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Best Lightroom Portrait Presets in 2021 (6 Gorgeous Picks)

29 Sep

The post Best Lightroom Portrait Presets in 2021 (6 Gorgeous Picks) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

Finding the best Lightroom portrait presets can be a challenge for many photographers. With so many preset packs available in the marketplace, how do you find the right ones to suit your style?

In this article, I recommend some of my favorite Lightroom presets for portraits in 2021.

A quick note: When testing different preset packs, I loaded each option into Adobe Lightroom Classic. Then, to demonstrate each preset, I used the same RAW image taken on my Fujifilm X-T4 with the XF 56mm f/1.2 lens. I created multiple virtual copies in Lightroom, then had fun playing around with all of the presets and settings!

1. