Street
Ask: /ask/what-is-the-best-camera-for-street-photography
Street photography rewards a camera people don't notice and one you can shoot without thinking. Small and quiet beats megapixels every time.
What matters
- Size and discretion. A small, plain camera at chest height draws far less attention than a big black body with a long lens. People act naturally around it.
- A silent shutter. Mirrorless cameras can shoot silently with the electronic shutter. Leaf shutters, found in some compacts, are near silent even mechanically.
- Fast handling. Physical dials for shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation let you adjust without looking at a menu.
- Good autofocus, or easy zone focusing. Modern face and eye detection works well. Many street shooters prefer zone focusing instead: set the focus to a fixed distance, say 3 metres, use f/8, and everything from about 2 to 5 metres is sharp without waiting for autofocus.
Focal lengths
- 28mm (full-frame equivalent): wide, immersive, puts you close to the action. You have to get near people.
- 35mm: the classic. Wide enough for context, natural enough for faces. If you're unsure, start here.
- 50mm: more distance, more isolation, a calmer look. Easier if you're shy.
A small prime at one of these focal lengths is the street kit. Zooms work, but a fixed focal length teaches you to see the frame before you raise the camera.
My picks
- Fixed-lens compacts with large sensors are the dream street cameras: the Ricoh GR (28mm equivalent) fits in a trouser pocket, and the Fujifilm X100 series (35mm equivalent) has lovely dials and a hybrid viewfinder.
- A small mirrorless body with a pancake prime gives you most of the same, plus the option of other lenses later.
- Micro Four Thirds bodies are small, light and cheap with small primes, and the extra depth of field helps zone focusing.
A word on people
Laws and customs differ between countries about photographing people in public. Be open about what you're doing, smile, and delete a picture if someone asks.
