Why I think 40mm is the best focal Length for Street Photography?

[@hedydd2]

Yes, 40mm ffe is my favourite prime also. I had a M4/3 Sigma 19mm f2.8 and recently changed that for an OM System 20mm f1.4 which is, of course, 40mm equivalent. For full frame Sony A7III I have the Sony 35mm f1.8 which is near enough. Can’t really get passionate about really wide angle lenses unless there is a specific need and my Leica Q2, at 24mm, doesn’t get too much use.

[@garvinkelly]

40mm has been my favorite for years but I have been going wider lately and it has been really rewarding to push myself to get closer to my subjects

[@remembershooting2064]

I adore the 40mm perspective on my GR3X, so much so that it's reinvigorated my photography practice. It just makes me feel like capturing scenes and details whenever it's in my hand. Really enjoyed the video.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thank you.

[@luismontalbanpozas]

Yo uso el 20 mm 1.4 con mi OM5 y estoy encantado con el. Siempre salgo con una focal fija.

[@daryljohnson9010]

It’s a great lens isn’t it! The rendering is rather like a Leica 50mm Summilux pre-A and I could hardly be happier. Enjoy your setup!

[@awksedgreep]

Portraits without distortion. Buildings without distortion. Scenes with just enough to understand the scene without being too busy. Yes please! It is perfect.

[@jackbarron8880]

Distortion gives you character.

[@rickbear7249]

That tiny bit of wide-angle will be enough to make your images stand out from the crowd, but not so wide that it'll introduce distortion problems. A good choice.

[@Filippo-Parisi]

I agree. I owned both GR3 and GR3x to choose and I kept with 40mm. Anyways I use also Oly E-M5 III with PL 15 1.7 and or Zuiko 25 1.8. So I surely prefer prime lens. Using Zuiko 12-45 f4 with OM-1 just for holidays

[@mattisulanto]

Good points, thanks for sharing. I also like a 40mm (or EQV) but anything between 28-50mm works for me as long as it's a prime.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks! You had the Ricoh GR3 too at some point? How much did you use it compared to the GR3x?

[@mattisulanto]

@@ForsgardPeter I used the X more but not multiple times more.

[@TXTundra-ex8bw]

I couldn't agree more with you Peter. 40mm is a great perspective for street photography. I used to love zoom lenses then I learn to shoot with prime lenses (usually cheaper, lighter, smaller and faster) and sold my zoom lenses

[@ForsgardPeter]

I have also switched from zooms to primes. I have one zoom lens at the moment and I use it very seldom.

[@stephenjones9246]

Interesting topic and some great images, thanks Peter. My favourite camera for street photography is my GRIIIX, usually snap focus and auto ISO. My next choice would be my Pen F with the tiny Olympus 17mm f1.8, looks like an old film camera but is nicer to use than the Ricoh as it has a focus clutch and DoF scale.. Always prefer prime lenses for compact size and character, I do use zoom lenses for landscape photography where changing lens could be a hazard e.g. in the rain on on the beach.

[@gerryhardman9060]

35 mm was always my main focal length, but since I bought my Nikon Z5 I bought it with the 40 F2 and absolutely love that lens. It’s a nice compromise between 35 and 50. I always found 50 too long but 40 is a nice compromise and 40 F2 NIkkor for the Z system is a beautiful lens. good review thanks for sharing your thoughts regards, Gerry.

[@ForsgardPeter]

One of my friends bought the Nikon Zf and has a 40mm on it. I have a possibility to test it sometime this spring.

[@johnyutzey6504]

My introduction to 40mm was a happy accident. I wanted a fast pancake prime for low light to add to my Panny GM5 kit which had the 12-32 and 35-100 for a holiday trip to the UK. Enter the 20mm 1.7. I shot with it for two weeks; never left the camera. Very pleased with the images in general and FL in particular. I now have two copies for use on multiple M43 cameras. Enough said.

