ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
I think most RFF people would say to use a rangefinder camera with B&W film for street photography.
But I've just discovered Luc Rabaey, who uses a D-SLR (and a large one at that) and often works in color.
Here: http://news.my-expressions.com/archives/7_36404728/292167
I was editing this item recently to ready it for publication, and liked his photos a lot. And then got to my 'equipment question' and was surprised at his reply.
So, what is the right camera for street photography?
But I've just discovered Luc Rabaey, who uses a D-SLR (and a large one at that) and often works in color.
Here: http://news.my-expressions.com/archives/7_36404728/292167
I was editing this item recently to ready it for publication, and liked his photos a lot. And then got to my 'equipment question' and was surprised at his reply.
So, what is the right camera for street photography?
AzzA
Established
The "right camera" is any camera you happen to have in your hand when a photo opportunity presents itself..
Well, thats just the way i look at it anyway.
Well, thats just the way i look at it anyway.
tripod
Well-known
Just goes to show you that it's the indian, not the arrow.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Because of something in me, I always felt conspicuous street shooting with a big DSLR. Can't deny the allure of a RF for the street.
mcgrattan
Well-known
Personally, I generally find medium format cameras with waist level finders the best for street. Not for stealth reasons -- I'm quite open about the fact that I am taking pictures -- but because the big finder makes it easy to compose, making use of angles you just can't get with the camera at head height, and there's something less aggressive about a camera held lower down.
Actually, I find really big, old-fashioned looking cameras either don't attract any attention at all, or attract positive attention. People are quite happy to be in the photograph.
I'm not an especially good street photographer, though, so take what I say with a pinch of salt.
That said, I find rangefinders great for 'candid' type stuff with friends: in the pub, when out and about, etc.
Actually, I find really big, old-fashioned looking cameras either don't attract any attention at all, or attract positive attention. People are quite happy to be in the photograph.
I'm not an especially good street photographer, though, so take what I say with a pinch of salt.
That said, I find rangefinders great for 'candid' type stuff with friends: in the pub, when out and about, etc.
Nh3
Well-known
The best street photography camera is a P&S which shoots raw, has a snap-mode and performs well up to ISO800 at least.
Set the camera in snap-mode set the ISO auto with parameters if possible. Dress casually, carry a small bag, look relaxed, smile and start photographing.
Why a digi-P&S?
Its common, ubiquitous and people will ignore you with it. You carry a DSLR people think you're a pro and they become self-conscious, you carry a Leica people look at your camera and that can distract from the "scene", but if you want to go stealthy with Leica, people will get suspicious and you would look awkward - in worst case scenario someone might complain if kids are around. Also your body size and looks determines how stealthy you can be...
Carry on the street what everyone else carries, but in the end it comes down to your skills how your photos look.
Set the camera in snap-mode set the ISO auto with parameters if possible. Dress casually, carry a small bag, look relaxed, smile and start photographing.
Why a digi-P&S?
Its common, ubiquitous and people will ignore you with it. You carry a DSLR people think you're a pro and they become self-conscious, you carry a Leica people look at your camera and that can distract from the "scene", but if you want to go stealthy with Leica, people will get suspicious and you would look awkward - in worst case scenario someone might complain if kids are around. Also your body size and looks determines how stealthy you can be...
Carry on the street what everyone else carries, but in the end it comes down to your skills how your photos look.
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
Has anybody looked at Luc Rabaey's street photos with a Nikon D300?
(link in original post)
(link in original post)
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
There are lot of people on this forum who believe that street photography has to be shot with a true rangefinder camera. I don't agree with that at all. There is a competition going on right now based on this very premise.
I've shot street stuff with rangefinders, TLR's, DSLR's, whatever. I am currently shooting street with a Lumix L1. You know, I think a choice of a certain camera has a lot to do with whatever style of street shooting one may be doing.
I've shot street stuff with rangefinders, TLR's, DSLR's, whatever. I am currently shooting street with a Lumix L1. You know, I think a choice of a certain camera has a lot to do with whatever style of street shooting one may be doing.
lemalk
Rebel Without Applause
I agree with many of the posts here - I think a camera is a camera and whatever you feel most comfortable shooting with is what will give the best results.
A Leica M really isn't nearly as stealthy as a cameraphone, or a point & shoot. An older film camera or RF just looks...quaint. And a big DSLR means that people either take you very seriously or are intimidated.
But - it doesn't matter what people think, it's whatever tool feels transparent in your hand and lets you shoot the way you need to get the shot.
A Leica M really isn't nearly as stealthy as a cameraphone, or a point & shoot. An older film camera or RF just looks...quaint. And a big DSLR means that people either take you very seriously or are intimidated.
But - it doesn't matter what people think, it's whatever tool feels transparent in your hand and lets you shoot the way you need to get the shot.
andersju
Well-known
I looked at the photos in the article, and on his photo blog, and I don't think they are anything special. I also don't think his equipment has anything to do with it; you can be a good (or bad) street photographer with practically any kind of camera.. the mind is what matters.
One of my favorite (street) photographers is Grant Lamos at http://streetzen.net/ - he's excellent no matter what he uses - DSLRs, GRD, film, .. see EXIF if you really want to know.
