Thoughts on focal lengths for the street.

Nothing is permanent. So whatever works, simply works. But maybe it is best to pay attention to what isn't working, and not stick to dogma anyway.

And what has worked for me in the past may not work tomorrow. So I try to not worry about any focal length rules, just be aware of the moment and how I'm seeing.

Oh yeah, and try 40mm. 😀
 
mfogiel said:
I think 35mm is borderline for stealth street shooting - you can get some nice photos, but you have to be darn fast:

1794219221_a95df8e891_b.jpg


With 28, 25 and 21mm it really becomes more of a shoot from the hip or take a bigger scene thing:
28mm
4060090195_ea8d5d6978_b.jpg

|
25mm
1657467496_fde45192de_b.jpg


21mm

3908273331_55031b453e_b.jpg


For me, the king of the street is 50mm:

2607557643_94a3be5e40_b.jpg


although sometimes, you can get a stunning shot with a 90-100mm too:

1054061078_039e6bd0d6_b.jpg
Click to expand...


WOW, just wonderful images, I'm astonished by at least 3 of them ! For me it would be great pleasure to put it on my walls....
 
I've been thinking about this myself lately. For the last year or so, I've been shooting in the streets almost exclusively with a 50mm. Lately, I've been using an Oly XA (35mm) and Rollei 35 (40mm) and i find pretty interesting the way those focal lengths allow more context into the picture.

Problem is, if you're shy, or maybe you are just "warming up" to street photography (which is my case) you will probably be more comfortable with a longer lens (like a 50mm). And, as others have mentioned, it also depends on context. If you are taking pictures at a public event (a carnival for instance) you may be able to get much closer to people without bad reactions, and in those cases wider lenses may allow you to capture the mood much better. Bottom line is both wider (35, 40) and longer (50) focal lengths may prove appropriate depending on the surroundings, the action, and how your presence as a photographer gets into the people's way.

Having said that, i can't imagine myself taking environmental pictures with teles (75, 90). And isn't street photography about the environment as much as the people? I'm not saying those are not "valid" focal lengths, but i think they lend to different pictures, as they isolate the subject, and do not allow the viewer to immerse on the world you want to show.

My 2 cents.
 
arseniii said:
Well I'd say 21 - 28 is very suitable for a densely packed street. Sometimes 35mm is not sufficient on a narrow street. Trust me, you will be noticed less with 21mm rather than with say 50mm. When 21mm is on you will have to get really (REALLY) close to the subject and what I noticed was that people usually think you are shooting something behind them. I find it rather interesting how it works ;-) Good luck!

P.S. My favourite street lens of all times is ZM Biogon 25mm which is the best optics money can buy IMHO.
Click to expand...

that is a pretty decent trick. the 21's and such are brilliant for that! the closer you get the LESS it appears that you are the subject matter.

as for the zm 25 i implore everyone to stop speaking of it as i desperately want one and cannot stomach parting with any of my gear to get it right now.
 
le vrai rdu said:
some 35 mm

tirage%20slipway%20chalutier.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for showing this picture, I am pretty familiar with how different lenses affect a photograph, and my OP was intended to stimulate opinions, points of view etc., and everyone has contributed in an interesting manner. If you just want to use the thread to display your images - fine!...it is a nice 'record' shot, and I notice that for maximum coverage - you have also posted it in the 'street' thread! 😉
Cheers, Dave.
 
Whatever works for you but I think you need to be honest with yourself and decide if you are using longer lenses as a crutch to get over your fear or because they really work.

I find that my 28 rarely leaves my camera now although I started out with a 50 and then a 35. For me, once I felt like I belonged there doing my thing, the wider lenses started working better.

I can't believe it's been 2 pages and no one has made the "Henri Cartier Bresson used a 50" argument, bravo. I think if you look at his work after viewing more contemporary street photographers, it acutally feels a little too distant and removed, still beautiful but not so relevant as it once was.
 
If I'm shooting RF on the street (less and less now i cant process for free at uni) i will keep two lenses on me, mainly my voigtlander color skopar 35mm f2.5, and I'll keep my Jupiter 8 50mm in my pocket. i vary rarely move away from these focal lengths or there equivalents ever, no mater what format (up to 5x4 inch 90mm - 28mm) and 150mm - 50mm and 6x7cm - 110mm =53mm). i rarely use anything longer wiht my slrs either come to think of it
 
Remember that street shooting may require you to shoot more quickly than you can use the viewfinder effectively--there is often no time to contemplate composition. So, shooting wider than usual helps you have the real estate to crop and square up a shot quickly grabbed.

