Street photography lens

[RAWInstincts]

Very simple question.

I'm wanting to start with some street photography; mainly the un-assuming person to capture their natural shot both day time, but also night time in city centres etc.

Using an R5 Mk 2.

What RF street photography lens would you recommend

(I do have a budget, but may stretch, so would like non-L ideas and L ideas)

--
M

 

[Peter Kwok]

How close strangers let you approach comfortably depends on how crowded the streets are. That dictates the focal length.

I live in Los Angeles, where no one walks on most street. It is very weird to get near someone to use a wide angle.
But when I travel, I use a 14-35L, mostly for architectural photos. But if interesting people shots happen, I will take them. Here are some:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dx9jN2Swgs9ctSh5A

Most of the photos were shot in Hong Kong, which is one of the world's most crowded city. It is rich enough. Most people would not blink seeing my big R5.

This is not a large zoom lens, but bigger than primes. It is flexible for focal length.

--
Peter Kwok
Click here for my PBase gallery
WYSIWYG - If you don't like what you get, try to see differently.

 

[Bejersey]

Very simple question.

I'm wanting to start with some street photography; mainly the un-assuming person to capture their natural shot both day time, but also night time in city centres etc.

Using an R5 Mk 2.

What RF street photography lens would you recommend

(I do have a budget, but may stretch, so would like non-L ideas and L ideas)

For me, Either a 28mm F2.8 or faster or 35mm F2.8 or faster

Rick

 

[Zeee]

RF 16mm 2.8. Sharp, light and inexpensive. You can crop the heck out of shots later.

My preference is the RF 24-105 F4. While preferable with modern day NR apps you can get away with slower lenses.

ISO 40000



--
Funny how millions of people on an internet platform where they can communicate instantaneously with people on the other side of the world using incredibly powerful handheld computers linked to orbiting the satellites hundreds of miles in space don’t believe in science. Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

[Alastair Norcross]

I like a 35 or 50 for street photography usually. Most classic street photographers used a 35, but some, like Cartier-Bresson, preferred a 50. Either the cheap 35 F1.8 or 50 F1.8 would be fine. If you want ultimate quality (and lightning fast AF), the VCM F1.4 versions of those lenses are ideal. If you want wider, you could go with the cheap 28 F2.8 pancake, or either version of the 24 (either the F1.8 STM, or the VCM F1.4). I probably wouldn't go wider, to the 16 F2.8 (or the 20 F1.4 VCM), unless I was more interested in cityscape than people shots.

--
“When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror, like the passengers in his car.” Jack Handey
Alastair
http://anorcross.smugmug.com
Equipment in profile

 

[Zeee]

The RF 24-105 F4 is sharp as well. 45mp will do better.



Original









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Funny how millions of people on an internet platform where they can communicate instantaneously with people on the other side of the world using incredibly powerful handheld computers linked to orbiting the satellites hundreds of miles in space don’t believe in science. Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

[RAWInstincts]

To provide more detail.

It would be people during day and night, may or may not include some landscape (though not likely or fussed by it).

Happy to have f/2.8.

RF 24-105 L out of price budget.

I was thinking of the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM.

 

[nail33]

RF 16mm 2.8. Sharp, light and inexpensive. You can crop the heck out of shots later.

+1

 

[R2D2]

To provide more detail.

It would be people during day and night, may or may not include some landscape (though not likely or fussed by it).

Happy to have f/2.8.

RF 24-105 L out of price budget.

I was thinking of the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM.

Bingo. That's what it was made for. ;-)

R2

ps. Myself, I'd prefer a smaller combo if/when wandering through unfamiliar areas tho. The R5 makes a pretty "big" target in more ways than one.

 

[MAC]

To provide more detail.

It would be people during day and night, may or may not include some landscape (though not likely or fussed by it).

Happy to have f/2.8.

RF 24-105 L out of price budget.

I was thinking of the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM.

that would work

maybe get the 16 also until you can afford the 16-28 sister lens

--
M

 

[thunder storm]

Very simple question.

I'm wanting to start with some street photography; mainly the un-assuming person to capture their natural shot both day time, but also night time in city centres etc.

Using an R5 Mk 2.

What RF street photography lens would you recommend

(I do have a budget, but may stretch, so would like non-L ideas and L ideas)

I've decided to sell my RF 28mm pancake because I like the EF 28mm IS USM + control ring adapter better.

If you want a zoom the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS stm is hard to beat, unless you need wider.