[@ilanwinkel1942]

I use an M11 and most of the time a SL2s. I have few 35 ( SL and M cron asph and Lux FLE2 ) but my favorite lens for street is a 40 mm Minolta Rokkor f2 made for the CLE (version 2) in the 80’s which I found new from Japan! It is an absolute gem and small as a pancake lens. The image quality is stellar and second to none. It is a match made in heaven with the SL2 s , best of both worlds.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a dream combo for you!

[@ilanwinkel1942]

@@ForsgardPeter thanks for sharing too. I like very much your post. Best!

[@Tom43623]

Thank you, Peter, for approaching the topic of your preference for the 40 mm focal length for street photography from the point of view of an artist. I found your comments about the natural perspective of 40mm and the best f-stops (f4 and smaller) to be especially thought provoking. And the beautiful examples you gave supported your comments perfectly.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thank you very much.

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Great work, Peter. Always enjoyable!

[@ForsgardPeter]

Many thanks!

[@thomaschamberlin2485]

I used the holy trinity zooms on my film and DSLR cameras, but found I was always using the extreme focal lengths and not really zooming, so when I switched to mirrorless I have only bought prime lenses. It has been a surprisingly easy switch. Before the switch to mirroless I bought a 50mm f1.4 lens and loved the rendering so much that was the only lens I wanted to shoot. I now have 28mm, 40mm, 105mm, and 500mm full frame lenses and don't feel I am in need of any more. I still used the 50mm f1.4 adapted to the mirrorless when I need the wider aperture.

[@edwardpike1]

I started shooting with prime lens back in 1959 while serving in the army. In Vietnam I carried a fixed lens Canon point and shoot, fixed prime lens. I shot as a freelance photographer for the next 50 years, working in engineering during the days and photography on weekends. At the time zoom lens were considered far lesser in image quality than prime lenses. To day I shoot with the Fuji Pro 2, and the 16mm f/2.8, 27mm f/2.8, 35mm f/ 2.0. When I go out on the street I have the 27mm (40mm equivalent). If I were to somehow lose my lens the one I would have to have would be the 27mm.

[@ForsgardPeter]

That is a long career.

[@richardpriestley477]

Another interesting video Peter .When I trying to shoot Street photography I have now begun to use my recently acquired Sony RX100v with a Zeiss 24-70mm lens .I have found that the extra flexibility of such a high quality lens coupled with a compact body suits me well for this genre .I very much agree about the portability issue and I find as a second camera to my OM5 this offers me the range of options that suit most occasions .

[@patrick8035]

I really enjoy the 12-32 kit lens on my Panasonic gx850, and I basically shoot street on the two ends of the lens (ie 24mm and 62mm). I enjoy shooting wide and being close to the subject but still have the environment visible, then switching to the mild telephoto to capture moments that I spot from far away or across the street. The kit lens collapses to the size of a pancake prime, so it’s the best of both worlds for me. I’ve tried shooting with the 12-40mm f2.8 for a bit more reach and faster aperture, but I was no longer “invisible” and when people see the big lens I do believe their behavior changes.

[@ForsgardPeter]

yes a big lens might make you more visible and that changes the behavior. If that is something you do not want use the smaller combo.

[@tedphillips2951]

I have been using the Panasonic 20mm on my OM10 IV & EPL 9 & I like the results very much. It is a very good lens for the price. I am also starting to think it is the correct focal length for me.

[@chrisbrown6432]

Thanks Peter. Excellent information on this subject.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thank you.

[@wilfs1196]

I am thoroughly enjoying my Fuji 27 f2.8 , much to the chagrin of many Fuji purists, but it works for me on my XS20 & XT4. I also have a very rarely used Fuji 35 f2 & a Fuji 23 1.4 WR LM R which I'll probably put upper sale. Last year my travel lens was the 18-135 which worked out very well for me. Anxious to try my 27 f2.8 in Portugal next March on our vacation.

