BEST Focal Length for Portraits?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2025
- 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm. For anyone getting into portrait photography you've probably come across these prime focal lengths. These focal lengths are all great but each one affects your photo differently. The longer the focal length, the more compression. Like the background is getting bigger and closer to your subject.
The best focal length is the one that serves you best, and that's because the best portrait lens doesn't exist!
I enjoy shooting with a 35mm over all the others because it means I don't have to be 20ft away from my subject. I can use it in smaller studios and tighter spaces. It doesn't obliterate the background like an 85 or 135mm. I can also capture more environment in my scene. The 35mm works with my shooting style and for me; the most versatile. I can use it in so many different scenarios where the others can't.
Everyone has a different style and what my favourite lens is might not be yours. You might like the look of the 135mm. You might like that you're always going to get an extremely blurry background with an insane amount of compression.
The "best" lens doesn't exist!
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85mm is the most flattering for portraits, 35mm is good for portraits but also when you wanna show off the scene around your subject.
I vote for 35 mm too
The two are different types of portraits. It depends what you are trying to create. The 135 is more photographic but the 35 is better for video as well since it gives you more in the background. Almost all non photographers that have seen my photos have picked the ones taken with 135 over the rest of them.
Yes, 85 & 100/135 is best for portraits for me.
I liked more the photo with 135mm, the buildings looked impressive in the background. I am not a photographer either, but would like to get a camera some day, just too expensive of a hobby.
I have them all. They all have their place. 35mm for street ports and or indoors for group shots. 50, 85, and 135 are great portraits lenses but you need more distance to shoot with them. A 70-200 would be a great addition to your list. Additional focal length compression more expensive and alot heavier. My favorite and least used is the 135.
Not sure which lens or focal works for you, try renting one to help your purchase decision
I mean, everybody has a zoom lens i guess or any possibility to recreate the focal length you are searching for a prime lens.
Renting lenses is a good idea if you want to invest in a very expensive lens and wanna try it for a week or so.
I have all prime focal lengths. GM 14, 24, 35, 50 1.4, sigma 85mm DG DN, and the Samyang 135mm 1.8. Instead of the 70-200, I’m using the Tamron 35-150 2-2.8 which is an amazing lens mounted to my A7RV.
Unless I'm doing groups or environmentals, 35 is a no-go for portraits. It absolutely distorts the face unless you're further back (50 does as well). I'm at 85 or longer for anything 3/4-shot or tighter. All subjective of course, but that's the beauty of this (and any) art form.
I find that 35 is great for full body or dynamic posing, especially if extra background context is something you’re looking for
@@braedon8802 It all depends. Imagine a portrait shot on a mountain capturing another "small" (in the frame) mountain row as background. Then anything between 70-100mm could be usable to show context.
I prefer 50-100mm for portraits of any kind, 35mm might work for full body shots, poses and so but i prefer face and more details/cropped in
But i also have not invested yet in anything below 50mm, except a 17-55 2.8 on APS-C which is not that great with its F2.8 and considering APS-C crop so effective F4, more like F5.6 look.
You're one of those photographers 🤣 85mm looks so unnatural and artificial! Anything beyond 85mm is absolutely distorting the face and looks terrible. That look was popular like 20 years ago. You need to include the environment in the photos, not make it a blurry mess and call it a portrait shot.
Depends also on your sensor and camera type.
For my camera it’s a 35mm f/1.8 lens for crisp detail, natural focal length and nice bokeh
What camera is yours?
70-200mm f/2.8 is the answer.
Nah, 35mm on one body and a 135mm on the other body
@@AFR0MAMBA Unless you're in a venue / setting where you literally can't move - then primes become a liability (as much as I love a good prime)
Ah yes, the "everyone's a beginner" choice
Alternatively 2 bodies: APS-C and FF, with 2 lenses: a good 50-58mm 1.4 or 1.2 lens (80-85 on Canon APS-C) and a 135 1.8-3.5 or similar.
