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Nov 14, 2019 05:05:03   #
dyximan
 
I presently own a Nikon D500 and will eventually upgrade to a FF Nikon. My questions are as follows
I am looking to purchase a 1.2/1.4 or 1.8 lens as I would like to do more night/ long exposure and street photography with some indoor venues aswell. I have read a lot and looked a various lenses makes and models aswell as various coatings, blades, and focal lengths. Manual focus/auto focus. I understand that many street photographers will set their camera at a particular focal length shoot away and hope for the best. is this the case, or would you prefer to have a lens with auto focus to accommodate various focal lengths I am curious as to what specs most of you street photographers use and or prefer.
I want to thank you in advance for your time and effort in this matter.

Reply
Nov 14, 2019 05:44:41   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
Why shoot away and hope for the best?
That's rubish.

As far as gear goes it all depends on your experience, what do you own, and (lots of) practice.
For street:
In good light almost any lens and/or a smallish camera will be fine - A 24-105mm f4 will be fine on a full frame camera. I do use autofocus lenses.
For low light a faster (f2? or faster) lens will come on very handy, especially when using a body with good high ISO performance. IS/VR also helps.
I have used both zooms and primes. If using a prime I tend to like wide angle (say 28-35mm) lenes. It all depends on your shooting style.

For long exposure almost any camera/lens will be fine providing you do have a tripod, and remote release.

For indoor venues it depends on what you are shooting. Nowdays I use a pair of micro 4/3 bodies a pair of zooms that gives me a 24-300mm (full frame equivalent) constant f2.8 lenses.

The main thing is to get out there and practice

Reply
Nov 14, 2019 06:34:14   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
"Why shoot away and hope for the best?
That's rubish."

As for manual/autofocus, almost all of my street photography is done with a completely manual camera and non-zoom lenses.
--Bob

RichardTaylor wrote:
Why shoot away and hope for the best?
That's rubish.

As far as gear goes it all depends on your experience and (lots of) practice.
For street:
In good light almost any lens and/or a smallish camera will be fine - A 24-105mm f4 will be fine on a full frame camera. I do use autofocus lenses.
For low light a faster (f2? or faster) lens will come on very handy, especially when using a body with good high ISO performance. IS/VR also helps.
I have used both zooms and primes. If using a prime I tend to like wide angle (say 28-35mm) lenes. It all depends on your shooting style.

For long exposure almost any camera/lens will be fine providing you do have a tripod, and remote release.

For indoor venues it depends on what you are shooting. Nowdays I use a pair of micro 4/3 bodies a pair of zooms that gives me a 24-300mm (full frame equivalent) constant f2.8 lenses.

The main thing is to get out there and practice
Why shoot away and hope for the best? br That's ru... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Nov 14, 2019 10:45:05   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
dyximan this forum is primarily for posting "people" photographs...

Here is the UHH "Street Photography" forum
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-121-1.html

Albeit your query might be better served in the Main Photography Discussion
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-1-1.html in which gear is the primary focus and little if any credence is given to actual photographic technique or skills...

Hope this helps...

That said back in the day when I mistakenly believed "Street" images might possibly have market value I toyed with it only long enough to discover that portraiture was infinitely more lucrative... a.k.a. "Street" was basically a relic of yesteryear's PJ shooters i.e. photo journalist.... btw, they have all since been fired from virtually every publication... Stock Agencies long ago killed that market share...

However if you want to time travel back into the days of Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004)...
And are independently wealthy... by all means go for it!

Again back in my earlier "naive" days... circa late 1970's
Street PJ from Hagerstown, Maryland
Camera: Nikon F2
Lens: 50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor (manual focus)
Film: TriX ASA 400 shot at ISO 400
Developer: D76 1:1

And I would be remiss if I didn't share my thoughts on a solution to your query...
Since you mentioned you're migrating to FF...
The Z 58mm f/0.95 S Nikkor is virtually unrivaled for your needs...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1511298-REG/nikon_20086_nikkor_z_58mm_f_0_95.html
Look no further, this is the glass you desire...

