50mm Lens:
Pros:
* Versatile: Considered a "standard" lens, it's good for more than just portraits. You can use it for street photography, landscapes, and everyday snapshots. It's a great all-around lens.
* Affordable: 50mm lenses, especially the f/1.8 versions, are typically quite inexpensive. This makes them a great entry point into prime lenses and portrait photography.
* Smaller and Lighter: Easier to carry around compared to an 85mm lens. Good for travel or situations where you want to be discreet.
* Requires Closer Subject Distance: This can be a good thing, forcing you to interact more with your subject and establish a connection. You're also more aware of your surroundings because you're more "in" the scene.
* Wider Field of View: Allows you to capture more of the environment around your subject, telling more of a story. Good for environmental portraits.
Cons:
* Can Distort Facial Features: At very close distances (required for tight headshots), a 50mm can subtly distort facial features, making the nose appear slightly larger relative to the rest of the face.
* Less Background Blur (Bokeh): While you can still achieve some bokeh, it's generally not as creamy and pronounced as with an 85mm at similar apertures. Depends on the aperture of the lens (f/1.4 50mm will have better bokeh than f/1.8 50mm).
* Might Require More Cropping: If you want a tight headshot without being uncomfortably close, you might need to crop the image in post-processing, potentially losing some resolution.
85mm Lens:
Pros:
* Flattering Perspective: Considered by many to be the *ideal* focal length for portraits. It compresses facial features in a pleasing way, avoiding distortion and often resulting in more flattering portraits.
* Excellent Background Blur (Bokeh): Creates a beautiful, shallow depth of field that isolates the subject and blurs distracting backgrounds. This is often the primary reason people choose an 85mm for portraits.
* Comfortable Subject Distance: Allows you to maintain a comfortable distance from your subject while still getting a relatively tight shot. This can help put your subject at ease.
* Excellent Sharpness: Many 85mm lenses, especially those designed specifically for portraits, are incredibly sharp.
Cons:
* Less Versatile: Primarily designed for portraits. While you *can* use it for other things, it's not as well-suited for general photography as a 50mm.
* More Expensive: Generally more expensive than a 50mm lens, especially the fast aperture versions (f/1.8 or faster).
* Larger and Heavier: Bulkier and heavier than a 50mm, making it less convenient to carry around.
* Can Feel Isolating: The longer focal length can create a sense of distance between you and your subject, making it harder to interact with them.
* Requires More Space: You need more space to use an 85mm lens effectively. It's not ideal for small studios or cramped locations.
In Summary:
| Feature | 50mm | 85mm |
|----------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Versatility | High | Low |
| Affordability | High | Low |
| Size/Weight | Small/Light | Large/Heavy |
| Subject Distance | Closer | Further |
| Facial Distortion | Potential at close distances | Minimal |
| Background Blur | Good (aperture-dependent) | Excellent |
| Ideal For | Environmental portraits, general use, budgets | Classic portraits, isolating subjects, bokeh |
Which should you choose?
* Choose 50mm if:
* You're on a budget.
* You want a versatile lens for more than just portraits.
* You prefer to shoot in environments where you want to capture more of the scene.
* You enjoy interacting closely with your subjects.
* Choose 85mm if:
* You prioritize flattering portraits with beautiful bokeh.
* You have the budget for a dedicated portrait lens.
* You have enough space to work with.
* You prefer a comfortable shooting distance from your subject.
Recommendation:
If you're just starting out with portrait photography and have a limited budget, the 50mm f/1.8 is an excellent choice. It's affordable, versatile, and can produce beautiful portraits. As you gain experience and your budget allows, consider adding an 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 to your kit for those classic, creamy portraits. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both focal lengths and see which one you prefer for your style of shooting. Renting lenses is a great way to test them out before committing to a purchase.