50mm, 80mm, 135 and 200mm on uncropped sensors with just 2 primes and 2 cameras. If you manage to find primes with lesser elements than modern ones, you can even have a nice 3d-pop, not only background blur!
But 35mm is for real sometimes nice, even a 24mm 1.4 works nice for "special" looks. I was mainly shooting the compact and light EOS RP + RF 50 1.8 combo, feels basically like a Budget-Leica but with more features.
No, for weddings yes, for portraits fixed lenses 100%
the best lens for portrait is the one you use and feel creative with. period
agree with this!
I love my 10-18, especially when sticking it right up close to the subjects face 😂
@@DaddyM7MD they must look like donkeys at that range
@DaddyM7MD Lol this is the onlyyyy one I would probably argue with you by saying (what the hell are you thinking) !!! 😂😅😅 I feel like that's too wide haha but whatever floats your boat
Canon 70-200 F2.8L at 200 is my favorite for the last 12 years. Can't change my mind. So versatile. I was tempted with the 85 1.2 several times though. Haha
Sony has a Tamron 35-150 mm F2-F2.8. Pretty good too!
This is some solid information for people just starting out or anyone not able to experiment with it themselves. Thanks for this brother.
Glad I could help!
Pictures from the longer lenses are more flattering to the subject but they are less practical. I think the nifty fifty is still the best overall compromise.
The 50mm is a great focal length!
But on crop sensor it is effectively a 75mm or 80mm. That 75-80mm range is best for portraits, I find (just my opinion, of course).
If you want the real nifty fifty perspective (to see things as our eyes see them), then on a crop sensor you need to use the 35mm - this converts to 52mm with a 1.5 crop factor.
35mm definitly distorts the face. Even 50mm does. 85mm makes the background get really tight but the face is more natural. Talking about full frame.
Depends what you are going for. If background is interesting and important then take the 35mm, if its more important to get an accurate portrait then take 85mm. 50mm is the perfect middle ground.
@@Xirpzy distortion is based on the subject distance to the camera NOT the lens focal length. so 35mm doesnt distort the subject. neither does a rectilinear 16mm distort a subject, again, what distorts a subject is how close you are to the subject with the camera.
@@truthseeker6804 look at direct comparisons with normal portraiture framing. There are some here on youtube and plenty on google images. The 16mm will not look like a 85mm when the subject takes up the same amount of space in the photo. Even a rectilinear lens wont fix that. Sure if you step waay back and crop you might get something similar but then the background compression will be completely different unless you mess with aperture. There is a reason why 50 and 85mm are considered portrait focal lengths and 16mm is generally not.
Sigma 56mm f1.4 gotta be the best one for Sony cameras. Super sharp, amazing contrast and beautiful bokeh!
What about with the sigma 18-50 zoom?
zoom lens aren't that good, better go with prime one@@jdmgsr05
Really great short… I can see the four lenses and how they capture the subject in the background. Super helpful! And I assume you’re on a full frame camera.
Glad it was helpful!
I shoot crop Sonys and that enables me to carry three rigs and primes ready to go so I can grab shots as I choose. If I had the money it would be 2 full frames and a short and long zoom both full f2.8 or a couple of primes
Keeping the subject background is always the key.. 35mm!!
I love 35mm
My preference has been more on the telephoto side, but I'm trying to work with more wide angle shots just so I have a good all around balance in my work.
Love them all ❤❤❤ cannot go wrong with prime lens for portrait
I love 85 mm
But starting to falling with my 70-200 Mm f2.8 G 2 sony
My go to is 35mm for portraits I just love the wider look! However, when I want a tighter look the 24-70 zoomed into 70mm is awesome!
