Most Used "Street" Lens

[fstops]

there are other focal lengths than 35mm?

Actually 35mm became such a popular lens among HCB-inspired photographers simply because it was the best lens to use with a Leica M.

On a SLR a 35mm is not wide enough and not long enough, on a RF with the space outside of the frame a 35mm looks wide enough (space outside of the frame) and long enough (the frame).


Personally, I think a small zoom lens that has a reach of 24-75mm is the best for street photography, but that is only for advanced shooters.

 

[finguanzo]

28 usually... rarely a 50.

 

[JChrome]

I shoot with a 35mm 65% of the time and my 21mm the rest of the time. All day NYC street photo!

 

[maddoc]

21 < 35 < 50 < 90

 

[Vincent.G]

I bounce between 35 and 50.
35 is usually what I take if I am undecided.

 

[Marc G.]

50 is pretty much all I need for street. the small 28 elmarit is in my pocket in case I need it for indoors/architecture/landscape

 

[raphaelaaron]

35 to me feels better in terms of composition as what many others have said. so when i use the leicas, i take along my 35 summilux

lately i've been using a 15mm Super Wide Heliar by voigtlander on a Nex-7, so it really equals out to a 21mm.

 

[reaperman]

35mm and lately in crowded cities like Tokyo 15mm

Akihabara * 秋葉原 von strichcode auf Flickr

 

[Kingsfan]

14mm with my EPM1

35mm mostly on film, CV 50mm f/1.1 at night

 

[smk]

I own only two focal lengths, one is wide and slow (28mm Elmarit ASPH), and one is normal and fast (50mm Summilux ASPH).

Usage of each one depends on two things: 1) availability of light, 2) number density of subjects (e.g., people).

- Plenty of light + high number density: 28mm

- Plenty of light + low number density: 28mm + 50mm (depending if I want to be close to subject or not).

- Low light + low number density: 50mm

- Low light + high number density: 50mm but sometimes I wish there was a 28mm 1.4.

 

[Messsucherkamera]

For me, it's my 28mm around 90-95% of the time.

I will occasionally use a 50mm though.

 

[jagwar.jim]

These days I use 35mm for street photography. I was using 50mm for a while and I really liked it. I used a Lomo which has a 32mm lens for a long time, so going back to 35 recently has been nice! I like the field of view that it gives you. I have dabbled in a 50mm on crop, so 85mm and that was kind of fun!

 

[dedmonds]

50mm for me

 

[grapejohnson]

50, sometimes 85. Even then, I feel like i'm too far away sometimes. Then again, I live in suburbia.

 

[sanmich]

It depends on how narrow and/or crowded the street is.

Exactly!
the lower the density street, the longer the focal (50) and vice versa (35, 28)

 

[Ronny]

40 is OK!....But not always....


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr


Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr

 

[sanmich]

Nice pictures!
do you shoot from the hip, or bring the camera to your eye?

40 is OK!....But not always....

 

[Ronny]

Nice pictures!
do you shoot from the hip, or bring the camera to your eye?

Both, depends on the actual situation.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

M summicron 35mm (all types) & summaron 2.8

 

[bastian a.]

I prefer 35mm lenses for street photography (Summicron asph. or Summilux pre-asph.)
but sometimes it's a 50mm lens (Summicron IV).
Shorter lenses are more difficult because you have to get very, very near to your subject, but sometimes 21mm can be very interesting - and a challenge 🙂