135L for Street Photography?

Sorry to bring up an old post, but i've been shooting with the 135L as a street photography lense and it is awesome. The telephoto allows me to stand far away and capture natural emotions of people instead of getting up in their face. The 135L is also super sharp wide open so it makes for some wonder subject isolation if you want. I wrote an article about how it's a great under used street photography lens here:

http://crashcoursephot​ography.com/street-photography/

Street Photography with a Telephoto- Canon's 135mm f2L

I hope it helps!

If you are looking for a street candid lens, I recommend the 100L. It is a lot of fun, and the IS helps, espically in low light.

I wouldn't shoot street with anything longer than a 50 on FF. I shoot all of my street work now with a 35.

Holy thread revival Batman!

For street photography, FF and 35mm. No options!!!

Ok actually any focal lenght will work. Its up to photographer, not the lens

An interesting thread as I am looking to buy a prime for street photography. I prefer the candid shots from a little distance so I would have thought the 135L or perhaps the 85mm f1.8 would be great for this. I am interest as to why the 35mm on FF is suggested?

racman wrote in post #16718198
An interesting thread as I am looking to buy a prime for street photography. I prefer the candid shots from a little distance so I would have thought the 135L or perhaps the 85mm f1.8 would be great for this. I am interest as to why the 35mm on FF is suggested?

wider perspective that gets you closer to subject. when I use just a prime for general walkaround it's the 35 f2 IS, and that's not an original idea on my part

Short and wide is the way to go imo.

135mm isn't a street lens period. Way too long that puts your subject out of context, and the context (being the street) is the essential part of streets photography afterall.

I was originally going for the x100s, but instead I ordered the Ricoh GR (shipped and waiting for me at home now ) for the obvious reasons (tiny, compact, low profile, doesn't catch any attention, snap focus mode etc).

Although classic street photography has been done for the most part with wide angle lenses, I enjoy street photos with long lenses as well. Longer lenses with a wide aperture can isolate scenes at a distance with dramatic results. But the wider lenses deliver more intimate photos. If anyone has not yet seen the photos of Vivian Maier (and read her incredible story), please watch the video at the bottom of this page.
http://www.digitaltren​ds.com/photography/viv​ian-maier/

nightcat wrote in post #16718228
Longer lenses with a wide aperture can isolate scenes at a distance with dramatic results.

Yea what you described is a portrait shot to me, not streets

kin2son wrote in post #16718301
Yea what you described is a portrait shot to me, not streets

Yes, we could call it street portrait, or street candids, where the street is important only as much as it brings interesting people.

Candid street portraiture now there's something I could get into..

airfrogusmc wrote in post #16717475
I wouldn't shoot street with anything longer than a 50 on FF. I shoot all of my street work now with a 35.

Yep, my street camera is the Fuji X100 which has an equivalent lens of 35mm. I like images that gets you feeling like your part of the scene rather than ones that make you feel like your standing on the sidelines. Each type have their place.

Yep, wide to normal for street photography, as I like to get the 'street' involved. Plus I prefer a less compressed perspective.

Another thing, in cramped urban settings, it's often physiologically difficult to distances one's self from the subject...you can literally find yourself backing into a wall or into a busy street. Also, greater space in-between the photographer and subject invites more opportunity for cars and pedestrians to block the view.

But for other folks, whatever suits their preferences and style gets the final word.

golden1245 wrote in post #16717194
Sorry to bring up an old post, but i've been shooting with the 135L as a street photography lense and it is awesome. The telephoto allows me to stand far away and capture natural emotions of people instead of getting up in their face. The 135L is also super sharp wide open so it makes for some wonder subject isolation if you want. I wrote an article about how it's a great under used street photography lens here:

http://crashcoursephot​ography.com/street-photography/

Street Photography with a Telephoto- Canon's 135mm f2L

I hope it helps!

Reading your post through the link, I've really enjoyed it.

" There is no right way for street photography, only different ways with different tools. In the end, whether you get up close or stay afar, you’re trying to capture the livelihood of the street and the people, culture and architecture that runs through it."

Usually , I like to carry only Canon's 135mm f2L on my 6D , or Fuji X100 ( lazy mood ) to walk around Pasadena old town for the Intelligentsia cappuccino cup with my wife