Street photography involves capturing a variety of different visual elements. You have everything from graffiti art and buildings, to 3D subjects like vendors and passersby, to work with. That being said, there’s really no single best lens for this type of photography as it really depends on your shooting style.
Seasoned shooters often prefer short prime lenses for their large apertures, great low light performance, and beautiful bokeh, although many still go for zoom lenses for their versatility. However, that doesn’t mean you can choose just any prime or zoom lens.
Below, we’ve listed a handful of the best, most popular lenses that can help you capture compelling street photographs with your preferred camera for street photography.
Best Lenses for Street Photography
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM ()
The “nifty fifty” suits nearly all types of photography. The reason behind its versatility is its “normal” focal length, which offers a perspective that’s closest to how we see the world with our own eyes and how painters draw perspective on a canvas. With its very large apertures, they’re just great for low-light situations and isolating your subjects. And if you’re looking for the best 50mm lens out there in terms of quality and price, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the clear winner.
As an upgrade to the first few versions of this popular Canon lens, it now features a fast and quiet stepping motor (STM) autofocusing system and a more solid design consisting of much less plastic. Best of all, it’s affordable and incredibly handy, which is why it makes virtually every list of the best Canon lens for street photography.
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Standard Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 50mm
- Aperture Range of f/1.8 – f/22
- Gear-Type Stepping Motor (STM) AF System
- 7 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 161.59g (5.7oz)
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens ()
The 35mm lens comes closer to achieving the 50mm focal length when mounted on crop sensors, but it’s also a favorite among full-frame users as it allows them to capture more of the scene without having to step back too much. Should you be looking for a lens that offers this perspective, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens is a top-selling choice.
Sigma creates some of the sharpest third-party lenses for the biggest camera brands and this 35mm lens is no exception. It features an even wider maximum aperture of f/1.4 and is a very popular choice even for Canon and Nikon DSLRs. It’s pricier than the f/1.8 lenses, but it could very well be your favorite piece of glass for shooting from the hip.
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Wide-Angle Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 35mm
- Aperture Range of f/1.4 – f/16
- Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) AF System
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 665g (23.5 oz)
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 USM ()
An 85mm prime lens may not be one of your first choices for street photography, but it definitely has its advantages. For one, you don’t have to rush closer to capture split-second moments from a distance. It’s also the ideal focal length for those who prefer to focus on details or one subject at a time, most especially with its ability to shrink the depth of field.
This hot new piece of glass from Samyang offers all of those and is already selling fast for both professionals and enthusiasts. After all, it allows you to get in on the action without being intrusive. If you haven’t tried shooting with it but are quite familiar with the 50mm, the 85mm should present a pretty shallow learning curve.
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Telephoto Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 85mm
- Aperture Range of f/1.4 – f/16
- Ultrasonic Dual Linear USM AF System
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 485g (17.11 oz)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM ()
If quality is of utmost importance to you and you don’t mind investing in a slightly heavier, bigger, and pricier piece of glass, Canon’s 50mm f/1.2L is the ultimate street photography lens for you. Simply put, it’s a dream lens for many shooters because of its exceptional low light performance
Paired with Canon’s very own L-series technology, this “luxury” lens offers the best optics to ensure sharper, more vibrant, professional-quality images that often don’t need any editing. It’s heavier because of the extra glass that makes it better than most, so you shouldn’t have any trouble taking the best street photos and portraits with every click of the shutter.
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 50mm
- Aperture Range of f/1.2 – f/16
- Ultrasonic Motor (USM) AF System
- 8 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 580g (20.45 oz)
Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens ()
Although standard primes make ideal street photography lenses for their more realistic view of the world, some shooters simply can’t do without a wide-angle lens. After all, it’s a great way to capture the whole scene instead of one subject and create truly immersive photographs.
Minor distortions aside, the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART lens will truly give you an authentic street photography experience as it allows you to blend in better and shoot more stealthily, as opposed to a longer lens that people would take notice of — more so when you aim it at them. The lens is available for Sony mirrorless and Leica interchangeable lens cameras.
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Wide-Angle Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 24mm
- Aperture Range of f/1.4 – f/16
- Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) AF System
- 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 965g (23.3 oz)
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM ()
Longer lenses can make you look conspicuous, but you might want to take your chances with a powerful lens like Canon’s 135mm f/2L lens. One of the fastest 135mm telephoto lenses in its class, this professional-quality lens compresses the scene, and when paired with the maximum of f/2, creates velvety background bokeh for visually appealing subject isolation.
Fortunately, this special prime focal length allows you to stand further back so you can be more inconspicuous, despite the lens’ size. You can also simply shoot without the lens hood to avoid looking like you’re shooting with a peeping lens. But for fellow shooters, this L-series will definitely make you look like a seasoned pro!
Key Specifications:
- Full-Frame Telephoto Prime Lens
- Fixed Focal Length of 135mm
- Aperture Range of f/2 – f/32
- Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) AF System
- 8 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
- Weighs 750g (26.4 oz)
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II ()
The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens makes the perfect pair as it doesn’t restrict you to a single focal length. When mounted on a crop sensor camera, you can enjoy shooting wide-angle perspectives at 18mm (equivalent to 29mm) and easily move up to 55mm (equivalent to 88mm) for your more traditional street photos and portraits without having to switch lenses.
It may not be optimized for low-light situations, but it’s the perfect choice for beginners who wish to bring the least amount of camera equipment, blend into the crowd, and take smoother, more stabilized videos.
Key Specifications:
- APS-C Wide-Angle to Standard Zoom Lens
- Focal Length of 18-55mm
- Aperture Range of f/3.5 – f/38
- Optical Dynamic Stabilizer Technology
- 11 Elements in 9 Groups
Photo by Kevin Grieve on Unsplash
