50 mm vs. 85 mm

Comparing the 50mm and 85mm lenses is a common debate among photographers. Both lenses are considered to be very good prime lenses and are popular choices for fashion and Portrait photography. However, they have some significant differences in terms of focal length, depth of field, perspective, and bokeh.

Focal Length:

The 50mm lens is often considered a standard or normal lens because it approximates the angle of view of the human eye. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes, including street photography, landscape photography, documentary photography or anything for that matter. On the other hand, the 85mm lens is a medium telephoto lens that is often used for portrait photography. It has a narrower field of view and is ideal for isolating subjects and creating a shallow depth of field. Don't forget the crop factor involved with small sensor cameras. Your 50mm on a crop sensor camera actually offers the angle of view equivalent to about 75mm on a full frame. 85mm becomes equal to about 127.5mm. So keep this in mind while choosing between the two. If you wish to have the characteristics of a typical 50mm lens, what it is known for, you should actually invest in a 35mm lens and not 50mm as that will give you a focal length equivalent to the human eye view.

Depth of Field:

Depth of field is the range of distance in a photograph that appears to be in focus. Both lenses have different maximum apertures that can affect depth of field. The 50mm in general has a wider maximum aperture, which can create a shallower depth of field and more blur in the background. The lenses come in different variants. f1.4, f1.8 f2.8 and so on. a 50mm with a wide maximum aperture may probably be more affordable than an 85mm with similar specifications.

The 85mm lens, with its longer focal length, has a narrower depth of field anyways and can create a more dramatic background blur when compared with the 50mm lens on the same aperture.

Perspective:

Perspective refers to the way that objects appear in relation to each other in a photograph. The 50mm lens has a wider angle of view and can create a more natural perspective that closely matches the human eye. The 85mm lens has a narrower angle of view and can compress the perspective, making objects in the background appear larger and closer to the subject. For this very reason, Portraits shot on 85mm lens will always appear to be more pleasing as compared to 50mm. To achieve the same composition, the photographer with a 50mm lens would need to come closer to the subject and hence add a little bit of distortion especially when compared with the image shot with the 85mm lens.

Bokeh:

Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image. Both lenses have different characteristics in terms of bokeh. The 50mm lens has a wider maximum aperture and can produce a softer, creamier bokeh. The 85mm lens, with its longer focal length, can create a more pronounced bokeh that is sometimes described as bubbly or swirly. Bubbly bokeh, also known as soap bubble bokeh, is a photographic effect that creates bokeh balls with bright edges. To achieve this effect, you can use a fast lens with an open aperture and position the subject close to the camera. 

In conclusion, both the 50mm and 85mm lenses have their own unique qualities and strengths. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the intended use and shooting style of the photographer. The 50mm lens is a versatile all-purpose lens that can be used for a variety of purposes, while the 85mm lens is a specialized portrait lens that can create dramatic images with a shallow depth of field and pronounced bokeh. As an all around lens 50mm works out better with lesser shooting restrictions in terms of what all it can include even in a limited avaiilable space. At times, if carrying the bulk is an issue, i prefer moving around with a simple 40mm pancake lens.

50mm | Munish Khanna

85mm | Munish Khanna

when you compare these two shots, you see more of the ground in case of 50mm whereas the perspective is flatter in case of 85mm. Not that one is better than the other but both the lenses portray a different look and feel in the photograph.