What's Your Favorite Street Photography Camera?

[Magnus919]

And I confess to some morbid curiosity about trying my Crown Graphic on the street, handheld. I think if I'm pushing some 400 speed film 1 or 2 stops I can make a go of it (hyperfocal being more elusive with LF film at lower speeds)

 

[darkosaric]

Leica M3 with Elmar 5cm f3.5.

 

[darkosaric]

Contax TVS

I just wrote that my favorite is M3, but favorite P&S is definitely Contax TVS. Pictures from last weekend visit to Berlin, with VTS:

 

[Alentejo]

I just wrote that my favorite is M3, but favorite P&S is definitely Contax TVS. Pictures from last weekend visit to Berlin, with VTS:

Ausgezeichnet!

 

[AndyH]

And I confess to some morbid curiosity about trying my Crown Graphic on the street, handheld. I think if I'm pushing some 400 speed film 1 or 2 stops I can make a go of it (hyperfocal being more elusive with LF film at lower speeds)

It worked for Weegee. F8 and be there.

Andy

 

[Magnus919]

It worked for Weegee. F8 and be there.

f8 and be there works great on 35mm film. On 4x5 sheets it’ll give me less than a meter DOF at 3m distance. Even at f/22 my DOF will be barely over 2m from a 3m distance.

 

[radiant]

I bought a new one from Chestnut photo in San Fran this July. Just because they were selling new ones! It is a very weird interesting camera, but the only issue I have with it is locating the vf when I bring the camera to eye!
It takes a while..

Yes, I know what you mean ECX-1 a magical camera in some ways!

In general I have found that equipment affects to how I feel. If I'm using a "toy" camera, I don't take photography so seriously and end up being more spontanious and thinking more creative. And usually more better photographs. Combined with cheap film it just boosts all of this. I don't have to think of settings, cost of film or anything. Just photograph. If I drag my RB67 around the town (and with expensive film), the mood changes completely - it's almost like different hobby.

Sure I like to shoot with "serious" cameras but for street photography I prefer compact cameras. Also people doesn't seem to bother when you shoot with a "holiday camera" versus or some "serious" looking cameras. Maybe it isn't so but if you end up thinking this way, you don't dare to pull up the camera and shoot! But it feels like if I'm walking around with my Minolta 800si everyone notices that there is a photographer around. And when I pull up Samsung ECX-1 nobody reacts at all. And ECX-1 is so quiet, the zoom is more louder than the shutter. So in case someone notices you I can just zoom around after the shot and they didn't even realize I took a picture! This also affects to me too in a way that I don't become too stiff.

 

[darkosaric]

ECX-1 a magical camera in some ways!

Try Pentax Espio 200, it is even better

 

[AndyH]

f8 and be there works great on 35mm film. On 4x5 sheets it’ll give me less than a meter DOF at 3m distance. Even at f/22 my DOF will be barely over 2m from a 3m distance.

That's all Weegee had. I can't imagine him holding a Leica.

Andy

 

[MattKing]

That's all Weegee had. I can't imagine him holding a Leica.

Andy

I'm not so sure of that:
https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/self-portrait-19

 

[AndyH]

I'm not so sure of that:
https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/self-portrait-19

Just when you think you've seen it all....

Still, his fame and portfolio were built on hand held Speed Graphic shots. I use him as an inspiration whenever someone tells me I shouldn't take mine out without a tripod and focusing cloth. I've shot mine many times handheld with rangefinder focus.

Andy

 

[Saganich]

I'm partial to the Rollei 35T for street work under good lighting conditions because it is small and fast. Second I like the Rolleiflex because you don't have to bring it to your eye and that makes a lot of difference with regards to drawing attention to your self. I think cell phone should be the best street photo machine these days. I was very impressed with the latest iPhone image quality and versatility...

 

[cliveh]

Leica M2

 

[BradS]

Just when you think you've seen it all....

Still, his fame and portfolio were built on hand held Speed Graphic shots. I use him as an inspiration whenever someone tells me I shouldn't take mine out without a tripod and focusing cloth. I've shot mine many times handheld with rangefinder focus.

Andy

I took a 1951 Crown Graphic with no rangefinder to the Galapagos and have a couple boxes of chromes to prove that it works just fine hand held. In fact, my Avatar here is a photo of me taken by my companion on that trip.

Here's an example from the Crown Graphic....
Quito - from front of la Basilica del voto nacional

My backup for the trip was a Spotmatic with 50mm f/1.8 S-M-C Takumar. - which I ended up not using at all. I loaned it out to a field biologist on the first day when he dropped and destroyed his camera.

