Lens for Street Photography?

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

I thought I would not like a small prime, but the Olympus 7mm f/1.8 came with the camera and acquitted itself ratyher well, IMHO.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59324984

Peter Del

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

For street shooting I would go wider which is why I purchased the Oly 17mm f1.8. The. PL 15mm f1.7 is another great option. IMO they are both better choices than 20-25mm.

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

I often use the 20 1.7 II for street photography but don't feel obliged to always use it. Being a pancake lens doesn't detract in any way from its ability to produce excellent IQ.

Olympus 17mm F1.8 =35mm

Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7  =30mm

I think 25mm (50mm) a bit too long but of your list on a panasonic camera the Panasonic 25mm as you can use DFD focus -also best value lens/cheap!

RSSrsvp wrote:

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

For street shooting I would go wider which is why I purchased the Oly 17mm f1.8. The. PL 15mm f1.7 is another great option. IMO they are both better choices than 20-25mm.

+1

However, it depends on how you shoot street. Do you shoot on the move? Do you shoot from the chest or hip or do you use the EVF and/or screen? Do you zone focus?

I personally shoot from the chest and the PL 15mm F1.7 is perfect. Paired with a GX80 it can focus and shoot as fast as I can depress the button. It is also ready for the next shot very quickly. I have custom multipoint focus set up with 3 cells across the width of the upper part of my screen. Providing I'm aiming the camera correctly and close enough to my subject it will nail focus 8/10 times.

I've used the 20mm F1.7 II in the past and it is very good image quality but for that lens I chose to zone focus. If you are using the screen/EVF then AF will be okay with newer bodies but a little sluggish with older cameras.

Some samples with 15/1.7

I use the 15mm body-cap lens.

However, I'd like to get the 20mm f1.7 II

I vacillate mostly between the 17 and the 25 and every now again use the 45. At the moment I've got a hankering for the 15mm. There is no right lens it's all a matter of how you view the world and how close you want to get to it.

None of the above.

17.5mm f/095 Voigtlander.

Without knowing your style, it's a bit hard to say.  My street lens would be the 12-40mm f/2.8.  The 20mm f/1.7 I comes next, after which the Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 is good for shallow DoF and a bit more subject compression.

Andrew

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

I find 25mm or 20mm for street shooting kind of MEH. Try 17mm or 17.5mm (better!).

OR the 15mm f1.7, as mentioned by others. (I'm thinking of selling my 20mm and 14mm f2.5 an getting a 15mm.)

OR go long with a 42.5mm f1.7 or 45mm or an inexpensive adapted 50mm.

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

No. It's just a little slow to focus on some Olympus bodies. Newer Panasonic bodies it's not really an issue.

Paulmorgan wrote:

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

There is no best lens, not from your list or anywhere else.

Use what ever suits you.

Exactly. Use anything you like. How you see is more important than which lens you're using. Limitations are creative stimulants.

The list of my favorite street lenses is pretty random… 35mm f1.4, 17.5mm, Jupiter 8 (50mm f2), 42.5mm f0.95, 75mm f2.5, 7-14mm f4. In New York, I prefer longer lenses, while traveling, wider.

For All around Street 25mm is more versatile.
For Street Portrait I like the 45mm 1.8 more.
But Using the 25mm 1.8 is still a joy for Portraits.
samples below on my 2nd day of taking it out.
This was Street Shoot organized Olympus Malaysia Robing Yesterday.

My attempt of recreating Robin Wong look

I Shoot most the Participants

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

I prefer the 20/1.7 which is about 40mm equivalent. Little bit wide and a little bit normal.

My very first camera, a film camera, the Kodak Instamatic was 43mm so I am very used to this focal length as a very nice balance between the two classic focal lengths, 35mm & 50mm.

Of those I'd go the 20mm 1.7, but as with others I prefer something wider for street photography I'd go the 15mm PL or the  17mm Oly

I most often use the Lumix 20/1.7 or the 14/2.5. The 14 really "pops."

RSSrsvp wrote:

Mohamed Mansour wrote:

Which of the following is the best for street photography?

1. Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II (pancake)

2. Panasonic 25mm f1.7

3. Olympus 25mm f1.8

And does the first lens being a pancake affect output in anyway?

Thx,

Mo

For street shooting I would go wider which is why I purchased the Oly 17mm f1.8. The. PL 15mm f1.7 is another great option. IMO they are both better choices than 20-25mm.

Upon further reflection I would like to add the 75mm f1.8 for discreet street shots, especially if they are playing the guitar.