Ugh I am so over this kit lens honestly. I’ve been trying to get those nice blurry backgrounds for my portrait shots but everything just looks so flat and boring and my cousin's engagement shoot is in like two weeks so I’m lowkey panicking. I’ve been scouring the forums and watching hours of YouTube and everyone keeps saying the Sony 85mm f1.8 is the absolute best bang for your buck but then I see people swearing by the 55mm Zeiss because it’s more versatile for indoor stuff. My problem is I usually work in pretty tight spaces—like small living rooms or local cafes—and I’m terrified if I get the 85 I’m gonna be literally backing into walls just to get a headshot. But then if I go with a 35 or 50 will it even look like a professional portrait or just a snapshot? I only have about 600 or 700 bucks to spend and I can’t afford those crazy expensive G-Master lenses everyone talks about. I just need something that makes people look good without me needing a football field of space. Which one should I actually pull the trigger on before I lose my mind...
Honestly, if you are working in tight living rooms or cafes, you should definitely avoid the 85mm. I love that lens, but youll be trapped against the wall the whole time! For your budget and space constraints, the Sony Zeiss SEL55F18Z Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA is an absolute masterpiece. It is incredibly sharp and produces that signature Zeiss look that is just fantastic for professional portraits. It is significantly more versatile than the 85mm for indoor work. The Sony FE 35mm f1.8 is another amazing choice to consider. It handles low light like a champ and lets you capture more of the environment, which is perfect for storytelling. Both lenses provide much better bokeh and image quality than your kit lens. Personally, I would pull the trigger on the 55mm Zeiss immediately. It has amazing character and will make those engagement photos look stunning!
