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general | August 14, 2026

Which is better 85mm or 50mm?

If you do a lot of headshots, 85mm is probably the better choice. You can capture beautiful, tight images from a reasonable distance, whereas headshots at 50mm can put you uncomfortably close. On the other hand, if you gravitate toward full-body or even group shots, 50mm is ideal.

Do I need 85mm if I have 50mm?

The head and shoulders shot is where the 85mm shines. It's perfect for headshot photography! The longer focal length flattens the middle of a photo. So if your subject has a large nose they're self-conscious about, you really do need to use an 85mm lens rather than a 50mm lens.

What is 85mm lens good for?

What Type of Photography Is Best With an 85mm Lens? An 85mm lens is excellent for portrait work. By isolating the subject and minimizing distortion, this lens can produce captivating, flattering portraits, headshots, and full-body images.

What is the difference between 50mm and 85mm lens?

50mm is 15mm wider than that, while 85mm is 20mm longer than that. So if you truly want a cinematic look, go for a 50mm. If you want a more classic portrait shoot look, reach for an 85mm lens instead.

Why is 85mm good for portraits?

Furthermore, 85mm is a great focal length for portraits because it's in the short telephoto range, which means that you can stand further away from the subject and still get nice close-up shots. On top of all that, an 85mm lens has gorgeous compression.

22 related questions found

Is 85mm or 50mm better for portraits?

If you do a lot of headshots, 85mm is probably the better choice. You can capture beautiful, tight images from a reasonable distance, whereas headshots at 50mm can put you uncomfortably close. On the other hand, if you gravitate toward full-body or even group shots, 50mm is ideal.

Why are 85mm lenses so expensive?

85mm f/1.4 and f/1.2 lenses are expensive, because of the diameter required. 85mm / 1.2 = 71mm, which is nearly 3 inches wide. The front element probably needs to be a little bit wider than that to prevent vignetting.

Which lens is best for portrait photography?

10 Great Lenses for Portrait Photography for Canon and Nikon Shooters in 2016

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II.
  • Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II.
  • Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L.
  • Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II.
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II.
  • Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G.
  • Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II.
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.4G.

Is 35mm or 50mm better for portraits?

Is 35mm or 50mm better for portraits? Both are great portrait lenses, however, a 50mm will generally give you more depth of field (thus offering better subject separation), show less distortion, and still have a wide enough field of view to capture enough of the surrounding context.

Is 85mm lens good for weddings?

The 85mm is an excellent focal length for portraits, particularly on full-frame cameras. The focal length is more flattering than a wider angle. But it still allows you to take portraits in venues with limited space.

Is 85mm a zoom lens?

The Canon 85mm is not a zoom lens. Non-zooming lenses like the 85mm are called "prime" lenses. They have a constant, fixed focal length, and do not zoom. Zoom lenses have variable focal lengths.

How far can a 85mm lens shoot?

The closest focus of the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is 2.6 ft (0.8m). With a depth of field calculator at f/4 and a subject distance of 20 ft, the depth of field would be a bit over 2.5 ft. That will vary depending on if you have a full frame sensor, your subject distance and your aperture.

Is 85mm good for full body portraits?

Then switch to the 85mm. This will be like 136mm on FF, which is a great focal length for portraits, but requires quite a bit more room. You will have to back up to fit the subject in. This generally creates a more flattering look on close ups, but may not be so important on full length portraits.

What size lens is best for portraits?

Best Focal Length for Portraits Zoomed

If you want to get crazy with focal length and shoot your portraits from a considerable distance, then you're going to want a lens that's bigger than 85mm. But like I said earlier, the general consensus is that focal lengths between 50 and 85mm are best for portrait photography.

Is an 85mm lens good for street photography?

A go-to for portrait photographers, an 85mm lens also works well for unobtrusive street photographers. It's no surprise that it's a favourite among paparazzi, too! Unlike the 35mm and 50mm lens, the extra-long focal length lets you put some distance between you and the subject without sacrificing any of the context.

Is it worth having a 35mm and 50mm prime?

There is no winner between these two lenses, as they both have pros and cons. They work differently for each scenario. You can often start with 50mm on a shoot, and then switch to 35mm when you need a wider angle. This is even truer if your position is a little cramped.

Why is a 50mm lens so popular?

The high speed and wide aperture of a 50mm lens can also provide shallow depth of field. This gives you huge creative scope to blur out backgrounds and focus attention on your main subject. 50mm lenses also give attractive out-of-focus highlights (also known as bokeh).

Is 50mm good for street photography?

50mm aka the “nifty fifty”

The 50mm is the ideal street photography lens. Actually it's an ideal lens full stop. It has the most applications of any focal and hence why they are often referred to as the “nifty fifty”, the versatile lens.

Is 50mm lens good for portraits?

For portrait photography, 50mm lenses are great for full-length and waist-level portraits, both on location and in the studio. This is thanks to the wide field of view compared to an 85mm or 135mm lens, and you don't need to be too far away from the model to achieve these crops.

Can you use a 50mm lens for family portraits?

A 50mm prime should be wide enough to shoot group portraits outside, but if you're shooting inside, then you have to consider whether you have enough space to back up and get everyone in the frame. Unfortunately, sometimes you won't know that until you get there and put everyone together.

What lens do fashion photographers use?

Which is the best lens for fashion photography?

  • Canon 24-70mm f/2.8: (Best lens for fashion photography Canon)
  • Sony FE 85mm f/1.4: (Best lens for fashion photography Sony)
  • Nikon 85mm F/1.8: (Best lens for fashion photography Nikon)
  • Fuji 80mm f2. ...
  • Pentax 70mm f/2.4: (Best Pentax lens for fashion photography)

How far should an 85mm lens be from a subject?

85mm Focal Length

The focal length and shallow depth of field of the 85mm lens are really popular with portrait photographers! In fact, for many, it's their go-to focal length lens on a session! The minimum focusing distance or focal length with it is approximately 2.8 feet from your intended focal point.

Why are camera lenses so expensive?

Production Costs and Quality of Components – one of the main reasons for the high cost of professional lenses, is production costs and high quality standards set by the manufacturer. Consumer-grade lenses are manufactured in batches in a mostly automated fashion with very little human involvement.

Can you use 85mm lens for family portraits?

If you're shooting a big family, a 50 or 85mm lens will give you the wide angle you need to get everyone in the frame. If you're shooting family portraits with only a couple of subjects, you can use a lens with a slightly longer focal length, like an 85mm, to fill the frame without having to stand too close.