Street kit?

P

Pfreddee

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How many of you use an "inappropriate" camera, such as a Nikon F100 or a Nikon D7000 for street photography? I know that one is supposed to be unobtrusive (I believe that's the word I want) when shooting street, but I just can't. First, I don't own a rangefinder that I really like to take with me, and second, I'm old and slow and fat and bald and I have a white beard. So much for unobtrusiveness. So, how many of you also use "inappropriate" kit out on the street?

Thank you to all who reply.

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
Stephen--you are on the right track.
Use WHATEVER feels right to you.
You'll be great!
Dave Lackey and I are going out tomorrow and I'm using an F3 w/MD4 and a 500lb off-brand zoom..he's using his famous M3...
You'll do fine...
 
you look like me!

use what you like, remember they once used 8x10 on the street!
what i would suggest though is a nice prime lens and no zooms...
 
Unobtrusiveness isn't being sneaky or 'disappearing' - I've found it's more in the way the you act and the confidence that you carry. If you act like you are sneaking shots of people, everyone will notice you. If you are 100% confident and self assured and don't try to be unobtrusive, no one will notice you.
 
i actually think this whole "sneaking around" / being unobtrusive thing gets people into more trouble.. of course theres a time and place for everything though. i shoot people head on a lot of the time (right now my set up is an OM-1 with small flash) and rarely get any response. i wouldnt worry about the gear too much.

like gavin said, its about confidence.
 
I think that most people feel at least somewhat uncomfortable having a stranger point a camera at them, particularly with a physically long lens, which seems somehow more aggressive than a short lens, even when the shorter lens is closer to them. The longer the photographer takes to make the exposure, the more uncomfortable the street subject feels. Regardless of what camera gear is used, pre-setting the focus and exposure (or using auto focus and AE) shortens the length of time that the camera is held up to the photographer's face and pointed at the subject. To me, being unobtrusive means taking a picture quickly, not about sneaking around and trying to hide one's photographic activity.
 
FrankS said:
To me, being unobtrusive means taking a picture quickly, not about sneaking around and trying to hide one's photographic activity.
Click to expand...

Just to add to this: sometimes it helps when, right after you taken a shot, you move your body a bit to the side without taking camera from the eye, and then lower the camera while looking the other way, passed the subject. Don't even look at subject any more.
Unless you plan on series of shots and to choose best later. Then it's a different story altogether- then you only need confedense and luck :)

RF or SLR, it really does not mater that much.
 
Use a space camera...they will be fooled because it is not a big black monster and thus the subject(s) are easily captured!

 
Also, unless one is on a busy, noisy street, a camera with a quiet shutter sound is advantageous because the subject can not be certain a shot was taken if they don't actually hear it. I think that was Lee Freilander's strength. He had a flourish with his camera and hand after he (very briefly) held the camera to his eye and took the picture. The subject often looked confused about what had happened. (Videos on line)
 
A compact (sort of :D) SLR with a 35mm lens is the pefect street kit IMO. I've used my F6 and 35mm f2 Nikkor for exactly this situation and it was perfect. These were all taken with that combo.


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Compact, quiet, and unobtrusive, or just the opposit, with a 4x5 graflex press camera a la Weegee (though most often his (dead) subjects didn't care) or Keith whose 4x5 street shots I remember, and memorability is an indication of greatness.

Edit: posted simultaneously with jammcat
 
Pretty timely since I just back from New York where I shot these...
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with an iPhone ;)

It really doesn't matter what camera you use, walk the walk and act like you belong and things will be fine,

Todd
 
slr is not inconsistant with either unobtrusive or with compact/lightweight. i shot a lot of street with a plastic konica tcx and AR 40/1.8, and even more with a tiny fujica 605 and compact petri m42 lenses. got great results too. do what feels good, RFs dont have a monopoly on the street!
tony
 
I think a DSLR can be unobtrusive. All you need is a D4, the new 800mm, a rifle stock camera mount, a ghilly suit, and a roof top.

Don't try this a home or near the white house.
 
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