...no rhyme nor reason...
In the late 60's and through the 70's 99 % of my photography was street photography. I had one camera and one lens a Pentax Spotmatic and a 50 mm F 1.4 lens. I still have that camera and lens. It remains my most favorite set up for "knocking about" in the street. At times I used the Rolleiflex 3.5 Tessar 80 mm.
Since I have added Nikon 35 1.4 , I have continued this series of street photos with the Pentax 50 mm and the Nikon 35 mm. I like late evening and night shots and bar room shots, and old alleys.
I recently -due to the currently low prices- have picked up other 50 mm primes.
The RF 645 Bronica, with the 65 mm lens I have worked with when light is not a problem, (lenses 45 mm , 65 mm and 100 mm are all F/4) its quality is exceptional, I like it for color and often use the tiny flash attached. Its vertical orientation I like for street portraiture.
As of late I have been working on becoming more fluent with the graflex and the 90 mm and the 135 mm 4 x 5. Also the 6 x 12 and 6 x 17 with 90 mm f/8. The Brooklyn bridge photo Matt Blaise used for the center of the Apug ad for a past Silver Convention was shot with this set up....90 mm and 6 x 17, hand held. You can see this camera in my gallery, in the tech gallery.
90 mm and 135 would be long on 35 mm cameras, but on 4 x 5 are normal and wide.
I have had minimal problems with the public. In NYC 2 years ago, a food stand vendor berated me, (in Chicago they loved the camera). Mix in with the crowd, act as if you belong in the environment, don't sneak about and hide, be agressively positive and positively agressive, keep moving.... hang out with Les McLean and develope an affinity for the wide lens and improve your people skills. Learn depth of field and to pre focus, your shorter lenses really shine here.
I know this post is asking about tele s in street photography. I like the look and perspective that is "normal" focal length to wide....if one needs to "get back" you can get the similar perspective by moving up in format size.
I really like street photography, as long as it it not a job, and has no apparent rhyme nor reason.... just the surprise of having the proof of what you thought you saw.