The 85mm Lens: A Super Awkward Focal Length or Your Go-to for Portraiture?

The 85mm prime is a pretty highly regarded focal length for a lot of portrait photographers, with most boasting a deliciously wide maximum aperture. But is it simply too awkward a focal length?

I've shot with a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G prime lens for quite some time. Though I'd be lying if I said it came out of the bag often. A bit of a prime apologist, and not one for venturing too far into the beastly world of zoom and telephoto, this lens was the perfect companion for weddings and events, where a candid, natural feel was the intention and I could keep my distance from the subject. And for those reasons, I love it! I continually get my shutter wrong, as breaching that gap into a slightly more telephoto territory means more handshake. But when this thing works, it's super sharp, with amazing creamy bokeh, and means I can stay nice and anonymous during "the speeches" or even when shooting street.

But what of the focal length itself? Neither here nor there? An imposter trying to balance itself on a focal fence, rejected from the "nifty-fifty" clubhouse, where 35mm sits smugly? Too far removed from the big hitters of the nature photography world, with their different colored bodies, tripod clamps, and astronomical price tags?

This great little video, brought to you by Becki and Chris, gives a no-nonsense, tech-avoiding stance on the 85mm. It's hands-on and fun, and there are some really stellar points made, all of which I'm sure we can all relate to. For those looking for a middle-ground focal length, bridging the gap between portrait and telephoto, that's also a little more unassuming, no matter what manufacturer you go with, I'd give this video a click.