The 85mm focal length is a classic choice for portrait photography. It provides a flattering perspective that is not too close or too far, and it allows you to isolate your subject from the background.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the best 85mm lenses for portrait photography. We will discuss the different features and benefits of each lens, and we will help you choose the best lens for your needs.
What is an 85mm Lens?
An 85mm lens is a telephoto lens with a focal length of 85mm. This means that it will magnify objects that are 85mm away from the camera by a factor of 1. This gives you a slightly zoomed-in view of the world, which can be helpful for portrait photography.
Why is 85mm a Good Focal Length for Portraits?
There are a few reasons why 85mm is a good focal length for portraits. First, it provides a flattering perspective. When you use a longer focal length, it compresses the background, which makes your subject appear larger and more prominent. This can be a great way to create a more flattering portrait.
Second, 85mm lenses tend to be very sharp. This is important for portrait photography, as you want to capture every detail of your subject’s face.
Finally, 85mm lenses offer a good balance of reach and portability. They are not as long as some other telephoto lenses, so they are still relatively easy to carry around. However, they are also long enough to give you a good amount of reach, which can help isolate your subject from the background.
What are the Best 85mm Lenses for Portrait Photography?
There are many great 85mm lenses available on the market. Here are a few of our favorites:
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.2 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Weather-sealed construction
- Pros:
- Outstanding image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Great for low-light photography
- Durable and weather-sealed construction
- Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- Not as versatile as some other 85mm lenses
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Nano Crystal Coat to reduce flare and ghosting
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Well-built and durable
- Relatively affordable
- Cons:
- Not as fast as the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- Not as versatile as some other 85mm lenses
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Hyper Sonic Motor for fast and accurate autofocus
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Affordable price
- Versatile focal length
- Cons:
- Not as well-built as some other 85mm lenses
- Not as sharp at the edges as the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 VC USD
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.8 for good low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Image stabilization for blur-free handheld shots
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Affordable price
- Image stabilization for handheld shooting
- Versatile focal length
- Cons:
- Not as fast as the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM or Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G
- Not as well-built as some other 85mm lenses
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM
- Features:
- Extremely fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Aspherical lens elements to reduce distortion and improve image quality
- Pros:
- Outstanding image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Premium build quality
- Versatile focal length
- Cons:
- Extremely expensive
- Not as well-suited for handheld shooting as some other 85mm lenses
Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Nano AR Coating to reduce flare and ghosting
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Well-built and durable
- Great for videography
- Cons:
- Expensive
- Not as versatile as some other 85mm lenses
- Can be heavy and bulky for some photographers
Fujifilm XF 85mm f/1.4 R
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- WR weather sealing
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Weather-sealed construction
- Affordable price
- Cons:
- Not as well-suited for videography as some other 85mm lenses
- Not as versatile as some other 85mm lenses
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 85mm f/1.8
- Features:
- Fast aperture of f/1.8 for good low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) autofocus for smooth video performance
- Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Compact and lightweight design
- Great for videography
- Cons:
- Not as well-suited for high-resolution cameras as some other 85mm lenses
Leica Summilux-M 85mm f/1.4 ASPH.
- Features:
- Extremely fast aperture of f/1.4 for excellent low-light performance
- Sharp image quality throughout the aperture range
- Smooth and quiet autofocus
- Aspherical lens elements to reduce distortion and improve image quality
- Pros:
- Outstanding image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Premium build quality
- Versatile focal length
- Cons:
- Extremely expensive
- Not as well-suited for handheld shooting as some other 85mm lenses
Choosing the Best 85mm Lens for You
The best 85mm lens for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for the absolute best image quality, then the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM or the Leica Summilux-M 85mm f/1.4 ASPH. are the two best options. However, these lenses are also very expensive.
If you are looking for a more affordable option, then the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art or the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 VC USD are both great choices. These lenses offer excellent image quality and performance for a fraction of the price of the Canon or Leica lenses.
No matter which 85mm lens you choose, you will be sure to get great results for your portrait photography.
