Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
85mm Lens for Portrait Photography: Strengths
* Excellent Background Compression: The 85mm lens has a longer focal length, which compresses the background, making it appear closer to the subject. This creates a more visually pleasing, less cluttered background and helps isolate the subject.
* Beautiful Bokeh: The longer focal length and typically wide aperture (like f/1.8 or f/1.4) of 85mm lenses allow for shallower depth of field, resulting in a dreamy, blurred background effect known as bokeh. This further isolates the subject and creates a professional look.
* Flattering Perspective: The 85mm focal length is often considered to be the most flattering for facial features. It minimizes distortion and helps to render features more naturally than wider lenses.
* Comfortable Shooting Distance: You can maintain a comfortable distance from your subject while still filling the frame nicely. This can help them feel more relaxed and natural.
* Ideal for Headshots and Upper Body Shots: The 85mm lens is perfectly suited for headshots, bust shots, and upper body portraits, allowing you to fill the frame with your subject without being too close.
85mm Lens for Portrait Photography: Weaknesses
* Requires More Space: The longer focal length means you need more distance between you and your subject, especially for full-body shots. This can be challenging in small studios or confined spaces.
* Less Versatile for Environmental Portraits: While excellent for isolating the subject, the strong background compression makes it less ideal for environmental portraits where you want to show more of the surroundings.
* More Expensive (Typically): High-quality 85mm lenses, especially those with wide apertures, tend to be more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* More Challenging to Handhold: The longer focal length makes camera shake more noticeable, especially in low light. Image stabilization (IS) is helpful, or you might need to increase your shutter speed.
50mm Lens for Portrait Photography: Strengths
* Versatile: The 50mm lens is a versatile "standard" lens that can be used for a wide range of photography beyond portraits, including street photography, landscapes, and everyday snapshots.
* Great for Environmental Portraits: The wider field of view allows you to capture more of the environment around your subject, telling a story and providing context.
* More Affordable: 50mm lenses, particularly the f/1.8 versions, are generally much more affordable than 85mm lenses.
* Works Well in Tight Spaces: You can shoot portraits in smaller spaces without needing to back up too far.
* Good Low-Light Performance: 50mm lenses often have wide apertures (like f/1.8 or f/1.4), allowing you to shoot in low light without increasing the ISO too much.
* More Natural Perspective (Generally): The perspective is closer to how the human eye sees, which can result in very natural looking shots.
50mm Lens for Portrait Photography: Weaknesses
* Can Distort Facial Features (Slightly): When shooting close-up portraits with a 50mm, there's a slight risk of distortion, particularly making noses appear larger. This is less noticeable at a distance.
* Less Background Compression: The background is less compressed compared to an 85mm, which can make it appear busier and less blurred.
* Requires Getting Closer: To achieve tight headshots, you need to get physically closer to your subject, which can sometimes make them feel uncomfortable.
* Bokeh Not as Dramatic: While you can still achieve bokeh with a 50mm, it won't be as pronounced or creamy as with an 85mm.
Here's a Table Summarizing the Key Differences:
| Feature | 50mm Lens | 85mm Lens |
|---------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Focal Length | Shorter | Longer |
| Field of View | Wider | Narrower |
| Background Compression| Less | More |
| Bokeh | Less Pronounced | More Pronounced |
| Perspective | More Natural (Generally) | More Flattering |
| Shooting Distance | Closer | More Distant |
| Space Requirements | Less | More |
| Versatility | Higher | Lower (Primarily for Portraits) |
| Price | Typically Lower | Typically Higher |
| Best For | Environmental Portraits, Full Body | Headshots, Upper Body, Isolated Subjects |
Which Lens Should You Choose?
* Choose the 85mm if:
* You want beautiful background blur and isolation.
* You prefer shooting headshots and upper body portraits.
* You have enough space to work with.
* You prioritize flattering perspective and minimizing distortion.
* Budget allows.
* Choose the 50mm if:
* You want a versatile lens for various types of photography.
* You want to capture more of the environment around your subject.
* You have limited space to work in.
* You're on a tighter budget.
* You want a more natural-looking perspective.
Final Thoughts:
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both lenses (or rent them) and see which one you prefer for your own style and needs. Many photographers own and use both lenses for different situations. You might even find that a different focal length altogether (like 35mm or 135mm) works best for you. Experimentation is key! Good luck!