The most essential lenses for street photography

[batmura]

What lens(es) do you consider the most essential for street photography? Thanks.

 

[SnappingShark]

I would say a 35mm or a 50mm f/1.8

 

[The_Traveler]

I use the equivalent of a 24-70 and a 70-200 but on M43 bodies.
Smaller, inconspicuous lenses and bodies
There is an advantage of a wide angle lens because on a bright day you can set it at the hyperfocal distance and just point and shoot.
The disadvantage is that pretty much everything is in focus.

 

[gsgary]

28mm on my Leica M4

 

[usayit]

24mm and 50mm

 

[Solarflare]

That depends upon your preferences.

Most typical is 35mm. Gives a good chunk of depth of field if used at f/8.

The founder of street photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson, used 50mm. Requires to learn to focus quickly, unless you have enough light for crazy apertures. Of course, today we are in the age of autofocus. With a good system, you can relax in this respect. But back then it was manual focus only.

Another famous street photographer, William Klein, used 28mm. Even more depth of field than 35mm, but you need to get really close to your subjects.

Of course 21mm, 24mm and 85mm (or 75mm / 90mm on Leica) are possible as well.

 

[ToMaNyToYsJf]

Prime lens all the way

 

[The_Traveler]

It's my impression that street shooters who use a short focal length lens set to the hyperfocal distance would turn up their noses at the suggestion that shooting on P is OK - but that's essentially what they are doing.
Short focal lengths give the impression of being 'in' the action and are certainly de rigeur for being serious, like black camera bodies and berets worn at all angle, but it also means that the shooter must usually affect the scene because he/she is in it.

Shoot what you like as long as the shots are good.

 

[MeddlinG]

Jay Maisel would say 70-300mm...

depends on your style...

 

[peter27]

I generally use 29, 35 and 50mm prime lenses with manual focus. I think 50mm is my favourite focal length overall because it is very sharp and allows more control of DoF than wider lenses, but you have to be on top of focusing since there is less room for error than with the wider lenses.

 

[Propsguy]

On a crop sensor, 24 - 70 2.8 for it's speed and convenience and an 85 1.4 prime for it's small size and buttery bokeh. If I bring other lenses they rarely get mounted and serve as ballast more than anything, so I almost always just bring those two.