Recommend a camera for candid street photography

[Paul Shields]

I really want to do more of this type of photography, but am reluctant to haul my relatively expensive DSLR and lenses around the city centre. I've been looking at some of the newer compacts, and something like the Fuji F10/F11 seem to have brilliant feature sets and excellent high ISO capability. What I don't like about them is their lack of an optical viewfinder. I guess what I'm looking for is something like a digital rangefinder but without the cost - discrete, optical viewfinder, preferably a selectable aperture and shutter mode, and a nice wide-ish lens for street work.

[DavidRM]

I was thinking about this recently. One solution that occurred to me, which might allow for taking the preferred camera, is: have somebody go with.

My reasoning is that two people make a much less enticing target. Also, you won't both be focusing through a tiny viewfinder, oblivious to what/who might be behind you.

Just a thought.

-David

[scoundrel1728]

I am biased toward my Nikon Coolpix 995 for that kind of shooting, primarily because of its body hinge and the fact that the lens isn't very intrusive from a distance. This allows you to shoot in a direction you aren't facing, but you must use the LCD monitor rather than the somewhat inaccurate peephole-type optical viewfinder when you use it this way. You can also adjust the shutter and diaphragm by looking at the status LCD on top; you don't really need the LCD monitor. The small format allows for a reasonably wide depth of field. The newer Coolpix 4500 lacks the status LCD. The 995 is definitely out of production now and I think the 4500 is too, but Nikon hasn't officially admitted it yet to the best of my knowledge.

One drawback to the Coolpix 995 is its minimum 38 mm equivalent focal length. The Coolpix 5400 has a 28 mm equivalent focal length and an articulated LCD monitor, which again allows the photographer to face a different direction. However, this camera looks more like a camera and must face the subject. To this extent, it is more obvious what the photographer is up to and is thus somewhat less effective for taking candids, though still pretty good. The 5400 also has a 5 megapixel rather than a 3 megapixel imager. The 5400 is also out of production but I think Nikon is still making the 8400.

If you want the larger imager of a dSLR but without the acoustical noise of a dSLR, you might look into the Sony DSC-R1. That one has very good wide angle capability and strikes me as a good candidate for street photography.

[cyclohexane]

You could always try getting a cheaper DSLR (older model, used, or both) to use with a wide lens. Also, I do David's idea of taking a buddy.

[Mr. Pickles]

Yup, can't really argue against a G-Series. They are all pretty good, especially in their day.

[JDArt]

The Canon G series is good for this type of thing, but it's not exactly pocketable. The Canon S series is pocketable and takes nice pictures.

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by bauerman

Yes - the S-series are a lot more 'pocketable' and have alot of the same functionality of the "G's" including full manual controls.

Yeah, but try fitting a polarizer to an S-series camera! It can be done but it isn't easy.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by scoundrel1728

Yeah, but try fitting a polarizer to an S-series camera!* It can be done but it isn't easy.

Polarizers somehow don't exactly leap to mind when the subject is candid photography, scoundrel...

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

Polarizers somehow don't exactly leap to mind when the subject is candid photography, scoundrel...

Perhaps not for candids, but they can be useful when taking other kinds of street scenes such as window displays.

[Paul Shields]

TBH, I'm just thinking of something that is fairly discrete and also has an optical viewfinder (I hate framing via an LCD screen). The Fuji F11 seemed like the ideal candidate apart from the lack of a viewfinder. The Leica digilux 2 seems very interesting too - largish sensor for the 5 megapixels, and a fixed lens is fine for this use, but still a little overpriced for what it is. I'll check out the Canon models mentioned too.

[scoundrel1728]

Wouldn't an EVF work as well as an optical viewfinder if its level of detail is good enough? The models mentioned so far that don't have optical viewfinders have EVFs as well as LCD monitors. In fact, an EVF is basically an LCD monitor mounted so that it can be used like an optical viewfinder. The EVF isn't rendered as difficult to use by high ambient light levels as would a regular LCD monitor and has a lot more accurate framing than your usual peephole type optical finder.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by scoundrel1728

Wouldn't an EVF work as well as an optical viewfinder if its level of detail is good enough? The models mentioned so far that don't have optical viewfinders have EVFs as well as LCD monitors. In fact, an EVF is basically an LCD monitor mounted so that it can be used like an optical viewfinder. The EVF isn't rendered as difficult to use by high ambient light levels as would a regular LCD monitor and has a lot more accurate framing than your usual peephole type optical finder.

Ah, I didn't know that. Yes, an EVF may well be good enough though I'd have to try one out before feeling comfortable with it. Are the EVF's considered usable on the cameras mentioned?

[scoundrel1728]

Almost all digital non-SLR cameras with zoom ranges greater than about 4:1 have EVFs as opposed to optical viewfinders. I personally don't have a lot of experience with EVFs, but the ones I have seen work well enough. I also don't hear a lot of complaints about the EVF's being nonfunctional or difficult to use except in special cases like the very low light levels that would normally be encountered only at night. Even here, some EVFs do rather well, such as finders on the Konica-Minolta A series.

[Elitephoto9]

I'd use a Evolt and a 14-45 lens. They a getting cheaper by the day.
Roger

[Narsuitus]

Here is another vote for the Canon G series. Its fast lens, auto focus, auto exposure, auto white balance, focal length range, optical viewfinder, image quality, and small size make it my ideal candid street shooter.

I use a black G5. With the lettering covered by black electrical tape and the camera set for total silence, it is a very inconspicuous camera. I replaced the issued lens collar with a LensMate that allows me to use the same 52mm filters I use on my film lenses. I can’t put it in my pocket (unless it is winter time and I am wearing a heavy winter coat); however, it is very easy to carry in a small case attached to my belt.

[dougjgreen]

I just ordered a Canon Powershot A620 for this purpose and to be a general purpose camera when I don't want to lug around a DSLR with me. The reviews I've seen indicate it's perfect for this, because of the swivelling LCD, good lens, and small size, and 7 Megapixel resolution.