35mm was my street favorite before switching to an M8.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/PAW2009/16/16-pixelbus.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/PAW2009/27/27-pusher.jpg.html

Now I generally grab a 28. It just "looks" right to my eye -- it is the way I see.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/PAW2009/19/19-104.jpg.html

When recent shoulder surgery ruled out raising my camera to my eye, I relied on a 21, shooting off my chest. It usually had enough elbow room for me to hit my target.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/PAW2009/36/36-doorway.jpg.html

I am currently enjoying exploring with a 12mm. It really pleased me at the very crowded NC State Fair. It opened things up. I would not use it for general street work.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/ncsf09/oct17/wwaahhh.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/ricc/ncsf09/oct17/ninja.jpg.html
 
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nightfly said:
I can't believe it's been 2 pages and no one has made the "Henri Cartier Bresson used a 50" argument, bravo. I think if you look at his work after viewing more contemporary street photographers, it acutally feels a little too distant and removed, still beautiful but not so relevant as it once was.
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A good observation and I think he did become removed due to the influence of Capa and others. However his early work, in Mexico for example, is quite amazing.

I use a 35 & 75 with two bodies, that combo covers 95% for me.
 
My favorite street photography lens is the 40/2 Olympus Zuiko. I like this lens for a few reasons, first, it's wonderfully sharp, second, I'm very comfortable with the field of view it provides, and third, it's a tiny lens. It's easy for me to carry an OM camera fitted with lens in my coat pocket.

My next favorite is my old 50mm Summitar mounted to an M3. I've grown very familiar with this lens over the time I have owned it, and can easily focus to the more-or-less proper distance without even looking through the viewfinder. My only complaint about this lens is that it is very flare-prone, and I've often had images ruined by this flaring.

Recently I began using a 90/2 Macro Zuiko lens on my OM camera, and love it. It's neither a small nor a lightweight lens, but I've never found a sharper, higher-quality lens in this focal length. It is good for those candid shots where I don't want to get too close to the action, where my presence might interfere.
 
I'm not very comfortable with shooting unknown people close up, so I found out that 85 mm works quite good for me. These are taken with a big hunk of an SLR too...

DSC_7624.jpg



DSC_7908.jpg



DSC_7913.jpg
 
I have just recently moved back to film and an RF camera after ten years of digital P&S and DSLR photography.

What a liberating experience! I do a lot of zone focus, IYVF (ignore your viewfinder) work, and I find that 35mm is the longest that makes sense in this type of context. I also use a 50mm lens, but only for up-at-the-eye photography.

Taking pictures the stealth way is a lot of fun as my photographs tend to be much more alive this way. I'm considering getting a 28mm lens so I can get even closer (it still gives me an adrenaline rush to shoot this way).
 
For street, I usually use just two focal lengths- a 28 and a 50. Sometimes I will go wider with a 21 and sometimes longer with a zoom, out to about 100, but that is really rare.

I agree with others here that you really need to get close for most street work.
 
My preferred lenses are Summicron 40/2 and the Nokton 40/1.4.

If I want close I smile and ask and/or explain why. Usually give them a card so they can check my web site and contact me for a freebie print or file. Never had a problem or refusal.

Wasn't easy when I first tried it but after 30 odd years I am comfortable with it. You also learn who to not approach. 😀
 
MPerson said:
My preferred lenses are Summicron 40/2 and the Nokton 40/1.4.

If I want close I smile and ask and/or explain why. Usually give them a card so they can check my web site and contact me for a freebie print or file. Never had a problem or refusal.

Wasn't easy when I first tried it but after 30 odd years I am comfortable with it. You also learn who to not approach. 😀
Click to expand...

Andy, we are almost identical in the way we approach shooting on the street. I do the same thing- if I need to, I hand out a card which has my website and email on it. And like you, after so many years, you develop a sixth sense about who and what to shoot, and what not to shoot.
 
Most of the photos I take are on the street and while I use lenses from 21 - 50 mm, most of the pictures are taken with the 35 mm. The essence of street photography is to be discrete and a RF with a 35 is about as discrete as you can get. Here are a selection of photos with the lenses I use:
21 mm
http://johnbeeching.com/h&t/album/slides/08-09-34-L4.html
28 mm
http://johnbeeching.com/selection/album/slides/05-18-35-L1-F1.html
35 mm
http://johnbeeching.com/iced/album/slides/09-15-23-L1-F1.html
50 mm
http://johnbeeching.com/selection/album/slides/02-36-15b-F6.html

John
 
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