I finally upgraded to a Sony A7IV after saving up for like a year and im so stoked to finally get some real bokeh going!! My kit lens is fine for travel but it just doesnt give me that creamy background I see everyone else getting for portraits. My best friend is getting married in two months and I really wanna do her engagement photos at this park near my place in Chicago so I need to find the perfect prime lens soon.
I spent all night looking at reviews and everyone keeps saying the Sony 85mm f1.8 is the king for the price but then I see other people swearing by the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 because it’s smaller and more versatile for street stuff too. I’m honestly stuck because I usually shoot in my tiny apartment when it’s raining and I’m worried the 85mm will be way too zoomed in and I’ll be hitting my back against the wall trying to get a full body shot. But then some people say the 55mm has weird distortion for close up face shots which makes me nervous.
My budget is capped at like $600 so I cant really go for the G Master stuff yet even though I want to lol. If I’m mostly doing headshots and half-body stuff in parks or small rooms should I just go with the 85 or is the 55 a safer bet for a first prime...
TL;DR: Buy the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8. It is the absolute king of portrait lenses for your budget and delivers stunning bokeh for engagement shoots! I have shot with almost every Sony prime over the years and the 85mm f1.8 remains a top recommendation. It is an incredible piece of glass! While the Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA is amazing for street work, it just doesnt offer the same subject separation you need for professional-looking portraits. Methodical breakdown:
- Compression: The 85mm focal length is much more flattering for faces.
- Separation: You get that creamy background pop that a 55mm struggles to match at the same distance. Quick tip: for your small apartment, shoot from the hallway or through a door to gain distance. You wont regret choosing the 85mm for that park session! It is gonna make those engagement photos look fantastic.
Regarding what #2 said about "I struggled with that tiny apartment life for..." I actually tried those third-party lenses and unfortunately had major autofocus issues during a shoot once. It was super stressful and I missed the best shots. I’d grab the Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary instead. It feels much safer and more reliable than the cheaper brands. Quick tip: always test your eye-AF in the park before the actual shoot.
I struggled with that tiny apartment life for years! You definitely need something more versatile than an 85mm if you're hitting walls.
- Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE: This is a fantastic middle ground! It's tiny, wider than an 85, and still gives amazing background blur.
- Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE II: This one is a bokeh beast! It’s better in tight rooms and fits your budget. Both are fantastic for your A7IV!
