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do you do street photography with a long lens

cheerfulgator
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · do you do street photography with a long lens

People criticize it. But I've gotten some of my best shots with a long lens. I used to use a superzoom for my A7Riii (now A7Riv) but I don't like the image quality. Do you have a suggestion? Something around 200mm. Nothing huge like the 70-200 F2.8 which is intimidating. I realize this is a tall order.

And I also use wider angle lenses for street, but as I said, my best shots have been the long lens, voyeuristically peering at someone or some group.

Apr 13, 2023 at 09:11 AM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · do you do street photography with a long lens

Yes I do! I do use my Canon 70-200f2.8 98% of the time(when I feel the need for a long lens) but I have a "go everywhere" Canon 18-300mm also
that travels with me.
But I believe, for me personally, my Canon 24-70 is my "go to" street lens. Extremely sharp and allows me room to move around for wider views without focal distortion.
Good luck and happy shooting!
Dan

Apr 13, 2023 at 11:25 AM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · do you do street photography with a long lens

cheerfulgator wrote:
People criticize it. (.

Let them criticize a long lens.! If it works for you for the subject you are shooting..go for it! That is what I do.
And I have much success with using a long zoom and I am not a zoom lens person. But these 2 Canon's are superb on all my Canon bodies!
Dan

Edited on Apr 14, 2023 at 11:36 AM · View previous versions

Apr 13, 2023 at 12:16 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · do you do street photography with a long lens

No I don't. I have been using a 24 lately. But it is usually a 35. My opinion is with long lenses the separation comes through in the image when the photographer is at a distance. There is usually a lack of feeling of place that one gets from being part of it all and actually down in it. I like to get all down in it. My favorite street work from my favorite street photographers all use normal to wide angle lenses. I work Leica Ms becasue they are unasuming, small, quiet and fast.

Apr 13, 2023 at 06:17 PM

KE_Photo
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · do you do street photography with a long lens

I just moved from the 70-200 2.8 GM to the Tamron 70-180 2.8 to reduce size and weight and have been very happy so far. It's much more low profile and IQ is good.

Apr 14, 2023 at 09:09 AM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · do you do street photography with a long lens

Great video by one of my current favs.

Apr 14, 2023 at 10:37 AM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · do you do street photography with a long lens

airfrogusmc wrote:
No I don't. I have been using a 24 lately. But it is usually a 35. My opinion is with long lenses the separation comes through in the image when the photographer is at a distance. There is usually a lack of feeling of place that one gets from being part of it all and actually down in it. I like to get all down in it. My favorite street work from my favorite street photographers all use normal to wide angle lenses. I work Leica Ms becasue they are unasuming, small, quiet and fast.

I guess maybe I mis interpreted the OP's post. I use my long zooms to isolate something I see among a wide angle view. Sometimes a variety of images can be created form the intention of a wide angle street photo. But I do agree...wider the better and cropping is a must.
Dan

Apr 14, 2023 at 11:42 AM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · do you do street photography with a long lens

Allen I just watched the video. I have learned something I never really thought about....my 24-70 2.8 Canon is super.
I should re-think exactly what I am going out to photograph! Members are certainly say" Well WHAT were you out to shot?" Valid...I like to cover all bases with the size of the village I live in.
Thanks!
S/F!
RD

Apr 14, 2023 at 11:47 AM

cheerfulgator
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · do you do street photography with a long lens

yes, my street has been voyeuristic. That is a result of using a long lens. I am going to do some with a 24mm prime just for funsies. I did that last weekend. But I wondered about others who have the same viewpoint. The viewpoint is that you get candid shots of people in their own world with a long lens.

Apr 14, 2023 at 01:08 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · do you do street photography with a long lens

You can get that with wide lenses to. Ya just have to get down in it. Most people that use long lenses do so because they are afraid to get up close and personal.
Bruce Gilden

Andre D Wagner

Reuben Radding

Apr 14, 2023 at 02:43 PM

tschopp
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · do you do street photography with a long lens

I typically use my 135GM as a long lens. Run it wide open and feel free to crop deep into it. It's a black lens and smaller than a 70-200, but that wide aperture can subconsciously get peoples attention as it sucks their soul into the camera. The Sigma 85DN is a bit smaller with a slightly smaller diameter, but also proportionally less reach.

Neither is wide enough to pretend you are shooting something other than your subject.

I see nothing wrong with shooting street at tele. I was watching a cinematography video exploring focal length and the mood it creates. The tele being more voyeur, and wide being more intimate. So forget the connotations of voyeur and interpret it as a distant observation. For many subjects that seems fine as it is exactly what you are doing.

