Street photography is a genre that requires crystal-clear images of the entire scene. But you need to consider not only the quality but also the size of the lens and the speed with which it focuses on the subject. In addition, if someone likes to shoot at night, then certainly a brighter aperture is needed to get more light. Keeping these parameters in mind, here is a look at a few lenses for street photography that any enthusiast can pick up today.
Nikon 35mm f1.2 Z S
One of Nikon’s best 35mm lenses, the 35mm f1.2 Z S, is an ideal choice for street photography. The lens may be large, but it is comfortable to use in freezing temperatures, making it ideal for different environments. It has 11 aperture blades, 17 elements in 15 groups, and a minimum focusing distance of 0.75 m. Despite its weight of 1060g, the lens is not too heavy. As we said in our review about its performance, “The Nikon 35mm f1.2 S offers photographers images with tons of character on top of fast autofocusing capabilities and amazing low-light performance. While it may not be your go-to for casual shooting, this lens is an unapologetic workhorse, nee work beast, and we’re here for it.”
Fujifilm 18mm f1.4 R LM WR
The Fujifilm 18mm (28mm equivalent) is a weather-sealed lens that features 15 elements in 9 groups, a 62mm filter thread, 9 aperture blades, and weighs 370 grams. It is sharp, has a swift autofocus, and is great for various applications. Plus, the image quality is also great. As we wrote in our review, “The Fujifilm XF 18mm f1.4 lens is something that you can attach to your camera body and leave on. It’s the perfect focal length for street photography and a perfect walk-around lens for travel.”
Panasonic S 35mm f1.8
The Panasonic 35mm is a compact and quiet lens. It features 9 a 9-blade aperture, a 67mm filter thread, a 0.8 minimum focusing distance, and 0.7 lbs weight. The lens is sharp, produces good bokeh, is weather sealed, has minimal distortion, and has decent autofocus. “The lens is an ideal choice for photographers who want little interference with the story in the images,” we said in our review. “It’s compact, simple to use, and reasonably priced. And, it also endured snowfall with no issues.”
Canon RF 24mm f1.4 L
Designed with 15 elements in 11 groups. The Canon 24mm is an exceptional option for street photography. The lens features 11 aperture blades, a 0.17x magnification ratio, and a 1.1lb weight. It is weather resistant, has fast autofocus, and is sharp. There is an aperture ring as well, making it ideal for hybrid users. “When I took my first photos with the Canon RF 24mm f1.4 L lens, I was in awe at how beautiful their rendering of anything is when combined with film recipes from Thomas Franson,” we said in our review. “On top of that, it’s weather-resistant and fairly affordable.”
Sony 24mm F1.4 G Master
The Sony 24mm is yet another offering from the company for full-frame users. The lens features 11 aperture blades, a 0.79 ft minimum focusing distance, a maximum magnification of 0.17x, and a 67mm filter thread. It is compact, weather-sealed, and offers exceptional image quality, sharpness, and bokeh. As we said in our review, “The Sony 24mm f1.4 G Master is a lens many photographers will want to add to their shopping list, regardless of their photographic specialty. Whether you’re a landscape photographer, an astrophotographer, a street photographer, or even a portrait photographer, there will be situations where the 24mm f1.4 G Master will shine.”
