All street photographers share your gear here!

[bdunbar79]

Hi all,

I shoot street photography usually with 5D3 and a 50 1.4 (thinking to upgrade to 1.2) and I have 2 600EX-RT with me, in case the shadows are to big.

Mostly I ask for permission to do portraits. And most of the times I do head shots or from chest up.

I was thinking also to get 1-2 more prime lenses for shorter and longer focal length.

Please write here what gear do you use, and also if you have experience with the primes 24L vs 28, 50L vs 50, 85L vs 85.
Is it wort paying $$$$ more for the L lenses? ( I know that L's are better, but is the difference day n night like at some zoom lenses?)

I do like the 24L and 85L a lot.  I don't like the 50L.  For my uses the 1.4 is better/sharper as I mainly use this focal length narower than f/4.

[crasher8]

Minolta HiMatic 40 1.7
Portra 400

[RobertG.]

Nice shot Chris! I love the branches in front of the subject.

This is what I am looking for. Usually I walk around with a 50mm 1.4 because that's the only lens what I have and its not big. I am also looking for some who uses 85 (on FF). Is not to tight to use it for example in some crowded are as Hong Kong or Venice?

Hi, I have both, the EF 50mm f1.4 and EF 85mm F1.8 on a 5D II. For portraits I prefer the 85mm. For a head shot you are about 1.5m (5') further away from the person to get the same framing as with the 50mm lens. I like to be a few steps further away, so I mainly use the 85mm for portraits. The IQ of both lenses is similar IMHO.

[elflord]

Nice shot Chris! I love the branches in front of the subject.

This is what I am looking for. Usually I walk around with a 50mm 1.4 because that's the only lens what I have and its not big. I am also looking for some who uses 85 (on FF). Is not to tight to use it for example in some crowded are as Hong Kong or Venice?

85mm on full frame will put you about 5ft from the subject for a head and shoulders portrait. It's a very good focal length for this type of shot. When you go much shorter than that (for a head shot), you start moving towards shots that have that far out "wide angle" look which is great if that's what you're going for but unhelpful otherwise.

[pwp]

For my style of street work, the 5D3 & 1D Mk4 stay at home and the S100 comes out. People have a lot of significance on a "big" dslr and you may not get as much agreement with the bigger pro-looking gear. It's all about perception. In a legally suppressive and paranoid city like London for example, you definitely leave your DSLR back at the hotel! You just have to be a bit smart and be appropriately informed about the local culture, laws and attitudes towards shooting in public depending where on the planet you are shooting.

There is no denying the IQ is way below dslr level when shooting with the little S100, but I come from the school where a prime consideration is that Content is King and this does apply completely to my style and interpretation of street photography. I'd rather a brilliantly caught moment done with an iPhone to a relatively dead, though technically perfect, mistimed shot done on a 5D3 with premium L glass. Content is King.

When the new mirrorless Canons ship, and then evolve a little further, you'll be looking at a street kit that even the street photography "God" Cartier Bresson would show interest in.

Street photography is an entirely different experience to how it was even just a decade or so ago. We're in the post 9/11 world. Suspicion, and the attitude that photographers are child snatching bestial terrorist operatives, plus the long arm of the law have diminished what could be described as one of the purest forms of photography. Remember, if you plan to use any street images commercially or plan to show them as fine art, protect yourself by carrying a dozen or so model release forms in your pocket or bag. If you can't get agreement, don't use those shots for anything beyond personal use.

You may see this as convoluted and confronting, but it sure as hell improves your personal communication skills!

-PW

[Stefan]

Great topic. I also shoot street photography with a 5D3 and 50 1.4 and sometimes 70-200 2.8L IS. I find that sometimes the big white can get unwanted attention - although I have never had any problems. I mostly shoot my 50 1.4 at around 1.8 or 2.0.

I have a couple of other lenses and have tried the 24L for street photography not long ago. I liked it, but I prefer a more shallow DOF that I can get with my 50 1.4 and 70-200.

I am looking at getting either the 35L or 85L - but was also thinking of picking up the new 40mm (in addition). I would love to get some feedback on 35L / 85L / 40mm for street photography and general portraits.

A couple of shots with the 50 1.4:


Shinjuku girl (Tokyo).


Ice cream girl at 5th Ave & 14th Street in NYC.

A couple of shots with the 70-200 2.8L IS:


Girl crossing the street in Tokyo.


Girl near Madison Square Park, NYC.

(These are all full-sized, no cropping.)

[EvilTed]

"Most of the time I shoot wider than 2.8 for the bokeh so..."

Really?

A lot of street photographers use a zone system and set the camera up prefocussed at a set distance @ F8 and point and shoot.

When I'm shooting on the street, I'm not shooting portraits, so creamy bokeh is not what I'm about...