All the best on your journey dyximan...
.

50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor
50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor...
(Download)

50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor
50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor...
(Download)

Reply
Nov 14, 2019 13:01:33   #
dyximan
 
This is in response to both Richard and r.marlaz
Not that the quantity of photos makes you a better the Photographer necessarily or shows your lack of interest etc. But I have in excess of 160000 clicks, And some if not many might say if I have that many an I haven't figured it out by now maybe I'm not too bright or good. And that may be an accurate statement, matter of opinion as well. But that being said this is a Completely new style of photography for me. And as mentioned by each of you some use auto focus some use manual. I have read articles where some street photographers will set up a particular focal length in anticipation of the subject entering that focal length so as not to be too obvious when taking the photo. That being said that is what I meant by shoot away as you would have to pull the trigger or put it on continuous for the 2 or 3' in which they would be entering or exodian in hopes of getting the perfect shot. As opposed to having a very fast auto focus to catch just the one shot at any given focal length.

Reply
Nov 14, 2019 14:47:37   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
dyximan wrote:
This is in response to both Richard and r.marlaz
Not that the quantity of photos makes you a better the Photographer necessarily or shows your lack of interest etc. But I have in excess of 160000 clicks, And some if not many might say if I have that many an I haven't figured it out by now maybe I'm not too bright or good. And that may be an accurate statement, matter of opinion as well. But that being said this is a Completely new style of photography for me. And as mentioned by each of you some use auto focus some use manual. I have read articles where some street photographers will set up a particular focal length in anticipation of the subject entering that focal length so as not to be too obvious when taking the photo. That being said that is what I meant by shoot away as you would have to pull the trigger or put it on continuous for the 2 or 3' in which they would be entering or exodian in hopes of getting the perfect shot. As opposed to having a very fast auto focus to catch just the one shot at any given focal length.
This is in response to both Richard and r.marlaz b... (show quote)


With your permission I can post a few images along with some words, that explain my thought process, that may help with your street photography.

Reply
Nov 14, 2019 21:36:06   #
dyximan
 
Sure

Reply
 
 
Nov 14, 2019 21:40:35   #
dyximan
 
Thomas902 wrote:
dyximan this forum is primarily for posting "people" photographs...

Here is the UHH "Street Photography" forum
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-121-1.html

Albeit your query might be better served in the Main Photography Discussion
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-1-1.html in which gear is the primary focus and little if any credence is given to actual photographic technique or skills...

Hope this helps...

That said back in the day when I mistakenly believed "Street" images might possibly have market value I toyed with it only long enough to discover that portraiture was infinitely more lucrative... a.k.a. "Street" was basically a relic of yesteryear's PJ shooters i.e. photo journalist.... btw, they have all since been fired from virtually every publication... Stock Agencies long ago killed that market share...

However if you want to time travel back into the days of Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004)...
And are independently wealthy... by all means go for it!

Again back in my earlier "naive" days... circa late 1970's
Street PJ from Hagerstown, Maryland
Camera: Nikon F2
Lens: 50mm f1.4 AI Nikkor (manual focus)
Film: TriX ASA 400 shot at ISO 400
Developer: D76 1:1

And I would be remiss if I didn't share my thoughts on a solution to your query...
Since you mentioned you're migrating to FF...
The Z 58mm f/0.95 S Nikkor is virtually unrivaled for your needs...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1511298-REG/nikon_20086_nikkor_z_58mm_f_0_95.html
Look no further, this is the glass you desire...

All the best on your journey dyximan...
.
dyximan this forum is primarily for posting "... (show quote)

If I'm not mistaken the lens of which you spoke isnt that the new one from Nikon with f,95 that's like 8 grand. With the ability to shoot a black cat in a coal mine 2 miles below the Earth's surface lol. Oh And I'm not doing it for the money. I'm just a curious and inquisitive kind of guy who likes to get his facts fiction and opinions from some of the hoggers on occasion.

Reply
Nov 15, 2019 00:39:14   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
dyximan wrote:
Sure


For street, in good light.

