Getting into photography

[ghost]

Hello,

I want to get into photography, black & white street photography to be precise.

What camera equipment would you recommend for this style of photography?

Peace!!!

 

[thetrue]

I would start with a camera and some good shoes.

 

[texkam]

Small and unobtrusive.

 

[KmH]

To make top quality B&W you will need to use a film camera, learn to develop the film, and set up a wet darkroom to make your own prints.

Developing and printing B&W is somewhat easier and less technical than using color film and making color prints.

If you opt for the B&W route and can afford it, look a Leica rangefinder type digital cameras.

 

[gw2424]

Theoretically, the M9 is perfect for your use.

But it would help to have a budget.

 

[nycphotography]

To make top quality B&W you will need to use a film camera, learn to develop the film, and set up a wet darkroom to make your own prints.

Developing and printing B&W is somewhat easier and less technical than using color film and making color prints.

If you opt for the B&W route and can afford it, look a Leica rangefinder type digital cameras.

While that may be true for "top quality" b&w...

you can make "damn good quality b&w" with any $450 introductory level DSLR or u43 camera.

And you can make "good enough to learn and make great prints up to 8x10 quality" with any of the bridge / enthusiast cameras (lx7, g12, p7000 or the current versions of them).

With limitations regarding depth of field (DOF) control, of course.

 

[ghost]

I would like to stay away from film/chemicals due to personal reasons.

My budget is ~$3000

 

[gw2424]

Holy Smokes! To be honest with you I wouldn't spend that much when I was just starting out. However, I have an idea for what would work best for you. Check out the Fujifilm X-Pro 1. It is a great little camera that is perfect for what you want to do. Pick up the X-Pro 1 and the 35mm 1.4 and you are good to start shooting.


If I were you, I would pick up a Canon 5d Mark I ($600ish), an 85mm f/1.8 ($350ish), and a 35mm f1.4 ($1100ish). Keep in mind that good lenses hold their value very well so if you can find a used 35mm for about 1100 it will only drop $100-$200 in a couple years.

 

[Derrel]

I think the best image quality comes from digital slr cameras, not 35mm film. Something like a Canon 5D-III or Nikon D3s would be my preferred camera. Something that has a good, fast autofocus system,like those cameras do. You could also buy a Nikon D7000 too. And a couple two or three good, fast, quality lenses that are SMALL. NOT big, honking coffee-can-sized, 44 ounce zooms like the 14-24 or 24-70...those things are sooooo damned big and visible....

No, something small, like the 28mm 1.8 and 35mm f/2 AF-D and 50mm f/1.8 and 85mm 1.8 AF-D or AF-S G lenses, on Full-frame.

In close quarters, the 24mm 2.8 lens is amply wide BUT, it has a lot of corner distortion; 28mm has much less...35mm has almost no distortion, and allows you to shoot from just the right distances. 35mm focal length covers apprx 1 foot wide for every foot distant, and does so without people looking like hunchbacks whenever they are near the edges of the frame.

 

[gw2424]

I would probably look for something that is full frame.

 

[nycphotography]

I would probably look for something that is full frame.

For what it's worth. The one friend of mine who does the most street photography... generally gets his best shots with his old LX3.

It seems the unassuming format of the camera tends to let him slip in and out of places smoothly and get the best candids.

Plus he usually has it in his pocket when he sees something he likes.

And they usually print really good up to 8x10.

 

[ghost]

What about Sony RX1?

 

[nycphotography]

I had to go look it up to see what it is. Interesting.

Only two downsides I see are the price ($2800) and the fixed 35mm lens, with the upsides being compact leica like size at 1/3 the price, full frame for high sensitivity and dynamic range, and 24mp.

If you absolutely know street photography is the only style you ever want to shoot, and you have 3 large to drop on a very single purpose tool, then the camera looks special made you.

Myself, if I was determined to spend $3000 starting out, I'd probably get a D600 with the kit lens, a 35mm prime, and a 24mm prime (which I think would be critical for a lot of street shooting) for about the same price, an LX7 to keep in my pocket all the time. The reason is flexibility. If you are just starting and don't know from experience what you like to shoot... the more flexibility offered by the camera the better as you'll likely evolve tastes and styles once you get started.

I'd tell you to save money for software, but you can use GIMP and watch you tube videos to find your way around it.

For street though, you may eventually want a good b&w conversion program that knows how to hit different film styles just and filters just by picking them (like delta 100 w/ a red filter, HP4, Tri-X and TMAX-3200).

Actually... I just saw the RX100 and wow. Talk about taking a shot directly at the LX5/G12 class. 1" sensor, 20mp, and 28-100mm equiv lens. That sounds like an excellent street camera for $650. The only downside I can see is the aperture falling off at longer focal lengths, and the fact that a u43 is both bigger sensor and lower price.

I have to admit it's tough to pick a camera these days... so many amazing choices.

 

[nycphotography]

If you want to shoot street, I think and lx7 (the canon or nikon version of the same thing) is a good starting point.

Or a Gx1 w/ the kit lens ($450ish) plus a 20mm pancake ($350) and a 14mm ($300). Street photographers tend to like old fast manual lenses, and the Gx1 lends itself well to using them with $15 adapters.

Or if you have the money, an OM-D with the equivalent lenses. I haven't touched an OM-D yet, but I've heard nothing but praise for them so far.

Why these? Flexibility... and SIZE. the u43s are pocketable and discreet w/ the prime lenses. The value of that can't be overstated for street photography.

 

[ghost]

I'm not sure if I want to use DSLR on street, I've used my girlfriend's DSLR and believe me not, unlike my Yashica these things get too much attention. X Pro 1 and XE-1 are also good choices especially since there is an M-Mount adopter available now. FujiFilm seems to have larger sensor, even larger than Canon/Nikon APS-C?

Yes, we do have so many amazing choices