Why I use a 28mm lens for Street Photography

[@albertsmith9315]

I'm so glad that I clicked on this. I'm a 35mm guy for decades, and just on a whim decided to explore the 28mm, so I went down the KZbin rabbit hole as usual, looking for input from users of this focal length. This is one of the better ones. I hit "like" and I'm subscribed.

[@moshdeenotabot]

The color compositions you find are stunning

[@ivunchow]

The beauty of the 28. Always interesting to hear other street photographers talk about why they choose to use a certain focal length. Nice video as always!

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Ivan

[@dailyjen-s8r]

Can we talk about colorgrading too? please🕊

[@WoodenChickenHead]

Ha. I saw that poodle guy by Westminster Bridge on Monday. Small world.

[@frame-lines]

Haha he was pretty into that photo shoot 🤷🏻‍♂️🙂

[@ThiagoFerreira-jn4td]

Great video, very good. I don't know if there's already a Framelines video explaining how you got to what is now your visual identity, but could you talk about how you got to the color style you use today? Thanks!

[@johnthorburn1913]

Had some good dealings with MPB. Great vid, Josh, glad that you’re both getting back into the swing of things! Keep them coming!

[@frame-lines]

Nice one John ! Thanks for watching ❤️🙌

[@sarahdippity]

Are you talking about 28mm with full frame? Mine is aps-c so … just wondering. :) Love your work!!

[@sonholee5769]

Love those colors. Doesn't seem to matter what camera system, you bend the files to your will. Heh... A few years ago, I bought the old 18mmf2 (approx 28mm focal length) on fuji and I hated it at first. Just hated it. The 35mm (50mm full frame) and especially the 27mm (40mm full frame) was really natural for me. But I stubbornly left the 18mm on my little fuji and now I rarely take it off. I put on other primes from time to time, but I keep wanting to back up.

[@andreasstein421]

You have such a fantastic eye for colors! I love it!

[@GlokktoPoland]

These pictures look so dreamy

[@davidhollenback3345]

Really interesting video. I've been shooting street and family mostly with 42mm (fuji 27 f2.8). But I find myself backing up and running out of room from time to time. Maybe it's time to try the 28mm option. In the video, I especially enjoyed the way you paired your POV video with stills. It was a great illustration of what you saw and what you photographed. Thanks!

[@CianMcsweeney]

I think both are great for street personally, but yeah for tighter situations 28mm (18 on fuji) is the best option

[@binksdave]

Just found this video and this is exactly me too - 27mm pancake for the last couple of years and the 18-55 kit lens has just languished on a shelf. Def inspired to take it back out for a spin now though!

[@Shmyrk]

*Video starts with beautiful shade of red* Me- op, it’s Josh today!

[@frame-lines]

Hahaha ❤️

[@WesleyVerhoevePhotography]

yes! huge fan of the 28, and even the 24 for me

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Wesley! I love 24mm too

[@isaaclima8918]

Love the colors. Can you do an editing vid for the photos?

[@frame-lines]

thank you very much, workshops coming soon hopefully

[@NikiDorian]

Loved your colors!!

[@Holl.Mvrk.]

Fuji is about to drop the new 18mm f1.4 and not I think I might just have to pick it up. 28mm is one of my favorite focal lengths. I loved my GRii&iii 🤙🏼 may have to sell the 90mmf2

[@frame-lines]

ah nice one Mark, thanks for watching

[@LouisLuzuka]

*subbed* much love from Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦

[@bim2443]

Good video - Thank you. I would have liked to have view some of your low light shots of London at night to see how the f2.8 deals with flares and ambient light.

[@Narsuitus]

For street shooting, I have used 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 28, 24, and 21mm in one-camera / one prime lens situations. The 35mm is my personal favorite. When street shooting with my Leica rangefinders, I prefer to use a 21, 35, 90mm kit.

[@Milan-cf1xe]

i know its a different situation but do you think for filmmaking or in general you could skip a 50mm? I ask it because i really like the 35mm like you and then i think everyone needs a 85mm or more for portraits and a 21mm or 24mm. So with 3 lenses i simply don't have the money to buy another lens

[@Narsuitus]

@@Milan-cf1xe For filmmaking and general photography, I could easily skip 50mm. An 85/35/24 or an 85/35/21 is all I really need for general shooting. However, shooting a live theatrical performance is the only time when I prefer to use a 24/50/105 kit.

[@filmic1]

Interesting to hear about reasons for using a 28mm lens. I've almost always used one, since my Nikkormat FTn days. I had a Nikkor 28mm f3.5HC on it. Thanks for mentioning Garry Winogrand's ubiquitous use of one.

