All street photographers share your gear here!

[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.... )

 

[vargyropoulos]

my current setup for street is canon AE-1 with a 50mm 1.4 lens. film choice depends on my mood and objectives as follows:

portra 400 - street portaits
tri-x 400 - "Vintage" B&W
tmax100 - "Modern" B&W
Fuji velvia or provia - if I'm going to be at the park or somewhere else with lots of bright colors.

on occassion I've also used my digital rebel XT with the 70-300 to get shots that I'm not able to get close to, although I would not recommend this approach too often as it may "scare away" some of the people near you... but I must say that I've seen a few folks walking the streets with 400mm glass hanging from each shoulder.

some examples of my street work are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vargyropoulos/sets/72157630365042412/

 

[dr croubie]

Kinda depends on what you'd call "street". Seeing as I have way too many cameras and lenses to choose from, here's some of my most-preferred (in order of preference/use):

EOS 3 + 40mm Pancake
Pentacon Six + Zeiss MC Biometar 120mm f/2.8 (sometimes a MIR 65mm f/3.5)
Pentax Spotmatic + Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (Sometimes a Soligor 35mm f/2.8 )

7D + Samyang 35/1.4 (although I'm using it more often with the Pancake too) gets occasional use.
I've also inherited my dad's Petri 7s Circle-eye rangefinder, think it's got a 45mm lens. I really should investigate that one day, it's got an uber-quiet leaf shutter and an extra meter-needle on the top of the body for waist-level shooting.


Considering how bulky and heavy the P6+Biometar is (think 5D3+24-105 size, at least), it doesn't fit many people's definitons of 'discrete street'. But it gets great images (like scans to 46mp at 3200dpi), and the WLF is just perfect for shooting from the hip (if you take enough light-readings first).

 

[Jotho]

I would say it depends on what kind of shooting you want to do and what situation you are in. I went out yesterday with a friend carrying only the MKIII and 24-105 while my friend carried his MkII and 70-200 2.8. Attached picture is shot at 24mm, f/4.0, ISO4000 and 1/1000. Yesterday I shot all the way up to ISO10000 with what I consider still good result. Some occasions I will only bring the S100.

 

[tomscott]

Nifty 50 1.8 and the smallest body possible. Unfortunately thats my 40D.

Street photography is the candid documentation of people.. what you see, not set up in anyway as soon as you ask someone permission it is no longer street photography it is portraiture.

My hero is Gary Winograd

"You have a lifetime to learn technique. But I can teach you what is more important than technique, how to see; learn that and all you have to do afterwards is press the shutter" - Garry Winogrand

Heres a few of mine.


Women, St. Pauls, Millennium bridge, London by tom_scott88, on Flickr


IMG_1930.jpg by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Apple Store, Covent Garden by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Couple, Covent Garden by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Man, Tate Modern, London by tom_scott88, on Flickr


IMG_1865.jpg by tom_scott88, on Flickr


London Underground by tom_scott88, on Flickr

 

[akiskev]

(flektogon 35mm)

 

[Nassen0f]

5D2
40mm f2.8 Pancake
80mm f1.8

Or if im feeling retro

Canon AV-1 with FD 50mm 1.8

I usualy use the 80mm since im still a bit shy when im in the streets taking photos. But if i need the wider angle of the 40mm its a prefect lens cause of its size. Its also easy to keep in a pocket/small bag

Both attachments are with the 40mm

 

[AprilForever]

7D, 70-200 2.8...

 

[LanceF]

5D Mark iii with my trusty 24-105 and in my bag a 50 1.4 with a 430exii

 

[distant.star]

EOS 3 + 40mm Pancake
Pentacon Six + Zeiss MC Biometar 120mm f/2.8 (sometimes a MIR 65mm f/3.5)
Pentax Spotmatic + Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (Sometimes a Soligor 35mm f/2.8 )

Thanks. I have the 40mm pancake, but it never occurred to me to put it on my 1V HS. What a strange sight that will be. I'll have to do a roll of film and see how it looks!

 

[crasher8]

Typically I would use my T2i with the 40mm pancake (or my ungripped 5D3, if it's not bright out)

However, I had my 70-200 f/4 AND my battery grip attached the other day, and I think i got some wonderful shots. You've got to be quick, as that combo will certainly get people's attention. Luckily, there were tons of other photographers around, so I didn't get any angry or sketched out people.
Here's an example @ 200mm

Wow, Jaja has certainly changed a bit since leaving the peloton