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Struggling to find the perfect portrait lens? Look no further! I know what it’s like trying to find the best option, one that gives you the most amount of beautiful background blur and gorgeous intricate details.

This is even better than the nifty fifty, and I’ll explain why and have you convinced by the end of this blog!

What Makes this Mystery Focal Length the Best?

I’ll give you three reasons:

Bokeh to the Max!
Simplicity and Focus on Connection
Exceptional Image Quality and Versatility

This lens gives you the most amount of gorgeous natural background blur (or bokeh). Background blur is a big plus in my books, it gives a gorgeous ethereal look to your images that other focal lengths simply can’t do.

Prime lenses also prioritise image quality over zoom functionality. This allows you to capture the most amount of detail at a wider aperture, allowing more light into the lens for incredible low-light performance, and again, creamy bokeh!

Unlike zoom lenses that tempt you to constantly adjust framing, the fixed prime lens encourages you to move around your subject, making you hone in on your composition skills. This focus on deliberate movement fosters a more natural flow to your photoshoot, allowing you to build rapport with the person or people you’re shooting with, and within the frame, captures genuine connections.

This lenses versatility shines in various portrait styles, from the classic headshots to gorgeous intimate environmental portraits that showcase your subjects interacting with their surroundings.

Still not Convinced?

What am I saying, of course you aren’t. I haven’t even shown you what this lens can do yet. Lo and behold, here is some beauties I’ve captured with this mighty lens. You can capture everything from headshots to full body portraits with this lens, making it very versatile. You could also use it for weddings, family photos, and solo portraits like I have.

Unveiling the Magic: It's the 85mm!

A gorgeous, perfect in every way, 85mm prime! By far my most prized lens in my own kit, this workhorse focal length strikes the perfect balance between a beautiful flattering perspective, dreamy, creamy bokeh, and exceptional image quality. With its ability to adapt to various lighting conditions and capture a range of portrait styles from weddings to solo shoots, this 85mm prime lens instantly becomes a necessary extension of your daily kit. It allows creativity to pour out of you and allows you to focus on capturing genuine emotions, crafting timeless portraits and memories.

Addressing Concerns - Not so Wide-Woes:

Now, of course this lens is beautiful, but is it really best for most environments? This lens is a prime lens, meaning you can’t zoom, but it does allow a smaller aperture (f-stop) because it’s a prime lens. You might be thinking “What about when I need a wider shot to capture the entire scene?” That is a very valid concern. Zoom lenses do offer that flexibility in framing, however, here’s where the magic of a prime lens comes in.

Unlike zooms that sacrifice image quality for versatility, prime lenses like the 85mm prioritise sharpness and speed. This translates to two key benefits for portraiture:

Faster Aperture: Due to the wider aperture of an 85mm lens, it allows you to achieve that beautiful bokeh effect, blurring the background and making your subject stand out. This is something zoom lenses often struggle with.

Sharper Images: Prime lenses are known to capture higher quality images. They typically have simpler designs, leading to that superior quality over zoom lenses. This means crisper details and cleaner overall results in your portraits.

So, yes, while you might need to take a few extra steps to adjust your framing with an 85mm, the trade-off for exceptional image quality and creative control over background blur makes it a powerful lens to add to your kit for portrait photography.

If you are focusing on big group shots or shooting routinely in small spaces, do consider using a wider lens, but in most environments you can adapt to still use the 85mm prime and get the most out of your photos.

Conclusion: The Power of Simplicity:

If this doesn’t have you convinced, well either I suck at writing or you’re completely insane! This lens is insanely beautiful and crisp, its the perfect addition to any kit. It hits the sweet spot for flattering portraits with a comfortable working distance that gives you stunning background blur. It delivers exceptional image quality thanks to its prime design, allowing you to capture the best details in various lighting conditions. Plus, the fixed focal length encourages a more deliberate approach when taking photos, helping you to hone in on those incredible composition skills and focus on capturing and creating incredible memories.

Ready to unlock the magic of the 85mm lens? Grab your own today (or save this blog and buy it after that pay check comes in) and experience the difference it can make in your portrait photography journey. You might be surprised at how much you can achieve with this simple yet powerful focal length.

Here is what I use for my Nikon Camera.

Here is the Canon version.

Here is the Sony version.

Let me know below what you want to discover next!

This is the ONLY Portrait Lens You’ll Ever Need (it’s not what you think!)