By : Nikon School Blog | 23 May, 2018 |
Are you passionate about street photography, but not sure how to gear up for some intense street shooting with your DSLR? Here’s a street photography equipment guide to help you choose the right gear that will get your job done most effectively.
Camera
All Nikon DSLRs are equipped to shoot with in streets. However, DSLRs like the D500, or D7500 are very effective at high ISOs in low light, and will definitely have the edge when it comes to shooting street action in challenging light. Of course, full frame Nikons fare even better, especially the D750 excels when it comes to low light performance.
The weight of the camera body is a major factor if you’re shooting for long hours. The D7500 (DX) or the D750 (FX) are both lightweight options that are fully capable of handling unexpected and challenging situations in street photography.
Lenses
When going for street photography, choosing the right lens often makes the difference between a successful shoot and a disappointing one. While every photographer has their own favourite, most would vouch for a wide to short telephoto zoom, preferably with an open aperture. No lens fits this description more than the very popular AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR. While from 24mm till 35mm it helps you capture wide frames with lots of action all around, and also for environmental portraits. At 50mm with a f/2.8 aperture, it almost does the job of a 50 prime. And at 70mm, you can easily capture close ups and with some luck and readiness, some candid portraits.
The AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR, is also an excellent option. Its extra focal length range makes shooting candids from a distance easier. The limitation of a relatively smaller maximum aperture can easily be countered by increasing one stop ISO which will not cause any noticeable problem with the cameras mentioned above.
DX format users can opt for the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR or AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR.
Of course, if you’re a prime lens fan, there are many options. From wide angle primes like the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.8G ED, the classic AF-S NIKKOR 35MM F/1.8G ED , and the standard AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G normal. All these will provide the flexibility of shooting in low light with wide apertures, which also allows you to use lower ISO. In addition, bokeh effects are an additional plus, when shooting with fast primes.
Many street shooters rely on telephotos to shoot from a distance, which allows them to be ‘candid’. For beginners the 70 – 300mm range is very useful. Nikon offers this focal length in both FX and DX formats. If you want a greater reach with a relatively lightweight lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is very effective. It will take care of candids as well as posed portraits.
For those who want to carry minimum equipment, and just one camera body, all-purpose lenses like the AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (FX format) and AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f3.5-6.3G ED VR (DX format) are great options. These lenses save you the time spent in changing lens, which can be vital on the streets. Even with such a lens, having a spare body is always a good idea.
As being invisible is key to successful street photography, using a flash is not recommended. Also, try carrying only the equipment you plan to use. Carrying extra stuff for ‘what if’ situations usually doesn’t help. Having spare batteries and memory cards is essential for long shoots.