Street photography is an art that requires a good eye, a little discretion, and a camera that you can take anywhere. Smartphones can also capture interesting moments in a pinch, a dedicated camera can take your street photos to the next level. You should choose the best camera for photography. In this article we will discuss how to choose a camera for street photography.
A good street photography camera has to be lightweight and portable, with easy-to-adjust settings, a relatively fast lens, and effective autofocus to capture fleeting moments. Depending on your needs and preferences, however, an interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera can also fit the bill, especially when paired with a small prime lens.
How To Choose A Camera For Street Photography?
When you are choosing a camera for street photography then you should choose that camera that is lightweight and portable. That camera should have easy-to-adjust settings, a relatively fast lens, and effective autofocus to capture fleeting moments.
Best Compact Camera For Street Photography
1. Fujifilm X100v
Fujifilm released In 2010 the original X100, a point-and-shoot model. It has amazing features such as a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder and an APS-C sensor. It quickly became a runaway hit.
The X100V is the fifth iteration of this camera. Fujifilm has steadily refined its street photography capabilities. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation settings each have their own control dials. They are very simple to adjust on the fly. The hybrid viewfinder shoots with an OVF, an EVF, or even an old-school rangefinder display; the flip-out touchscreen makes it easy to compose from low angles.
Other benefits for street photographers include a 23mm fixed lens mated to an APS-C sensor, which results in a 35mm equivalent field of view that’s perfect for street photography. The lens is sharp and bright with a maximum aperture of f/2. Due to this you do not need to worry about missing shots due to poor light. The built-in leaf shutter makes photography virtually silent.
The X100V is small but not quite pocketable. It has a full suite of customizable buttons and dials to suit your style. Fuji X100V is the best camera for street photography today.
Pros:
- Stellar image quality
- Easy-to-use controls
- Hybrid optical/electronic rangefinder-style viewfinder (the only one of its kind among all the cameras on this list)
- Beautiful JPEG files with a wide variety of available film simulations
Cons:
- Weather sealing requires the purchase of an adapter ring for the front of the lens
- Autofocus isn’t as fast as some of its peers
- Expensive, especially for casual photographers
- No image stabilization
2. Ricoh Gr Iii
The Ricoh GR line of cameras are the best for street photographers for years. The third iteration of this venerable camera series continues the tradition. It’s small in size but has amazing features.
An 18mm lens mated to the APS-C sensor results in a 28mm field of view; this is a bit wider than the Fujifilm X100V. GR III will be a good fit. It has a 35mm field of view, which is much more pleasing and versatile. Image quality is outstanding, and high-ISO shots look great. Lots of photographers swear by the Ricoh black-and-white JPEGs.
The Ricoh GR III has plenty of buttons. It’s not quite as easy to rapidly change settings, but many custom functions can be mapped to specific buttons to make things simpler. The maximum f/2.8 aperture isn’t top of the line, but the camera compensates with built-in image stabilization. This makes low-light street photography a bit more practical as long as you are shooting still subjects.
Pros:
- The small size makes it easy to carry in a pocket or handbag
- Much more affordable than the Fuji X100V.
- Excellent image quality
- Built-in image stabilization
Cons:
- The f/2.8 lens is not as bright as the competition
- The lack of a built-in viewfinder means photos must be composed using the rear LCD screen
- Battery life isn’t great, so you might consider carrying a spare
3. Sony Rx100 Vii
The Sony RX100 line has been around for many years. It has gone through myriad iterations to adapt to the demands of photographers. The most dramatic change in recent years is the lens, which used to have a much narrower focal range but now goes all the way from 24mm to 200mm (in equivalent 35mm measurements). This makes the RX100 VII an outstanding camera for many genres, including street photography.
The lens is not as bright as the glass on the Fuji X100V or the Ricoh GR III, its maximum f/2.8 aperture (on the wide end) is great for daytime street photography. This quickly shrinks to a maximum f/4.5 aperture as you zoom in. Street photographers typically shoot wide as opposed to telephoto.
Read More: Top Cameras For Photography In Harsh Weather Conditions – Unstoppable Shooting!
Sony RX100 VII has a versatile lens. It has high image quality and high-ISO performance.
The RX100 VII camera is packed to the gills. It has expensive mirrorless cameras. Autofocus is snappy and reliable and includes subject tracking and eye AF. The video recording of this camera is outstanding. The pop-up viewfinder will certainly be appreciated by street photographers. A rear touchscreen, a relatively robust set of manual controls, and several customizable buttons mean you can set the camera according to your preferences. It has a unique combination of features and size; no other camera offers so much in so small a body.
Pros:
- The small size makes the camera extremely portable and pocketable.
- Incredible technology, including 4K video and fast, reliable autofocus.
- Versatile lens with a 200mm focal length at the long end.
- Optical stabilization helps you get sharp shots of still subjects in low light.
Cons:
- f/2.8 aperture is only available at the widest end of the focal range.
- The small image sensor results in less depth of field and inferior high-ISO performance.
- The pop-up viewfinder isn’t instantly accessible.
