I Need A Camera For Street Photography...

It is surprising how often we encounter this request. Setting aside the cynical thought that you could photograph actual streets with ANYTHING...and realising that the search is really for a camera that will photograph people without attracting attention, we come to a set of basic questions:

1. Where are these streets? Foreign or domestic? Do you want to haul something that is electricity -dependent?

2. What are the streets like? Dark and twisty or open and bright? Big fast lens or small slow lens?

3. What is coming down the street? Mardi Gras float or a burst of anti-tank fire?

4. Who are the people on the street. See question No.3.

5. Why do you want the pictures? Newspaper, magazine, Facebook, Gloatbook?

6. Gotny money? Gotnuff money? Gottoomuch money?

7. How bad do you want to keep the camera?

With all these answers factored in we can give cogent advice.

1. If you are going to go where Edison never trod - Elbonia or Whackistan- you are going to encounter no electricity. Either take 2 dozen charged lithium-ion batteries with you - at the risk of being heaved off the airplane - or settle for a film camera and the risks of the X-ray machine.

2. Big lens -him mean f:1.8, 1.4., 1.2, 1.1,  or 0.95. See in dark like cat. Take picture with fast shutter speed. Weigh like elephant. Cost like sin.

Little lens slow - work only in daytime. Cheap and light. 

3. Want a piece of that? Step out and click away.

4. Me friend. You no shoot friend. Me shoot you. Umm, I could have put that better...ummm...Me friend of Chief. You no shoot. Please.

5. If you want to hit the big time, shoot Leica M. Or Leica X2 or X-vario. Or Fuji X-Pro1 or X-E1. If you want Facebook or Gloatbook, shoot Fuji X-M1 or X-20 or Canon G15-16.

6. We can suit all pockets, provided you are prepared to put your hand in your own, rather than ours...

7. Okay. Flash that Leica M down the back street in Bogota at 2:00AM to impress the crowd of cocaine addicts.  Or discreetly snap with your X-10 in Bourke Street Mall at lunchtime. You can write the scenario for yourself after the first shot. 

* Heading image: Ricky Rodd-Shau at the diner.