laurentb
Established
If it was only one lens, then the 35 it would be for me. Then the 21 mm
What's best for street photography? A 21 or a 28mm?
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Mark C
Well-known
I have been thinking something similar. Yes, as people have mentioned, 21mm is not a common choice, but if you can make it work you might end up with something out of the ordinary.
LChanyungco, your pictures are great.
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Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I don’t think it matters. If a 21, 24, or 28mm falls into your lap then I am sure you’ll make great photos with any of them. It just takes practice. Difference is camera to subject distance and inclusion of background. It’s easier to zone with a wider lens but you would need to get closer. Some people feel more comfortable with a farther away shooting distance. I think a 28mm can do it all.
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jaredangle
Photojournalist
For me, a 21mm lends itself to exaggerating architectural features and giving depth to tight spaces, but it’s challenging to put people in the frame. I prefer a 28mm, which lets me go wide but still works well for people without the distorted perspective of a 21mm. I prefer 28mm over 35mm as well. My ideal scenario for street photography would be to use two small cameras, one with a 28mm and one with a 50mm.
Ororaro
Well-known
The thing with 28 and lower is that looking at those photos they get pretty Boring, pretty fast. It becomes one long same boring film, no matter the content.
Basically, form eats content very quickly. This is also why 35-50 are the most popular and natural focal lengths.
28 or 21 are excellent focal length to mix here and there within a mainly 35 or 50mm storyline.
I’d never go on an around the world trip with only a 28 or 21 lens, no matter how tight the streets may be, after all I’ll be into those streets with my regular 43mm eyes, no matter what.
For an around the world trip I’d favor a 50mm lens 51% and a 35mm lens 49%. These two focal lengths can and will do anything, anywhere.
Basically, form eats content very quickly. This is also why 35-50 are the most popular and natural focal lengths.
28 or 21 are excellent focal length to mix here and there within a mainly 35 or 50mm storyline.
I’d never go on an around the world trip with only a 28 or 21 lens, no matter how tight the streets may be, after all I’ll be into those streets with my regular 43mm eyes, no matter what.
For an around the world trip I’d favor a 50mm lens 51% and a 35mm lens 49%. These two focal lengths can and will do anything, anywhere.
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
I'm going with "different tools for different subjects" here. I remember thinking when I got the original C/V 15/4.5 lens, "oh, I'll get bored with this ultra wide, but at the price, why not?" Instead what happened is that the way I saw changed. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. You might like what you find there.
Slumgullion
Well-known
I never shoot 'street' photography, so disregard anything I say, but 21mm is fun. 28mm is too close to 35...and 35 is better...so if you're gonna shoot 28, just shoot 35. And 21 is fun. And, at the end of the day, this should be fun.
NYer with Cool Glasses by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Funeral Dirge Band by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Neskowin by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
NYer with Cool Glasses by Jim Fischer, on FlickrFuneral Dirge Band by Jim Fischer, on FlickrNeskowin by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Pretty much any two lenses can do anything anywhere...
phojsu
Member
I find my natural field-of-view is essentially what I see with a 35mm lens (in the 35mm film format). I enjoy the 21mm, 24mm, 28mm for wider looks than a 35mm, but a 35mm seems to be what I comfortably see. I have no 35mm lenses for my SLR's but regularly use both the 35 Summicron and Voigt 35mm f/1.2 on the M9 or M6.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It is individual. I have tried 28 many times, different 28. Because Winogrand used it .
But no cigar. So, I tried next one he liked. 21. And it is good for me.
For Winogrand it was too much of how 21 was distorting comparing to 28. I am OK with it.
On practice you should choose according to surroundings, I like 21 because I like thight places.
But wide spaces are better with tele like 50.
But no cigar. So, I tried next one he liked. 21. And it is good for me.
For Winogrand it was too much of how 21 was distorting comparing to 28. I am OK with it.
On practice you should choose according to surroundings, I like 21 because I like thight places.
But wide spaces are better with tele like 50.
wlewisiii
Veteran
Agree on how it's individual.
90/105/135 are useful at times. I don't use them often but often enough that I will always have one long lens in my bag.
50 is normal. It's how the world "should be" seen to me. I love 50's. I have many different 50's. It's wonderful how they each draw differently even when they have similar formulas. Even the various Sonnars are slightly different from each other. It's almost getting time to go back to the Zeiss again...
35 or 40 is just too close to 50, might as well just use a 50 and shuffle my feet a bit.
28 is when I step back a bit. The perfect wider look for me.
