1750Shooter
Established
Thanks for the input, guys. I asked because I normally use a 35mm on my FE, but my wife gave me a 28mm for my birthday & I'm trying to get "into". Not sure if I like it, but maybe I just have to keep working with it.
FrankS
Registered User
It depends on how narrow and/or crowded the street is. Canon 28f2.8 on my Hexar RF if it is.
umcelinho
Marcelo
to me it depends on the street setting, really. wider streets? 50mm. tight medieval towns? 21mm. most of the time? 35mm.
JChrome
Street Worker
I Agree with the last post. I live in NYC and I shoot a lot with the Zeiss 21mm zm. Subway shooting demands wide angle lenses. Wide angle close focus is some of my favorite shooting. 35mm is a little long but doable. Anything longer doesnt work in my view but then maybe I just need to get creative😝
NickTrop
Veteran
50/f1.8 (or aps-c equivalent 35/1.8). It's the "Jack of all trades, master of none" of lenses. But it does reasonably well at everything from portrait to landscape and they're almost always fast. Also affordable.
"Street" requires versatility. This is the most versatile lens. 35mm distorts facial proportions too much for my tastes for closer-in people shots. Wider than 35 is a non-starter for this kind of photography.
"Street" requires versatility. This is the most versatile lens. 35mm distorts facial proportions too much for my tastes for closer-in people shots. Wider than 35 is a non-starter for this kind of photography.
drew.saunders
Well-known
Like many, I use my 35/2 (on an M6TTL) mostly for street, but some days I'm in the mood for a 50, so I'll use the 50/1.5 CV or my new-to-me 50/3.5 from 1952 (it's so tiny!). This past weekend, I took the 24/2.8 ASPH up to San Francisco. Whichever lens, when I'm in a "street" mood, I'll often take just one lens and stick with it.
SimonSawSunlight
Simon Fabel
there are other focal lengths than 35mm?
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
I prefer a 50mm by and large for my street shooting (C-Sonnar and 50/2.8 Elmar at the moment). Occasionally I'll break out the 35/2 Biogon.
On the SLR side it's a 45/2.8 P Nikkor.
On the SLR side it's a 45/2.8 P Nikkor.
D.O'K.
Darren O'Keeffe.
For street shots, the 40mm on the Rollei 35--a discreet camera with the right angle of view for this work (for me, at least), plus a big uncluttered viewfinder.
Regards,
D.
Regards,
D.
zupstermix
Established
For me, it's 35mm as well.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
50 to 21mm effective focal length.
I've mostly used a 35, but the longer I've shot, the wider I've gone. Currently mostly 28mm but also 21.
I like to work close-in and I find that I don't focus fast enough with the limited DoF of a classical 50. But now that I'm shooting an X-Pro1, I'm reconsidering that view. The combination of 1.5 crop and the camera's exceptional high-ISO capability make it possible to shoot with 50mm EFOV and reasonably deep DoF. Great combination!
I've mostly used a 35, but the longer I've shot, the wider I've gone. Currently mostly 28mm but also 21.
I like to work close-in and I find that I don't focus fast enough with the limited DoF of a classical 50. But now that I'm shooting an X-Pro1, I'm reconsidering that view. The combination of 1.5 crop and the camera's exceptional high-ISO capability make it possible to shoot with 50mm EFOV and reasonably deep DoF. Great combination!
kbg32
neo-romanticist
My main focal length is 28mm, followed by 24mm, and 21mm. Wide angles force you to get close.
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
If I know I'm going to be in crowded sidewalk or event, I take the 28mm. If I'm planning to be in more open space, like spacious, sidewalk-cafe type streets, then a 40 or 50mm will do fine. If I could only have one lens, then the 35mm.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
If You must know
My Hand & Heart always reach for a 50
but its my Eye that prefers a 35
so therein lies the Dilemma
And the Constant Battle Chatter my Mind goes through :bang:
...
My Hand & Heart always reach for a 50
but its my Eye that prefers a 35
so therein lies the Dilemma
And the Constant Battle Chatter my Mind goes through :bang:
back alley
IMAGES
If You must know
My Hand & Heart always reach for a 50
but its my Eye that prefers a 35
so therein lies the Dilemma
And the Constant Battle Chatter my Mind goes through :bang:
...
![]()
and the 40 didn't work for you?
i would think that it would have been the perfect compromise lens!
rizraz
Established
When I was in Bangkok earlier this month, it was a 21mm..... the other lens was the 35mm
jatiphoto
Established
35 in general BUT if i see that i can 'fill the frame' a 28 is AMAZING....
Tom A
RFF Sponsor

It depends on the "street". Narrow european streets usually a 28 mm. often a 35 mm - and as a "walk about" camera, a M2 and the Nokton 40mm f1.4.
DNG
Film Friendly
On my Nikon FE: Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AiS
On my OMD E-M5" the Panasonic G 14mm f/2.5 ASPH (Rarely the Panasonic G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH).
I like to get close and wide
E-M5/14mm

Candid: Monument Circle: Indianapolis, IN 9-1-2012 by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
On my OMD E-M5" the Panasonic G 14mm f/2.5 ASPH (Rarely the Panasonic G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH).
I like to get close and wide
E-M5/14mm

Candid: Monument Circle: Indianapolis, IN 9-1-2012 by Peter Arbib, on Flickr
Dirk
Privatier
It's the 50mm 75% of the time. The rest mostly 28mm. I do mostly street, so that's really all I need. Why do I have a bunch of money tied up in focal lengths I don't use? Um, I'll get back to you on that one...
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