important for both lenses to achieve shallow depth of field and good low-light performance.
* Your Style: Some photographers prefer a more documentary-style portrait, where the environment is part of the story. Others prefer a more isolated and artistic portrait. Consider which style you prefer.
Good luck choosing the right lens for your portrait photography!