Which lens and settings should I start with for street photography on a Canon 1200D?

Asked 4/2/2016

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I have a Canon 1200D with the 18-55mm and 55-250mm kit lenses, and I want to start doing street photography. I don’t want to buy another lens right now.

Which of these lenses is the best place to start for street photography, and what camera settings are practical when you don’t have much time to adjust things before the moment is gone? I’ve read that 35mm is popular for street work, but I’d like advice based on the gear I already have.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

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You won't find a single "correct" answer. The focal length you select is a personal preference.

Do you want to be up close in your subjects face or do you like to be more low key and further away? Do you want tighter shots of scenes or more sweeping to tell a story? These are only some of the questions you can ask yourself to begin to answer this question.

Since no one can answer this for you, I would recommend simply taking your already adequate equipment out and start shooting. After you have captured some images, you can review them later in photography software and determine what focal length was used on your zoom lenses. This may help you to better gauge what to use in the future for the types of images you desire.

To summarize, go out and start taking pictures!

Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4892

10y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Use the gear you already have and start with the 18-55mm. For most street photography, a wider focal length is often easier because it lets you include more of the scene and work closer to the subject; on your 1200D, try the wide end first, around 18–22mm, and see what feels natural. The “best” focal length is personal: some people prefer being close with a wide view, while others prefer standing farther back for tighter shots.

A practical starting point is to use the 18-55mm stopped down to about f/5.6 or f/8. That gives you more depth of field, which helps when you need to react quickly. If changing settings in full Manual slows you down, don’t force it—street photography often rewards speed more than constant adjustment.

The main advice from the community is simple: go out and shoot. Afterward, review your images and note which focal lengths you used most and which look you prefer. That will tell you far more than articles about a “best” street lens.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

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