4. Panasonic Lumix Lx100 Ii
Panasonic Lumix LX100 II isn’t as feature-packed. It’s still an excellent street photography model thanks to its intuitive ergonomics, solid image quality, and compact size.
The Panasonic LX100 II is easy to use and packs fast autofocus and responsive controls, including dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation. The built-in 24-75mm lens is great for wide-angle shots as well as tighter crops. The bright f/1.7 aperture is perfect for low-light photography, though it does shrink to f/2.8 when zoomed to 75mm. Street photographers will love the small size of this LX100 II.
Panasonic packs a lot of technology into its cameras, and the Lumix LX100 II has a range of high-tech features. The AF points cover nearly the entire frame so you can focus almost anywhere.
The touchscreen makes focusing a breeze, and the electronic viewfinder is great for composing your photos on the fly. Street photographers will also appreciate the aperture ring. It gives you full control over the aperture without requiring a trip to the camera menus.
Pros
- Manual control dials for shutter speed and aperture.
- Built-in zoom lens covers a useful focal range for street photography.
- Small size.
Cons
- Image quality isn’t as good at higher ISO values.
- f/1.7 aperture is only available at the widest end of the focal-length range.
- The viewfinder isn’t as sharp and crisp as others compared to other cameras.
5. Canon Power shot G1 X Mark III
The Canon Power shot G1 X Mark III combines the best of compact cameras. It has larger-sensor DSLR/mirrorless brethren. It’s an imaging tool that is well-suited for many types of street photography, including fast-action street snapping, street scenes, street portraits, and more.
The large APS-C image sensor on the G1 X III makes for superb shots in a variety of lighting conditions. It has a long list of impressive technical specifications that makes this camera great for nailing split-second moments on the streets.
It has a rear LCD and a fully articulating touchscreen. Autofocus isn’t particularly noteworthy, especially when tracking moving subjects.
The 24-72mm (35mm equivalent) focal range of the zoom lens means you can capture a mix of wide shots and tighter street portraits. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is respectable, but the f/5.6 aperture when zoomed in severely limits this camera’s functionality at telephoto focal lengths in low light.
Read More: Best Camera Brand For Wildlife Photography : Amazing Photography
High-ISO shots look great, and street photographers will love using the abundance of control dials and function buttons to access commonly used settings. The electronic viewfinder is crisp and sharp.
Pros:
- Excellent image quality, especially compared to some cameras on this list with much smaller sensors.
- Leaf shutter lets you use very fast internal flash sync speeds.
- Built-in neutral density filter.
Cons:
- Small maximum aperture limits the usefulness of the built-in lens, especially when zoomed in
- Battery life is not great
- The lens isn’t as sharp as others on this list
6. Nikon Z5
Nikon Z5 isn’t specifically designed for street photography like the Ricoh GR III or Fuji X100V, and it’s larger and heavier than most of the other cameras. It has one standout quality for street photography. It is currently the cheapest Nikon full-frame mirrorless camera on the market.
Nikon Z5 has plenty of amazing features. It has a flip-out touchscreen. This screen allows you to do work from all sorts of unique angles. It has plenty of manual controls and customizable settings for improved efficiency when shooting. It features a bright viewfinder, fast autofocus, built-in image stabilization, and a fully electronic shutter for discreet street snapping.
Pros:
- Exquisite image quality and autofocus performance.
- Dual memory card slots.
- Built-in image stabilization helps you get great shots with slower shutter speeds.
Cons:
- Larger than almost every camera.
- Very few small Z-mount lenses.
7. Olympus PEN E-PL10
The Olympus PEN series has long been beloved by street photographers, and while it’s not quite up to the standards of some of its peers, the PEN E-PL10 definitely holds its own in key areas. It requires a separate lens, but MFT glass is much smaller than its Nikon/Canon/Sony counterparts.
The E-PL10 has built-in image stabilization and fast, reliable autofocus. And the PEN E-PL10 is much less expensive than other cameras. It is a great option for people looking for a starter street photography model.
Pros:
- One of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras on the market.
- Excellent manual controls and built-in image stabilization.
- Inexpensive, even when factoring in the cost of a lens.
Cons:
- An MFT sensor means high-ISO shots aren’t top-notch.
- No dedicated viewfinder.
- Serious street shooters might quickly outgrow the feature set.
Frequently Asked Questions
(1)Which Type Of Camera Is Best For Street Photography?
A: Fujifilm X-series cameras are the best cameras for street photography. These include the X-100-series and the X-Pro series. They are all ideal cameras for street photography for their great image quality (APS-C sensors), ergonomics (size, handling, and weight), as well as price (affordable).
(2)Is Mirrorless Or Dslr Better For Street Photography?
A: Mirrorless cameras win by a long-shot. DSLRs are highly discouraged for the purposes of the street.
Conclusion
The Fujifilm X100V is small and is perfectly formed. It has a fixed 23mm prime lens (35mm full frame equivalent), has external dials. It can make exposure tweaks super easily, it has the option to set the shutter to silent. It has the option of interchangeable lenses. It also has the option of a flip screen to be able to take selfies. The Fujifilm X-E4 is a fantastic little camera. In this article we have discussed how to choose a camera for street photography.
