50mm for Portrait Photography:
Pros:
* Versatile: A 50mm lens is often considered a "standard" lens, making it useful for a wide range of photography beyond just portraits. You can use it for street photography, landscapes, and general everyday shooting.
* Affordable: 50mm lenses, especially those with f/1.8 or f/1.4 apertures, are generally much more affordable than 85mm lenses with comparable apertures.
* Wider Field of View: The wider field of view allows you to include more of the environment in your portraits. This is great for environmental portraits where you want to show the subject in their surroundings.
* Closer Connection: You need to be physically closer to your subject, which can help foster a stronger connection and more intimate interaction.
* Good for Full-Body and Half-Body Shots: Easier to frame full-body and half-body portraits in tighter spaces compared to an 85mm.
Cons:
* Less Background Compression: 50mm lenses offer less background compression, which means the background will appear less blurred and potentially more distracting.
* May Distort Features: When shooting close-up portraits, a 50mm lens can slightly distort facial features, especially around the edges of the frame. This is generally less of an issue at a greater distance, but it's something to be aware of.
* Not Ideal for Extreme Bokeh: While you can still achieve a shallow depth of field with a fast 50mm lens, it won't produce the same creamy bokeh as an 85mm.
85mm for Portrait Photography:
Pros:
* Excellent Background Compression: 85mm lenses are known for their excellent background compression, which helps to isolate the subject and create a creamy, blurred background (bokeh). This makes your subject really "pop."
* Flattering Perspective: The 85mm focal length is generally considered very flattering for portraits. It tends to render facial features more accurately than wider lenses like the 50mm.
* Ideal for Headshots and Close-Ups: Perfect for headshots and tight close-ups where you want to focus on the subject's face and eyes.
* Working Distance: You can maintain a comfortable distance from your subject, which can be less intimidating for some people.
Cons:
* More Expensive: High-quality 85mm lenses, especially those with wide apertures (f/1.8 or wider), are typically more expensive than 50mm lenses.
* Less Versatile: Primarily suited for portrait photography. May not be as useful for other types of photography.
* Requires More Space: Due to the narrower field of view, you need more space to frame your shots, especially for full-body or half-body portraits.
* Can Feel Disconnected: The greater distance can sometimes make it harder to establish a close connection with your subject.
* May be Too Long for Tight Spaces: Indoor shoots in smaller rooms can be challenging with an 85mm.
Here's a simple table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|----------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Background Compression | Lower | Higher |
| Distortion | More (at close range) | Less |
| Working Distance | Closer | Further |
| Bokeh | Less creamy | More creamy |
| Best For | Environmental portraits, wider shots | Headshots, close-ups |
| Space Required | Less | More |
In Conclusion:
* Choose 50mm if: You want a versatile and affordable lens for a variety of shooting situations, including environmental portraits, and you don't mind a little less background blur. This is a great starting point for portrait photography.
* Choose 85mm if: You prioritize flattering portraits with beautiful background blur, and you primarily focus on headshots and close-ups. You also need to consider if you have the space to use this focal length.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both focal lengths (or rent them) and see which one fits your personal style and needs best. Also consider your sensor size. These focal lengths are typically discussed in the context of a full-frame sensor. If you are shooting on a crop sensor camera, you will need to adjust the focal length to achieve a similar field of view (e.g., a 35mm lens on a crop sensor camera with a 1.5x crop factor will give you a field of view equivalent to a 52.5mm lens on a full-frame camera). Good luck!