21 I have it, I use it on rare occasions when It seems right but it's a good thing I got it cheap cheap cheap.
I've tried using wider but everything just looks like a mirror in a fun house and I delete the results.
90/105/135 are useful at times. I don't use them often but often enough that I will always have one long lens in my bag.
50 is normal. It's how the world "should be" seen to me. I love 50's. I have many different 50's. It's wonderful how they each draw differently even when they have similar formulas. Even the various Sonnars are slightly different from each other. It's almost getting time to go back to the Zeiss again...
35 or 40 is just too close to 50, might as well just use a 50 and shuffle my feet a bit.
28 is when I step back a bit. The perfect wider look for me.
21 I have it, I use it on rare occasions when It seems right but it's a good thing I got it cheap cheap cheap.
I've tried using wider but everything just looks like a mirror in a fun house and I delete the results.
girdwoodINC
born under a bad sign
I’ve got 50mm, 40mm, 35mm, 28mm and 21mm lenses - must say though the 28mm elmarit is never really off my M7 and I keep the 40mm on my R3A
28mm has that “involvement” in the scene where I think the 35mm is more of a “voyeur” vibe if that makes sense but everyone is different
28mm has that “involvement” in the scene where I think the 35mm is more of a “voyeur” vibe if that makes sense but everyone is different
CP93
Established
35 for me because it's closer to how I view things, so between your choices I'd say 28 if you mean actual Street Photography. I use my extra wides (21 all the way down to 9) for architectural shots.
jaredangle
Photojournalist
I like a 28mm and 50mm pairing myself.
Out to Lunch
Veteran
It also depends on which street: In Saigon, where the environment is dense, hypermobile, and fast-changing a 50mm won't do. The best is zone focusing with anything between 25 and 35 mm. Cheers, OtL
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helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
I shoot BOTH
if only one than a 21m
21 is my favorite length
comes naturally to my Eye
28 is harder for me
if only one than a 21m
21 is my favorite length
comes naturally to my Eye
28 is harder for me
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AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
To be honest with you all, I don't think I've ever seen a 21mm lens.
Evergreen States
Francine Pierre Saget (they/them)
Hey now, it can be hard to get used to a telephoto!
wlewisiii
Veteran
I liked my 50 the 2 times I was in Saigon during the adoption process back in 2002.
Of course, I knew a lot less about photography then and my pictures show it. I'd love to get back there again with my Leica & the troika of 28/50/90.
TenEleven
Well-known
I'm a 50mm guy through and through, but strangely I got more shots that I am interested in with the 21mm than with 28mm.
I admit took the 28mm out more often because when getting ready and considering it always seems to be "easier to work with", but for me that also means that I do not fully commit to the wide angle and may end up with shots that are neither here nor there.
As LChanyungco stated the 21mm really makes you "work for it" but in my case it's worth it more often than not, even if you will likely be shooting the roll somewhat slower than you are used to. You will fail more often than you think (unless you are into pictures which are "just about" the distorted perspective) but on the other hand it will enable shots that you could not have gotten otherwise. (For example train interior, or the raindrops on the windshield with the street in acceptable focus - this was wide open IIRC, it was dark)
Oh, and flash - basically flash unless you got some super-wide adapter is only going to illuminate the central portion of the frame exacerbating the already extant to ultra-wide vignette.
I guess one caveat for me, personally - I find it very hard to get good color shots with a 21 - that's a bit easier to pull of with a 28 or even the 25. Here's some samples - all taken with a Contax II/IIa and the appropriate 21/4.5 Biogon.
I admit took the 28mm out more often because when getting ready and considering it always seems to be "easier to work with", but for me that also means that I do not fully commit to the wide angle and may end up with shots that are neither here nor there.
As LChanyungco stated the 21mm really makes you "work for it" but in my case it's worth it more often than not, even if you will likely be shooting the roll somewhat slower than you are used to. You will fail more often than you think (unless you are into pictures which are "just about" the distorted perspective) but on the other hand it will enable shots that you could not have gotten otherwise. (For example train interior, or the raindrops on the windshield with the street in acceptable focus - this was wide open IIRC, it was dark)
Oh, and flash - basically flash unless you got some super-wide adapter is only going to illuminate the central portion of the frame exacerbating the already extant to ultra-wide vignette.
I guess one caveat for me, personally - I find it very hard to get good color shots with a 21 - that's a bit easier to pull of with a 28 or even the 25. Here's some samples - all taken with a Contax II/IIa and the appropriate 21/4.5 Biogon.
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