I think you're focusing on the wrong part initially. Most of these lenses will create a shallow enough depth of field to create separation, and conversely can be closed down enough to not obliterate the background Look at the faces instead. What focal length is most flattering to the shape of the face/body. I think your conclusion at the end is good if you're trying to make it an environmental portrait photo, but that might not be the most important consideration for every portrait.
Totally agree. My thoughts exactly. Nice video, beautiful pictures, but the message is like bokeh, a little out of focus.
Tamron 35-150 f/2-2.8 is my preferred focal length 😊. It covers all of the most popular portrait focal lengths. 85mm if I have to choose a prime.
Is there any APS-C version (such as 24-100mm or so) with F2.8 aperture or faster on the market? For EF(S) mount?
80mm primes are also nice, i really love my 50mm 1.4 SMC Takumar vintage lens on my R7/APS-C, hard to nail focus wide open or at F2 or 2.8, but amazing shots possible if i hit the focus
@@harrison00xXx I don’t know. I only shoot Sony and Fujifilm.
Aftery practicing with various 50mm, 85mm and 135mm lenses my portrait combo finally established from Sigma's 40/1.4 and 105/1.4. Both are just excellent wide opened, sharp, contrasty, with no fringing. Especially the 40/1.4 aspires for the best non telephoto lens ever made by any manufacturer.
Really love my 33 1.4 on Fuji. It is close to the 50mm full frame crop size but it keeps the background of a 35mm full frame compression for context while still providing a nice shallow depth of field.
I love the look of the 135mm love it so much!
I have shot 85mm but recently the 50mm has had great results with modern optics. 35mm will consider in the future for environmental shots. I will never do a 135mm.
Love these comparisons. As a noob these help me a ton ❤
Glad I could help!
loved the 135mm the most!
If you got a very recognizable bg, like Golden Gate Bridge or something, I'd do wider. But in more generic settings with nothing interesting in the bg, I'd probably go tight.
Great way of looking at it!
How long distance did you have, between the 35mm and the 135mm? 😅 The background isn't the only thing moving
Around 88cm minimum focus distance.
You move about 3 meters between each of those focal lengths. To get about the same perspective between shots.
35 & 85 is my go to. Out doors I love my 85mm but indoors I tend to go with the 35mm as the 50mm is just a little too tight for me
Mostly subjective but knowing how lenses and focal lengths work and how they affect your shots will greatly inform your choices/preferences.
100%
EF-S 17-55mm is a versatile piece of kit with an ultra wide zoom lens. I don’t shoot landscape/wildlife so no need for a telephoto myself.
Every beginner looks at TH-cam videos and think they have to have a 70-200 2.8.... you don't. Be different if you like different. I stopped using longer lengths... 85mm and under is my go to.
I absolutely love my 35mm!
I bought a 70-200 and I have to say, it's amazing for portraits. It's crazy sharp and it gives amazing blurry bokeh. Yes, it's heavy. Yes, it's expensive. (€1100,-) but it gets you most focal lenghts you'll need. Just quickly looking online, a sigma 85mm is already more than half the price of the 70-200.
@@StefanoLombardoYTbro are you blind to what a serious portrait glass can do? I would never take advice from these newby’s who was only shoot for a couple of years.
What sensor size? Your statement regarding the focal length is not complete without mentioning the sensor size, do you mean full frame?
Please suggest
I want a blurry backround lens for my Sony ZVE-10 camera to shoot real estate videography where the host will move from room to room and describe the features of the house.
Honestly for APS-C which is what the ZVE-10 is I'd definitely recommend the Sigma 16mm 1.4: geni.us/ki5Z . It becomes more of a 24mm after the crop but you do get a shallow depth of field for great bokeh. There's not too many lenses other than the Sigma 16 that can get wider than that at that aperture.
35 makes you the slimmest, the compression makes you stalkier as you go out, if your looking at the yellow jacket
85mm gives you the most realistic look
Id rather focus on the face. It really depends who I’m shooting - a slim and good looking person would most likely look great at any focal length, otherwise you can’t go wrong with a 50mm or 85mm
24 for fashion, 35 for wide portraits, 50 for street photography, 85 for closed portraits and 135 for face portraits. For me, that is the way.
