Best street photography / travel (not wide angle) lens for the Zs ?

Lyesainer · Mar 10, 2023

Can be F or Z mount, but i guess it's best to invest in Z glass at this point.

Native or 3rd party.

Go.

Jake James · Mar 10, 2023

The 24-120 f4, is fine, and in good light the 24-200mm is a do it all lens. I like the 70-200 for most shooting, and a do like having the 200-500 for slightly further away subjects

CliveTJ · Mar 10, 2023

Lyesainer said:
Can be F or Z mount, but i guess it's best to invest in Z glass at this point.

Native or 3rd party.

Go.

Do you want to be unobtrusive with a low key camera? If so then the 40mm F2, which also is good for low light.

Lyesainer · Mar 10, 2023

I was actually looking at the 85 (existing one, the new one would be ultra expensive i bet) or the 105.

jjz2 · Mar 10, 2023

Lyesainer said:
I was actually looking at the 85 (existing one, the new one would be ultra expensive i bet) or the 105.

Probably two of the last street photography/travel lenses I would think of.

ikon44 · Mar 10, 2023

It may not be everyone's choice but I happily use the 16-50 f3.5-6.3 DX lens on my Z5. It's small and light for travel / street. If you're a pixel-peeper it's probably not for you.

skyrunr · Mar 10, 2023

ikon44 said:
It may not be everyone's choice but I happily use the 16-50 f3.5-6.3 DX lens on my Z5. It's small and light for travel / street. If you're a pixel-peeper it's probably not for you.

That seems like an odd choice, just get the 24-50mm (same price and size used, a bit sharper) and crop the 50mm FOV to 75mm. VR isn't as necessary wide, and doesn't help moving subjects/portraits in low light. I say this as someone who frequently mounted the 50-250DXVR on my Z7II, but that still resolves 20mp.

PS I would totally use the 16-50DXVR if I could override the forced DX mode. I have also tinkered with lens-cap and third party pancake lenses if you don't mind F8 and manual/infinity focus.

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DallasJack · Mar 10, 2023

24-120 S f4 gets my vote...love that lens

Jack

dcc2020 · Mar 10, 2023

For travel I would also advice the z24-120 f4 which is a great all purpose lens.

Alternatively, as a prime I would go for the z35.

I typically take both on travelS, the zoom during the day, the prima in the evenings / nights. Excellent in low light and compact to carry.

Alain

BasilG · Mar 10, 2023

Lyesainer said:
I was actually looking at the 85 (existing one, the new one would be ultra expensive i bet) or the 105.

Both excellent. Whether they fit the bill for what you want to shoot depends on you.

sirhawkeye64 · Mar 10, 2023

Lyesainer said:
Can be F or Z mount, but i guess it's best to invest in Z glass at this point.

Native or 3rd party.

Go.

First choice, 24-120 f/4 (probably the Z version. The G versions weren't as sharp although not completely terrible -- still usable just not as sharp IMO)

Second choice, probably a 24-200

Third choice, 24-70 f/4 (third choice only because it's short at the tele end for travel IMO). The 24-120 is a best of both worlds basically (although it lacks VR that the 24-200 has but if you're shooting with a FF body with IBIS then it is less of an issue).

If you really wanted to you could probably find an older F-mount 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 too but if you were going to do that, I'd just get the 24-70 f/4 and accept the 15mm loss on the long end.

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Lyesainer · Mar 10, 2023

As you can see in my gear-list, i have the 24-70 f4, which is my "all around" lens for now. I am looking to upgrade it to the 24-120 one, but don't really have the money for now. I believe it's the perfect "do everything" lens, even tho it doesn't go up to 200... but i value aperture more than reach, generally.

I also have a very good wide-angle that i recently got, so i am covered on that front.

For a "street lens" i am looking for something very fast, that will allow to shoot in low light, evenings or night time... and also have somewhat decent reach. That's why i was pondering the 85 or 105 (which also is a macro lens).

I've been following North Borders for a while now, on YT, and he generally uses longer (85+) lenses for his street shots and imo the results are great...

Sadly, there's practically no Z mount glass available 2nd hand for now and i can't afford new ones. I wish there was 3rd party Z options, but even with the announcement of Sigma FINALLY releasing Z glass, it remains DX only... Sad

P450 · Mar 10, 2023

Depends where you are.

Wide streets/"new" cities: I tried a trip to France with only the 35 2.0D (yeah, I know) and 58 1.4. Barely used the 58. The 35 covered almost all uses with pano. A 28 would have been better and why a Q2 is my one-camera option now.

Narrow/old cities: 24/25 or 14/16-/30/35. Rarely used 24-70 in cities like Florence.

Did a Tuscany trip with 24-70 2.8 and 50 1.4 D and a D4s. Heavy, but it covered everything. Did I say heavy?

UsherFellig · Mar 10, 2023

40mm f2. Especially if you're not on the bokeh train. Nice and fast. Great colors and very sharp without that too-perfect clinical look. No interest in a zoom for "street." Eyeing the 50mm f2.8 MC, an almost-muffin-size nifty-fifty. Have seen two reviewers finding it nothing special for macro but excellent at standard focal length.

gregorjeric · Mar 10, 2023

I use 24-200 and 40 on my Z5

Ruby Rod · Mar 10, 2023

Depends on what kind of street photography you do. I've taken shots where the 105 would have been perfect. Also where the 14-30 f/4 would have been the ticket. I'm not usually a fan of wide range zooms due to size, weight and cost, but could certainly make a case for it here. OTOH, narrower subject range lets you better zero in on a focal length range.

Berend Botje · Mar 10, 2023

Lyesainer said:
As you can see in my gear-list, i have the 24-70 f4, which is my "all around" lens for now. I am looking to upgrade it to the 24-120 one, but don't really have the money for now. I believe it's the perfect "do everything" lens, even tho it doesn't go up to 200... but i value aperture more than reach, generally.

I also have a very good wide-angle that i recently got, so i am covered on that front.

For a "street lens" i am looking for something very fast, that will allow to shoot in low light, evenings or night time... and also have somewhat decent reach. That's why i was pondering the 85 or 105 (which also is a macro lens).

I've been following North Borders for a while now, on YT, and he generally uses longer (85+) lenses for his street shots and imo the results are great...

Sadly, there's practically no Z mount glass available 2nd hand for now and i can't afford new ones. I wish there was 3rd party Z options, but even with the announcement of Sigma FINALLY releasing Z glass, it remains DX only... Sad

Have you looked at the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8? Full frame and about half the price of the Nikon z.

camerosity · Mar 10, 2023

35mm f1.8 S is my lens of choice for street photography when I want to be as stealth as possible. The 24-70 f4 S is my second choice, but the unlocking locking is a major step backwards. As good as that lens is, it is not a fast lens for street by any means. I'd even go as far as to say the 24-200mm VR Nikon Z mount zoom is better since it is always ready to shoot with no unlocking necessary.