50mm Lens: Advantages & Disadvantages
* Advantages:
* Versatility: A 50mm is considered a "standard" focal length, close to human vision. This makes it useful for a wider variety of shots beyond portraits, including street photography, landscapes, and general photography.
* Affordability: Typically, a decent 50mm lens (especially an f/1.8) is very affordable, making it a great entry point into prime lenses.
* Wider Field of View: You can capture more of the environment around the subject, telling a story or creating context. Good for environmental portraits.
* Close Range Comfort: For some people, the working distance with a 50mm lens is more comfortable, especially when interacting with the subject.
* Disadvantages:
* Less Compression: Objects in the background won't appear as compressed as with an 85mm, potentially making the background seem more distracting.
* Distortion (Potential): When shooting very close to the subject, a 50mm can sometimes introduce slight distortion, especially at the edges of the frame. This can be minimized by shooting at a reasonable distance.
* Less Background Blur (Potentially): While you can still achieve shallow depth of field, it might not be as dramatic as with an 85mm, especially at the same aperture. However, modern 50mm lenses with very wide apertures (f/1.2 or f/1.4) can blur backgrounds beautifully.
85mm Lens: Advantages & Disadvantages
* Advantages:
* Excellent Compression: Compresses the background, making it appear closer to the subject. This creates a pleasing separation and isolates the subject.
* Flattering Perspective: Provides a more flattering perspective for facial features, minimizing distortion and potentially smoothing out skin.
* Beautiful Bokeh: Creates a very shallow depth of field and smooth, creamy bokeh (background blur), ideal for drawing attention to the subject.
* Comfortable Distance: Allows you to stand a bit further away from the subject, which can make them feel more relaxed and natural. Great for candid portraits.
* Disadvantages:
* Less Versatile: Not as useful for general photography outside of portraits.
* Higher Cost (Potentially): Generally, good quality 85mm lenses (especially those with wide apertures) tend to be more expensive than comparable 50mm lenses.
* Tight Field of View: Captures less of the surrounding environment, which might not be ideal for environmental portraits. You need more space to work.
* Communication Barrier (Potentially): The greater distance can sometimes make it slightly harder to communicate and connect with your subject.
Here's a table summarizing the differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Affordability | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Compression | Lower | Higher |
| Distortion | More potential, especially up close | Less potential |
| Bokeh | Good, but often less dramatic | Excellent, very creamy |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Field of View | Wider | Narrower |
| Best For | Environmental Portraits, General use | Headshots, Isolating Subject, Flattering |
Which to Choose? Consider these questions:
* What is your budget? 50mm lenses are often a more affordable starting point.
* What is your shooting style? Do you prefer getting close and interacting with your subject, or do you prefer a more candid and less intrusive approach?
* What kind of portraits do you want to create? Environmental portraits that tell a story? Or tight headshots that focus solely on the subject?
* How much space do you have to work? An 85mm requires more distance from the subject.
General Recommendations:
* Beginner: Start with a 50mm f/1.8. It's affordable, versatile, and a great way to learn the basics of prime lens photography.
* Primarily Headshots/Close-ups: The 85mm is often the better choice for its flattering perspective and beautiful bokeh.
* Environmental Portraits: The 50mm allows you to capture more of the scene.
* Limited Space: The 50mm is often more practical in smaller spaces.
* If you can only choose one for a long time, the 50mm provides more versatility and utility overall.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both lenses (if possible) and see which one you prefer and which one better suits your personal style and the type of portraits you want to create. Rent them for a weekend or borrow them from a friend. You might even find you prefer a different focal length entirely, like a 35mm or a 135mm.
Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for *you*!