Having the right camera and focal length that suits your style of street photography is very important. However don’t fall into GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and thinking that buying a nice camera/lens will make you a better street photographer.

I think it is a better idea to buy books, not gear. Need some recommendations for street photography books? Check out 75+ Inspirational Street Photography Books You Gotta Buy.

Updated: 4/17/2012

Cameras:

DSLR’s

I don’t recommend DSLR’s for street photography. Why? They are big, clunky, and scary-looking to the average observer.

However if you shoot with a DSLR, I recommend using a focal length of 28mm or 35mm (full-frame equivalent).

Micro 4/3rds

1. Olympus OM-D EM-5

When you are shooting street photography, having a micro 4/3rds camera is a great option. Not only is it small and discrete, the high-ISO capabilities are quite great and they take clean photos. Definitely the best “bang-for-the-buck” imho. The new Olympus OM-D EM-5 is a great micro 4/3rds camera, as it has blazing-fast autofocus and quite frankly is a sexy camera.

Hybrid Cameras

1. Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and the X-Pro 1 18mm f/2 Lens (~28mm full-frame equivalent)
2. Fujifilm FinePix X100 (better bang-for-the-buck)

Unless you have been hiding in a box for the last few months or so, the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 is undoubtly one of the hottest cameras out there for street photography. Not only is the body discrete and look like an old rangefinder, it has an optical viewfinder and one of the most silent shutters out there. Definitely a must-buy for any street photographer.

Also the Fujifilm FinePix X100 is a great bang-for-the buck!

Point and Shoots

Ricoh GRDIV

1. Ricoh GRIV

After shooting with the Ricoh GRII for street photography, and reviewing it on ThePhoBlographer, I am convinced it is the best compact camera for street photography. It has a beautiful fixed focal 28mm 1.9 lens and with its “snap-focus” function, it has practically zero shutter lag. It is built like a tank with its alloy body, and feels great in the hand as well. Did I mention that it also looks great using High-ISO and takes great flash street photographs as well?

Rangefinders

Leica M9

1. Leica M9

If you are truly serious about street photography and want to use the ultimate tool, check out the Leica M9. Although it is definitely not cheap, it is a great investment as you take fantastic looking photos without sticking out like a sore thumb in public. It’s nearly silent shutter speed helps you stay hidden, and helps you capture the decisive moment.

The camera is very expensive. If you don’t have the money, I would recommend getting either the new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 or the Fujifilm X-100.

Lenses:

Primes (Canon)

(For full-frame)

The Canon 35mm f/2 is my lens of choice on my full-framed 5D. Small, inconspicuous, and sharp– it is the perfect walk-around lens for a street photographer. I personally like the 35mm focal length, as it is wide enough to capture a background, but at the same not too wide. Also note that the 35mm focal length is my preference, although many street photographers out there such as Markus Hartel prefer the 28mm focal length.

1. Canon 35mm f/2
2. Canon 24mm f/2.8

(For crop)

For 1.6 crop bodies, the problem about primes is that they are often too close. Therefore you are good getting a 20mm 1.8, which will translate into roughly a 32mm (close to a 35mm).

1. Canon 20mm f/2.8
2. Canon 24mm f/2.8

Primes (Nikon)

(For full frame)

1. Nikon 35mm f/2
2. Nikon 28mm f/2.8

If you are shooting with a Nikon full-frame camera, check out their 35mm f/2 lens or the 28mm f/2.8–which is a great focal length for street photography.

(For crop cameras)

Nikon 28mm f/2.8

1. Nikon 28mm f/2.8
2. Nikon 35mm f/1.8

If you shoot with a Nikon with a crop 1.6x sensor, check out the Nikon 28mm f/2.8. Relatively inexpensive and a great focal length when shooting street photography (wide enough–but not too wide).

Additional Equipment:

Bags

thinkTANK Retrospective 5 (Pinestone)

When shooting street photography, it is important to have a small and light bag that isn’t very conspicious. This is why I recommend the thinkTANK retrospective 5, as it is small and discrete–while being able to carry all of your street photography gear. It is perfect for those who shoot with Leica’s, micro 4/3rds, or even those with DSLR’s.

1. thinkTANK Retrospective 5
2. thinkTANK Retrospective 30
3. Timbuk 2 Commute 2.0 (for laptops)

Camera Straps

Me and my Custom SLR Glidestrap on my Canon 5D

If you want a comfortable shoulder strap that helps you capture the decisive moment without looking like a tourist, check out the Custom SLR Glidestrap. It makes shooting with my DSLR for street photography far better. I can’t stand shooting with my DSLR around my neck (way too heavy and hurts my neck–and it looks amateurish). However with the Custom SLR Glidestrap you can carry your DSLR by your hip, and simply raise it up when you want to take the image. Oh yeah, the Camera Split Strap it comes with it is comfortable as hell as well.

1. Custom SLR Glidestrap and SLR Glidestrap

Flash

YN 560 Flash Unit

NPT Wireless Trigger

Lately I have been doing a ton of flash street photography and I highly recommend the YN 560 flash unit and the NPT Wireless Receiver and Trigger. They are a great bargain on Amazon, and I recommend everyone to get one. They are as powerful as a Canon EX 580 II, but a fraction of the cost. Also note they are fully-manual (I prefer using this versus TTL anyways).

Film Scanners

Epson V700

Plustek 7600 (best for only 35mm film)

If you shoot film, below are the two scanners I recommend:

1. Epson V700 – Best bang-for-the-buck scanner for 35mm film, slide film, or medium-format film. Very versatile, fast, and great image quality.
2. Plustek 7600 –  Hands-down the best dedicated 35mm film/slide film scanner out there. It is a bit slower to use than the V700 (as you have to manually feed the photos individually) but the overall image quality is superior.