Almost any camera and lens will be fine.
The main thing is to be very alert and see posibilites for "moments" and light (very rare to get both together).
You will need to be "at one" with your camera. That means being to nail the focus and exposure without a lot of messing about.
I normally use automation to help with the exposure, almost always autofocus, and shoot raw as it will give me more options when post processing.
When I see a subject worth shooting all I have to do is, raise the camera to my eye, frame the subject, focus and shoot (if you are using a wide angle lens you can have a lot of dof which makes life easier.

On thing if you are shy start shooting at street fairs/festival or vacation destinations where people can be a lot more relaxed.
You may find shooting a family member in the street will help a lot getting your feet wet.
You will find this lady in a lot of my pics.

Some examples.
More to come and feel free to ask any questions.
.

(1) P&S camera and F=6.1mm (wide angle)
(1) P&S camera and F=6.1mm (wide angle)...
(Download)

(2) Chinese new year - Entry level DSLR with a Tokina 12-24mm lens (probably set at or near maximum wide angle)
(2) Chinese new year - Entry level DSLR with a Tok...
(Download)

(2) Enrty level DSLR with a good kit lens at maximum wide angle
(2) Enrty level DSLR with a good kit lens at maxim...
(Download)

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Nov 15, 2019 01:56:48   #
dyximan
 
Thank you

Reply
Nov 15, 2019 06:12:51   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
dyximan wrote:
... But I have in excess of 160,000 clicks ...
Keep up the good work dyximan.

If 36 exposure roll film that would be 4,444 rolls and a big hole in your pocket. Digital has freed us from the great expense of color film and processing. I recall taking spring flowers and spending $50 when $50 was a lot of money, perhaps $500 in today's world. The young in UHH do not appreciate the freedom that digital gives them like we who grew up with film do.

Eric Kim said in an article... "Nowadays I don’t shoot very much black and white film, but because black-and-white development in the states is so expensive (most places charge around $20/roll)"
https://petapixel.com/2015/03/23/i-had-164-rolls-of-film-processed-at-once-heres-how-i-do-it/

At that cost, $20 per roll, 160,000 clicks of B&W street photography would have cost dyximan $88,888... WOW

Reply
 
 
Nov 15, 2019 09:30:35   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
"...I'm just a curious and inquisitive kind of guy who likes to get his facts fiction and opinions from some of the hoggers on occasion..." Totally understand dyximan, thus the very reason I pointed you to the UHH "Street" Forum...

That said, please be keenly aware of the legal implication involved in taking photos of identifiable individuals without their explicit consent... btw, I'm just the messenger here and I'm not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction... However I am somewhat aware of the limits of the first amendment in regard to photographing individuals in public space... And I'm very careful not to offend...

FYI: "As a form of expression, photography is protected in the U.S. by the First Amendment to the Constitution. But photographers are often forced to defend their right to take pictures (and record video) in public places. That has been especially true since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the passage of the Patriot Act."

Times have changed dyximan... we no longer live in a age where newspapers, magazines and printed materials etc are a principle source of information dissemination...

Best Advice: Please review the ASMP's guide to Model Releases...
https://www.asmp.org/property-model-releases/
They may be germane to your endeavors...

Once again hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
I wish you well on your journey dyximan

Reply
Nov 15, 2019 11:47:26   #
CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida
 
To answer the OP's question - I use a zoom lens (18-130) and every automatic capability the camera has to offer. When doing any kind of candid/street photography you don't know in advance what there is to shoot. Perhaps in the sun or maybe in the shade, fast moving or still, and the camera can determine light and focus and adjust much more quickly than I can.

Reply
Nov 15, 2019 11:57:02   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
Street in low light.

These are all vacation shots and hand held.
The camera was a full frame body probably at maximum native ISO. Noise reduction would have been applied during post processing.
The lens used in the other pics was a Canon 24-104 f4 L (which has IS(VR)). The image stabilisation was on.
High ISO performance has much improved with later cameras than the one I was using (A 2005 Canon 5D).

More to come and feel free to ask questions.
.


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

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Nov 15, 2019 12:02:01   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
.

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