[@AlejandroRamos-im4to]

Great video... your descriptions helped me to appreciate more my 28 mm cameras / lens!!

[@oncleschultz]

You're so good guys, sensisitive and sensible... Wish your channel great success

[@fabriziocavalleri5092]

I discovered 28mm for street photography 2 years ago when i bought my ricoh gr3. I have since abandoned the long focal lengths. Video very interesting!

[@kubowich]

-100 Clarity is the new Orange&Teal ?

[@frame-lines]

*mic drop*

[@JamesB-yp3dh]

Right? Every time he showed a photo I suddenly felt like I needed glasses. And what a weird low contrast pink hue over everything.

[@carlmcneill1139]

It's nice to see s someone using a Nikon. It's rare to see anyone using a Nikon or Canon on KZbin. I'm sure there's many that do. Is the d850 not a bit big and heavy for street photography? It seems that most people opt for small lightweight kits these days. I bought a 28mm for my z6 II at Christmas. I've been using it a lot. I bought the 40mm around Thanksgiving in 2022. I thought it would be a good compromise between the 35mm and 50mm. I love that lens. I also have the z8 but I mainly use it for sports and wildlife.

[@edc5338]

I have the 28mm conversion lens for my X100v. Love it.

[@Monomonmamon]

my first ever prime lens was a smc pentax-m 28mm 2.8 always a partner to my canon dslr it's the lens that teached me that your feet is the best zoom sometimes and how to compose your photos in sudden moments (+ it's so small I can just put my camera with the 28mm lens on my bag easily)

[@geoffhanbury4978]

Josh. Marcia has just sent me this link. I had no idea about your dedication and talent. Fantastic work and congratulations on the book. When the madness of Covid has subsided you are welocme to visit us in Pembrokehsire. Down here the inspiration is more often the natural rather than the human and urban environment. It would be interesting to see what you make of it.

[@marlonb.8243]

I just gravitated towards the 28mm lens. It's what I see out of my eyes. For landscapes, I tend to go wider than 28mm.

[@chirag4]

simply superb, this video, visuals / scenes were par excellence

[@frame-lines]

ah thank you very much! 😁

[@finn4240]

Hey josh how do you edit your colors so beautifulll theyre so dreamy i love it so much

[@blakemartin1700]

Very timely with the new release of the Fuji 18mm f1.4

[@frame-lines]

ah yes Shane mentioned that, I think he is keen to try it on the xpro..!

[@jordhon]

Your color processing is so iconic Josh! I even have a custom preset in LR called "spicy meatball" when I want to play around with those vibrant pastelly reds/yellows/blues :) Just got a 28mm for my Pentax super program and I'm stoked to shoot with it too! The 33mm on my x100f is still good but sometimes, you're right, you just want that extra extra. Great vid!

[@frame-lines]

Aha nice one Jordon! Thanks for watching - hugely appreciated - enjoy the 28mm

[@walkingmanvideo9455]

I have quite enjoyed 28mm since moving up to a Leica Q3. I always preferred a 24mm focal length when travelling. I tried 35 and 50mm but found both too constrictive for my style. I was concerned about 28mm prior to the camera arriving. I find 28mm is a sweet spot for wide but not too wide to make things to exaggerated. Great video mr spicy meatball!!!!!

[@NoName-jq7tj]

Hello what about using a 16-35mm lens but shooting on a 28mm focal length as I can’t invest at present in new lenses.

[@ChristopherRusanowsky]

Love your channel. Be cool to hear about street and storytelling. Thanks for the content!

[@piazzatron]

Great vid! I've been shooting my Ricoh on 35mm crop mode because I got so used to that from the X100F, but this inspired me to get more comfortable with the 28 💪

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Michael,

[@piazzatron]

@@AA_fromtexas Ricoh GR has an 18.3mm focal length which is roughly 28mm equivalent in full frame terms.

[@AA_fromtexas]

@@piazzatron I’m an idiot 😂

[@sliepa]

28mm's is my favorite lens too. Enjoyed your video. Like the comments about Gary Winograd's "dance".

[@kimgonzalez1591]

Beautiful comps! I’ve never shot with an auto lens it’s such a luxury for me maybe some day

[@RandomVideos-hm3kg]

For indoor sports 24mm or 28 nikon?

[@mauriziomauricone]

To me the video output looks better than the stills? What’s up with that?

