Best Lenses for Street Photography: My Personal Comparison
When I started getting into street photography, I was basically using one lens. The fact that I was using cropped sensor lenses at the time, made it possible for me to normally use a Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC, which would translate to 28.8-320mm in 35mm format. Although the angle was not that wide, the magnification made up for its poor luminosity.
Me in action with the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8. Self portrait on mirror.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
Throughout the almost three years that I was part of I Love Cuba Photo Tours, that Tamron 18-200mm was the main lens that I used. Except for instances in which I was taking specific portraits for clients, that I had the opportunity to use the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, or others in which I used a larger telephoto zoom (a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM) because I was taking photos for myself with other photographers, I mainly used the Tamron.
Later on, in mid 2019, I got my Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM (an equivalent of 16-35.2mm on 35mm format), and a Yongnuo 35mm f/2. The former made me explore real wide angle photography, while the latter enabled me to see with what would have been similar to a 50mm on a full-frame camera (the 50mm had the effect of an 80mm because of the crop factor).
With all that in mind, I will use the whole trinity of lenses and others to create a list of pros and cons when taking street photography. Needless to say, sometimes an APS-C camera might be better than a full frame due to the possibility of having those very wide-ranging zooms, like an 18-200mm or an 18-300mm. Yet, others like the 24-105 for full-frame bodies are very good at that too.
The List (with Pros and Cons)
Telephoto and Super-Telephoto (Zoom) Lens
(70-200mm + similar or equivalent)
This type of lens is mainly the least ideal for street photography in many aspects. I did use my 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM in some of my I Love Cuba Photo Tours adventures, as it provided excellent long distance coverage and a much better quality than the Tamron 18-200mm.
At the same time, the Ultrasonic Motor provided a faster focus, and I was able to capture some long distance portraits and street details that would not have been possible with the 18-200mm, as the maximum zoom on that one lowered the quality of the image.
It also enabled me to capture certain small details of architecture and statues from a long distance. However, it is basically impossible to capture a building or a structure if you are nearby.
Pros:
Ability to capture street portraits at a long distance.
Ability to capture details of architectural structures, objects and statues that are far away.
Good for distant skylines or details.
Cons:
Too bulky and indiscrete.
Poses a problem while trying to navigate around people.
You need to be rather far from your subjects to photograph them.
Terrible for whole buildings and structures if you are near them.
Fixed aperture lenses are very expensive, even the f/4 ones.
Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens
(16-35mm + similar or equivalent)
I never shot with a 16-35mm, but while I shot with APS-C cameras, I had great experience with them. They are normally less bulky than a 24-70mm or an equivalent and provide a wide range of elements to compose the image, making photographers able to include more in the frame. It also makes buildings and structures bend some, making it a little bit more artsy.
I shot with my 10-22mm in Havana, mainly while having clients who did not want their photo taken. I then took it to Mexico, where I used it while roaming the beautiful streets of San Miguel de Allende. It helped me highlight the beautiful eclectic architecture of the city and add drama to some of my images.
Pros:
Ultra-wide angle makes it easier to include more elements and have a wider possibility to compose.
The bending of buildings and horizontal lines, along with the distortion present on close-up subjects, provide drama, creativity and an artsy feel.
Lighter, less bulky, more discrete and cheaper than the standard zoom (24-70mm or similar).
Ideal for old buildings, tall structures with a low view, and crowds from close-up distance (both low view and high view).
Ideal for bars and restaurants, as you can cover more area with it.
Cons:
Still bulky and expensive (even the 10-22mm for APS-C sensors).
Too much distortion at the center and at the edges of the frame using the widest angle (mainly with the 10-22mm).
Impossible to capture objects and expressions at relatively long distances.
Standard Zoom Lens
(24-70mm + similar or equivalent)
I have owned a 24-70mm for almost two years now, and I love it. Yet, having shot with Canon EF-S 18-55mm, 18-200mm, and 28-135mm (all of them with cropped cameras and the latter with both APS-C and full sensors), I would say that you get the best range with that type of lens.
You can get wide angle (but not crazy or ultra wide) and some telephoto—depending on the lens. I used the aforementioned Tamron 18-200mm for my last year in the newspaper and the majority of my time working for I Love Cuba Photo Tours. I remember even going on an assignment trip and carrying only the 18-200mm and my Canon EOS Rebel SL1. Four of the pictures taken during that trip ended up in my Unfiltered Cuba exhibit, and I would say that at least 60% of the photos in that project were taken using that particular lens.