[@atoradultpianobeginner6219]

8:32 I agree. I walk every night with my OM5 with Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake in my pocket. Extremely sharp lens and perfect for street photography, tiny and discret. And yes, the usual focal lenght for neutral perspective to our human view is got using the measure of the diagonal of the frame. 42mm for FF, 75mm for medium format 4,5x6, 105mm for 6x9 frame, 150mm for 9x12 frame ..etc Regards from Spain

[@GLu-qc6vn]

I've used this exact combination too, and I like it. Do you find the slow auto-focusing of this lens creates challenges or missed shots sometimes, especially at night? I don't know this lens well enough yet. I'm considering using a pre-set focus range, a less open aperture for adequate depth of field, and relying on the OM-5's IBIS plus some steadying methods. Use a longer exposure time, but then I must trade off motion-blur. ... Or capture focus point distance on a relatively bright object more quickly, hold the aperture half-way down, then recompose.

[@atoradultpianobeginner6219]

@@GLu-qc6vn Hi. I cannot help you much. This is not the fastest focusing lens at all, but I am not an action shooter, so I do not miss It. Sometimes I use HDR multi shot to get more detail in shadows and in highlights for buildings lighting at night, but I do not need to freeze the action, so the lens is perfect to me due to angle, size and sharpness ( better in the centre of the crop than in the corners) For me is a winining combo. I've used It in churches, restaurants, museums...combined with silent shot. The focusing is a bit noisy but not noticeable for surronding people. Sorry for not helping too much

[@AlexTovsen]

Nice channel. Like your presentation, practical advice and tips. I am hoping Ricoh GR will have a new model this year.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thank you. There are rumors of a new GR. Not sure if those are true or not. Interesting to see what they come up with. I would not mind weather sealing, slightly better IBIS, maybe a pop-up EVF. I know thta these would make the camera bigger so...

[@Elisha_the_bald_headed_prophet]

​@@ForsgardPeterthey should make the evf physically detached from the camera, to wear kinda like a monocle. With street photography in mind it's a no brainer really.

[@tankerjockey2]

I am new to photography other than the basic point and shoot. I have been practicing a lot lately with a Nikon d7000 and find myself drawn to the prime lenses. I have a 24mm ai manual focus that comes out to 36mm in my cropped sensor. I live in a rural area so not much to work with as far as “street photography “ other than the farmer’s market. Anyway, I am thinking about a 28mm to come up to 42mm. Pretty close and might work well.

[@scrptwic]

Peter I like the 28mm2.8 lens on my APS-C cameras mine is manuel focus A lens so i set the Aperture through the camera without using the Aperture Ring

[@NDakota79]

I use the 18mm F1.4 a lot on my Fuji X-T5 (28mm equivalent). I also use the digital teleconverter a lot and I have mapped it to a prominent button on my camera. With this and the 40MP sensor, I can easily crop to 40mm and 50mm while still maintaining enough resolution. And way faster than a zoom lens.

[@numbersix8919]

I use a Lumix 14mm on the street, or the kit lenses that start at 14mm -- but only because I shoot from the hip. Those photos usually need to be cropped! Lumix 20mm pancake (40mm equiv) is my standard lens. Years ago, Kai Wong said that Pentaxians had calculated a true standard lens for 35mm film should be 43mm, equal to the diagonal of the film frame. So they made the world's flattest pancake lens, 42mm. The field of view does look natural. I usually have that with me, and leave the 17mm and 25mm at home. My favorite focal length is 56mm (a 28mm Canon FD lens). It looks so "documentary" to me, I love it! I really want a GR IIIx -- but for my purposes a GR III would be the practical choice.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Yes if you shoot from the hip, then a slightly wider lens might be better.

[@jackbarron8880]

I like a 28mm full frame equivalent as it forces you to get really good with your composition. You have to get closer to your subject. Otherwise, a 40mm equivalent field of view is a sensible choice.

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree that 28mm has its advantages.

[@freaker126]

i'm new to photography. when i got the nikon zfc it comes with the 28mm. i also bought 50mm and 13mm third party company. but, i discovered that i prefer 28mm for everything. like nature and streets. before that i bought the nikon p950. what i like it most is because of the zoom. especially, good for farway subjects and objects.

[@ForsgardPeter]

28mm is a good choice. Thanks for sharing.

[@daryljohnson9010]

Zooms have advanced optically so significantly that I consider them to be a “multiple prime” for all intents and purposes. Given my preference for light weight, the M4/3 platform suits me well. One roughly 24-90 zoom, one 40mm prime, a great ibis, and modern processing power and I’m good.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Zooms are as good as primes when it comes to image quality. It used to be diffenrent back in the days.

