It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the 85mm lens is the one that many photographers go for first.
Though taking portraits is it most famous, we often forget that it can do street photography, nature photography can be used at events, and whatnot.
So, let’s find out about its versatility and capabilities to boost your photography experience.
What Is 85mm Lens Good For?
The fact that it is quick has a wide aperture and is comparatively lightweight, makes it an excellent pick for almost all settings of photography.
From natural photography to portrait.
It is versatile all the way through, is travel friendly, and can be a splendid addition to your photography arsenal by taking spectacular photos every time.
Understanding An 85mm Lens:
We all know about prime lenses. An 85mm lens is nothing but one of those prime lenses in action.
There is a single, fixed focal length in this lens. The focal length is 85mm. So, you cannot zoom in or out using this lens.
Prime Lenses Are Better:
Prime lenses place more importance on quality than adaptability. So, prime lenses are generally considered to be superior to zoom lenses.
Here, the manufacturers have only one focal length to focus on.
They employ all their efforts to the only focal length and bring out the optimal performance in every capture.
But in zoom lenses, they have to spread those efforts too thin across a range of focal lengths.
Moreover, one should also keep in mind the additional burden of weight as well as the added level of complexity that adding an autofocusing motor may bring to a design.
Aperture speed is a consideration:
The aperture speed of a zoom lens may be a consideration. It is lower than that of a prime lens while the prime lens still keeps the size and weight that is practical.
This is probably the most significant benefit that a prime lens has over a zoom lens.
So, this makes the camera work better in low light. In addition, in low apertures, the prime lens works much better and is sharper because the design is more “focused”.
Apart from these, in general, there are many more reasons to consider an 85mm lens.
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The 85mm Lens Is Very Versatile:
The fact that it may be used in a variety of contexts is the primary motivation behind our recommendation of it. Particularly in the case of a prime or constant focal length.
You will see how flexible the lens is when you take into account its profile, size, and weight. With a single lens, you can do landscape photography, street photography, and portraits.
If you compare an 85mm lens even with a 70-200mm lens, the former wins in every single aspect. The 85mm is not even half the size of the 70-200mm lens.
But an 85mm lens is two stops quicker. So, 85mm can do everything for you that a longer lens would do for you.
However, note that the compression is a downside compared to a 70-200mm lens. It will never be the same as a 70-200 lens.
Although you can still get some fast apertures with the 85mm lens. For instance, f1.2 or f1.8 will efficiently solve the compression issue.
>> What is 18-200mm lens used for
You Can Master Street Photography:
Although it may appear to be a little out of the ordinary, street photography has become a major use of 85mm lenses.
A lot many photographers use their 85mm lens for street photography most of the time.
For extensive street photography, 85 millimeters lens is an excellent focal length to have. You don’t have to get too close to the people with it.
You can be far away, and still be in action using this 85mm lens. So, a street photographer actually knows what it means to have this amazing lens.
In addition, you should know that street photography is done with a relatively shallow depth of field where most items are in focus.
So, the fast aperture of this lens along with its creative framing in conjunction gives a new dimension to street photography.
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85mm Captures Landscapes Amazingly:
We don’t typically use an 85mm lens for landscape photography. So, people may find it a bit odd in the first place.
But let me tell you the beauty of it. Actually, 85mm is an excellent lens length to keep in your backpack for landscape photography as well.
Albeit it’s possibly extremely odd purpose, it is worth it.
You can in fact use it for highlighting certain natural aspects rather than for the grand, epic, broad views.
However, the panorama option is available for you to capture those as well.
When shooting landscapes, one can simply utilize an 85mm lens to create a narrow depth of field.
Thus, it becomes very easy to highlight specific details and compose images that go well with the grand, expansive vistas.
When taken as a whole, the images create a tale that is far more compelling than anything that can be conveyed by a single picture on its own.
Take Your Portrait Experience To A New Level:
It goes without saying that the standard focal length for a portrait is 85 millimeters. So, there is nothing special to talk about it.
In portraits, the impact of distortion varies depending on the focal length of the lens. Besides, distortion is more pronounced on faces.
The 85mm focal length has an impressive ability to give the faces an extremely slimming and appealing look.
So, it is de facto ideal for practically any composition you can think of.
However, if you don’t believe me, you can ask any portrait photographer on the face of the earth.
They will tell you that an 85mm lens is an absolute need and all of them have one in their bags.
The Lens Is Travel Friendly:
For low-light photography, the fast aperture of this lens is a blessing to photographers.
So, if you have a habit of bokeh blasting everything, you should own this 85mm lens.
The fast apertures pave the way for a new realm of opportunity and self-assurance while shooting at night.
This is really crucial from a travel perspective.
You may travel small and still cover as many alternatives as you can by having low-light photography capability with the fewest number of lenses necessary.
As a prime lens, most 85mm lenses have a compact profile. So, you may transport two lenses in the space normally occupied by a single 70–200mm zoom.
Close-Up Photography:
The 85mm prime lens, although not a macro, does enable close proximity to objects, creating intimate, fascinating viewpoints of minutiae.
All you have to do here is to focus on the only thing in your mind. It can be a flower, stick, or anything like a hanging fruit from a tree.
The thing can be different than others on the same level.
FAQs about what is 85mm lens good for:
Is 50mm Or 85mm Better For Portraits?
Choose a 50mm lens if you are going for an authentic cinematic effect.
But, the 85mm lens is the standard choice for photographers seeking timeless portraiture aesthetics.
How Far Should An 85mm Lens Be From A Subject?
In order to get sharp focus, you’ll need to be no less than 2.8 feet away from your subject.
Can I Use 85mm For Food Photography?
The fact that this lens has a minimum focusing distance that is somewhat far away makes it less than ideal for use while photographing food.
You are unable to get very near to your subjects since the minimum focusing distance is around 2.8 feet, which is equal to 85 cm.
Is 85mm Lens Good For Family Portraits?
A wide-angle lens, such as an 85mm, is ideal for capturing a large group, such as a family reunion.
For a small family, also consider an 85mm lens to fill the frame without standing too nearby.
Is 85mm Lens Good For Weddings?
Yes, being one of the quickest lenses available, it can do the job for you at weddings.
You can shoot stunning moments at a wedding if you shoot between 1.4 and 2.8 feet.
Final words:
If you are picking the camera for the first time, you should know what is 85mm lens good for.
Portraiture is one of the most famous uses for the 85mm prime lens’s capabilities. Nevertheless, now you know how it can expand your photography arsenal.
The lens will do close-up, landscape, and street photography for you. So, just go out there and master photography with an excellent experience.