Lens for Street Photography?

Street shooting is typically done in good light with large dof. For that you don't need a fast prime. If size isn't an issue, then a superzoom is the best option. 14-140 or so. Otherwise a pancake kit lens will do the trick.

I use the Lumix 20mm 1.7. They say it is slow, but I have little issue with the speed.  Sweet lens. You might find a good deal on this lens. Mine was $150 used.

The Sigma 30mm 2.8 is a very good lens. I use this lens a lot. It retails at and under $200.

For street, any lens you are comfortable with is the one you should use.

I recommend a wider lens, e.g. PL 15mm f/1.7 or PL 12mm f/1.4.

I use either the 20mm 1.7 or the 14mm 2.5, depending on which is on the camera at the time. Only one other respondent has mentioned the 14mm 2.5 (captura) and I'm curious as to why? I see a major requirement for street being unobtrusive, so unless I'm a long way off and can use a telephoto, it has to be a small lens. These two fit the bill perfectly. And using the tilt screen of a GX80 at low level against my body makes the photographer unobtrusive as well!

Maggie

Street Photography can mean different things to different people.  I like to Take picture of "People" but I don't give much of a damn about the street itself.  As the result I tend to favor Long Telephoto prime, I think Olympus 45/1.8 is nearly perfect for this, as is the Olympus 75/1.8.  However, if you're just shooting the CROWDS, I think any wider 25mm will do just fined.

One thing you need to be aware of in 2017 is that people can be paranoid about being photograph in public.  That is why I no longer do street photography with my white Canon 70-200 F/4 DSLRwhich capture beautiful strangers stunningly

taken with my Canon 70-200 F4 IS on Asian Street market

Today, I have to shoot non-EVF Mirrorless with Tilty Screen.  People seem to react negatively when I look through an OVF or EVF, but they don't react @all when I LOOK DOWN on my camera pretending to adjust my menu sitting.

Is that 35 1.4 an adapted manual lens, Voigtlander perhaps? Have some street examples with that focal length? I use it but not for street as I find it too long, but curious about your compositions with the 70mm FOV and the MFD on the street.

+1 to this, as I have these three lenses too. The 12-32 is surprisingly versatile for street. Even until around dusk. When the light gets lower though, then you'll need something at least F/1.8 to carry on.

I'm sure others have already brought these up, but if you can only get one lens for street, I recommend either the Panasonic 15mm or Olympus 17mm. The first has an aperture ring, the second has the pullback manual focus. For street, either of those provide a better more tactile and manual experience than the Panasonic 20mm. Also, the slightly shorter focal lengths will help with zone focusing or using hyper focal distance. The 20mm is slightly long then, mostly good for automatic - and it's not even the speediest at that for street.

There is no such thing as "the best lens for street photography". It depends on your shooting mode, and what you want to photograph.

On the other hand; a relatively small lens is less obtrusive and, together with a smaller camera, easier to carry around.

My best combo for everyday photography including street photo is EM 10 II with the mZuiko 17mm/1,8. The lens is small, it is pretty fast and it is IMO really sharp! And the combo is nice and versatile.

I often carry the 45mm/1,8 and the 75mm/1,8 for backup, if I need longer lenses.

//Göran

generikku wrote:

Is that 35 1.4 an adapted manual lens, Voigtlander perhaps?

Thats it! Love that lens! It has nice character.

Have some street examples with that focal length? I use it but not for street as I find it too long, but curious about your compositions with the 70mm FOV and the MFD on the street.

I use it on the street fairly often. For a while I was using it on the subway for "portraits"… faces and hands. In that constricted environment, it's a nice focal length. Sometimes I carry it with the 20mm for a compact combo.

I'll poke around and see what I have. I was religiously adding focal length to my EXIF data in Lightroom with LensTagger, but slacked off a bit lately. I've been renovating my apartment and been, how To put it, a bit consumed by it.

maggiemole wrote:

I use either the 20mm 1.7 or the 14mm 2.5, depending on which is on the camera at the time. Only one other respondent has mentioned the 14mm 2.5 (captura) and I'm curious as to why? I see a major requirement for street being unobtrusive, so unless I'm a long way off and can use a telephoto, it has to be a small lens. These two fit the bill perfectly. And using the tilt screen of a GX80 at low level against my body makes the photographer unobtrusive as well!

Maggie

Of course, but unobtrusiveness is at least as much about your approach, how you're wielding the camera and vibe as it is about lens size. If you're holding a camera you're already suspect.

I've found that primes are certainly better than big zooms in that regard. I find that I'm noticed much more often with my 12-40mm than any of my (preferred) manual primes, even the chunky ones like the Voigtländer 17.5mm or 42.5mm.

