narsuitus
Well-known
On the rare occasion when I street shoot with a Canon Canonet QL17 G-III 35mm rangefinder camera, the fixed 40mm f/1.7 is my go-to lens.
What is your go-to lens for street photography?
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Michael I.
Well-known
28 for slr. 24 sometimes
35 for rf, just bought a 28 to see how it works for me
35 for rf, just bought a 28 to see how it works for me
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I am partial to the 50
The Canon 50mm f 1.5 or the shimmed Jupiter 3 is usually my pick from my bevy of classic RF 50 mils.
The Canon 50mm f 1.5 or the shimmed Jupiter 3 is usually my pick from my bevy of classic RF 50 mils.
airfrogusmc
Veteran
This set up for me
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I must have wrong eyes, I'm finding 21mm to be my what I'm able to see and understand zone. 🙂
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
I’ve been shooting street photography for several years. I’ve developed techniques for getting in close to people and getting off a shot undetected; I was invisible. But, it wasn’t always that way. When I first started street I was nervous, heck, I was scared. Then with time I became more comfortable, and eventually I became the invisible stealthy guy that would invade a person's space without regard for their privacy or even dignity sometimes just to get the shot! Any camera, any lens, I made it work.
Well, I’m done with street photography. At least I’m done with the in-your-face privacy invasion style of street photography. Why this change? I don’t know. It’s kind of like when I quit smoking cigars; I woke up one morning and that was that, I quit.
What does this have to do with “What’s my go to lens for street photography?”... Nothing.
Have a great day,
Mike
Well, I’m done with street photography. At least I’m done with the in-your-face privacy invasion style of street photography. Why this change? I don’t know. It’s kind of like when I quit smoking cigars; I woke up one morning and that was that, I quit.
What does this have to do with “What’s my go to lens for street photography?”... Nothing.
Have a great day,
Mike
Paulbe
Well-known
Y Mike--well said! You must have refilled your glass--- 🙂 !!
And I really like your photos. Thanks...
Paul
And I really like your photos. Thanks...
Paul
zuiko85
Veteran
I voted ‘other’ because although my preference is a 28mm f3.5 Zuiko. You see it is the 4 element version on an original Olympus Pen viewfinder camera. The angle of view is equivalent to about a 40mm on a full frame camera.
raid
Dad Photographer
The lens on the iPhone may be one of the most suitable lenses for street photography. Nobody feels "attacked" by a photographer.
Bingley
Veteran
90% of my non-street photography is done w/ a 50, and I still use 50 for street as well.
But my go-to lens for street photography is a 35, either the Canon 35/2.0 on a Leica M, or an Olympus XA. Mainly it has to do with distance from the subject and how the subject fills up the frame. With a 35mm fov, I can be 10 ft away from a subject (my comfort zone) and get the subject's entire body in the frame (unless very tall). To get the same effect with a 28, I'd have to move in closer... to close for me. With a 50, I'm shooting street at a greater distance than 10 ft, or going for shots that capture a part of the subject.
But my go-to lens for street photography is a 35, either the Canon 35/2.0 on a Leica M, or an Olympus XA. Mainly it has to do with distance from the subject and how the subject fills up the frame. With a 35mm fov, I can be 10 ft away from a subject (my comfort zone) and get the subject's entire body in the frame (unless very tall). To get the same effect with a 28, I'd have to move in closer... to close for me. With a 50, I'm shooting street at a greater distance than 10 ft, or going for shots that capture a part of the subject.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
If I have both a 50mm and a 35mm with me, I always hesitate which lens I will use. As a result, I lose my concentration. If I bring one lens, I don't have that problem. The majority of my successful photos are with the 50 mm, so I only take a 50 mm with me.
Leica M2, Summicron rigid 50mm f/2, Tmax400, printed on Adox MCC 110.
Erik.
Leica M2, Summicron rigid 50mm f/2, Tmax400, printed on Adox MCC 110.
Erik.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
raid
Dad Photographer
If I have both a 50mm and a 35mm with me, I always hesitate which lens I will use. As a result, I lose my concentration. If I bring one lens, I don't have that problem. The majority of my successful photos are with the 50 mm, so I only take a 50 mm with me.
Leica M3, Summicron rigid 50mm f/2, Tmax400, printed on Adox MCC 110.
Erik.
I will return to using the 50 as my main lens. During the summer vacation I will leave my 35mm lens home and I will instead take with me a 50mm lens.
leicapixie
Well-known
I hate making decisions on my street shooting!
I agree with Erik, keep it simple.
I think that "most" use 35mm as it's easiest frame to see in modern M's..
The 28mm frame almost disappears, the 50mm miserable and inaccurate.
I started with M3, 50mm Collapsible-Summicron, Uv filter and hood.
I very occasionally take a spare roll...
Oh! 52 years later still my main camera kit!
I agree with Erik, keep it simple.
I think that "most" use 35mm as it's easiest frame to see in modern M's..
The 28mm frame almost disappears, the 50mm miserable and inaccurate.
I started with M3, 50mm Collapsible-Summicron, Uv filter and hood.
I very occasionally take a spare roll...
Oh! 52 years later still my main camera kit!
Gary E
Well-known
40mm Summicron-C
40mm Summicron-C
Same here though I use the 40mm Summicron-C. It was my first Leica Lens on my first Leica body, and it was the only combo I used for over a year; I couldn't afford another lens or body at the time. I learned to see with this and later moved on to a 50mm, but I last counted my photos with 40mm or 50mm and surprisingly they're almost even.
I tried to love the 28mm but just couldn't get into the grove. I was thinking it was the use of the external finder which causes me to shift from RF to VF, but I still haven't a clue. 😕
40mm Summicron-C
Same here though I use the 40mm Summicron-C. It was my first Leica Lens on my first Leica body, and it was the only combo I used for over a year; I couldn't afford another lens or body at the time. I learned to see with this and later moved on to a 50mm, but I last counted my photos with 40mm or 50mm and surprisingly they're almost even.
I tried to love the 28mm but just couldn't get into the grove. I was thinking it was the use of the external finder which causes me to shift from RF to VF, but I still haven't a clue. 😕
DavidC
Established
If I had a Zeiss ZM I probably would be shooting more with a 28mm lens. The Leica's viewfinder is not adequate for that focal length since eye relief is so poor for eyeglass wearers. Leica's stubborn adherence to the traditional Leica form has prevented a re-design of its viewfinder on its film cameras. Fear of M5 syndrome??
back alley
IMAGES
i like all the ones listed plus a few others...lately i have been using my new 16/2.8 (24) plus my 75...
MaxElmar
Well-known
40/1.4 Nokton - on a Bessa or a CL. It simply works for me.
kiss-o-matic
Well-known
If I'm in Tokyo, where I traditionally did most of my shooting, and due to time constraints do a fair big of now (compared to my home of Chicago), 28mm if possible. For Chicago, 35mm is better.
narsuitus
Well-known
When I did street shooting with my 6x6cm Mamiya TLR, the 80mm f/2.8 was my go-to lens.
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