ET

[GEEo]

For street photography I use a Canon S5 IS from waist level. Nobody seems to notice it or care about it. If I feel more comfortable in the area I'm shooting, then  I use my Rebel XTi with the Jenna Zeiss 35mm or the 50mm Planar.
I don't want to use anything bigger because people gets defensive, sometimes aggressive and not cooperating at all

If you don't mind me asking how do you like your Zeiss 50mm? is it the f/1.4? would you recommend it over the Canon or Sigma f/1.4's?

I'm in the Market for a good 50mm and those three are my options.

[Scott]

My EOS 3 and Shorty-forty was a great little street setup but I still found it to be a little big. I recently got my hands on a Leica M6, its great because its so small and nobody looks at you twice when shooting with it.


Camera Porn by Scott_Henry, on Flickr

My Street examples:


Untitled by Scott_Henry, on Flickr


First 24hrs with Leica M6 by Scott_Henry, on Flickr


Untitled by Scott_Henry, on Flickr


Untitled by Scott_Henry, on Flickr


Untitled by Scott_Henry, on Flickr

More on my Flickr.

Oh and before I started shooting film (again) I use to shoot street with my 5dii and either 35mmL or Sig 50mm. 

[koolman]

Canon t2i + Voigtlander 20mm
Small, light, stealth.

If I want tighter shots exchange the Voigt for canon 35mm f/2.

[CanNotYet]

I have done some dabbling in this before with a 400D (XTi I think) and a Sigma 50-150 2.8 EX. Actually a nice combo  for street candids. (pretty compact, and no one seems to notice it like a big white lens...)

[akiskev]

For street photography I use a Canon S5 IS from waist level. Nobody seems to notice it or care about it. If I feel more comfortable in the area I'm shooting, then  I use my Rebel XTi with the Jenna Zeiss 35mm or the 50mm Planar.
I don't want to use anything bigger because people gets defensive, sometimes aggressive and not cooperating at all

If you don't mind me asking how do you like your Zeiss 50mm? is it the f/1.4? would you recommend it over the Canon or Sigma f/1.4's?

I'm in the Market for a good 50mm and those three are my options.

You are correct. It is the f/1.4 Planar T* (contax mount).

Wide open it gives a very pleasing bokeh, the colors are a bit on the warm side and there is a very nice softness (not in a bad way) in the picture. Stop it down a bit (from 2,8 and on) and you have razor sharp results and great contrast.

I like it more than the Canon 1.4. I haven't used the Sigma though..

[Nate]

For my style of street work, the 5D3 & 1D Mk4 stay at home and the S100 comes out. People have a lot of significance on a "big" dslr and you may not get as much agreement with the bigger pro-looking gear. It's all about perception. In a legally suppressive and paranoid city like London for example, you definitely leave your DSLR back at the hotel! You just have to be a bit smart and be appropriately informed about the local culture, laws and attitudes towards shooting in public depending where on the planet you are shooting.

There is no denying the IQ is way below dslr level when shooting with the little S100, but I come from the school where a prime consideration is that Content is King and this does apply completely to my style and interpretation of street photography. I'd rather a brilliantly caught moment done with an iPhone to a relatively dead, though technically perfect, mistimed shot done on a 5D3 with premium L glass. Content is King.

When the new mirrorless Canons ship, and then evolve a little further, you'll be looking at a street kit that even the street photography "God" Cartier Bresson would show interest in.

Street photography is an entirely different experience to how it was even just a decade or so ago. We're in the post 9/11 world. Suspicion, and the attitude that photographers are child snatching bestial terrorist operatives, plus the long arm of the law have diminished what could be described as one of the purest forms of photography. Remember, if you plan to use any street images commercially or plan to show them as fine art, protect yourself by carrying a dozen or so model release forms in your pocket or bag. If you can't get agreement, don't use those shots for anything beyond personal use.

You may see this as convoluted and confronting, but it sure as hell improves your personal communication skills!

-PW

Very true! and I agree 100 percent with you regarding to "Content is King" however if I have a few minutes to take a portrait I usually care about composition and bokeh. For me street photography its not only to capture moments in a city but also faces, its something like what Steve Mccurry does. Thats why I usually ask them if I can take some pictures. I ask them friendly and not only can I take a shot, but also something about their work or whatever and I tell them something about me, like where I am from...and If they dont let me I show them a few street portraits that I have done, and most of the tomes they agree and they let me.

By the way this is an easy way how you can get numbers from girls, I usually tell them that I am a hobby photographer and show them my work on a iPhone and ask them if we could meet somewhere to take a photo shoot they usually like my work and agree

[Nate]

"To the talk of 35mm 50mm and 85mm"

On a full frame for a head shoulder shot 35 I think its to wide or the distortion is too big, 50 for is all right, but the advantage of 85 IMO is that you dont get in the persons "aura" and he wont feel the fear from camera, the downside is that on a small street like Venice you need to back how you guys said to at least 5 feet and people will always cross in front of your camera... I never tried a 85 but I know the upside and downside of 50mm and this is opposite.

By the way Stefan and Scott nice shots!

[CharlieB]

Leica M4P, 28 Summicron Asph., HP5 and or CN400. 

(I cant wait to get an M9.... )