A Photojournalist's Favourite LENS - Is it the best lens for street and travel photography?!

In this video, you will learn what my favourite lens is for street photography, travel photography and photojournalism.
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As a working photojournalist, I do street photography during all my assignments and I have chosen three lenses that I want to introduce to you, breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of using each.
But I’ve only chosen one as my favourite! Which one is it?! Do you agree with my choice?
📷 What's In The Video:
0:00 Introduction
00:53 The Lens Shortlist
02:01 35mm Wide Angle Lens
03:50 24-70mm Zoom Lens
05:28 70-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens
06:52 Results & Discussion
09:43 How to Join my Online Communities
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[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Thanks for watching! 📸I hope the video was useful for you. What is your favourite lens? Please let me know in the comments below. Want more content like this? Don't forget to like 👍 this video and subscribe to help me reach the channel's next milestone... 20,000 subscribers! ✊Download your copy of my new eBook ➡ gallagher-photo.com/learn

[@BearBreath70]

I really enjoy your videos. Great to see the disclaimer at the start. Thanks. For the record, I’ve never warmed to the 35. I prefer the 50. That’s probably because it’s the only lens I had in the film days, so it’s the lens I’m most comfortable with. I also like to keep my distance.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Thanks for the thoughts, Tom. I have a 50 that I use from time to time, but it's a little tight for my tastes. But, go with what you are comfortable with 👍

[@dylanrobertson5010]

@@SeanGallagherPhotographer Then there's the 40....

[@silvestersze9968]

These are beautiful pictures! I’m using mainly a 35mm wide angle lens myself… a Canon FD lens. 🎉

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Thanks, Silvester ✊ 35mm 👍

[@george.fakinos]

First of all great video, as the rest of your channel. It's nice to see a real photographer, and not a KZbin one, share his knowledge. I have used Fujifilm X100F (35mm fixed) for quite some time. It was great and I learned a lot. At the moment however I am shooting with Fujifilm X-T4 with Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (app. 27-75mm). A great combination for all kind of photography since it is very small and very capable. I do miss sometimes the simplicity of Fujifilm X100F but the current setup is extremely convenient.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Thanks for following the channel, George ✊ Sounds like you have a good setup there. Good luck with your shooting 📸

[@erinvz3270]

I also moved from an x100 line camera to a Fuji w the 18-50 (and recently added 16 2.8 for when i need an even tinier setup). When he held up that 35 i was thinking my zoom lens is smaller than that 🤔

[@AlexandreFagundesdeFagundes]

Definitely the 24-105 is the one I use more.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Good choice!

[@dillank3240]

I agree with what you are saying. I would say either 35mm or 50mm would be my favourite.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Both great 👍

[@lawrencehorowitz9291]

Great video. I use 35mm (23 mm on my Fuji cameras) for street and travel. I use the 24-70 (18-55 on my Fuji xameras) for woodland and nature because I can't predict what I'll find.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Nice combination. Thanks for sharing, Lawrence.

[@robertsimpson2167]

While travelling i find my nikon 35mm and a sigma 17-50 are great for most situations and as you say not too conspicuous.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Good set-up! 👍

[@leirumf5476]

My most used lense was a 35mm on a canon crop, so it'd be a 56mm. Right now I'm trying to shoehorn using a 28mm fully manual lens (44mm eq) because I want to get used to a wider fov. I mostly only carry one lens at a time each time I'm out.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

I also like just going out with one camera and one lens! 👍

[@dewindoethdwl2798]

28mm on my APS sensor Canon (45mm full frame) and it does seem to do everything as long as I move around. I’ve tried 24mm to get the 35mm effect but find it a tad wide.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Thanks for sharing your set-up 👍

[@KC-in9px]

My kit consists of 3 Canon L series zooms. A 17-40mm, a 24-105mm, and a 70-200mm. I also have an assortment of non-L primes. A 20mm, 40mm, 50mm, and a 85mm. The primes are faster lenses, whereas the zooms are all f/4's. They were all bought in excellent used condition and in total cost less than a single new L series lens. I'd suggest checking out keh and mpb. They both offer 6 month warranties and superb customer service in my experience.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Very sensible buying used lenses if you can get them from a reliable dealer in good condition. I am familiar with MPB 🙂 www.mpb.com/en-us/content/interviews/interview-environmental-photographer-sean-gallagher

[@philcupper]

The 24-105 F4 is a great all-purpose lens, for photojournalism especially.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

@@philcupper Agreed 👍

[@carlmcneill1139]

