What's your fave street lens?

**gofour3** · 08-01-2010, 05:36 PM

As a film shooter my K105/2.8 seems to work the best. It has enough reach for “non permission” shots and if you do get permission to take someone’s picture, it’s a great portrait lens. I like shooting at fast shutter speeds to freeze motion and this lens is also fast enough to accomplish that. The K105/2.8 lens is also small enough not to attract too much attention.

Other lenses that I have tried are:

K50 & K55mm primes: Good for crowd shooting on streets and have enough reach to capture details. People don’t notice you that much, as these lenses are smaller.

K85/1.8: The best if you have permission to take someone’s picture. It’s a great portrait lens, with a nice soft focus area beyond your subject.

K135/2.5: The best for distance in non permission shots, but attracts too much attention due to its size.

One lens I still have to try for street shooting is my K120/2.8; it should also work out well.

Phil.

8540tomg · 08-01-2010, 05:49 PM

I don't do a lot of street shooting but if pressed I would try the following from my collection:

For people shots

K 200/2.5 - fast, sharp with enough distance for ambush portraits,
A 100/2.8 macro - fast, sharp and not as heavy as the K 200/2.5

For everything else

DA* 15-50/2.8 - a tad heavy but fast, sharp, great colours and versatile enough for indoor and outdoor shots.

Tom G

**gofour3** · 08-01-2010, 06:10 PM

That's a great idea Tom, I never thought about trying my K200/2.5! I'll add it to my list of lenses to try in street shooting.
Phil.

8540tomg · 08-01-2010, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by gofour3

That's a great idea Tom, I never thought about trying my K200/2.5! I'll add it to my list of lenses to try in street shooting.
Phil.

Hey Phil,

The 200mm focal length doesn't seem to get a lot of love for some reason.

For my money the K 200/2.5 can't be beat for a walk around lens. It has more reach than your K 135/2.5 and it's just as fast. Take it out for a spin and see what you think.

Tom G

jgredline · 08-01-2010, 07:09 PM

What would you shoot with a 200mm lens?

8540tomg · 08-01-2010, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by jgredline

What would you shoot with a 200mm lens?

Same stuff you would shoot with most other lenses Javier except from a little further away.

Tom G

CWyatt · 08-01-2010, 07:27 PM

Those are helluva long focal lengths for street photography.

8540tomg · 08-01-2010, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by CWyatt

Those are helluva long focal lengths for street photography.

Perhaps. I do most of my shooting with telephoto lenses so 200mm doesn't seem

long to me at all. If you have a 135 or 200 take it to the streets and experiment. It

will be a challenge and it might be fun as well.

Tom G

jgredline · 08-01-2010, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by 8540tomg

Same stuff you would shoot with most other lenses Javier except from a little further away.

Tom G

I understand. I tried a 135 on a film body and felt it was too long. I could not get those up close and personal shots. But like Like I tell everyone, the best lens is the one you will use.

Personally, on film I find the 40mm to be about right, maybe a hair long. On APS-C I have been using my DA21 or one of the many 24mm primes I have.

08-01-2010, 07:26 PM	#66
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Originally posted by jgredline What would you shoot with a 200mm lens? Same stuff you would shoot with most other lenses Javier except from a little further away. Tom G Last edited by 8540tomg; 08-01-2010 at 07:31 PM. Reason: typo

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08-01-2010, 05:36 PM	#61
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	As a film shooter my K105/2.8 seems to work the best. It has enough reach for “non permission” shots and if you do get permission to take someone’s picture, it’s a great portrait lens. I like shooting at fast shutter speeds to freeze motion and this lens is also fast enough to accomplish that. The K105/2.8 lens is also small enough not to attract too much attention. Other lenses that I have tried are: K50 & K55mm primes: Good for crowd shooting on streets and have enough reach to capture details. People don’t notice you that much, as these lenses are smaller. K85/1.8: The best if you have permission to take someone’s picture. It’s a great portrait lens, with a nice soft focus area beyond your subject. K135/2.5: The best for distance in non permission shots, but attracts too much attention due to its size. One lens I still have to try for street shooting is my K120/2.8; it should also work out well. Phil.

08-01-2010, 05:49 PM	#62
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	I don't do a lot of street shooting but if pressed I would try the following from my collection: For people shots K 200/2.5 - fast, sharp with enough distance for ambush portraits, A 100/2.8 macro - fast, sharp and not as heavy as the K 200/2.5 For everything else DA* 15-50/2.8 - a tad heavy but fast, sharp, great colours and versatile enough for indoor and outdoor shots. Tom G

08-01-2010, 06:10 PM	#63
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	That's a great idea Tom, I never thought about trying my K200/2.5! I'll add it to my list of lenses to try in street shooting. Phil.

08-01-2010, 06:43 PM	#64
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Originally posted by gofour3 That's a great idea Tom, I never thought about trying my K200/2.5! I'll add it to my list of lenses to try in street shooting. Phil. Hey Phil, The 200mm focal length doesn't seem to get a lot of love for some reason. For my money the K 200/2.5 can't be beat for a walk around lens. It has more reach than your K 135/2.5 and it's just as fast. Take it out for a spin and see what you think. Tom G

08-01-2010, 07:09 PM	#65
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	What would you shoot with a 200mm lens?

08-01-2010, 07:27 PM	#67
CWyatt Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,291	Those are helluva long focal lengths for street photography.

08-01-2010, 07:31 PM	#68
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Originally posted by CWyatt Those are helluva long focal lengths for street photography. Perhaps. I do most of my shooting with telephoto lenses so 200mm doesn't seem long to me at all. If you have a 135 or 200 take it to the streets and experiment. It will be a challenge and it might be fun as well. Tom G

08-01-2010, 09:04 PM	#69
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Originally posted by 8540tomg Same stuff you would shoot with most other lenses Javier except from a little further away. Tom G I understand. I tried a 135 on a film body and felt it was too long. I could not get those up close and personal shots. But like Like I tell everyone, the best lens is the one you will use. Personally, on film I find the 40mm to be about right, maybe a hair long. On APS-C I have been using my DA21 or one of the many 24mm primes I have.