I find ways to look away while shooting, the fully articulated LCD is great for that. Or blatantly use the EVF looking away and pivot toward my quarry to grab a few shots.

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

At least for me, I prefer something much wider.

I currently have the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 and the Olympus 17mm f/1.8. And both are pretty good for street photography. The 17mm gets used most often.

If I had it to do over I'd probably get the outstanding Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 lens. But I have too many lenses right now, and I just can't justify one more!

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

It might theoretically, but the 20mm f/1.7 lens is so GOOD that I doubt you would see any difference between a 20mm pancake and a 20mm conventional lens design.

Of your three options, I'd take the 20mm... because it is significantly wider, even if not wide enough for my taste.

alfredo_tomato wrote:

I use the Lumix 20mm 1.7. They say it is slow, but I have little issue with the speed. Sweet lens. You might find a good deal on this lens. Mine was $150 used.

The Sigma 30mm 2.8 is a very good lens. I use this lens a lot. It retails at and under $200.

For street, any lens you are comfortable with is the one you should use.

I have the S. DF-DN 30/2.8 in the Sony e-mount version, which is the same as for M43, except for the mount. I seldom use it because the focus ring binds; a problem which was resolved in the newer 'ART' version. But the ART has been tested  as less sharp.

The S. 60/2.8 is said to be very sharp.

maggiemole wrote:

I use either the 20mm 1.7 or the 14mm 2.5, depending on which is on the camera at the time. Only one other respondent has mentioned the 14mm 2.5 (captura) and I'm curious as to why? I see a major requirement for street being unobtrusive, so unless I'm a long way off and can use a telephoto, it has to be a small lens. These two fit the bill perfectly. And using the tilt screen of a GX80 at low level against my body makes the photographer unobtrusive as well!

Maggie

Agreed. The 20 and 14 are old stand-by's, ultra-compact fast performers.  The 14/2.8 focuses faster than the 20.

My 14 may be a particularly stellar version.  On my beloved 12 mp E-PM1, it just glows and produces an unusual 3D-like effect, which I don't understand, but love it.

Sergey Borachev wrote:

For most street photogs, the following attributes are important in a lens:

- small and unobtrusive

- fast AF

- sharpness (due to cropping, no time for careful framing)

- more DoF, or easier focusing, and hence a wider lens, which also means more need to crop.

- high shutter speed to reduce motion blur, which also suggests a faster lens (tho not terrible important) and shorter FL

None of the lenses you listed is perfect. The 20mm is small, sharp and the widest but still not that wide and it does not focus well. The others are too long for some shots. You can crop and get a usable pic from a wider lens, but you can't do anything with a lens that is too long.

The 17mm f/1.8 should be the most suitable,.except it's not very sharp. The 15mm is sharper and probably the best at this time but it's expensive. For what it costs, you can buy the Ricoh GR and do street shots much, much better. It's lens is a bit slow but otherwise as a street camera, it is just about perfect. It's lens is also a bit wide but can be "zoomed" instantly to 35mm using a button. And there are many more dedicated to street features.

People who use the longer lenses are not IMO complete street shooters. They can't get close enough when necessary to isolate the subject in crowded areas, include the surroundings or show the perspectives to let the viewers feel that they are right there close to the action. Not everybody has the courage, tact, and personality or quirkiness to shoot strangers at close range and get away with it. Don't bother with street if you can only zoom in from afar. That's more like snooping than street shooting. Check what Robin Wong or Kai does.

Snooping may be required on occasion.

Sometimes I use the Nikon 1 J1 with 30-110 lens, which is about the size of an E-M10 with kit lens, but takes it out to 300mm effective. Focusing is assured, just mash the shutter. Trouble is the body is red, but people think maybe it's a P&S. Mostly I can stand way back and not get noticed. I'm waiting for a nice used black V1 model to come up.

jeffharris wrote:

(I'm thinking of selling my 20mm and 14mm f2.5 an getting a 15mm.)

I sold my 14/2.5 and my 25/1.4;

got the 15/1.7 and am happy with it-

the 35-100/2.8 should arrive any day

I will keep the Kowa 8.5/2.8

didn't decide yet if will keep the 75/1.8

(below, some "street photography" samples with the 8.5mm)

JDLaing50 wrote:

None of the above.

17.5mm f/095 Voigtlander.

Is the Voigtlander a manual focus only?

Lowell

The only real difference between the 20mm  and the 20mm II is the metal body on the II.

Lowell Herr wrote:

JDLaing50 wrote:

None of the above.

17.5mm f/095 Voigtlander.

Is the Voigtlander a manual focus only?

Yep and it does it beautifully.