Have 50mm AND 85mm? What do you shoot with each one?

This post is for those of you that have both: 50mm AND 85mm focal length lenses. What do you shoot with each one? The reason for starting this thread is that I already own the 85mm f/1.2L II lens. However, it was a little too long for me to take photos of my 5-months old son indoors (obviously w/out flash). I went ahead and got the 50mm lens as well. Wondering what else do you shoot with 50/85 for those of you that have both?

I have both. I like to use both for portraits, the 85 being for tight shots focusing on the face, and the 50 - for including more of the context/background.

85mm examples.

Canon 85 f/1.8:

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^ On a side note. Great set of comparison shot!
I can clearly tell why I am of fan of my 50L wide open, the Bokeh is so pleasing even at 50mm.

To OP: I have a 50mm and I have a 100mm
Personally I don't shoot many portraits or frame most of my photos this way as shown above.
I would on occasion, with my 100mm

The 85mm never found a place in my bag, It was too tight for me indoors (so is my 100mm) and when frame a scene I enjoy enviromental portraits with the 50mm instead of true head and shoulders only shots.
I favor the compression of a longer FL but I don't see a reason (personally) to add the 85L to my kit.

I will ask you what other FL's do you have?
Do you desire to shoot wide open at f1.2 or would it be stopped down.
The 85 f1.8 is a clean, and sharp lens although bit slower to try out that FL.

I am a fan of buying a lens used, personally testing it at my leisure, and selling it if it collects dust.

Best of luck in your decision.

On crop sensor cameras where it acts as a fast, short telephoto, I enjoy using the 50mm for portraits. On croppers, 50mm and 85mm are the "yin and yang" of portrait lenses.

On full frame, I hardly every use a 50mm. It just doesn't get me very excited on FF (I use 85mm and 135mm for portraits instead, and prefer something slightly wider for my "standard" lens).

Well, I currently have 24-70 II, 70-200 II, 85L II, and just ordered sigma 50 art. I am a fan of 50mm focal length, but only had 35/85/135 in the past, with my best 50 being a nifty-fifty

I like the 50 as a standard, replacing the 24-70's. it's hard to take an unflattering shot with the 50, and environmental shots look pleasant. 35 is more playful, the distortion can work in your favor with kids, however, I try not ever get adults with a 35, unless they're just part of a scene (street shooting).

My preferred framing is somewhat looser than Arutemu's. I like the 50 (or in my case 55) as a half-body to full-body portrait lens, and the 85 as a head-and-shoulders portrait lens and I shoot wide-open with both lenses. I usually go to 200 for closer head-only shots where I want to smear out the background entirely.

Arutemu wrote in post #17446306
I have both. I like to use both for portraits, the 85 being for tight shots focusing on the face, and the 50 - for including more of the context/background....

This!

I'm a fan of 85mm for portraits but indoor a 50mm is very useful. And can focus closer (most 0.45m). Not at all comparable lenses!

^ Exactly, while the 85L is a superior portrait lens, its minimum focusing distance made it useless to me indoors, and when outdoors I am often handheld, so the 100L with IS makes a great portrait lens.

the 50 is much more of a walk around and general purpose prime for me, including portraits. I do not shoot tight head or head and shoulder shots with it however,

85L is my choice if I am specifically shooting portraits in low light, head/head and shoulder shots, or shooting outdoor but am looking for the great isolation. I think the 85L does a beautiful job actually for full body portraits to still isolate background.

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Nice photo, Kevindar! I assume that was taken with a Sigma 50A?

i LOVE my 50mm 1.8

long ago, I was told - repeatedly - that I could go anywhere, anytime with a 35mm & 85mm lens on a 35mm system. I currently have the old, non-L primes: the ancient 35mm f2 (non IS) and the 85mm f1.8. Knowing that "better" glass is available for both of these, I'm still happy with the images these produce.

I have never regretted this pairing.

While I could list numerous ops where this combo would be futile, if I found myself so engaged, I have little doubt that I'd find some use for this 35/85 combo - 'though perhaps not as expected.

I struggle to appreciate the available 50mm offerings from or for Canon. While I wouldn't mind extensively testing an Otus, say for the next 10 years - thank you zeiss, I expect to upgrade my 35mm glass before upgrading my present 50mm f1.8 MkI.

But I have recently discovered that the 50mm f1.8 Mk I with a 1.4x TC makes a somewhat respectable 70mm f2.5 portrait lens on a full frame. While I haven't really tested this yet, perhaps there's some use yet?

also - while I've heard good things about Canon's mini micro 50mm f2 +/- its LS adapter, this is another lens that I've yet to use. I'm happy with my 100L & 180L macros.

good luck with the 50s.

your portraits are beautiful. awesome bokeh.

85l for me in studio. 50l in studio if I want a softer close up or for street, on location, or home. The 50l is a go to lens for my style. If I only had 3 lenses the 50mm would be one of them. (16 to 35 and 70 to 200 would be the others)