Street photography

SsSsSsSsSnake

SsSsSsSsSnake

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Considering a sigma 30mm 1.4 lens for my 550d but for around the same money i could get a Fujix10.

Any advice apreciated
thanks
 
Phil Young said:
The Fuji x10 easily. Its a beast of a compact, easily good enough for professional work and truly is everything you need in a compact.
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I couldn't agree more. While the SLR gives great control and features, most of which you will not use for street-photography.

That said, you will need to experiment to see what focal length you like for this style and what approach you'd like (subtle, or in-your-face)?

Personally, I started with the longer end of a 24-70, then moved to primes (85mm, then 58mm then 35mm). Eventually found 35mm (on full frame) is what I liked, and I liked being right in the subject's space too.

One thing I can say, the smaller your camera, the less likely you're to intimidate your subjects.
 
Is the small sensor of the fuji x10 really that good (for professional work) ?
I've seen some lovely shots taken with it in the forum on here, but it's hard to judge the iq as I only view the forum on the iPad; how well would the fuji images come across on a 27inch mac screen for instance - when compared to say a 40D or recent half crop cameras?

I'm just curious on this :D (as I think I want one)
 
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Another vote for the X10. Any compact has the advantage over a DSLR for street photography because it is so small and unimposing. People barely know you are taking a photograph, and the x10 is possibly the best cmopact there is.
 
gramps said:
That's why I love the D3S with a 70-200 :D
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:p

How about the D3s with the 200-400 VR? Better yet, with the Sigma 300-800 :thumbs:
 
I bought an X10 partly for use on the street but find it misses too many shots due to shutter lag and missed focus. The viewfinder is pants too. I'd go for the lens.
 
thankyou all so far.just 1 for the lens so far.would the x100 be worth considering as an alternative ?
 
Ed Sutton said:
I bought an X10 partly for use on the street but find it misses too many shots due to shutter lag and missed focus. The viewfinder is pants too. I'd go for the lens.
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But there is no shutter lag? and I like the viewfinder (compared to most compacts with none!). Agree that the focus doesn't always keep up as well as an SLR would (no surprise really) but I haven't even thought about taking the SLR out since I got the X10.
 
I've owned both the Sigma 30 and the X10. I'd go for the 30 all day long. I sold the X10 after a few weeks, I just couldn't get on with it at all and hated the viewfinder. The Sigma was excellent for street stuff on a crop, one of my favourite ever lenses that was.

Having said that, I finally got my hands on an X100 this past week, I'd go for that if it's within your budget.
 
ernesto said:
But there is no shutter lag?
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Maybe it's focus lag. :thinking: Whatever it is the shutter doesn't fire as soon as you press the shutter with any consistency. Which makes catching gestures tricky and unreliable. It's all a bit too hit and miss for me.

This isn't to say the X10 isn't a great compact with many strong points. But I don't find it suitable for grabbing candid shots quickly.
 
thanks again all. Dman the x100 is within my budget,you have 2 nice Nikkons there,do you find the x100 at all sluggish after using those?
 
Ed Sutton said:
Maybe it's focus lag. :thinking: Whatever it is the shutter doesn't fire as soon as you press the shutter with any consistency. Which makes catching gestures tricky and unreliable. It's all a bit too hit and miss for me.

This isn't to say the X10 isn't a great compact with many strong points. But I don't find it suitable for grabbing candid shots quickly.
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Yes, that is down to focus speed which is good for a compact but not SLR like. I find it workable.

Pity it didn't have zone focus (like my Ricoh GRD) as that would do it and although this can be done in manual focus I find manual focus a bit of a faff.
Could even be via Fn button to switch between AF and zone.

If you don't use a viewfinder then the GRD is a good street camera but the IQ is nowhere near the X10 although it is a great and very quick camera to use.
 