I agree, I think the 35mm was the most flattering for the subject in this case.
I love 35mm focal length! Just posted a full behind the scenes to a portrait session with the 35mm: th-cam.com/video/e3Y5bMbc7fE/w-d-xo.html
Id say 85mm is the best out of these. You dont have to be too far away, the compression isnt too much. And makes their face look normal. I think the 135mm is a little too much. At least at whatever aperture he was at. Close it up a little more and it probably won't look as compressed
One important thing overlooked.
Portraiture is about the subject and its more important to offer a fattening perspective to the subjects features.
Someone, for example, isn't going to appreciate having a nose and chin looking exaggerated when the photographer uses a wide-angle lens!
It depends....35mm movie mode scene 50mm for blog 85mm self and 135mm group shots.
Wow.. a good video with actual useful information. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the support! Glad it was helpful!
Definitely wide - 35mm. Captures the context.
My favourite focal length 35mm!
I bought this lens 85mm f1.8g used but I have trouble focusing on the subject and I don't get the bokeh effect unless I get within a meter of it.
I love 50/1.4 GM for everyday photography, but for portraits I love 85/1.4GM.
Still rocking the old Sony Zeiss 55mm 1.8
There are 3 thing effect while different lenses for portrait
1. As you switch to higher focal lenght background will be compressed more means getting out from the frame
2. As you switch to higher focal length you have to go back and far away from subject to capture the same focal lenght
3 as you switch the lense to higher focal lenght your focal lenght will more accurate😊😊
Please suggest a blurry effect budget prime lens for my Sony ZV-E10 camera for real estate house tour hosting
Which is the best camera settings for sony 6400,18-135 mm lence,for portrait photography
Check out this video it'll be roughly the same: th-cam.com/video/bpi8K59sLEg/w-d-xo.html
I love my 70-150mm, but I'm open to using a 35mm in the future!
I think 35mm is to make your subject look slimmer.
What about a Nikon 5100 18-55mm lens and 70-300 lens? It’s all selling for 450$?
Need help please
Are you kidding? The amount of facial distortion, and also noticeability of asymmetric facial features are increasingly exaggerated as you drop below 85mm. That is why we so often shoot models and do high end portraiture with between 85mm - 300mm, unless there is some other artistic reason. Also, the ability to drop below f2.8 with a good lens enables some useful options.
Every youtube short that starts with a "This" is reduced to just an infomercial.
This is cool I dig the breakdown
Please mention for apsc cameras
What color Arcteryx jacket is that? Edziza?
I like the 85 mm i wish you would have included a 105mm
a lot of info in little package, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
if u in studio prefer +50mm, in outdor and u wanna show the background 35mm better
Want the canon 50mm f1.2L 😊
Very nice video! Very informative 📸 just subbed!
Thanks for the sub!
What do you guys suggest?
I'm thinking of buying Canon r8 or Sony alpha 7iv. What do you suggest, and which lens should I have for wedding? My buget is cca 1500$. I was thinking something like a 24-150mm and a 35mm f1.4
Any advice would help!❤
I would pick a used Sony A7R4, & a used Canon 28-105 EF-L lens with a Sony adapter.
@@peeweebarney thanks for your suggestion :))
I use sony a6400, I have 13mm 1.4 viltrox, and sigma 30 and 56mm 1.4. Then next will be Sigma 85mm 1.4. I really live prime lens. 😅
Hi I have an XT3 and I'm looking for, ideally, an all-in-one lens I can use for events, portraits, and lowlight. Any recommendations?
Note: I love that Fuji lenses are small and easy to carry, but if I don't need to carry multiple lenses, I'd rather not.
