mightbenow
Member
Do you have a single lens you like for street photography? Which one is it? How come?
What is your go-to lens for street photography?
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CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
The one I've gained results that please me the most is the goggled Summaron 35mm f2.8 on my M3. So it gets used most.
mightbenow
Member
Since I got my M10-P I've been using a mix of various lenses, but mostly the Leica 35mm f/1.4 FLE has been on the body the most. I ended up selling the lens and trying other lenses: Zeiss 28 f/2.8 Biogon, Zeiss 50 f/1.5 Sonnar, and a Leica 90 f/2.8 tele-elemarit 'thin'. I also tried a Leica Q with it's 28mm lens.
When I used the 28 Zeiss and Q it made me want to shoot from the hip more for some reason, and it intrigues me as to why. When I used Nikon my 95% on body lens was the 17-35 f/2.8 on a D300 and D700. I know the D300 is a crop sensor so that 17-35 ended up being somewhere around 26-53mm. But using that lens I never did any shooting from the hip.
I've been trying to slim my gear carried down to a small bag (Domke f803) with one body and one to two lenses instead of two bodies with four or five lenses. So I'm interested in what others are doing, thanks! 🙂
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
The guy on the right
35mm Fuji 1.4. (50mm equiv)
35mm Fuji 1.4. (50mm equiv)
jsrockit
Moderator
I`m a 50mm fan mostly...
mightbenow
Member
It seems like a lot of people like to use 35/50 instead of 28. I wonder why?
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
Ste_S
Well-known
Old film cameras, either a 35 or 50mm. Modern digital, a compact zoom - seems weird to limit yourself to one focal length with today's tech
narsuitus
Well-known
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon ZM on Leica M6
Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AI on Nikon F2
Fuji 23mm f/1.4 on Fuji X-Pro2
Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AI on Nikon F2
Fuji 23mm f/1.4 on Fuji X-Pro2
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Hmm, for street photography composition is important. When you always work with the same lens, you get used to its angle of view, so you can react much faster. When you have to think about the lens or the angle of view, your moment is gone.
For me a 50mm, exactly in between a tele and a wide angle.
Erik.
Dogman
Veteran
I don't classify my photography as being "street". It's more "general BS" or "mindless meandering".
Either way, for the types of photos most people today consider street photography I pretty much do a 50/50 split between the 50mm equivalent and the 35mm equivalent lenses. With Leicas, I used 35mm and 50mm Summicrons. Same focal lengths at other times with both Canon and Nikon. Today it's the same equivalent focal lengths with Fuji APS-C bodies--23mm and 35mm.
I'm pretty much set in my ways of doing things.
Either way, for the types of photos most people today consider street photography I pretty much do a 50/50 split between the 50mm equivalent and the 35mm equivalent lenses. With Leicas, I used 35mm and 50mm Summicrons. Same focal lengths at other times with both Canon and Nikon. Today it's the same equivalent focal lengths with Fuji APS-C bodies--23mm and 35mm.
I'm pretty much set in my ways of doing things.
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
'ts funny. I was all set to answer "35" in the poll, but then remembered that on a recent trip to Japan, I used almost exclusively a 24/2.8. So mark me as "other" . . . Truth is, I have gone through phases when the answer was "50," then for about 15 years the answer was "35." I seem to be getting wider as I get older, in more ways than one! 😉
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
It was a 50mm, but about 3-4 years ago I started to use a 35mm more and more and these days the 35mm is my stock lens choice (with a 50mm in the bag in case I need it).
olifaunt
Well-known
40mm Rokkor.
Because street photography decisions are fast, I think it is good to use a focal length that shows you the scene as you see it so that you can compose intuitively. As much as I love Windogrand's work, for example, I had a lot of trouble composing with 28mm because it is not my visual field of awareness. I find the 40mm to cover almost exactly what I am aware of seeing.
Because street photography decisions are fast, I think it is good to use a focal length that shows you the scene as you see it so that you can compose intuitively. As much as I love Windogrand's work, for example, I had a lot of trouble composing with 28mm because it is not my visual field of awareness. I find the 40mm to cover almost exactly what I am aware of seeing.
mightbenow
Member
That's how I feel with 28, seems like it's too wide but 35 seems like my sweet spot. It could also be because I wear glasses that aren't pressed against my face so looking through the viewfinder 35 framelines are easier to see then 28.
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
Yes, and a lot of people (me, for example) find it uncomfortable to shoot strangers up close which a 28 often demands for street.
Winogrand smiles and sometimes fumbles with his camera, pretending to be an inept amateur.
Agree on the 40...in fact, Fuji 27mm 2.8 pancake on an X E2 is my second favorite.
Winogrand smiles and sometimes fumbles with his camera, pretending to be an inept amateur.
Agree on the 40...in fact, Fuji 27mm 2.8 pancake on an X E2 is my second favorite.
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
My interest is mostly pictures of people. I love a crowded street festival most, because people are more open to being photographed, and I can usually move in.
I was enjoying the videos of Eduardo Pavez Gove in the other thread, and he did a lot in less crowded streets, and he couldn't move in. Looks like a 85 or 90 could have been used to better effect.
Anyway for me, crowded streets and a 35.
I was enjoying the videos of Eduardo Pavez Gove in the other thread, and he did a lot in less crowded streets, and he couldn't move in. Looks like a 85 or 90 could have been used to better effect.
Anyway for me, crowded streets and a 35.
mightbenow
Member
Other thread? Never heard of Eduardo Pavez Gove I'll have to check him out!
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
We used to have sub-forum for street photography...
Anyway. We are alive and on the streets.
The usage of the lens depends on the density of the street.
One shoot for all is 35 for me.
Dead streets in Canada (most of them) is 50.
If it is Toronto downtown, 28 will do.
If it is something like free candies or free ice cream, then those groundhogs will crawl out as crowd and I plough through them and their fruits of legum with 21 or 16.
Anyway. We are alive and on the streets.
The usage of the lens depends on the density of the street.
One shoot for all is 35 for me.
Dead streets in Canada (most of them) is 50.
If it is Toronto downtown, 28 will do.
If it is something like free candies or free ice cream, then those groundhogs will crawl out as crowd and I plough through them and their fruits of legum with 21 or 16.
ckuwajima
Celso
I use a 21mm.
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