I have a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm but I opted for a 28mm and a 40mm instead of a 35mm and a 50mm. I bought the 40mm before the 28mm. I thought I'd was a good compromise between the 35mm and the 50mm. I shoot with the Nikon z system. The 40mm has a smaller profile than the 35mm or 50mm. I've been really impressed with the sharpness and micro contrast with that lens. And it's not an S line lens. I like the focal length of the 28mm for up close and personal.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Interesting to hear your thoughts, Carl. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@MARIUS5722]

25/70. 👌

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

👍

[@lyndsaywheelans]

I am a M4/3 shooter and almost always carry my 12-45 (24-90 equivalent) with me for street photos. It is probably the size of your 35mm. I need to work on my confidence with the prime lens in the streets as your images have such a feel to them of being right there. I see the benefits for sure. I also bought a used panasonic 35-100 f4-5.6 lens - it is literally a pocketable 70-200 equivalent. It's a cheap plastic build but the images are pretty decent for being able to put it in a pocket.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Interesting to hear your setup, Lyndsay. If you can, I would definitely recommend going out with a fixed focal length lens, like a 35mm, from time to time. It focuses the eye and mind! 📸

[@lyndsaywheelans]

@@SeanGallagherPhotographer I found a used 20mm f1.4 (40mm FF equivalent) and have left it on my camera for the past couple of weeks. It’s been a valuable learning experience to zoom with my feet and recognize how close I need to be.

[@TL-xw6fh]

My favourite lens for street photography is a 14mm Panasonic pancake lens fitted to my Olympus E-M5ii. Very small but very capable combination and perfect for street because everyone ignores me. The camera and lens combination is virtually invisible to my subjects.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Yes, discrete lenses are the best. I also have a small pancake lens which I like to use 👍

[@devispesaresi9069]

I have yongnuo35mm...28 80 Canon...and 80 200 tamron

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

👍📸

[@cameraprepper7938]

I NEVER use zoom lenses ! Just about any prime Lens can be used for street Photography, I have used 14, 21, 24, 35, 55, 60, 65, 85 and 135mm focal length Lenses, most often wide angle Lenses and the shortest tele Lenses 55/60/65mm, the last two year I most often use two full frame Cameras (which I sometimes use in APSC mode), one Camera with a wide angle Lens and an other with a short tele Lens, a great combo.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Sometimes too much choice can be a bad thing 🙂 Nice to have options though.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@SeanGallagherPhotographer I think a very good combo for unknown places are the Zeiss Loxia Distagon 21mm 2.8 T* and the Sony Zeiss Sonnar 55mm 1.8 T* ZA

[@masaradon8448]

I wonder why you use large aperture lenses if you care about the sizes of the lenses. A 35mm F2 lens would be much smaller and just as good as F1.4 in terms of the image quality. (I've got a Voigtlander Ultron 35mm F1.7. Because it is a MF lens, it doesn't have in-lens AF motor or image stabilisation and hence it is small and light, although I don't think it is suitable for professional photographers.) I have been having a trouble finding a telephoto zoom lens that produces a good image quality but is small and lightweight (so I'm thinking to move to m4/3 in telephoto). I hope a person like you suggests the manufacturers to make a good 70-200mm F4.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Sounds like you have a good set-up 👍

[@sdevita5944]

I've tried several different lenses for street photography (24mm, 28mm, 40mm, 50mm) but I feel most comfortable with the 28mm...

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Go with what feels most comfortable for you 👍

[@gigacolorscapes1859]

I'm surprised not seeing a pancake lens or a semi compact enthusiast high zoom lens camera.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

I do have a pancake lens too...maybe for another video 😆

[@silvestersze9968]

Someone said: “The best lens for you is one that feels that matches your personality.” What’s your thought on this statement? 😅

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

Sounds like how your horoscope supposedly "matches" your personality! Just go with which you enjoy using the most 📸

[@jakubwasowicz1533]

24 1.4, 50 1.2, 135 2.0. That's all.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

😆👍

[@mikkirurk1]

No.

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

?

[@cre8tivexchange]

This video has been done 200,000 times smh

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

I guess this is 200,001 ? 😆 Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy the other videos on my channel.

[@JimRandolph]

Then don’t watch. Cheers.

[@silvestersze9968]

I tried to join via WhatsApp and put in Sean Gallagher under Search, but it says ’No Results’. 😅

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

You need to scan the QR code at the end of my eBook to connect with me first. I can then add you.

[@silvestersze9968]

@@SeanGallagherPhotographer How do I get to your eBook? What’s eBook?

[@SeanGallagherPhotographer]

@@silvestersze9968 Here's the link ➡ gallagher-photo.com/learn