Why the 85mm Lens Is for More Than Just Portraits

The 85mm focal length is a go-to choice for many types of photography, offering versatility beyond just portrait work. Its ability to isolate subjects and create depth makes it valuable across genres like landscapes, street photography, and even product shots.

Coming to you from Gareth Evans with Park Cameras, this informative video dives into the reasons why the 85mm focal length should be a staple in your kit. Evans points out that while the 85mm lens is well known for producing stunning portraits, it can also deliver a compelling look in other types of photography. The ability to zoom in a bit more than a standard lens gives you more control over what’s in the frame. With this lens, you can blur backgrounds even at narrower apertures like f/4, making it easier to focus on your subject while still compressing the scene. This compression pulls the background closer to the subject, which is a major advantage in genres like landscape or street photography.

Evans emphasizes how this zoomed-in feel forces you to pay attention to framing. At 85mm, the field of view narrows, helping you avoid distractions in the background. You can move slightly to one side and completely change the composition. This makes it easier to refine your shots, even in cluttered environments. Whether you’re trying to eliminate busy elements in a street scene or cut out distractions from a landscape, an 85mm lens can help you isolate your subject without cropping later in post-production.

He also touches on how the 85mm focal length makes you think more critically about the subject of your image. With a wide angle lens, you might focus more on incorporating a scene’s environment. At 85mm, the focus shifts. It’s about who or what is in front of your camera, not so much the surroundings. That’s why it’s particularly well-suited for portraits, but it can also add a different layer of storytelling to other styles, like food photography or video. You end up making more deliberate choices about what to include and what to leave out of the frame, which can make your images more compelling.

An interesting point Evans raises is how versatile the 85mm lens can be for video. While he often shoots at 35mm for vlogs, he explains that the 85mm’s compression can add a cinematic feel to footage when space allows. This creates that clean separation between subject and background, giving your videos a professional look without needing much post-processing. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Evans.