Have a chance to spend a day in NYC in the middle of September. Want to do some basic street photos, plus some iconic images such as Rose Reading Room, Oculus, etc. but mainly street scenes. What do you advise for a lens? Am considering the following, all Nikon: 28-300, 17-35, 70-200 and a Sigma ART 50mm 1.4 prime. Can be mounted to a D500 or D750. Thoughts? Thanks in advance for your input.
Your 50 or 17-35 are your best choices.
My Nikon, and Canon, walk around lens is a 28-300. I use it on a D500, D7200 and D850. In my opinion the 28-300 is a decent street photography lens because its covers a really good focal range and it's not real big and obnoxious like my larger light grey Canon 28-300. I've used my 28-300 to shoot in the streets of Philadelphia and at flower shows and in museums, where photos are permitted, and other indoor and outdoor events. I'll admit, it's not the sharpest lens, but for a 28-300, it plenty sharp enough. I'd also bring along the 17-35 if you have a big enough pocket, although the 50 would be nice for night shots.
17-35 and keep the prime in your pocket for inside shots
Thanks for the great and quick input...I think I have a good sense of what to use...
Bring the D750, 17-35. You’ll want the widest lens as possible for the Oculus, 911 memorial, etc.
Consider also the 50 or 28-300
35mm or 50mm are standard street photography lenses, but I agree with rmorrison1116 that the 28-300 would be a good option as well.
Anything between wide and normal. I did a bit of NYC street shooting in the early 70's, mostly with a Pentax Spotmatic F and and Asahi 50mm F/1.4. Most was done in B&W
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Bill...experience is a great teacher...thanks for your kind comment...
I use a Fuji XE-1 with a Fuji 27mm pancake lens. An equivalent full frame of 42mm lens on the XE-1. It's all that I need for shooting street.
I live in New York City, and wander its areas almost daily. Mostly I use a 1.7 28 fixed. Unless you know for sure that you need a long lens (like “stealing” portraits), go lightweight.
As for night shots, noise is no longer a problem below 1600, so anything larger than f3.5 works.
Hint #1: even with a wide angle lens, you will find times when it is not wide enough. Take two or three overlapping portrait mode shots to make a panorex.
Hint #2: before taking the pan shots, shoot your hand to tell you the next several shots in the strip are for a pan.
Hint #3: google “chainpods.” You can make one in three minutes. Then practice a couple of shots. You can hand hold 2-3 seconds for great night action.
zacksoccer wrote:
Have a chance to spend a day in NYC in the middle of September. Want to do some basic street photos, plus some iconic images such as Rose Reading Room, Oculus, etc. but mainly street scenes. What do you advise for a lens? Am considering the following, all Nikon: 28-300, 17-35, 70-200 and a Sigma ART 50mm 1.4 prime. Can be mounted to a D500 or D750. Thoughts? Thanks in advance for your input.
Whatever lenses you chose be aware of where you are and who is around you.
"Your 50 or 17-35 are your best choices."
I fully agree.
I use the Tamron 18-400 on my D500. Wonderful lens. Inexpensive.
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