I've been doing steeet photography for a few years and haven't yet found the perfect camera...in my price range anyway. Most compacts suffer with shutter lag, poor viewfinders, slow autofocus for spontaneous shots...maybe not so bad if you have a few seconds to get your shot or you can anticipate it. DSLR's tend to be a bit noisy, but i have used 10/24/28/35 on crop, 35/50 and occasional 85 on full frame. Just lately I have rather enjoyed my 70's Olympus 35 RC and a 1990's Nikon F90X with film. Zone focussing with the dinky Olympus is pretty close to ideal at the moment.

I felt the X10 was compromised and no better if any than my Canon G11 which is pretty good but flawed in some ways for street. I think it depends really on your style and the sort of images you go looking for.
 
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thanks Blackcloud,between the 24,28 and 35 any favourites and is the 35 different enough from my 50?
thanks
 
Well I love my 24mm on crop and full frame... 35 f2 often on both cameras too. However, 50mm on a crop 550D is almost 80mm, so probably a litttle too long for me but depends on what you are actually photographing. The 550D is pretty compact and pretty nifty handling with the 50mm you have...would be good if you could borrow a 28 or 30mm to see if you get the perspective and handling you are hoping for.
 
Phil Young said:
I would have no problem using this for my portraiture work whereby my prints are sold :)
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I don't think the issue is so much quality with the X10, as I have printed at A3 from my G11 for competition prints... more for me would be the slower compact characteristics...(focussing etc.)
 
X100 AF is too unreliable for street work and MF is almost unusable in my experience. My D5100 + 35 1.8 is a far more usable tool and not all that much bigger.
 
thanks Chris and Bcloud and all.if i do stick with the 550 for street I'm looking 28mm cannon,30mm sigma or 35mm cannon. hmmmmmm
 
Just my bobs worth..
For my street shots I have.. Sigma 10-20, Sigma 30mm 1.4, I will be getting a Canon 50mm 1.4 this week and last lens will be a Canon 70-200F4..
This covers close up and inya face shots for me anyway..
Hope that helps..
 
The Sigma 30mm 1.4 is one of the best lenses I have ever used, and the only lens I regret selling. I will be getting another one later this year.
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
thanks Gerrard.the Sigma 1.4 seems to be popular.you like yours?
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I do... I think its a great lens very versitile as with the Sigma 10-20 too.

Sigma14.jpg
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Here's one with the Sigma 1.4 just forget the subject of photo...
 
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Hi,

I have an X100 and been getting into street photography more. The best pics I've taken is where I have been getting close to the subject, in that respect 35mm is absolutely perfect. I do find that 50mm would also be nice in the situations where I cannot get too close, but I can crop a little with no problem.

I find a lot about street is how you come across - the retro looks of the X100 gets positive comments and I find people are more relaxed in front of the camera than if it was with an SLR.

The X100 AF can miss-fire, I find it is very unforgiving - but it does produce a number of keepers. JPEG quality is excellent and ISO 3200 is very useable. I also find with the combo of lens/sensor that DOF control is easier which helps with isolating the subject and producing good bokeh.

It also capable outside of street photography so you get an excellent back up camera as a bonus :)

The X10 is nice and I would buy it if I didn't have the Olympus XZ-1, but it won't produce images like the X100 especially people shots, IMO ;) . Recent street work in the link below and you can find more in my gallery. I did some shooting in Rome last month (great place for street work), but alas not had time to sort out the pictures yet :)

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=408087

I'm very much now into smaller cameras and happy to compromise a bit, but have fun with whatever you decide!
 
thankyou all very much.well today I nearly bought the X10 then got hold of the x100 but I'm now edging between the Sigma 30mm 1.4 or the cannon 1.8 28mm.not too much in-between those 2 i think?
 
50 on a crop is pretty good for candid. I tried shorter when I had my tamron 17-50, on and I found that when I went shorter than 50 I was almost in someone's face which makes it not so candid any-more :)
 
wildman said:
50 on a crop is pretty good for candid. I tried shorter when I had my tamron 17-50, on and I found that when I went shorter than 50 I was almost in someone's face which makes it not so candid any-more :)
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One of the joys of doing street photography is getting close and becoming part of the scene...then you patiently wait until people around forget you are there and start behaving as normal ;)
 
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