How To Choose The Best Lens For Street Photography in 2022
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Loading... - Mark Robinson
- 11 Jul 2022
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There are so many options it’s difficult to know which lens for street photography will be the best one. You must consider things like aperture, the best focal length for street photography, and the type of camera you use. Is your camera a full-frame, or does it have a crop sensor? This will affect how you pick the focal length of your lens for street photography. I will address these issues as I make recommendations for the best lens for street photography.
The low light performance of a lens is also important when you are choosing a lens for street photography. Some photographers on a budget cannot afford the more expensive lenses that have a wider maximum aperture. There’s also the option of third-party lenses and which ones might be the best lens for street photography. Typically lenses made by Nikon, Sony, and Canon will be more expensive. Lenses made by Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, and other third parties are cheaper.
There are so many different options for which is the best lens for street photography that it’s beyond the scope of this article to cover. So we have whittled them down to a selection that’s widely considered to be the pick of the crop.
First, What Camera Do You Use?
If you place a 50mm lens on any full-frame sensor, you’ll have a wider field of view than if you attach the same focal length lens to a crop sensor camera. The dimensions of the camera’s sensor determine how much you will see.
Sensors that are not full frame come in different dimensions. So, for example, if you attach a 50mm lens to a camera with an APSC sensor, you will see less than if you attach the same focal length to a camera with a micro 4/3 sensor.
For the sake of clarity, in this article, all reference to focal length is based on the field of view a lens has when attached to a full-frame camera body.
To discover the best lens for street photography, keep reading through this article, and we hope you will find it helpful as you make your choice. We can make recommendations, but it’s up to you which one you choose based on the style of your photography and the camera you use. It will also depend on your budget because the price range can vary depending on the lens you want.
For example, a prime 35mm f/2 lens will be significantly cheaper than a 35mm f/1.4 lens. Some prime lenses will be more expensive than some zoom lenses are. This can often come down to the specifications of a prime lens compared to a zoom lens.
The Best Street Photography Lens is a Subjective Choice
Keep in mind that what is considered the best lens for street photography will vary. This is based on your skill level and style. We will cover street photography lens criteria. We will also include examples of the best Canon lens for street photography, as well as the best Sony, Nikon, and third-party lenses.
As you read through this article, keep in mind the type of street photography you enjoy the most. How will you use your new street photography lens? Will you use this new lens only for street photography? Or will you use it for other types of photography?
One main style consideration for street photographers is whether you like to get in close or to stand further away.
If you prefer to remain further away, a 35mm lens or a 40mm focal length will not be of much use to you. You’ll want to opt for a longer focal length if you’re that type of street photographer. For photographers who like to get in close, a 35mm lens may not be wide enough. Especially on a crop sensor camera. You’ll probably enjoy using a wide-angle lens of more than 28mm.
Lenses for street photography can vary greatly, and some will suit you better than others. This article is designed to help you make a choice from the list of the best lenses for street photography.
6 Top Zoom Lenses for Street Photography
To start, let’s take a look at a selection of variable focal length lenses that can be considered the best street photography lenses. If you prefer to use faster prime lenses as a street photographer, scroll down below this first list of street photography zoom lenses.
1 – Nikon AF-S FX 24mm – 120mm f/4G ED
If you are a full-frame Nikon user who enjoys a good zoom lens, then you must consider the Nikon AF-S FX 24mm – 120mm f/4G ED zoom lens. The range of this lens is ideal for street photography. Because it has a little more reach than shorter focal length zoom lenses, it also makes it a great lens for street portraits. It’s also a great lens for many other styles of photography.
The range from wide to medium telephoto offers loads of flexibility. You can stand in the same spot with this lens all day and capture great images. Its f/4 widest aperture may not be to everyone’s liking. A faster lens will be better in low light. But the plus side of the aperture not being f/2.8 or wider is the lens is smaller and lighter. It’s less conspicuous and has a bit more reach than the popular Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Auto Focus-S Nikkor wide-angle zoom lens. It’s also significantly cheaper.
2 – Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
This Canon lens is also an f/4 lens. Similar to the Nikon 24 – 120mm f/4 focal length, but with a little shorter reach. It’s a versatile lens for street photography when you’re using your Canon full-frame DSLR camera body.
The lens is compact and lighter than a faster zoom lens of the same range would be. This lens boasts five stops of image stabilization shake correction, according to Canon. You will not be disappointed with the image quality this Canon lens produces.
Because the maximum aperture is f/4 on this lens, the depth of field will not be so shallow as with a faster lens. In low light, you’ll also need a faster shutter speed or a higher ISO setting. This should not be a problem, as many street photographers prefer to use a maximum aperture of f/5.6 to allow for more depth of field. There is also a Canon EF lens available in this same focal length range. Read More…