[@gordon3988]

Great video, good advice and nice cameras! Wonderful photos…Vlogging scenes looked good too!

[@ForsgardPeter]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.

[@0ecka]

I prefer primes. Ideally - 20mm, 28mm, 40mm, 75mm, 135mm, 300mm.

[@WSS_the_OG]

Thanks!

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thank you!

[@sjuhav]

Interesting to hear how you reason along the lines of using the 40mm lens as your primary street photography perspective. I do have a 27mm lens on a cropped sensor, and have also come to the conclusion that it is a versatile angle to cover for mixed photography. I've also found that I prefer using prime lenses as it allows me to focus more on what I'm about to shoot, maybe it is a limitation with my brain, hehe.

[@whipsnadepoacher]

Peter, it is the lens, that suits the individual photographer. I use 2 lenses for street, 25mm f1.2 and 17mm f1.2, as you know these equate to 50mm and 35mm, but that is my 'persona'l preference.

[@ForsgardPeter]

As you said what ever suits the best. It is the style and the images that are key.

[@petegleeson1]

I use the GRIII so 28mm and the OM5 with the 20 mm f1.4. For a short while I also owned the 20mm Panasonic pancake, but as it wasn’t weather sealed in the end it seemed overkill having two 20mm lenses and the size saving wasn’t that useful to me in practice so I sold the panny on, preferring a fully weather sealed street experience, with the faster lens giving better low light flexibility as well. I enjoy primes as I like to concentrate on composition, so getting exposure right is enough to think about.

[@HermannKerr]

I have got that 27mm F2.8 version 2 and it is unobtrusive on my X-Pro 2 (probably more so on the X-E4 as the X-Pro 2 looks a lot like a Leica to some people). My favourite mode of transportation is cycling and it fits easily under my cycling jacket, so I can take it anywhere even in the worst weather. What that focal length reminds me of the old plastic Kodak cameras of my youth. I only have prime lenses (16/27/35/50). I think of getting a longer and shorter focal lengths but I wouldn't get used as much (the Fujifilm's macro 85mm is tempting). Of late, the 50 (ff 75) has been getting the most work. For my own photography I will just put on one of my lenses and shot with that one for the day. It is a nice way to shoot because it helps to keep my photographic eye in focus. Zooms just don't temp me, but on a non-interchangeable single lens camera they do make a lot of sense.

[@Rnder72]

If I would have a 40mm lens it would probably be my favourite. During my film years my go-to camera was the Rollei 35 and I really liked that focal length. Now I flip between a 35 and 50mm, the lenses are small (mFT) so it is easy to pack an extra lens. For street I tend to use my XZ-1 and have it setup to power-up with lens set to about 35-40mm. I do like having the versatility of a zoom on the XZ-1 but mostly I use it as a fixed focal length camera.

[@billmartin1010]

40mm is my favored street photography lens. I can get close images without being so invasive of a person's space. 23mm and28mm require me to get too close for strangers' comfort. 50mm is okay, but can look rather like a snapshot. 40mm, to me, is perfect.

[@steventhomas231]

I dont have this focal length for my em10 but for my z6 i love my 40mm f2 as a walk around lens. Good balance of moderatley wide angle of view and ability to get some subject isolation.

[@Daveesrc]

I use an Olympus 12 - 200mm as my go to lens. I also have just acquired a 20mm that I intend to experiment with.

[@evanhanson101]

I too really like the 40mm fov. On my old Panasonic GX7 the 20mm 1.7 was a near perfect combination and the images were fantastic.

[@VanDanmark]

I usually use at 35mm equivalent when I'm out shooting, but found myself wanting to go wider, so I started using a 28 or 24mm equiv. I became a Prime Only shooter back in the film days, mostly because I wanted a smaller kit with faster lenses.

