[DeadJohn]

I've been dabbling with street photography with my K-R. Using the 18-55 zoomed to 21mm and 40mm as a basis for comparison to Pentax' DA Limited pancakes, I find I prefer 40mm.

The DA40 seems like a near-perfect lens but I'm unsure about nighttime street work. I expect to do most of my shooting in Manhattan. Is there enough ambient light in a big city to get away with f2.8 without cranking ISO too high?

Other lens options compared to the DA40:

• FA43: Maybe. That goes to f1.9, just over one full stop better than the DA40. The FA43 lens is a bit larger (but still compact), cost $200 extra, and reportedly slower to autofocus.
• Sigma 30 1.4: 30 is a sufficient focal length. The huge piece of glass in front, though, screams "LOOK AT MY CAMERA!" during the day. Questionable IQ, too.
• DA35: Nope. f2.4 isn't a real improvement over 2.8.
• Voigtlander Ultron 40 2.0: Nope. No autofocus limits shooting from the hip.
• Various 50mm choices: There are a few 50 choices with wide apertures, but I haven't seen anything that approaches a pancake's compactness. I also think that 50 * 1.5 crop factor is a bit long for street photography.

I'm sort of undecided between the DA40 and FA43. I'd hate to spend an extra $200 starting with the FA43, though, and find that it's still not quite fast enough for night.

I'll probably start with the DA40 because it's so ideal for daytime street photography. I'll play with ISO at night, and if I'm unhappy I can use the $200 I "saved" by not getting the FA43 towards a 2-stop improvement in a Sigma 30 1.4 or a Pentax 50 1.4.

Comments appreciated. I'll probably commit at the end of January.

[paperbag846]

s there enough ambient light in a big city to get away with f2.8 without cranking ISO too high?

IMHO, yes.

The DA 40 is wicked if you are shooting from the hip. Just leave the lens wide open, set ISO to 1600, and shoot away. AF is snappy and the FOV is just tight enough for that kind of shooting imho.

Another consideration would be the addition of the DA 21? Let's you get a lot closer.

[axl]

50/1.2, 55/1.4 or 77/1.8 would be my recommendations. I used to 40 and own 43. And most of the times, as great as they are, I found them just tad too wide. The 50/55 offers great FOV for streets and both of above options are very well cropable even wide open. Have a look at my Single in September album and you'll see. It was one month exlusively with K50/1.2...

[Eagle_Friends]

The 40mm is one beautiful lens, nuff said.

[axl]

IMHO, yes.

The DA 40 is wicked if you are shooting from the hip. Just leave the lens wide open, set ISO to 1600, and shoot away. AF is snappy and the FOV is just tight enough for that kind of shooting imho.

Another consideration would be the addition of the DA 21? Let's you get a lot closer.

K-r will most probably let you get bunch of great shots at ISO1600 but 40 is far too narrow for hip shooting (especially with having to AF) IMHO.
You could try to prefocus and use f4-5.6 but then u'd have to really push the ISO in dim light and framing would be hard nontheless.
I found it really hard even with 31mm. At the end I settled for 24mm for the hip shots. Just right IMO.

[Clou]

The DA 40 is well suited for what you intend to do.
I would only look at the FA 35/2 as an alternative.

I have both - you can pick and of both and expect good IQ with a different touch for each lens.

[Zav]

You want FA31

[Pentaxor]

You want FA31

who doesn't?

[ihasa]

DA35 f2.4 is a nice lens for the money, and the nearly-a-stop advantage is surprisingly handy. (It's been noted to be a particularly bright f2.4 and I would agree)...

But the DA40mm looks a much sturdier and prettier lens....

If speed's important, the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is highly rated. For street and night time, it looks spot on. Moving away from your optimum focal length of 40mm though there!

[Nick Siebers]

You may want to consider a lens that will allow you to use hyperfocal focusing to shoot from the hip. In that case an old manual lens might really work, or the Ultron. But really, any of the options you suggest will probably work.

[soppy]

I use the DA 40 for street photography, though I just started street photography a few days ago. Works great for shooting from the hip. Just wide enough to be easy to aim, just tight enough to still be able to capture your target without getting absolutely EVERYTHING.

The second shot in this set is taken from the hip with some cropping:
Street Photography - ShutterBum Photography --- Alex Sopchak -- For all your photographic needs in the Gainesville area

[Ash]

Consider the Sigma 30/1.4 - fast for the night stuff, and just about the right FL for street stuff.

[Ira]

As a former New Yorker:

The new 35 2.

The right focal length plus fast enough.

[Douglas_of_Sweden]

You can of course shoot with any lens, and there are many styles of street shooting. But for me 30-40mm is too narrow and too wide at the same time. Either I want a wider lens to work close to people (DA15ltd, DA21ltd, Sigma 20/1.8 etc), or a short tele (DA70ltd, some 85mm/100mm or 135mm). So I usually work with one wide angle and one short tele, taking 3/4 of my pics with the former.

[RioRico]

We all have our preferences and I prefer manual. I have and use my FA50/1.4 but when I'm shooting in San Francisco's downtown, Chinatown and North Beach after dusk I'll use a 24/2 (Vivitar-Komine) or 85/2 (Nikkor) most often, with maybe a 55/1.4 (Sears-Tomioka) for a middle range, often with Catch-In-Focus. That will be my kit when I'm there in the upcoming week.