You've just bought your first proper camera and, having seen some stunning portraits online, you've heard about a "magic" lens that makes people look amazing and turns the background into a dreamy blur. That lens is often a 75 mm lens or something very close to it. But is this specialised tool the perfect starting point for your creative pursuits, or will it lead to frustration?
What Exactly Is a 75mm Lens
Knowing your gear helps you take better pictures. A 75mm lens is a special type of camera lens for beginners. It has a fixed view, and you need to know what makes it unique to decide if it's right for you.
Focal Length in Simple Terms
"Focal length" sounds complex, but it's simple. It has to do with the angle of view or how much scenery can be captured by a lens.
- A low figure (such as 18mm) creates a broad view.
- A large figure (such as 200mm) is equivalent to a telescope, making far things look close.
The 75mm prime is a "short telephoto" focal length. It has a tighter view than you see with your eyes. It's good for shooting things mid-range, like a person. And since it is a "prime" lens, its focal length is fixed—it does not zoom.
The Two Superpowers of a 75mm Lense
A 75mm portrait lens is known for two main effects that photographers like. These are the key reasons many people pick this focal length.
- Background Compression: A 75mm lens makes the background look closer to the subject. This flattens the space and gives an intensely focused, almost cinematic look. It also helps separate the subject from the surroundings.
- Beautiful Bokeh: “Bokeh” means the blur in the out-of-focus parts of a photo. A good 75mm lens creates smooth, soft, and clean blur. This makes the subject stand out and draws the viewer's eye.
The tight view, the strong compression, and the smooth bokeh make the 75mm lens a powerful tool. It's designed to do a few things very well and can be a big help to your photography.
Why a 75mm Lens Can Be a Great Tool
Many popular beginner camera lenses are primes. They give you great picture quality and teach you to think about your shots. A 75mm lens does this perfectly and can help you grow as a photographer.
Get Instant Pro Portraits
The main reason to get a 75mm portrait lens is to take great photos of people. It is made for portraits and works very well for them.
- Flattering Perspective: This lens shows faces and body shapes without the odd stretch that wider lenses make. Noses stay normal in size. Features look natural and true to life.
- Comfortable Working Distance: You can stand at a good distance from your subject. You are not too close to make them uneasy, or too far to lose connection. This helps people feel calm and act naturally. As a result, your portraits look better and more real.
It Develops Your Photographer's Eye
A 75mm prime lens is a good teacher. Its limitations can also be its greatest assets for someone learning photography.
- Composition by Subtraction: What you observe is restricted. You cannot simply point your camera and take pictures of everything. The lens makes you decide what to keep in the frame and what to leave out. It enables you to learn to simplify shots and focus only on the most important details.
- Active Framing: It has no zooming. You have to physically move to alter the frame. It is a mode of "zooming with your feet" that brings you more into focus and into action. It also helps you find different angles and perspectives that you might not have seen before.
Discover the Beauty in Details
It allows you to see the world in a new way. You don't just see things with a broad image but also notice details inside it. It is a perfect option for beginners who would want to establish their own artistic style. You will begin to see and pick out these details.
- A single shining flower in a vast garden.
- The fine texture of a brick wall.
- The focused look on your pet's face.
The 75mm lens gives back if you use it carefully. It encourages you to get better at framing your shots. At the same time, it produces great results in what it does best. It can turn your quick photos into more thoughtful and creative images.
Why a 75mm Lens Can Be a Frustrating Mistake
A 75mm focal length has clear benefits. It can also cause problems if it is your only lens. Its special design has limits that may stop you from getting the photos you want. Before you choose this lens as your first one, it is important to know these challenges:
The "I'm Hitting a Wall!" Problem
This is probably the most typical issue that new photographers have with a 75mm lens. It has a narrow view that necessitates a great amount of space between yourself and your subject. When shooting indoors, such as in a tiny flat, a busy birthday party, or an intimate restaurant, you will inevitably be running into walls. In such locations, you will probably be constantly taking a step back, but still be unable to include everything in the frame. Even taking a group photo would be impossible.
It's a One-Trick Pony
This is not a versatile, do-it-all lens. It is good for portraits, but it is usually not ideal for any other types of photography. You might have trouble utilizing for:
- Wide landscapes.
- Tall buildings.
- Travel photos that document the feeling of a place.
The lens is most effective for a narrow area. You will miss photo opportunities that a more variable lens will cover.
