Best Street Photography Cameras (Top 10 Picks in 2021)

For as long as cameras have been portable, people have used them out and about to capture their lifestyles and environments. This quickly evolved into street photography, the junction of people, places, and actions. Over the years, it’s been a popular genre that no two photographers approach identically.

As photography has become a more accessible medium via digital cameras, street photography is stronger than ever. But, out of the wide variety of imaging options available, which ones make for the best street photography cameras? Today, we’ll cover what makes a camera great for the streets and reveal a few of our current favorites.

PhotoWorkout’s Best Street Photography Cameras:

1. Ricoh GR III
2. Fujifilm X100V
3. Sony A6400
4. Nikon D500
5. Sony A7 III
6. Olympus Pen F
7. Panasonic ZS200
8. Leica M10
9. Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III
10. Fujifilm X-T4

What Do the Best Street Photography Cameras Have in Common?

Every camera has its merits, but some cameras are better suited for certain tasks than others. While you could drag a clunky 4×5 film camera out to the sidewalk, it wouldn’t necessarily yield the best results. There are a few qualities that the majority of acclaimed street cameras have in common:

• Lightweight and Compact. Portability is a key component for any photographer on the go. After all, no street photographer wants to be bogged down with heavy gear. The easier it is to move around and maneuver a camera on the fly, the better.
• Discreet and Nonthreatening. A crucial part of working as a street photographer is learning how to become a silent observer. The more you stand out, the less likely you garner authentic moments from your subjects. Big cameras can accomplish a lot, but they can also be intimidating for many.
• Fast, Sharp Autofocus. The best moments happen in a flash, so street photographers need to be ready to snap their shutters at any given moment. While part of that is dependent on reflexes, a quick finger isn’t much good if you can’t capture anything in focus.

1. Ricoh GR III

Why We Love It:

Ricoh may not be the most popular name among camera connoisseurs, but many street photographers have sworn by them for quite some time. After checking out what the GR III has to offer, we’re inclined to agree.

Weighing in at just about 9 oz., this 4-inch camera is certainly small, discreet, and portable. The petite build alone makes the Ricoh a perfect companion for photographers that never seem to stay in one place. But that’s only the beginning.

An excellent internal shake reduction mechanism makes it reasonable to use the GR III in most situations without a clunky tripod. Another plus is the camera’s image sync abilities, which allow users to view and share their images with ease via a synced smart device.

The Ricoh GR III isn’t for everyone. Niceties like internal flash and viewfinder are absent to accommodate the street-friendly design. That being said, the GRIII checks off all of the requirements of a great street photography camera.

2. Fujifilm X100V

Why We Love It:

Specifically made for street and documentary photographers, anything from Fuji’s X series is a winner in our book. However, we feel that the X100V has a slight edge over its sister products for a few reasons.

First, the camera works incredibly fast. It can capture up to 21 uncompressed RAW frames per second under ideal conditions. Shutter speeds range from 60 minutes to 1/32000 of a second. These stats may not seem like much, but when you’re trying to capture something spur-of-the-moment, speed matters.

In addition, the X100V also gets a significant boost in resolution, from 16.3 MP in the X100T to 26.1 MP. That’s enough to visibly impact the quality of your photographs. As a matter of fact, the X100V boasts the highest resolution of all the cameras featured in this article.

Prior to the X100V’s 2020 release, we griped about its predecessor’s lack of tilt or swivel LCD to aid in getting tricky angles. Street photographers, in particular, will be happy to learn that Fujifilm has remedied this inconvenience. Overall, the X100V is the latest in a line of reliable, time-tested cameras.

3. Sony A6400

Why We Love It:

In recent years, many street photographers have traded in their older gear for mirrorless cameras. It’s a switch that makes a lot of sense – they offer the image quality of a DSLR in a point-and-shoot package. We’d be doing a major disservice to our readers if we didn’t spend some time talking about Sony, one of the masters of the mirrorless market.

Though the A6400 isn’t the most advanced camera in Sony’s arsenal, it’s a great place for new street photographers to start. For less than $1000, this camera offers plenty of features for a person to experiment with. At the same time, it’s an option that’s not so intimidating for beginners still learning the ropes.

