So basically the consensus is that the 85mm is the bokeh king, but the 35mm is wayyy more practical for tight spaces. Looking at what everyone's said so far, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is definitely the highkey value pick at around $550, while the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE is the budget wide-angle move. Adding my two cents from a safety-first perspective tho... be careful with third-party AF reliability. I've seen cheaper motors hunt like crazy in low light, which is a nightmare when you're tryna nail a shot. Honestly, if you want long-term reliability for outdoor sessions, I'd suggest sticking with native glass. Maybe consider a used Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA? It’s a bit more expensive but the build quality and sharpness are seriously top-tier and it feels safer for professional work. TL;DR: Most suggest the 85mm for that pro look, but the 35mm is safer for variety. Stick to native glass for the best AF reliability outdoors! 👍

So basically the consensus is that primes beat zooms, tho the 85mm takes some practice. Over the years, I've found these budget picks best for the a7III: * Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 - Highkey the best value for bokeh (~$550)
* Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE - Solid, cheaper wide-angle alt (~$350) Tbh, I'd go 85mm first. That compression is literally unbeatable for portraits on a budget. GL!

Oh man, I totally feel u. Moving away from zooms was literally the best decision I ever made for my Sony a7III. I remember my first outdoor session where I forced myself to use just one prime... I was sooo nervous about "missing the shot" without my zoom, but honestly, the quality jump was insane. In my experience, if ur looking for that perfect balance of sharpness and bokeh outdoors, the 85mm is the clear winner for portraits. Here's what I recommend: - The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is basically a cheat code. The background separation is way better than what you'll get at 35mm, especially for headshots. It creates that creamy "pro" look that clients love. I've been super happy with how it renders skin tones too.
- Perspective matters! While a 35mm like the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is great for environmental shots, it can kinda distort facial features? I think if you get too close for a tight crop, it looks a bit weird. The 85mm is much more flattering for faces, no complaints there.
- For full-body shots outdoors, you just have to step back a bit. I’ve found that the extra distance actually helps my subjects feel less "under the microscope," which leads to more natural expressions. I mean, the 35mm is probably more "versatile" if ur in a tiny room, but for a dedicated outdoor portrait kit? The 85mm is what I’m always reaching for. Lesson learned: don't be afraid to "zoom with your feet" to get the framing right. It’s totally worth it for that compression!! gl with the shoot! 👍

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Ok so I went through this exact dilemma last year. I was lowkey obsessed with getting that perfect bokeh-to-price ratio for my a7III. I started with the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 because I wanted that compression, but man, it was a learning curve. Here's what I noticed technical-wise:
* The 85mm is a beast for headshots, but I was basically backing into traffic to get a full-body shot outdoors lol.
* I later picked up the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 and it's great for 'environmental' stuff, but be careful because it can distort features if you're too close. Honestly, I found that while the 85mm looks 'pro', the 35mm is way more practical if you're in tight spaces. I guess it just depends on your style? I ended up keeping both but the 85mm gets more use for that creamy background look tbh.

> Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is definitely the highkey value pick Seconding the recommendation above. Market-wise, native Sony glass usually offers better long-term reliability and resale value than third-party alternatives. Honestly, I've had issues with AF consistency on non-Sony glass during critical shoots... it's SO frustrating. Just wanna clarify, what's your typical environment? Are you shooting in harsh outdoor weather or mostly golden hour? And are you kinda prioritizing bokeh over portability?

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.