The Learning Curve of "Zoom With Your Feet"
If you are used to a smartphone camera or a zoom lens, a 75mm lens can feel limiting at first. It has only one focal length. You must move your body to change the frame. This takes patience and a new way of thinking. You might miss quick moments while you adjust your position.
The lack of flexibility is the biggest problem, especially for beginners. It can stop creativity instead of helping it. This makes it a frustrating first or only lens.
A 75mm lens teaches you to plan shots and move with care, but it is not always easy for new photographers.
How a 75mm Lens Compares to Safer Beginner Choices
To see if a 75mm lens for beginners is right for you, let's compare it to other popular beginner camera lenses. Each lens serves a different purpose. Knowing the differences helps you choose wisely.
| Lens Type | Best For | Key Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
| 75mm Prime Lens | Portraits, Details | Amazing bokeh, flattering compression, excellent image quality. | Not versatile, requires space, poor for landscapes/interiors. |
| 50mm Prime Lens | All-Around Use | Very versatile, natural field of view, great value, good in low light. | "Jack of all trades, master of none"; less specialized for portraits. |
| 18-55mm Kit Lens | Learning, Flexibility | Covers wide to telephoto, helps you learn focal lengths, very versatile. | Poorer image quality, small aperture (bad in low light), weak bokeh. |
- A 50mm lens is also known as one's perfect first prime. It looks close to how we see with our eyes. It is convenient for everyday work, street shots, and portraits.
- The 18-55mm kit lens is a good tool for learning. You can see different views without needing to change lenses.
- The 75mm lens is different. It's a specialist lens. It excels compared to others for portrait work but is deficient for almost any other application.
Picking a good lens is picking a lens that fits what you like to shoot. A 75mm is neither better nor worse than any other. It's just more focused and less versatile than a 50mm or 18-55mm.
The Verdict: Should You Buy a 75mm Lens
So what's the final answer? It all comes down to your personal situation and photographic goals. A 75mm lens is a great tool for the right person, but it's not for every new photographer. Here's a simple list to help you decide.
Don't Buy a 75mm Lens If:
- It will be your first and only lens. Its lack of flexibility will be too limiting.
- You mostly shoot in small indoor spaces or want to take large group photos.
- Your main interest is travel, landscape, or architectural photography.
- You want a single, all-purpose lense to capture a wide variety of subjects.
Do Buy a 75mm Lens If:
- It will be your second lens, after you already own a versatile zoom or a 50mm prime.
- You are passionate about shooting portraits of people or pets and want that professional, blurry background look.
- You want to challenge yourself to become better at composition and framing.
- You're looking for one of the best photography lenses for beginners specifically to elevate your portrait work.
The 75mm is not a mistake; it's a specialized tool. The mistake is buying it for the wrong reason or at the wrong time. It's rarely the correct first choice, but it is often the perfect second lens to add to your kit.
Find the Right Tools for Your Vision
Ultimately, photography is about capturing the world as you see it. The right gear simply makes it easier to bring your creative vision to life. Choose the tools that excite you and match the stories you want to tell.
FAQs About the 75mm Lens
Q1: What is the difference between a 75mm lens from a full-frame camera and a crop-sensor camera?
On a full-frame camera, a 75mm lens produces a real 75mm view. That is a short telephoto view. On a crop-sensor camera, such as APS-C, a smaller sensor is present. That creates a "crop factor," typically 1.5x or 1.6x. For a 75mm lens, that is then equivalent to a 112mm or 120mm lens, which is tighter and more telephoto.
Q2: Can you effectively shoot video with a 75mm prime lens?
Yes, a 75mm lens works well for video. It is good for interviews or close-up shots. It has a shallow depth of field. It isolates the subject somewhat from the background and has a film-like look. But it's a fixed focal length lens, so you can't zoom in or out during a shot. You have to move the camera to a different shot. This needs careful planning for each video sequence.
Q3: Are 75mm lenses generally more expensive than other beginner lenses?
The cost is variable for a 75mm lens. There are low-cost versions of some f/1.8 lenses. They offer good value and cost about the same as standard 50mm lenses. These are affordable for newbies.
Other lenses have wider apertures, e.g., f/1.4 or f/1.2. These also contain better glass and a heavier construction. These lenses are pro lenses. They will be much higher priced, typically several times more than a normal starter lens.
Q4: How does a 75mm lens affect my lighting needs when shooting?
A 75mm prime lens typically has a large aperture (such as an f/1.8). This is ideal for shooting in low lighting. A large aperture allows lots of light to enter. So you're able to take good quality, sharp photos indoors or after dark using available light without needing a flash, which is unlike a standard kit lens.