Thanks! 🙏
I'd recommend the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary: geni.us/BQul
70-200 2.8. Use at 135mm. Constant aperture
Which is best for gym content/ videos?
is it a Sony 35mm f1.8? I would like to know if its good for a Sony Alpha A7II ?
35 makes the heads look to big for my taste not flattering at all to people with wide faces give me an 85 or 135 all day long
for Aps-c (Canon R7) which is the best for portraits?
What is your camera, it's full fream or aps c?
Full Frame!
Do one for cannon t7i I’m new on this
Sigma art 35 1.4 smartest choice!
My favourite lens!
What lut you used in this video
omg you are soooo smarttttttt 😤
Thank you I'm aware 🤣
There is no answer here, depends on the situation and context. It is a subjective answer with only personal opinion. There is no best focal length. If you want to be flexible get a medium reach zoom 2.8, 28-75 range. It will do decent for you. Otherwise pick the best primes for your intentions, then build your kit as you go.
This. And some actually like a little distortion some lenses provide (not me most of the time but photography doesn't hinge on my preferences lol).
The Nikkor 135mm f2 DC is the best portrait lens I have ever used.
135mm is great if you are shooting tight head shots or you are outdoors, or you are shooting in really large indoor spaces. However, 135mm is a real pain if you are attempting 1/2 length or 3/4 length portraits indoors. And at 135mm you are on the verge of compressing the face too much and having a 2D image.
@@joansmith7649 Heck I shoot 200mm indoors no problem 😂
If you were shooting in hotel bedrooms with furnishings, you may find difficulties using the 200mm. And there is such a thing as too much compression of the 3D human body. I am glad you are happy with the 200mm. I prefer the look of a 90mm, or a 75mm for 3/4 view.@@bradl2636
105DC is incredible at all fstops. I typically shoot at f8-f11 for studio work *chef’s kiss*
There is no lens compression. If you move back far enough where you keep the subject the same size, the bokeh is identical no matter what focal length you use.
Bokeh and compression are 2 very different things
The fact the you can see the buildings in the background tells me your using slow cheap lenses. Use the 85 @ 1.2, you won’t recognize the building behind the subject.
will i get the same result if my length si 135 but the aperture is 5.0 because of the compression
To be honest I don’t like 135mm lens, but I love my 85mm!
Yeap, I prefer the 35mm even for video with the cinematic effect filter is the S...
35mm is my favourite focal length! I actually just posted a video on the 35mm: th-cam.com/video/e3Y5bMbc7fE/w-d-xo.html
My Samsung S22 Ultra has a 100x zoom. It’s great at maximum zoom for storytelling if you’re a microbiologist.
What are your settings?
Best camera and lens for street fashion?
What Programm do you use for photos ?
Lightroom!
Smooth brain take
how about a 105mm ?
The 35mm is the greatest lens ever. The sigma 35 1.2 ART is just the best ever.😊
What are you filmining this video on ?
were these shot on a full frame?
They sure were!
What is your camera?
Sony a7iv: geni.us/T9LX
Hey bro, what camera were you using?
All the gear that I use is here! kit.co/stefanolombardo
At 135mm, you might as well just take pictures at your back yard. Can’t even see the background anymore 😅
To me, taking portraits, concentrate on the main subject, while the background is for framing the subject.
Was that Maggie Geha?!?!
Nice answer
Is no one gonna talk about Anthony coming into frame
How mm lens is youe Glasses
F2,8 24MM-70MM CANON LENS it the best of best yes it f2.8 this one and f2.0 24mm-105mm canon LENS for cinema lens irix 45mm
We all have our own preferences. It all depends on how much room we have to move in…
No lens comes anywhere near the Canon 85mm f1.2 for portraits.
Yeah, if I can afford to buy one.
What about videography?
The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 is a great lens!
@@StefanoLombardoYT Is there also a more affordable APS-C version of a 24-70?
for me,
only face 70-80mm
face + background 35-50mm