* Your personal shooting style: Do you prefer to be close to your subject, or further away?
* The environment: Are you shooting in a tight space, or do you have room to move around?
* The type of portrait: Headshots, half-body, full-body, or environmental portraits?
* Desired aesthetic: How much background blur do you want? How compressed do you want the features to look?
Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of each focal length:
50mm Lens:
* Pros:
* Versatility: A "standard" focal length, useful for a wide range of photography beyond just portraits. It's good for environmental portraits.
* Affordability: Often less expensive than 85mm lenses, especially if you are looking at ones with the same aperture.
* Smaller and lighter: Easier to carry around.
* Wider Field of View: Easier to capture more of the environment and interact with your subject.
* Closer to how the eye sees: Gives a more "natural" perspective.
* Cons:
* Less background blur (bokeh): Requires a wider aperture (smaller f-number) to achieve significant background blur compared to an 85mm.
* Potential for distortion: Can exhibit some slight distortion, especially when shooting close-ups, which can make facial features appear slightly wider.
* Requires you to be closer: Might make some subjects uncomfortable, and makes it easier to capture unflattering expressions.
* Less subject isolation: The wider field of view means more background elements can be distracting.
85mm Lens:
* Pros:
* Flattering Perspective: Compresses facial features, often considered more flattering for portraits.
* Beautiful Background Blur (Bokeh): Creates a shallow depth of field, isolating the subject and blurring the background beautifully.
* More Subject Isolation: Compresses the background, minimizing distractions and focusing attention on the subject.
* Comfortable Distance: Allows you to stand further back from your subject, which can make them feel more relaxed and natural. Good for candid portraits.
* Cons:
* Less Versatile: Not as useful for general photography as a 50mm.
* Generally More Expensive: Prime 85mm lenses, especially those with wide apertures, tend to be pricier.
* Larger and Heavier: Can be bulkier to carry around.
* Requires More Space: Needs more room to work, making it less suitable for small studios or cramped environments.
* Can feel isolating: The distance can make communication harder.
Here's a table summarizing the differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Price | Generally Lower | Generally Higher |
| Size/Weight | Smaller and Lighter | Larger and Heavier |
| Perspective | More Natural, can have slight distortion | Flattering, compressed features |
| Background Blur | Less, requires wider aperture | More, easier to achieve shallow depth of field |
| Subject Distance | Closer | Further |
| Space Required | Less | More |
| Subject Isolation | Less | More |
In summary:
* Choose 50mm if: You need a versatile lens, have a limited budget, are shooting in tight spaces, or want a more natural perspective. Good for environmental portraits.
* Choose 85mm if: You prioritize flattering portraits, beautiful background blur, have plenty of space to work, and are willing to invest in a more specialized lens.
Recommendation:
Ideally, having both lenses is the best option, but if you can only choose one, consider what you'll be using the lens for *most* of the time.
Experiment:
Rent or borrow both lenses to try them out yourself. The best way to determine which focal length is right for you is to experiment and see which one you prefer for your personal style and needs.
Ultimately, the "best" lens is the one that helps you create the images you envision. Don't be afraid to break the "rules" and use whatever lens feels right for you.