[@icecreammm2]

For me, 28mm is the sweet spot in most cases for street photography. I remember starting off with the original X100 (35mm eq) and feeling is was not wide enough in many cases. Then I got the Ricoh GR (28mm eq) and it just felt perfect. It's strange he doesn't like the form factor of the Ricoh GR II, which pretty much is the form factor you would want for street photography. Using a big semi-pro DSLR with big 28mm f1.8 lens isn't the most discrete way to do street photography.

[@MinimalWave1982]

Hi i wonder is your LR Preset available?

[@LuigiL75]

The 28mm focal length is my 35mm i.e. my “Storytelling” lens! 😊

[@KeAiFu]

Currently, the Sony A7C with the Tamron 20-40/2.8 is my prefered combo for Street.

[@Cotictimmy]

I've just bought that 28mm f1.8G (after seeing a whole bunch of Leica Q2 videos and loving that 28mm portrait look.) It was either £269 for a nice used Nikon 28mm, or £5000 for that Leica. I went for the cheapo option. LOL!

[@frame-lines]

It’s a solid lens!

[@gisele6961]

Josh! Come to Coney! Bring Shane. Almost ready for you both - rides are reopening.

[@frame-lines]

Aha I’m not sure we’re allowed ? Or we’d have issues coming home maybe 😅🤷🏻‍♂️😬

[@gisele6961]

@@frame-lines we go into September, so maybe by then?

[@feydanmedia]

I don’t know what it is..but 85MM is like my favourite for street photography..I often tend to zoom in when I use 28-75 tamron lens.

[@checkmybadself]

Great video Josh. Nice to hear your thoughts about the focal length. Great to see framelines back a bit more often and with a sponsor that I actually use! It seems most places I get content these days are squarespace or manscaped.

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Adam! Much appreciated 🙌🙌

[@jonnnyhol2001]

I love seeing the pov of you walking around and snapping away. An extra long video of this would be awesome to see 😊

[@frame-lines]

Yes more on the way for sure !!

[@StrangelyIronic]

Interesting perspective, 28 is nice that it's right before you really start hitting heavy distortion. For me though, with even 35mm pushing it for me if I'm going to be around people unless it's tight streets and I'm interested in store or shop fronts, I stick to 40mm and more often 50, 85, or a 24-120 zoom. Those focal ranges are definitely influenced by my favorite camera/lens combos being my GX85/GX8 with the Panasonic 20mm and PanaLeica 25/1.4, 42.5/1.2, and 12-60/2.8-4 along with a Fuji X100F for 35mm that I'll upgrade to the X100VI that will hopefully not be out of stock for MSRP indefinitely (that was the case before the pandemic too, I call BS on a supply issue at least prior, but whatever). I have a PanaLeica 15mm/1.7 (30mm) that I use for tight spaces or when the story I want to tell needs it.

[@goldeneggduck]

Been on 28mm for too long. Will get a notch closer from now onwards. But this is not a goodbye to 28mm, just wandering off for a while!

[@HerveM66]

Hi! I follow you on Instagram and really love your photos! You are so talented! I wonder how you do to have this consistency with almost always the same light in your photos? You are really one of the greatest and most interesting street photographers!

[@skfirojali2429]

Wow your use of color is beautiful ❤️

[@frame-lines]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@fredericvasquez316]

Can't wait to be in London next week

[@thomwilliams7931]

so, the ricoh is a apc crop with a 28 so your field of view is different than the leica or the d850, maybe that had something to do with you not liking it as much too? not really a fan of removing so much black from your shots but to each his own. nice video and perspective on the focal length

[@TheNitebinder]

Used to owned a 28-85mm zoom lens. More often than not, I set it on 28mm. Too bad the Nikon 28mm 1.8G is so expensive. The mirrorless lenses cost way too much.

[@scott-ish404]

With my (current) street photography style, I've been leaning more and more towards getting back, as in my DSLR years, to the lovely 28mm FL in lieu of the 35mm I use ATM (a 23mm f/2 lens) mostly due to my shooting scenes from the kerb towards facades and, at least in the fairly large metropolis I live in in Brazil, the pavement ain't just too wide for me to give context or even frame subjects as a whole for such shots and I end up either taking my chances with being ran over by the oncoming traffic or just give up shooting them! Problem is, as I've been using a Fujifilm mirrorless camera and kinda shunning DSLRs for their bulk, and, as I've grown accustomed to good olde zone-focusing via manual focus lenses, I've unwillingly come to the conclusion theres is, as of Oct 2022, some sort of shortage for manual lens offerings in this FL for the X-system. I mean, with only - as far as I can recall - the TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 (too bulky for such a short FL, if you ask me) and a f/6.3 18-mm pinhole lens (too narrow an aperture for the odd night shooting) by another Chinese brand currently on offer, one can't say there is a plethora of manual lenses in this focal length as say, there is for the more popular 24 or 35mm. And in the vintage-lens front, there isn't commonly such short focal lengths available either. Pity!