One of my favorite (street) photographers is Grant Lamos at http://streetzen.net/ - he's excellent no matter what he uses - DSLRs, GRD, film, .. see EXIF if you really want to know.
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
Thanks for that link. Great stuff.
BillP
Rangefinder General
Rick, I know the terms of the competition got up your nose, but it is tedious to go on about it.
The point was made at the time, and still holds true. It is a street photography competition for rangefinder users because this is a rangefinder forum. If it was a digital forum, an SLR forum, a Canon forum or a Gandolfi forum then it is reasonable to limit entries to shots taken with the appropriate equipment. Get over it, eh? It's not a capital offence.
In any event, strange as it may seem, I agree with the rest of your post. Street photography is not the exclusive preserve of rangefinders any more than wildlife photography is only for SLRs.
Regards,
Bill
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Smaller cameras are normally taken less seriously than big ones, and are seen as less intimidating and 'professional'. Monster SLRs with huge zooms attract far more attention, especially from 'security'.
A camera you can use quickly, easily and confidently attracts less attention than something you fumble with. Close on 40 years practice with Leicas means I use them almost without thinking.
Then again, I used to use Nikon Fs the same way...
It doesn't matter that much -- but to pretend that Leicas are somehow unusually obtrusive is patent nonsense.
Cheers,
R.
A camera you can use quickly, easily and confidently attracts less attention than something you fumble with. Close on 40 years practice with Leicas means I use them almost without thinking.
Then again, I used to use Nikon Fs the same way...
It doesn't matter that much -- but to pretend that Leicas are somehow unusually obtrusive is patent nonsense.
Cheers,
R.
minoltist7
pussy photographer
I think there is no "right" camera for street. Everybody uses what he/she feels comfortable and confident with.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
If by "right" means "best", and by "best" means something you can use thousands and thousands of feet away, then whatever these guys are using:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...68,-117.918888&spn=0.001063,0.001824&t=h&z=19
Otherwise, the "right" camera is the one that you have that can take photos while on the street.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...68,-117.918888&spn=0.001063,0.001824&t=h&z=19
Otherwise, the "right" camera is the one that you have that can take photos while on the street.
nightfly
Well-known
Everyone keeps talking about how the camera looks to others, however the reason I think many people, myself included, use rangefinders and Leicas in particular is how they operate for the user and the end quality (and by this I mean the subjective quality, not how well they shoot a test target) of the image.
You've got what I find to be the perfect user interface, coupled with incredible lenses which can range from glowing uncoated lenses from the 1930s to clinically sharp modern day masterpieces. Really what more could you want? It's up to you to dial in the a combination that works for you. While many other types of cameras could do this, rangefinders excel at it.
I mean I've used SLRs, TLRs, medium format rangefinders, point and shoots (digital and film) etc and consciously avoided a Leica for many years but as it turns out, its a really good tool for the job.
Why? It's small enough to have with you most of the time (just a bit heavy for the jacket pocket unfortunately), you can see focus, aperture and shutter speed at a glance, 35mm strikes the right balance for me at least between enough depth of field to be able to hyperfocus and enough selective focus to isolate elements (small sensor digital has too much depth of field, medium format too little). It is faster to use a hyperfocused Leica than any auto focus anything. If you have an older one, you don't need batteries and if you get the knack for it a meter is unnecessary also. It's large enough so that changing settings isn't futzy at all (there are high end point and shoots that you can do this with, but try to do it consistently without looking) but small enough so that it doesn't intimidate people.
And finally and most importantly to me, I can get the look I want from film without too much effort. Tri-X or Neopan 400 in Rodinal, scan, levels, curves done. Exactly the tonality I want. Could I duplicate it in digital? Probably but why?
You've got what I find to be the perfect user interface, coupled with incredible lenses which can range from glowing uncoated lenses from the 1930s to clinically sharp modern day masterpieces. Really what more could you want? It's up to you to dial in the a combination that works for you. While many other types of cameras could do this, rangefinders excel at it.
I mean I've used SLRs, TLRs, medium format rangefinders, point and shoots (digital and film) etc and consciously avoided a Leica for many years but as it turns out, its a really good tool for the job.
Why? It's small enough to have with you most of the time (just a bit heavy for the jacket pocket unfortunately), you can see focus, aperture and shutter speed at a glance, 35mm strikes the right balance for me at least between enough depth of field to be able to hyperfocus and enough selective focus to isolate elements (small sensor digital has too much depth of field, medium format too little). It is faster to use a hyperfocused Leica than any auto focus anything. If you have an older one, you don't need batteries and if you get the knack for it a meter is unnecessary also. It's large enough so that changing settings isn't futzy at all (there are high end point and shoots that you can do this with, but try to do it consistently without looking) but small enough so that it doesn't intimidate people.
And finally and most importantly to me, I can get the look I want from film without too much effort. Tri-X or Neopan 400 in Rodinal, scan, levels, curves done. Exactly the tonality I want. Could I duplicate it in digital? Probably but why?
Athos6
Tao Master
I once shot on the street with a F5 on an tripod using an interval timer, I read a book and drank coffee as it plugged away, i don't even think I looked through the viewfinder after I set it up 
. I'm thinking that any camera would be ok.
. I'm thinking that any camera would be ok.
