What would die-hard street shooters say?

Hello there!

1). I know, Leica and small cameras (Sony) and 35 mm primes (50 mm primes) or Fujifilm equivalents are good choice for street photography. But, having spent 2 hours on the street I am thinking: what about 70-200/2.8 mm attached to a massive pro DSLR body? We, in my area, have wide streets, all is moving rapidly... so is 70-200 true street lens? I do know I would take great shots with 70-200 but how does it correspond to the ideology of real street cameras and lenses?

2). What about 2 cameras: small with a prime and a big one (+ assistant who carries the other combo)?

Your ideas?

Maybe 70-200 is stupid idea, I am just asking...

I've used 2 lenses (Canon EF 24-105 f/4L and Canon 50mm f1.4) with one of my two DSLRs, and I’ve also used my iPhone. That's been fine for me. I don't consider myself a die-hard street shooter, though I love shooting on the street.

 

This was taken with my Canon 30D and the 50mm lens ...

 

This was taken with my Canon 5D MkII and the 24-105 lens ...

 

This was taken with my iPhone 6 ...

Use any lens that works for you.

bowring +1

 

Just as a "portrait lens" is any lens used to take a portrait, so a street shooting lens is ......

 

Besides, people need to remember, more often than they do, that this forum is Street and Documentary.

Edited September 11, 2019 by JDMvW

OP, as was said. Whatever works for you. You got the wrong attitude. You don't need our permission to do a thing.

 

I just shot a 65min project with a little tele zoom. I bot the lens to shoot a lady that built her house every night out of carboard and foam insulation in Manhattan right off of 5th Ave. I could not stand there and shoot her build it with a superwide, which is my preferred lens. I was planning to shoot her across the street. But by the time I saved up the $$ to buy the lens she died before I could shoot her.

 

Selections from 'Living in a Cardboard Box'

 

Here was the tele shoot...with stats from the shoot.

 

Drool At The Pool Wheeling, WV 9.2.19 D. D. Teoli Jr. : D. D. Teoli Jr. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 

Personally I seldom use a tele, always in your face superwide. Just like working up close for the perspective.

 

 

 

If you don't have the up close skill, then go tele...whatever...just push the button!

Edited September 11, 2019 by invisibleflash

Whatever lens works for you.

 

Speaking for myself, I like wide lenses and shooting close, for two reasons. I enjoy being around people and in the surrounding contextual energy/rhythm of the street. And, shooting from afar produces subject-background compression that often creates less interesting flatter photos.

 

 

Edited September 12, 2019 by Brad_

For s long time I used a film Leica with 35mm and 50mm lenses.

 

I moved into digital slowly with Canon crop cameras eventually settling on the very fine Canon 17-55mm 2.8..

 

Lately I've been using a small Mirrorless Sony a6000 with at first a 35mm 1.8 and later a Sony/Zeiss 16-70mm 4.0.

 

Recently I asked a golf pro what wedge was best for me and he said 'It's the indian not the arrow'.

 

 

 

If you want to be discreet, a pro DSLR with an 80-200mm f/2.8 would be a poor choice unless you're photographing in a popular tourist area. If discretion doesn't matter, then any camera + lens will work.