[@scott-ish404]

In time: another point for the 28mm's ''score' that I've just been bitterly reminded of after checking out yesterday's badly framed-but-zone focused attempt at photographing a man sitting by the kerb while waiting for the bus: at least for me, the shoot-from-the-hip hit rate is much more realistic (I wouldn't say 'high', as I don't practise it as much as I should) with its wider angle than it is with 35mm - which I used last night for said lost shot.

[@robbiebarnes]

Congrats on getting MPB onboard! That’s a great move.

[@frame-lines]

We’re super excited! Cheers Robbie

[@gilltim5711]

Amazing how I can see instantly the difference between the Leica Q and the Nikon D850. Leica is stunning. It just has a snappiness to it that an SLR can't have. No doubt the new Z will equal or come close to the Leica Q.

[@clintwoosley9512]

Absolutely beautiful eye with the most distinctive colors. You will be a classic photographer of this time. So glad I’ve got both y’all’s books! I consider them better investments than Bitcoin! 🥂

[@frame-lines]

ha way too kind Clint! So glad you like the book!!

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

i have recently added a 28/2 to my 50/1.8 sony kit. i found it so difficult to compose the frame. i was often too far away and when i stepped closer, my presence became obvious and changed the moment. settings? af-s/af-c? f5.6? 1/160th? thanks for the effort and the sharing. thumbs up.

[@jonathanmalin8779]

loving the sponsor! My Xpro-2 came from there last year!

[@frame-lines]

Aha nice one ❤️

[@michel559]

My X-Pro1 came from them recently. Yes, indeed, an XP1 in 2021 😎 an I use a 18mm/f2 (28mmFF) with it 😉.

[@JairajSinghPatil]

What wrist strap is that?

[@baladino]

You make a compelling argument. Phenomenal pictures ! May I ask if most of the pictures made with the Q was at F8 ? What aperture do you use most often when making pictures ? Cheers and stay safe !

[@ruaridhfraser7137]

great video! i've been trying to watch that doc for ages but can never find a place to stream it in the UK, where did you watch?

[@jordylaforge3522]

Completely off topic: where'd you get that fly ass cardigan?

[@frame-lines]

Percival menswear

[@el0blaino]

I had the same question! lol

[@MargHow]

Amazing video thanks a lot for sharing ! The editing of your pictures is great I love the warm color. I am super curious on your setting to both film and take pictures (I love this process). Do you have any advice to do so ? Which filming gear do you cary on to still be able to have your hands free for shooting ? All the best from a newcomer in street photography !

[@neonlantern23]

Great video, love both of your work. Can't beat the 28mm! Love the one on the Ricoh Gr3

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Harry! I’ve never used the GR3, keen to try one one day ❤️🙌

[@neonlantern23]

@@frame-lines would highly recommend. Goes with me everywhere! Keep up the top notch content!

[@billmartin1663]

I had a Leica Q3 (28mm) for awhile. I liked the architectural street photography I produced with it. But when it came to capturing humans, I found that 28mm required getting inside subjects' personal space in order get "personal" images. More often than not, they reacted to the closeness and ruined the shots. For the last several months, I've been using 40+mm. I can get immersive images at 40mm and do it without creeping out the subjects. My Leica Q3 43 is on order. Best of both worlds.

[@GarryKnight]

Very interesting video and coincidence(s). Today I took out a new camera I had delivered from mpb this morning - a second hand Fuji X30 compact to go with my Fuji X-E2 rangefinder style camera. And the first lens I got to go with the X-E2 was the 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens for street photography. The combination is practically invisible on a wrist strap. I usually shoot at around 50mm, so the 27mm has been a challenge, but I'm starting to get some decent shots. My iPhone XS has 26mm and 52mm equivalents and I always used the 52mm lens for street, but I'm going to try going wide. We seem to shoot similar areas, though I tend to gravitate around the Soho area for the wonderful wildlife there 😁 - at least they used to be there before lockdown, and are starting to come out again, if only at night. Lastly, it's great to see a decent amount of dynamic range done well in this video. And great subjects, too. Thanks.

[@frame-lines]

That is such a great little setup. I think 27mm on fuji apsc is around 40mm right? I use 40mm a lot on my canon 6d and i try to treat it the same as 50mm, and I just get a little extra in the frame for context. Soho's great. I'm around there a lot. Very interesting characters :)

[@GarryKnight]

@@frame-lines Yes. APS-C has a 1.5x crop factor. And, yes, that little extra allows me to outframe and crop in sometimes.