Except for the fact that it did not have a good aperture (f/3.5-6.3), that lens was easily an all-around lens for street photography.
After switching to 28-135mm and then to the Tamron 24-70mm (upon my migration to full-frame), I continued having this type of lens as the go-to lens for street photography. Even losing all that zoom and staying at 70mm as the longest distance, the 24-70mm has been in my opinion the best of all. Having the f/2.8 aperture all the way (although I not always use it) is the best perk that comes with it, as lower lighting situations can be helped by it.
Pros:
Great aperture at f/2.8 or f/4 (in the case of the 24-70mm and the 24-105mm) helps with low lighting situations and helps a faster shutter speed.
Combination of wide angle and telephoto (in some instances more than others) provides versatility and different possibilities of composition.
Possibility to travel carrying only one lens.
Good for bars and restaurants.
Good for buildings thanks to the wide angle 24mm or 28mm.
Excellent for street portraits thanks to the possibility of shooting at 35mm, 50mm and sometimes 85mm.
Cons:
Extremely bulky and pricy (the 27-70mm f/2.8 and the 24-105mm f/4 are very expensive while the 24-105 f/2.8 is beyond budget for most photographers).
Very indiscrete, which could cause discomfort and mistrust on people or make you a potential target for robbers.
Except for the 24-105mm f/2.8, the morse zoom capabilities you get, the more you sacrifice aperture and speed.
Prime Lenses
(35mm, 50mm and 85mm)
I have used two prime lenses in my life: the 35mm and the 50mm, and I have used both with full-frame and APS-C bodies. The experience with both in cropped-sensor cameras was really good, as the 35mm gave me a zoom equivalent to 56mm and the 50mm showed an increase reaching 80mm. With that in mind, and having used both lenses with their real magnification on full-frame cameras, I can say I have been close to experience the whole range of prime lenses.
It is my belief that they both have very similar advantages and disadvantages, which is why I placed them all within the same group. I used the 35mm with a cropped camera in Cuba, the United States, Canada and Mexico while my experience with the nifty-fifty with cropped cameras was mostly in Cuba. Since I switched to full sensors in late 2022, I have used both lenses with their real focal length.
We should also keep in mind that many famous street photographers prefer the 35mm and the 50mm over any other due to the similarity of what the human eye is able to capture.
Pros:
Very, light compact and discreet. It allows photographers to mingle better with the crowd and navigate the streets with less trouble.
Very little to no distortion.
In the majority of cases, they boast high luminosity, with apertures ranging between f/1.2 to f/2.8, which is good to create great bokeh and work in low-light situations.
Even in the most inexpensive cases (say the nifty-fifty or any third-party versions) they produce extremely sharp and high-quality images.
Similar to the human eye (mainly the 50mm in full frame and the 35mm in cropped sensors), which helps you capture things as you see them.
People feel less intimidated by a smaller lens and might be more open to be photographed.
In many cases, very affordable while keeping extremely good quality.
Cons:
You have to zoom in or out with your feet.
Very difficult for wide-angle situations or telephoto details (depending on the angle of the lens that you carry).
Conclusion
With all that in mind, it is obvious why I consider the prime lenses to be the best, followed by the 24-70mm—which is the one I use the most for street dwelling—or similar lenses and the wide-angle zooms on a narrow third. Telephoto and super telephoto lenses are basically a lose-lose situation due to their massive sizes and the lack of angle and flexibility. Super zoom lenses get a long range, but they never have fixed aperture, and the quality of the image is very compromised when the lens is meant only for an APS-C sensor.
However, the reality is that each person should choose the lenses to use according to their preference for shooting, always depending on the day, the weather, the location they will be roaming and what they intend to capture. I would always advice studying the area and knowing what they want to capture so they use the most appropriate lens and avoid lens changing in the open.
One little confession to make is that, even though I am an avid street photographer, I am far from discrete. I will be roaming the street carrying my camera and my big backpack, whether my past ones (the ThinkTank Shape Shifter 17 and the Vanguard VEO Range 48 T), or the current ones (the Mindshift Backlight 36L and the ThinkTank DarkLight 20L), being anything but unnoticeable.
Another confession is that although I believe prime lenses are the best for street photography, I am very fond of the 24-70mm f/2.8. The flexibility it provides, along with its excellent aperture, has made me stick to it for most of my street shoots.
Yet, the positive outcome of that, at least in the United States and Mexico (I didn’t walk around Canada that much and Cuba is yet another story in that aspect) is that sometimes people noticing you can bring a positive outcome and you can get good friendly street portraits.
