Top 10 Lenses for Street Photography for 2025
- The Global Photography Community
- Nov 5, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 4
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 lenses for street photography for 2025. These lenses cover a range of focal lengths, budgets, and styles, so there’s something here for every kind of street shooter.
1. Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR
Focal Length: 23mm (35mm equivalent)
Why It’s Great: Lightweight, weather-sealed, fast autofocus
The Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 is a go-to lens for Fujifilm shooters who want a fast, compact lens for street photography. It’s part of Fuji’s “Fujicron” lineup, known for being lightweight and discreet. The 23mm focal length is classic for street shooting (equivalent to 35mm on full-frame), giving you enough width to capture a scene while still keeping subjects prominent. Plus, it’s weather-sealed, so you don’t have to worry about a bit of rain or dust.
2. Sony FE 35mm f/1.8
Focal Length: 35mm
Why It’s Great: Great image quality, lightweight, versatile
For Sony full-frame users, the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 is hard to beat. It’s sharp, compact, and has a fast f/1.8 aperture that handles low-light situations beautifully. The 35mm focal length is perfect for street because it gives a natural perspective, capturing enough of the environment without too much distortion. Plus, it’s small and light, so you can walk around with it all day without feeling weighed down.
3. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Focal Length: 50mm
Why It’s Great: Affordable, compact, versatile for portraits and scenes
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a great budget-friendly option for Canon’s mirrorless R series cameras. While 50mm is a bit tighter than the typical 35mm or 28mm focal lengths used for street, it’s ideal if you want to focus on portraits or tighter compositions. The f/1.8 aperture also gives a nice shallow depth of field, so you can make your subject stand out against a blurred background.
4. Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8
Focal Length: 28mm
Why It’s Great: Wide angle, sharp images, affordable
Nikon’s Z 28mm f/2.8 is a fantastic lens for capturing street scenes with a wider perspective. The 28mm focal length allows you to get close to your subject while still capturing plenty of the surroundings, making it perfect for busy streets. It’s compact and affordable, and with Nikon’s Z-mount system, it delivers sharp, high-quality images even at its widest aperture.
5. Ricoh GR IIIx Built-In 40mm f/2.8
Focal Length: 40mm (equivalent)
Why It’s Great: Stealthy, sharp, “snap focus” feature
Okay, this one isn’t technically a “lens” since it’s built into the Ricoh GR IIIx camera, but it’s a street photography classic for a reason. The 40mm focal length is a little tighter, offering a more intimate perspective without being as tight as a 50mm. The GR IIIx’s “snap focus” feature lets you set a focus distance for quick, spur-of-the-moment shots. It’s a fantastic choice if you want something small and simple for walking around the city.
6. Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH
Focal Length: 35mm
Why It’s Great: Legendary image quality, small and discreet
For Leica shooters, the Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH is legendary. This lens delivers stunning sharpness and beautiful color rendition that Leica is known for, all in a tiny, discreet package. The 35mm focal length is ideal for street photography, allowing you to capture scenes naturally. It’s a bit pricey, but for Leica users who want top-tier image quality in a compact form, this is the lens to get.