[@thethreeislands]

I would love a 28-35mm constant F1.8 lens

[@frame-lines]

28-50mm F2 would be my perfect lens

[@RogerKeith74]

Good work!

[@jklphoto]

Strong images. Find a Nikon Coolpix A. It is an APS-C 16MP stealth shooter, perfect for travel and street with a 28mm equivalent lens. Save the D850 for work.

[@streetphotography]

Great video! I like the frame @ 6:50 and how the tree branches interact with the people :-)

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Dante. I would have preferred a bit longer in that scene to get a tidier composition but I felt like I was getting in the way of their practice a bit ... thanks for watching 🙌

[@bunathan2485]

I've never really got into 28mm but I figured why not

[@sauravbasu8805]

Which camera and lens did you use to make this video ?

[@frame-lines]

I can’t remember sorry

[@bjoernroy6233]

Love 28mm as well 🎉 The Nikon pics look like proper 28mm. The Leica Q more like 25-26, in some shots even 24-ish 🤔

[@beckgrant6820]

Congrats on the sponsorship!

[@frame-lines]

Thank you!!

[@francisjordan309]

I am also a huge Winogrand fan but I am unable get my hands on All things are photographable. Please supply a link.

[@JBRose]

You can rent and/or buy on Amazon Prime Video, if you have a membership

[@francisjordan309]

@@JBRose Thanks. Ive go prime and will try now

[@thomasjames7644]

28mm and 50mm work great together imo.

[@frame-lines]

Agreed. I

[@samhardy2038]

Good job. Like your content. Will stay with you. Keep them coming. Thanks

[@frame-lines]

Nice one Sam - thank you

[@ucevrim]

i'd love to have your dreamy pastel preset :)

[@mubiedits]

Awesome sponsorship I love MPB! Also great vid👌

[@frame-lines]

Nice one , thanks for watching 🙌

[@jamesamoh7340]

Congrats on MPB sponsorship. Hopefully more sponsors on the way that you truly believe in. Why do I think you’re going to get another Leica perhaps the Q2? Lol

[@frame-lines]

Aha I tried the q2 but preferred the Q, found the autofocus on the first one to be way better 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@elliotresnick5433]

Which 28mm lens did you have on the Q that you sold during pandemic??

[@DistilledStills]

Beautiful images, I would love to shoot with you guys someday!

[@zfrancisdumas]

My iPhone is a 28mm and I find it's good for a fifth of the picture I take. I need more then that very often.

[@hakanlindhen500]

28 mm equivalent?

[@WhoIsSerafin]

I’m a 50mm guy but with the 16mm sigma on m4/3 is a 32 equivalent and it’s a fantastic compromise between 35 and 2m

[@frame-lines]

Ah nice one

[@petertaranscorsese2900]

Nice video - I really like the colour grade, are you using a PreSet? - Thanks - Peter.

[@frame-lines]

For the video ? It’s straight out of a Nikon d850 mostly 🙌

[@petertaranscorsese2900]

@@frame-lines - I was meaning the still images...they have a lovely Portra 400 type treatment?

[@raymondbenton5928]

I was using a 28mm on my Nikon Z50, which made it a 42mm. Then, I used it on my Z6. I, finally, opted to use my Z 14-30mm f4 S on my Z6, as my street lens.

[@tendayidabengwa]

Can we talk about your cardigan please? 👌🏾 I need info ?

[@frame-lines]

Ha, Percival menswear 🙌❤️

[@tendayidabengwa]

@@frame-lines Thanks haha, so nice!

[@antonyshchenko]

Great vid! Do you use zone-focusing with 28 or do you rely on autofocus more often than not?

[@frame-lines]

Thanks ! Autofocus mostly ! 🙌🙂

[@achmadsulfikar]

love this :)

[@yungsookevinhong7943]

28 is for shoot on taller 6 feet people, 35 is for shoot on shorter than 5 8 people. In the same shooting distance it easier to hyper focus with 28. But you have to step in one feet closer with the object. 28 is good to crop in to 29 actually.

[@caleblebourgeois7290]

DSLR for street okay nice! Same here unless using film

[@frame-lines]

Nice !

[@augustinhardy6594]

Great video 👌🏻🙏🏻

[@frame-lines]

Ah thank you very much! 😁

[@Arturborzecki]

I got a feeling that this orton effect is too strong on your processing

[@sebastianrich9711]

Be careful with MPB not always the best choice for trading, buying yes they are excellent but trading might shock you with their low quotes