[@simonatterbury]

For my day carry camera if buzzing around town the Olympus 17mm f1.8 or the Lumix 12-32 kit lens. However my best stuff was shot on the Olympus 12-40 F2.8 Pro. Its a bit big but weather sealed and the zoom allows me to quickly react to things happening in front of me, such as a row of pigeons just landing on a railing or someone waving from a boat as it goes under a bridge on the Thames. I am looking at the Lunix 20mm f1.7 but also like a bit wIder so tempted with a used Lunix 14mm f2,5 as just so small.

[@JasperBunschoten]

I like the Voigtlander for Nikon F mount. But what I dislike about most 40mm equivalents, it is usually not the focal lenght with bright apertures. Yes Sigma makes a 40mm F1.4 lens for example, but it is huge. I want a 1.8 or 2.0 lens for Nikon or Canon fullframe in a more pancakeish design (slr). I've owned the Canon 40mm 2.8 but I didn''t like the non mechanical focussing.

[@ForsgardPeter]

For street photography a fast lens is not important. That is propably the reason there are not that many fast 40mm lenses.

[@SBloem57]

My favorite street photography combination is now the Lumix GX80 in combination with the Loawa 17mm F/1.8 manual focus. In addition, the Fuji X100S with the 23mm fixed lens.

[@TheRealfubar]

totally with you on that one! Recently got a Fuji X-T20 again as secondary and every-day-carry. As the 33mm f1.4 (50 equivalent) Viltrox (I already had) often was too narrow for my liking, I got the new TTartisan 27mm f2.8 (40mm FF equivalent) as edc lens. I'm really liking it so far, for me it's a great "compromise" between wider angle (like 23 on apsc) and the 33mm (apsc). Besides, the whole combo is below 500 €, quite "stealthy" and lightweight enough to just always carry with me. Accompany it with a nice camera smart phone and you're all set when on the go

[@TheRealfubar]

though I think the size of the lens is not necessarily the critical factor in regards of staying under the radar. imho moving the cam to your eye is the much more revealing action. that's why I chose an upwards folding display

[@TheRealfubar]

additionally I think, yes.. f2.8 is (even on apsc) usually enough, though... 1.4 is of course delicously bokelicious.. and hardly discussable in low light on a meanwhile mediocre and unstabalized sensor as in my XT-20...

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree that raising the camera to eye level is sometimes the move that makes the photographer visible. It depends on how you approach and move towards the subject.

[@Elisha_the_bald_headed_prophet]

I've purposely been shooting with the standard kit zoom, still trying to find out which focal length best suits my style. O.T.O.H. I've been using my phone's fixed 28mm for years now and got quite accustomed to this focal length in the sense talked about in the video.

[@sebastianop.3052]

I love the 20mm panasonic (40 on m4/3) on my little epm2, perfect combo.

[@WSS_the_OG]

Hi Peter, great video! Just wondering if you think if a 50mm is a big enough difference to matter. I have never owned a 40mm, and I love street photography, my 25mm MFT (50mm effective) has always been my go to. You think going to 40mm (equivalent) would be a game changer from 50mm? Thanks!

[@ForsgardPeter]

If you are happy with your 25mm lens then do not buy a 20mm lens. The difference is not that big. If you have a possibility to test one, test a 20mm on your mft camera. It is the only way to find out.

[@lorenschwiderski]

The Nikon Z5 + Nikkor 40mm f2 is a great combo. A muffin lens. With my Lumix GX9 and other MFT cameras, the Leica 15mm is now my go to lens, with 25mm and 45mm in Olympus lenses, being a second and third choice, and yes, I mix-it-up now and then. I do have a Lumix 30mm macro, and it is pretty fast to focus, while being a sharp edge to edge lens, but the snoot is a tad long. And yes, it can mess with the mind a bit when going down or up between lenses, but you get used to that as well. Going to 45mm in MFT, with that 90mm field on view is pretty radical, but at times rewards as you can shoot across the street and still be tight, or up close as a portrait. I can fully understand the zoom benefit in this regard, as you have on the camera a portrait lens, and wide-angle. I am pretty impressed now with the 40mm on the Nikon, and the 15mm on the Lumix thus it is now my go-to combos. I have the 25mm now on my Olympus and will use the 45mm on a MFT once a month or so, just to get something different, and challenge my mind. :) Thanks Peter, for yet another great video, Loren

[@ForsgardPeter]

Muffin lens! I love it!.

