50mm Lens (Pros):
* Versatility: The 50mm is often called the "nifty fifty" for a reason. It's usable in a wider variety of situations beyond just portraits. It's great for street photography, environmental portraits (showing the subject in context), and general photography.
* Affordability: Typically, a good 50mm prime lens is more budget-friendly than an 85mm with a comparable aperture. This makes it a great entry point for portrait photography.
* Wider Field of View: The 50mm allows you to capture more of the surrounding environment. This is useful for environmental portraits or when you want to include more background information. It's also better suited for shooting in smaller spaces where you can't physically move further away from your subject.
* "Normal" Perspective: The 50mm offers a perspective that's relatively close to what the human eye sees, leading to a natural-looking image.
* Easier to Focus (sometimes): Because of the wider field of view and typically deeper depth of field compared to the 85mm at the same aperture, focusing can sometimes be easier, especially with manual focus.
50mm Lens (Cons):
* Less Background Compression: The background appears less compressed compared to the 85mm. This can be a pro or a con, depending on whether you want a more prominent or blurred background.
* Can Feel Too Close: You might need to get closer to your subject to achieve a tightly framed portrait, which some subjects might find uncomfortable.
* Less Bokeh (typically): While you can still achieve a blurry background (bokeh) with a 50mm, it's generally not as creamy or pronounced as with an 85mm, especially at similar aperture values.
85mm Lens (Pros):
* Beautiful Background Compression: The 85mm excels at compressing the background, making it appear closer and often leading to a more visually pleasing bokeh. This helps isolate your subject and create a dreamy, professional look.
* Ideal for Flattering Portraits: The longer focal length of the 85mm helps to minimize distortion and create a more flattering perspective for facial features. It avoids the slight widening effect that a 50mm can sometimes produce when shooting close-ups.
* Working Distance: You can maintain a comfortable distance from your subject, which can help them feel more relaxed and natural.
* Excellent Bokeh: Generally produces much creamier and more appealing bokeh than a 50mm, particularly at wide apertures.
* Great for Close-Up Portraits: Allows you to capture detailed close-up portraits without getting uncomfortably close to the subject.
85mm Lens (Cons):
* Less Versatile: The 85mm is primarily a portrait lens. It's less useful for general photography or situations where you need a wider field of view.
* Higher Price (typically): 85mm lenses with comparable apertures tend to be more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* Requires More Space: You need more room to shoot with an 85mm, as you'll be further away from your subject. It can be challenging to use in small spaces.
* Shallower Depth of Field: The shallower depth of field makes precise focusing more critical. A slight error in focus can result in a blurry subject.
* Can Feel Restrictive: Sometimes the compressed perspective can make it harder to incorporate background elements into the story.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-----------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Lower |
| Affordability | Generally more affordable | Generally more expensive |
| Background Compression | Less | More |
| Flattering Perspective | Good, but can distort close-ups slightly | Excellent, minimizes distortion |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Bokeh | Good, but less creamy than 85mm | Excellent, creamy and pronounced |
| Space Required | Less | More |
| Common Uses | Street, environmental portraits, general | Headshots, portraiture, isolating subjects |
Which one should *you* choose?
* Choose the 50mm if:
* You're on a budget.
* You need a versatile lens for a variety of shooting situations.
* You often shoot in small spaces.
* You want to capture more of the environment around your subject.
* You're new to portrait photography and want an easier lens to learn with.
* Choose the 85mm if:
* You prioritize beautiful background compression and bokeh.
* You want a more flattering perspective for your subjects.
* You primarily shoot portraits and have the space to work with.
* You want to create a professional, polished look.
* You want to maintain a comfortable distance from your subject.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both lenses yourself. Rent them, borrow them from a friend, or visit a camera store and try them out with your own camera. See which focal length feels more natural to you and which one helps you achieve the results you're looking for. You might even find that you want *both* lenses in your kit!