Six of Sony's Best Lenses for Street Photography

Street photography is a type of photography that shows people doing normal things in public places.

To take pictures of the surroundings, you need a lens that can handle objects that move quickly, low light, and different angles. With a Sony mirrorless camera and a range of Sony and third-party lenses, you can get the perfect look for your street photography portfolio.

THE BEST SONY LENSES

This piece looks at the best Sony lenses for street photography based on how well they work, how useful they are, and how much they cost. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned shooter, these lenses will let you use your Sony camera to take beautiful street photos.

But before we get to the lenses, you might be interested in these articles:

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Let's get to the items right away.

1. SIGMA 16MM F/1.4 DC DN

Sigma is a well-known company that makes lenses for Sony cameras. The Sigma 16mm prime lens is a wide-angle lens with a fast f/1.4 aperture. This makes it a great choice for street shooting in low light. This lens can also be used for macro photos because it has a close focusing distance of 25 cm.

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens has a wide field of view thanks to its focal length. This makes it perfect for catching a street scene's setting and mood. If you often take ultra-wide photos with a lot of things in the picture, this lens will serve you well. It lets in a lot of light and has great bokeh because it is a fast lens.

Most of the reviews on Amazon back up what we said about the lens. Even though it's not cheap, the price is fair for a lens of this grade. Due to its wide field of view and built-in autofocus, this lens can be used for more than just street photos. Its best features are how clear the pictures are and how well it works in low light.

Why you should buy it: If you want a sharp lens with great bokeh, this is the best choice.

2. YONGNUO 85MM F1.8

The 85mm focal length of the Yongnuo YN85mm prime lens makes it a popular choice for street photos. Some shooters might choose a wide angle to get more of the scene in the picture. But some shooters might like a tighter frame with only one thing in focus. If you are in the second group, this lens is for you. The lens has an aperture of f/1.8. This means that your photos will have a small depth of field and nice bokeh.

With a lens that has a short focal length, you can focus on a single subject instead of a crowded area. The 85mm focal length is also good for taking photos from far away, which can help you not draw too much attention to your subject. Technically, you could also use it to take pictures with a wide angle, but you'd have to move back a bit.

The Yongnuo YN85mm, according to the company that makes it, has a multi-coated optical system that cuts down on flare and ghosting. This should give pictures with the best clarity and contrast. If you often take pictures on streets with lots of lights, signs, and interesting details, this extra feature will definitely come in handy. Reviews say that this is one of the most affordable lenses, with picture quality that is on par with lenses that cost up to five times as much.

Why you should buy it: This 85mm lens is great for portraits, street signs, and close-up items that you want to take a picture of from far away.

3. SONY 50MM F/1.8 OSS

The Sony FE 50mm F1.8, also known as SEL50F18F/2, is a standard prime lens designed for Sony's full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras. It is also compatible with Sony's APS-C E-mount cameras, where it provides an equivalent focal length of 75mm due to the crop factor.

Here are some key features of the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lens:

1. Focal Length: The lens has a fixed focal length of 50mm, making it a versatile option for various photography genres, including portraits, street photography, and general-purpose shooting.

2. Aperture: The lens has a maximum aperture of F1.8, which allows for better low-light performance and the ability to achieve a shallow depth of field. The wide aperture also helps in creating a nice background blur (bokeh) when shooting at wider apertures.

3. Optical Design: The lens features a 6-element, 5-group optical design, including one aspherical element, to help minimize aberrations and distortions and deliver sharp, high-quality images.

4. Autofocus: The lens is equipped with a fast and quiet autofocus system, allowing for quick and accurate focusing. It is useful for capturing subjects in motion or when shooting video.

5. Compact and Lightweight: The lens has a compact and lightweight design, making it highly portable and suitable for everyday use. It is a great option for those who want a versatile prime lens that doesn't add much weight to their camera setup.

6. Additional Features: The lens has a minimum focusing distance of approximately 0.45 meters (1.48 feet), and it accepts 49mm screw-on filters for added creative control.

The Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lens is often regarded as a budget-friendly option while still delivering excellent image quality and performance. It is a popular choice among Sony E-mount users who appreciate the versatility and compactness of a standard prime lens.

4. SONY 35MM F/1.8

Here is another Sony lens, but this one has a much shorter focal length of 35mm. This is between the widest 16mm lens and the telephoto 50mm lens. Consider the Sony 35mm f/1.8 lens if you want a slightly cropped-in view that isn't as extreme as with a 50mm lens. This lens has OSS, which makes it a great thing to use at night.

Original Sony lenses are, without question, some of the best lenses on the market. Think about the Sony 35mm f/1.8 if you want a small lens with a slightly wider focal length. The big aperture lets in a lot of light, and the lens's relatively small size makes it easy to take with you.

Sony has a 50mm prime lens and a 35mm prime lens for you to choose from. The only thing that makes a difference between the two lenses is their focal length. We suggest the 50mm lens if you want to get closer to your subject or want to get closer from afar. If you want a bigger view with more things in the frame, the 35mm lens is a good choice.

Many people may find that 50mm is too close for their needs. So, the Sony 35mm is a good choice if you want a first-party lens with a big aperture.

5. SAMYANG 35MM F/1.4 SERIES II

Samyang has you covered if you want a 35mm focal length but were disappointed by the Sony lens. The opening of this beautiful lens is f/1.4. This lens is a better choice than others because it has a larger aperture, weatherproofing, a focus hold button, and a switch that can be set to do anything.

For street photography, you have to take pictures in all kinds of weather and settings. If you want to take pictures in the rain or snow, you should get a lens that can seal out some of the weather. Four weather seals protect the Samyang lens from harsh weather conditions. It also has a button that lets you hold your focus and a second button that can be used for almost anything.

In terms of optics, the biggest changes between the Samyang and Sony 35mm lenses are the aperture and OSS. The Samyang Series II lens is great for low-light street photos because it has a wide f/1.4 aperture. But the OSS (Optical Steady Shot) on the Sony camera is better. If you ask us, the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 lens is one of the best 35mm lenses for shooting on the street.

This lens is great for street photos because it has the right focal length and a very wide f/1.4 aperture.

6. TAMRON 28-75MM F/2.8 DI III VXD G2

So far, we've only talked about prime lenses, which have a set focal length. We do, however, suggest the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens if you want to take photos with different focal lengths without having to change lenses all the time. This lens can take wide shots and close-ups, so it's almost a one-size-fits-all option. For street photos, it's pretty much the only lens you need.

The best thing about this Tamron lens is that it has a focal length range of 28mm to 75mm, which gives you a lot of choices. Even though the highest aperture is still f/2.8, which is not great for low-light situations, the lens still does a great job. It's the most expensive lens on this list because it can replace more than one.

Even though this lens is great for street photos, the reviews point out that it has a lot of corner vignetting, which may make you think twice about buying it. Even though this isn't a deal-breaker for most users, it could be for you based on the images you choose.

Why you should buy it: Easily one of the most flexible cameras for taking pictures on the street. You can choose from many different focal lengths.

ON THE STREETS

Taking pictures of people on the street can be a great time, and the pictures you get can be even better. Here are some of the best Sony lenses for street photography that you should think about if you like this type of photography.