[@spiffhappens]

I use a 40mm f2 on my Nikon Zf (full frame) and a 28mm f2.8 on my Nikon Zfc (APS.)

[@ForsgardPeter]

How do you find the Nikon Zf. I have heard a lot of good about it.

[@paolodicredico8593]

I use 17 mm f1,2 om-system, it's a fantastic lens!

[@ForsgardPeter]

I is most likely the best F1.2 of the three.

[@Galeidan]

When I do street photography, I shoot with 800mm so I don't have to leave the house Honestly I prefer 50mm (FF terms) it is more romantic than 35mm (FF)

[@nagolas8713]

A long time ago, I got started with street photography with an OM2n and a 35mm f/2.8 (then, 5 years later, the f/2). Today on an E-M5 III I opted for the 12mm f/2.0 (after unnecessarily buying a 25mm f/1.8 with the body 😕); I chose it after learning (thanks to your video) that the 20mm f/1.4 did not have an MF clutch, but it offers an angle of view that is a little too wide for my taste; still its compactness is a good point for street photography. I have always hated transstandard zooms, however when I want to travel* light, I opt for an E-PM2 and its 14-42mm EZ, both bought inexpensively second-hand. I would like to test one of the Panasocic primes (the 20mm f/1.7 or the 15mm f/1.7).

[@JimmyPifPaf]

What about Panasonic 20mm 1.7 on OM5 body? Will it be very slow autofocus? I have OM5 with 12-45, 25 1.8 and 45 1.8. I can't decide between Oly 17 1.8, P20 1.7 and OM 20 1.4...

[@daryljohnson9010]

The AF remains rather slow but it’s still usable for most applications. That being said, the 1.4/20 has some sort of special sauce in addition to weather sealing. Although I have a very strong preference for the Leica M’s, this lens in my hands is right in there too.

[@JessDemant]

Oversættelsen I mostly use my Ricoh GR3x and my Sony A7CII with the Sony 40mm.f.2.5 G, so I can also say that 40mm. is my preferred photo length. I also have a Ricoh GR3 which I don't often use for street photography (with Ricoh I always choose to only have one camera with me), and together with my Sony A7CII street kit with Sony 40mm.f.2.5 I also have it in my photo backpack Sony 24mm.f.2.8 G included, but it is not used very often!

[@petegleeson1]

That is interesting, I also have a GRIII but use it a lot for street but like you, I don't take more than one camera as it is more weight and another distraction.

[@benauer3431]

My 20mm lumix is the only prime lens I use on any regular basis. I find 50mm equivalent and wider like 28mm either narrow or wide if I’m stuck with one focal length

[@enossifiedossified3145]

The only reason I might think 40mm is the best is because I actually spent 20 years with a Canonet G3 fixed lens RF camera. It had a 40mm f1.7 lens and it worked well as an all-rounder which is what I prefer for “street” shooting. It didn’t distort faces in portraits the way wider lenses do and it wasn’t as tight when shooting indoors…it covers 56% more area than a 50mm.

[@rockitdude]

Out of necessity, I am using the Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 Pro zoom lens. If there was a 12mm Pro lens (24mm full frame equivalent) I would choose that as my first prime. I have tried setting the zoom lens to 20mm (40mm full frame equivalent) to see if that focal length would be a good prime for me. Wow! Not at all! My intuitive point of view is wide angle...must be all those years with iPhones, either 26 or 28mm full frame equivalent. I do have one other lens for MFT, and it's the 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye Pro. I do use the rectilinear correction a lot, usually choosing the 114 degree FOV, which it the middle of the three available in-camera settings. That is not, however, for casual photography. It requires some pre-meditation to compose an image that makes sense when using such a wide field of view. But in general, I like more context, not less, in my photographs.

[@bosamuelsson5814]

Agree on prime lenses. Do you think it is better to practice your ability to choose objects and compose before taking the picture?

