Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography: Sony Alpha (2024)

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singhman wrote:

I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular

As long as you've got the room. Back in the film days I used a 180mm Nikon (on FF film) for portraits and got very good results. Oh, but by the way, be careful stepping backwards that you don't take a fall.

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singhman wrote:

I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular

Just because you don't see posts about the 85 doesn't mean that people are not using it. I just did a family shoot this weekend and used the 85 for 90% of my shots. I did have a lot of space available...

The FE 85mm F1.8 is expensive. Telephoto zooms are good at the same focal length and allow more options. Most 85's including the FE have a lot of chromatic aberration especially when used wide-open, and the fringing is magnified by the crop. 85mm on APS-C is similar in angle-of-view to a 135mm on full-frame, not the most popular focal length.

I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230). These might be better than the Samyang 85mm F1.4 ($200) or Opteka 85mm F1.8 ($100) or Yongnuo 85mm F1.8 ($170). The Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM is currently on sale for $300. Samyang has a new APS-C E-mount 85mm F1.8 for $400. They think there is some market for it.

QuietOC wrote:

The FE 85mm F1.8 is expensive. Telephoto zooms are good at the same focal length and allow more options. Most 85's including the FE have a lot of chromatic aberration especially when used wide-open, and the fringing is magnified by the crop. 85mm on APS-C is similar in angle-of-view to a 135mm on full-frame, not the most popular focal length.

I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230). These might be better than the Samyang 85mm F1.4 ($200) or Opteka 85mm F1.8 ($100) or Yongnuo 85mm F1.8 ($170). The Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM is currently on sale for $300. Samyang has a new APS-C E-mount 85mm F1.8 for $400. They think there is some market for it.

I think speed and AF accuracy are missing from your lens options. I was able to get bang on focus with continuous eye-AF. That allows me to keep up with kids and get reliable shots with a large aperture. I'd like a more versatile 70-200 f2.8, but that is a LOT more expensive and heavy besides.

Goatruckus wrote:

QuietOC wrote:

I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230).

I think speed and AF accuracy are missing from your lens options. I was able to get bang on focus with continuous eye-AF. That allows me to keep up with kids and get reliable shots with a large aperture.

I certainly wouldn't get continuous Eye AF with the FE on my A6000. I also don't care for using large lenses on A6x00 bodies. The Sigma 60mm F2.8 Art and Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS are big enough.

As little as I use 85's, I could use the 50-150mm F2.8 APO instead. 150mm F2.8 blows out backgrounds more than an 85mm F1.8 anyway.

Euell wrote:

singhman wrote:

I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular

As long as you've got the room. Back in the film days I used a 180mm Nikon (on FF film) for portraits and got very good results. Oh, but by the way, be careful stepping backwards that you don't take a fall.

Agreed. it all depends on the size of the group. For a single or couple, it is perfect. But if you ever shoot large groups you will struggle to geteveryone in the shot.

I absolutely love my 85mm for portrait (even though I am more into other genres of photography). It's incredibly sharp, the bokeh is so creamy with gorgeous separation.

A few shots of my better half last week.

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I have thoroughly enjoyed using my old Pentax 85m f2 lens on my Nex 3 - I would say it accounts for around 70% of my favourite photos. (I would show a few, but I'm on my phone so can't access them from my gallery).

I had expected that I would be using it on whatever replaces the Nex, but over the summer it developed a mechanical fault so I will soon be getting the FE as a Christmas present to myself.

Cheers. P

singhman wrote:

I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular

What makes you say 85mm is not more popular? How do you determine how popular it is?

boy_wander wrote:

To be honest I kinda regret buying my 851.8. It probably only got used for 10 mins and it was for testing purposes. I've not had the opportunity to use it because I often never have room to move back. Though admittedly I bought this in preparation for a FF upgrade but I might switch to Fuji entirely. The 85 is infact very sharp and imo better than the funi 561.2 when were comparing equivalence. But 85 on apsc is just too long for my kind of photography and filming

Especially on the APS-C which is already cropped, the 85mm is for sure not an ideal indoor lens.
Outside is where it will work the best

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