 

[MattKing]

Just when you think you've seen it all....

Still, his fame and portfolio were built on hand held Speed Graphic shots. I use him as an inspiration whenever someone tells me I shouldn't take mine out without a tripod and focusing cloth. I've shot mine many times handheld with rangefinder focus.

Andy

I'm guessing that he used 35mm for at least some of the stills he shot for Dr. Strangelove.
This photo confirms it! https://www.straight.com/movies/394076/kubrick-weegee-and-strangelove-meet-again
By the way, the 2013 exhibition reviewed in that article was wonderful!

 

[AndyH]

I'm guessing that he used 35mm for at least some of the stills he shot for Dr. Strangelove.
This photo confirms it! https://www.straight.com/movies/394076/kubrick-weegee-and-strangelove-meet-again
By the way, the 2013 exhibition reviewed in that article was wonderful!

Wow! I had never seen those, although I was familiar with the connection. Thanks!

Andy

 

[AndyH]

I took a 1951 Crown Graphic with no rangefinder to the Galapagos and have a couple boxes of chromes to prove that it works just fine hand held. In fact, my Avatar here is a photo of me taken by my companion on that trip.

Here's an example from the Crown Graphic....
Quito - from front of la Basilica del voto nacional

My backup for the trip was a Spotmatic with 50mm f/1.8 S-M-C Takumar. - which I ended up not using at all. I loaned it out to a field biologist on the first day when he dropped and destroyed his camera.

So much fun to shoot this way! And a beautiful image. Thanks for sharing.

Andy

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I’ll use just about anything I have film in for street photography but I do have some favorites: For years I was very fond of a Petri Color Corrected Super 1.9 (a late-fifties Japanese fixed-lens RF) as my main street shooter. Then I used a Kiev 4a for a while. Then a Nikon S3 became the favorite. A recently acquired Leica M3 might dethrone the Nikon, but we’ll have to see.

For SLRs, I’m fond of the small and quiet Minolta XD-11, East German Pentacon F and Praktina FX and, as Magnus919 mentioned, any TLR is good, too.

All subject to change based upon whim, what I had for breakfast, what’s on top of the pile, etc....

The S3 is a great choice for sure. What lens do you have?

 

[cobbu2]

I’ve used a lot of different cameras ranging from Leica RFs, 35mm SLRs (Pentax or Yashica) to MF Bronicas, but lately I’ve settled on TLRs, either a Yashica 124G or D. As has already been mentioned, they seem more unobtrusive, even more so than a 35mm rangefinder.

 

[George Mann]

Try Pentax Espio 200, it is even better

I have the 120, which is the little brother of the 928.

 

[Pentode]

The S3 is a great choice for sure. What lens do you have?

50/1.4; the lens that was on it when I bought it. It’s a fantastic lens. At some point I’d like to investigate the other S-mount Nikkors and Voigtlanders but, for now, the 50 is all I have for that camera.

 

[cooltouch]

I have used a variety of 35mm and medium format cameras for SP. But for candids I prefer something small. I have used, with good success, a Canon rangefinder, a Canon QL-17, a Canon ML35 (Super Sure Shot), a Canon FTb and a Canon F-1, a Leica M3, a Nikon F2, an Oly Trip 35, an Oly XA, a Pentax KX, a couple different TLRs -- Rolleiflex and Yashica Mat -- and a Zeiss Super Ikonta B.

If I had to choose from the above for candids, I think I'd prefer either the Oly Trip 35 or the Oly XA. Light, compact, easy to use, and excellent results.

 

[Black Dog]

I have used a variety of 35mm and medium format cameras for SP. But for candids I prefer something small. I have used, with good success, a Canon rangefinder, a Canon QL-17, a Canon ML35 (Super Sure Shot), a Canon FTb and a Canon F-1, a Leica M3, a Nikon F2, an Oly Trip 35, an Oly XA, a Pentax KX, a couple different TLRs -- Rolleiflex and Yashica Mat -- and a Zeiss Super Ikonta B.

If I had to choose from the above for candids, I think I'd prefer either the Oly Trip 35 or the Oly XA. Light, compact, easy to use, and excellent results.

I consider myself very lucky to have picked up a Trip in near mint condition for £10-it must have sat in somebody's garage or attic for years , but I've certainly been giving it plenty of use!

 

[cooltouch]

I lucked into my Trip 35 as well. I bought a fellow's outfit of a couple of OM-2s with lenses and the Trip 35 was tossed in with the rest. Best of all, it's a black one, which seems to go for a premium these days. It's in very nice shape too.

 

[anthonym3]

LEICA M-3 50mm 2.8 ELMAR collapsible