[@ForsgardPeter]

Yes I think so. Making the composition as good as possible when making the image is a good practise. Sometimes I have to crop in mind when I am making the image. Then I make the final composititon in post, Those cases are if the reach of the lens is not enough.

[@KirstenBayes]

I enjoy the 20mm f/1.7 Lumix on an og Olympus E-M5 for street stuff. Not the latest and greatest but beautiful images: we have been on good adventures!

[@RogerBenno]

Panasonic m43 20mm. Autofocus is slow but it's small and makes good images. Most important it fits in my pocket on an Olympus e-pl10. Other lenses are better but they don't fit in my pocket. They get left at home.

[@greysuit17]

40mm is the best!

[@nlanca1]

I intend going out with the 20mm Lumix on my Pen f tomorrow; almost a compact to handle, and usually unobtrusive.

[@ForsgardPeter]

I hope you get many keepers from your photo walk!

[@AntonyBall-h9g]

I'm looking at the voightlander 27mm as a possible lens at the moment Peter F2 I do have a 27mm lens I love the point of view it produces on my XT30 but want a good manual lens I use a lot of old glass on a full frame Sony camera from 28 35 50 135mm but would love one for my Fuji kit the XT30 is my EDC camera with the voightlander 27mm on it I could just put it in a deep pocket easy carry no bag and say an extra battery 40mm is a great focal length in use though I do like a nice 35mm myself more .......

[@ForsgardPeter]

The Voightländer 27mm F2 pancake is an interesting lens. I would love to test it. Not sure if I can get a hold of one. Do not wanna buy it since I have a few 27mm lenses for my Fuji X-S20 already.

[@artsilva]

I always felt the 40mm being the sweet spot for street photography. I guess it depends on what, where and how you shoot.

[@ddsdss256]

Obviously, there are many opinions about this, as street photography is an unusual animal and there are many variables that affect how one approaches it. Sometimes, you can get close (as Winogrand did with anywhere from a 28 to 50; HCB of course mostly used a 50), but that's really hard to do without the subject noticing, thereby affecting the shot (if the subject has eyes, of course). However, there are many cases where you can't (or don't want to) get close*, and that's where you need a longer lens. The only way to address this is via zoom. No offense, but it makes no sense how so many people seem averse to using zooms. Especially if you shoot MFT, even the zooms are very compact (e.g., the Lumix 12-32 on a GX85 fits in a pocket and the 45-150 fits in another pocket, as long as it's a jacket pocket--not blue jeans!), plus of course MFT has deeper DoF for a given EFL. I happen to like variety (not only the "look" but the subjects), so I just rely on my instincts. I'll sort them out later and group similar images (often from different times/locations) together if I want continuity. *One of the things that makes "street" photography interesting is the candid nature of shots involving the interaction of living things (not just people) with each other and their surroundings, and you often need to maintain a discreet distance to get the shot. This can require a very long lens--another reason to pack extra FL. I know a lot of people have a snobbish attitude toward pocket P+S cameras (and phones), but they can deliver "cleaner" results than many of the "classics" from the film era (seriously--take a close look at HCB's work--zone focusing isn't foolproof). In street, it's the subject/timing that counts--not the "IQ"...

[@ForsgardPeter]

Thanks for sharing your well formulated thoughts.

[@ericlundquist3466]

20mm pro works great for that but im about to replace walking around "streets" from an OM1 to x100vI. More compact. Unless Ricoh pulls out a GR4 in the next couple week's, id go with that instead.

[@ForsgardPeter]

There have been some rumors about a Ricoh GRIV, but nothing official yet. I am very happy with my GR3x. X100VI is already a huge success. It has broken all the preorder records.

[@fatweevlogs]

It is usually confusing for me when people say a certain focal length without mentioning the body, is it cropped sensor or full frame. Fortunately you said something about being equivalent with 40mm on a fullframe, so my conclusion for canon users like me is that the best lens for street photog is 24mm pancake for cropped bodies, and 40mm pancake for fullframe dslr. And 22mm pancake for m series due to the focal lengths being wide enough but not too wide, but they are portable, thus making them invisible.

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree it is very confusing.