Apr 15, 2023 at 02:52 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · do you do street photography with a long lens

To me interesting street work is a lot more than just heads with blurred out backgrounds. It's about how the subject relates to the other elements in the frame and their environments. Seeing those things come together much of time in fractions of a second and then having the skill and the right tool to capture that.

Leica featured some of my work and words a few years back on the subject 5th para to point.
https://leica-camera.blog/2016/12/15/spontaneous-relationships/

Apr 15, 2023 at 03:57 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · do you do street photography with a long lens

airfrogusmc wrote:
To me interesting street work is a lot more than just heads with blurred out backgrounds. It's about how the subject relates to the other elements in the frame and their environments. Seeing those things come together much of time in fractions of a second and then having the skill and the right tool to capture that.

Leica featured some of my work and words a few years back on the subject 5th para to point.
https://leica-camera.blog/2016/12/15/spontaneous-relationships/

Very well stated Allen. Yes street work is waaaaay more than isolation on something on the street. Hence my having a zoom at 18mm-300 and then 24-70 plus many primes 14-17TS-E.
I probably would not post an image where I have selectively focus on a particular small subject yet call it a "street shot". I think some photographer called it "Zone Focusing". The part of his book is what I am saying about uwa/wa street images. There is much going on within the frame using uwa/wa lenses. That is what I DON'T want to miss.

That is what I like to see!
S/F!
RD

Edited on Apr 16, 2023 at 12:34 PM · View previous versions

Apr 16, 2023 at 10:22 AM

fotoactvst
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · do you do street photography with a long lens

cheerfulgator wrote:
People criticize it. But I've gotten some of my best shots with a long lens. I used to use a superzoom for my A7Riii (now A7Riv) but I don't like the image quality. Do you have a suggestion? Something around 200mm. Nothing huge like the 70-200 F2.8 which is intimidating. I realize this is a tall order.

And I also use wider angle lenses for street, but as I said, my best shots have been the long lens, voyeuristically peering at someone or some group.

Street photography is possible with a long lens. The great Andreas Feininger made striking street photography with a large format film camera and with what can only be described as a 'steampunk' lens:

http://anthonylukephotography.blogspot.com/2011/06/photographer-profile-andreas-feininger.html

Urbanscapes? Depends on the definition of street I guess. Still, a search for street with a tele will show it is not atypical.

Apr 16, 2023 at 11:59 AM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · do you do street photography with a long lens

I never said you couldn't do it with long lenses. I stated my preference of what I like and why I photograph the way I photograph.

Never was a big fan of Finingers work. I do really love Davidsons large format work on his East 100th street project. Same goes for Meyerowitz's Cape light.

Apr 16, 2023 at 12:06 PM

fotoactvst
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · do you do street photography with a long lens

airfrogusmc wrote:
I never said you couldn't do it with long lenses. I stated my preference of what I like and why I photograph the way I photograph.

Never was a big fan of Finingers work. I do really love Davidsons large format work on his East 100th street project. Same goes for Meyerowitz's Cape light.

Allen, if I might, I'm not trying to argue with you. Obviously we have differences and opinions, which is a good thing, I think. My first reply was to the OP though yes, I had read your reply. You and I do have similar ideas and styles, and we both are guided by the many of the same greats of the past.

I apologize if I seemed argumentative.

........peace

Apr 16, 2023 at 02:51 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · do you do street photography with a long lens

No problem brother. Just clarifying my position.

Apr 16, 2023 at 03:17 PM

DanielScott
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · do you do street photography with a long lens

Personally speaking, I only like to interact closely with people I don't know in somewhat controlled spaces, and if I were to ever do street photography involving people it would be with a long lens so I can minimize close interaction. I don't really think this detracts from the photography or the genre nor is it a wrong way of doing street photography, it's just something that reflects my personality into the photography.

Apr 16, 2023 at 06:55 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · do you do street photography with a long lens

DanielScott wrote:
Personally speaking, I only like to interact closely with people I don't know in somewhat controlled spaces, and if I were to ever do street photography involving people it would be with a long lens so I can minimize close interaction. I don't really think this detracts from the photography or the genre nor is it a wrong way of doing street photography, it's just something that reflects my personality into the photography.

Apr 17, 2023 at 09:01 AM

Han. Ph
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · do you do street photography with a long lens

Yes , i use a Zuiko 70 - 300 ( 4/3 ) very frequently , mounted on a OM - D em1 with an adapter and i mostly shooting at the far end .

May 01, 2023 at 02:34 PM

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