For street photographers, the camera’s real-time autofocus features especially come in handy. Using object recognition algorithms, the device can track moving objects or hone in on a subject’s eyes. In short, this feature allows you to concentrate on composition and creative settings rather than fussing with focus.

Everyone has to start somewhere. More advanced photographers might be a little underwhelmed by the A6400, but that’s alright. We’ll talk more about what else Sony has in store soon enough.

4. Nikon D500

Why We Love It:

I know, I know – the Nikon D500 is HUGE compared to some of the other options I’ve listed. For a lot of street photographers, that’s an immediate turn-off. But hear me out on this.

If you don’t mind lugging around a little extra weight, the D500 is a resilient, versatile option. We wanted to include it with our best street photography cameras because it triumphs in areas where other street cameras fall short.

For instance, many street cameras struggle in low light situations, unable to find a focal point or avoid excessive digital noise. But the Nikon can handle the dark with relative ease. If you’re interested in shooting at night, suddenly discreetness matters less and the D500 becomes a much more viable option.

Another aspect we love about the Nikon D500 is its durability. Weather-resilient and dust-proof, it’s a little less fragile than your run-of-the-mill DSLR. That extra security can go a long way when you’re out and about on the streets!

5. Sony A7 III

Why We Love It:

If you’re looking for a step beyond the A6400, Sony’s A7 mirrorless series is for you. Since its release, the A7 III has been consistently praised by photographers of all sorts.

Much of the time, street photographers forgo a full-frame sensor for the sake of a more portable camera body. The A7 III doesn’t make you choose – it offers beautiful image quality with a body that weighs just under 1.5 lbs.

The A7 III goes the extra mile to refine the A6400’s already excellent autofocus capabilities. With this camera, users are treated to pristine “4D” focus features. For pin-sharp autofocus, Sony included 693 phase-detection points, plus 425 contrast-detection points.

Of course, the A7 III comes with a much steeper price tag, which isn’t worth it for every street photographer. However, if you’re not restricted by a budget, this is one camera that delivers results you’re sure to fall in love with.

6. Olympus Pen F

Why We Love It:

Old school street photographers will recognize the Pen-F – it was a favorite film SLR for professionals for SLR. Olympus has revamped the old favorite into a digital micro three-fourths package. Yet, it still retains much of the retro charm image-makers fell in love with years ago.

Don’t be fooled too much by the camera’s appearances. One of the Pen-F’s new, improved features is its ability to customize its precision controls. That means that you can adjust your camera to meet your personal photographic needs.

Also worth mentioning is the Pen-F’s 5-axis image stabilization. For street photographers that lack the luxury of being stationary, it’s a tool that makes all the difference in the world. Another great feature is the OLED electronic viewfinder. Many street cameras have nixed viewfinders to minimize overall size and weight, but not having to rely on an LCD monitor is nice.

Not everyone is a fan of the reprise, as some viewers have reported minor technical bugs. For instance, the camera may overheat at times and a few users have reported that the switches and knobs have slow reaction times. On the flip side, it’s received a positive reception and remains a budget-friendly option for street photographers.

7. Panasonic ZS200

Why We Love It:

We have to take a moment to endorse Panasonic’s Lumix collection. Really, all of their products have merits that appeal to street photographers. That being said, we feel that the ZS200 is well balanced considering its price and capabilities.

Although it has the disadvantage of not employing an interchangeable lens mount, the Leica built into the body is excellent in its own right. SportingDC Vario-Elmar lens with a range of 24-360mm, it’s far from your average point-and-shoot glass.

What’s more, the camera has some impressive features beyond the lens. While the ability to capture 4k video is becoming increasingly common in cameras, the Lumix takes that technology a step further. Its impressive4K photo mode can generate up 30 8MP frames per second.

On top of that, the camera has a ‘post focus’ feature. So, if you’re not sure exactly what you want to focus on while capturing something spur of the moment, you can go back and adjust to your taste later on.

Where some older Lumix cameras lag, the ZS200 has improved. No matter how you slice it, it’s got everything a serious street photographer could want in a small, portable package.