[@marioplus321]

I tell you, I used to have [ and love] Canon FE 40mm pancake lens. now, I 'm using [and love again] Canon RF 28mm,just because it is a pancake lens.

[@bjornbjornson9359]

I have Pen e-p7 and Panasonic 20 mm f1,7 ( 40 mm full frame) pancace lens

[@Daveesrc]

I used 50mm on my Canon as a go to prime for years. It can be awkward using a prime zoom, my next used mft lens will be 20mm.

[@foilpainterfantasyartist1711]

I prefer 24mm lens for street photography and cityscape photography

[@ypebanbung-michael8865]

olympus 25mm f1.8

[@MikhailPin]

Hello, sorry if this is off topic. I was wondering about buying extra batteries for my Olympus OM D EM10 Mark 2. At the moment I have the native BLS-50 7.2V-1210mAh. There are BLS-5 7.4V-1800mAh, BLS-5 7.6V-2200mAh on sale, it is written that they all fit and interchangeable, but I am confused by the voltages and amperage. Who uses which ones? Give me a hint, clarify!

[@ForsgardPeter]

It should be ok. I remember having different batteries for my E-m10 MarkII. Double check from the seller that those are ok.

[@MikhailPin]

@@ForsgardPeter thank you

[@Raist3db]

I find it’s really hard to say categorically what’s “best” for street photography. I do mine usually in the 50mm-150mm range. Anyone saying that you can’t do street photography with telephoto look at Saul Leiter’s work. That said, I have also done at 40mm and I love 40mm for sure.

[@Raist3db]

I do want some fast aperture options though, because most / a lot of my street photography I do at night, not in day.

[@frankiefalci8735]

For me Is the 28mm

[@BrettAhoPhotography]

I have never tried a 35mm but do really like GR3X 40mm and Sigma 50mm focal lengths fro my Sony. Is 35mm that much different than 40mm? Cheers from Canada 🍁Brett

[@ForsgardPeter]

Not really that much, but it is slightly wider.

[@dominiclogue5924]

40mm is best for me.

[@mrlau630]

Fuji23mm(35mm).X100vi❤

[@ForsgardPeter]

Did you pre-order it?

[@_cyclofob8990]

Actual i use the nikkor 40/2, but i still look to 35mm. I can't believe that 5 mm makes a difference 😀

[@ForsgardPeter]

I does.

[@dominiclogue5924]

40mm

[@Heart0rHead]

Have you tried Fuji 18mm f2?

[@ForsgardPeter]

I have not. Should I?

[@Heart0rHead]

@@ForsgardPeter Don't know, I'm considering getting it but I can try the 7Artisans 18mm ufo first. The Fuji f2 is not that small as 27 2.8 but not big either.

[@bhadriverduzco5923]

85mm

[@gierre1329]

85 mm is also intresting in many cases

[@ForsgardPeter]

It is, especially for details.

[@silviuavramescu4616]

Olympus omd 5 mk 2 with mzuiko 17 1.8

[@andreasrochow5170]

With mft my favourite focallengths are 17 (M.Zuico), 19 (Sigma) and 20 mm (Lumix). That's less than nifty fifty.

[@bamsemh1]

You aren't getting much street and environment or buildings with that 😉 but good for portraits, that's true. 24mm is better for street 😊

[@ForsgardPeter]

I agree that a 28mm is better for cityscapes, but for classical street I prefer a bit longer lens.

[@deathdoor]

It's the contrarian's choice.

[@peterzeegers9266]

Are we talking micro four thirds only here?

[@petegleeson1]

Peter talks about a Sony and a Ricoh and then one M43 camera, so I think the answer is to your Q is no. Peter is just talking about the FFE of 40mm whatever your camera or format. What is your favoured focal length for street or do you prefer to zoom?

[@ForsgardPeter]

No, both MFT and APS-C.

[@peterzeegers9266]

@@ForsgardPeter But isn’t 40mm MFT is more telescopic?

[@tizio54]

​​@@peterzeegers9266Peter talks about 40mm **equivalent** which means 20mm MFT and 26mm APS-C

[@ForsgardPeter]

I am talking about 40mm equivalent as @tizio54 already mentioned.