8. Leica M10

Why We Love It:

Okay – we know that a Leica’s not the most realistic choice available for photographers on a budget. But why not dream big? For dedicated street photographers, the M10 might as well be heaven-sent.

Leica’s M-series has been around for over 65 years, but the cameras are still as innovative today as they were in the 1950s. Though Leica switched to digital some time ago, the M10 retains the slim size and style of the original analog cameras.

But don’t let the old-fashioned looks fool you. This camera can reach ISOs as high as 50,000. For street photographers in search of city lights, that sort of power is a game-changer.

Inside, the camera is powered by a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor. Developed by the finest camera engineers around, it allows users to capture wide dynamic range and sharp details in high resolution.

We could go on and on about all of the wonderful things have to offer. But really, it’s the little things – such as focus peaking overlays – that street photographers will treasure the most.

9. Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III

Why We Love It:

For Canon diehards, the Powershot G1 X Mark III is an excellent choice for street photography. Though it is a compact camera, there’s plenty to love packed into the little powerhouse.

For starters, the versatile 24mm-72mm lens allows users to take landscape and portrait photographs alike. Street photographers looking to lighten their load need not worry about lugging around lenses with this device in tow.

A dust and moisture-resistant body makes it suited for hours and hours spent roaming outside. What’s more, the 3″ rear touchscreen makes navigation quick and easy.

The Powershot also comes with an impressive 2.35m dot OLED electronic viewfinder. While looking through the eyepiece, you can touch and drag focus to quickly grab the shot you’re after.

There are a few areas that could use improvement. The battery life is short, the burst rate slow, and it cannot capture 4k footage. However, if you’re willing to overlook a few minor flaws, the G1X III is plenty capable.

10. Fujifilm X-T4

Why We Love It:

More and more street photographers are turning to mirrorless cameras. They’re capable of capturing the high resolution results of a DSLR, yet they remain somewhat light and compact. Fujifilm has been a leader in the mirrorless market for years, and the X-T4 showcases exactly why that is.

For starters, the APS-C sensor delivers the fastest autofocus speeds around at an astounding 0.02 seconds. Street photographers in particular have to be ready to shoot at a moment’s notice, and this camera is up for the challenge.

The X-T4 is also an excellent candidate for budding videographers. Those that can’t be bothered with a tripod need not worry. In-body five-axis image stabilization helps photographers on the move keep their frames steady and sharp.

Like the Powershot mentioned above, the X-T4 has several safeguards in place to help protect it from dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures. You don’t need to be too delicate with this camera – when it comes to being outdoors, it can hold its own.

For some street photographers, the X-T4’s interchangeable lens mount might be a slight annoyance. However, when you consider the fact that the body weighs just 1.16 lbs, the prospect of packing an extra lens or two in your bag doesn’t sting quite as much.

Which Camera Is Right for You?

Of course, there are a lot of variables that go into determining the best street photography cameras. How much are you willing to pay? What brands are you most attached to? Do you need a high resolution or a fast shutter speed to get the results you want?

Here are the takeaways we gathered through our research:

• If you’re tight on cash, the Ricoh GR III and the Panasonic ZS200 offer astounding results at a relatively low price.
• If there are no financial restrictions, go ahead and try out the Leica M10
• The Sony A7 III is an excellent choice if having a full-frame sensor is a deal-breaker
• For a camera that looks cool but retains flexible features such as an interchangeable lens mount, look no further than the Olympus Pen F. The Fujifilm X-T4 is another equally flexible option.
• The Fujifilm X-100V works quickly for spur-of-the-moment photography.
• We feel the Fujifilm X-100V is also a great choice for street photographers that want the best possible image quality. However, the Sony A7III, the Sony A6400, and the Ricoh GR III are not far behind.
• The Sony A6400 or the Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III are great cameras for beginners.

No matter what your needs are, there’s a great street photography camera out there to get the job done. So, get out there and capture all the moments and movements that make your view unlike any other.

Do you have a preferred street photography camera that is not on our list? Share with us your recommendations in the comments below!

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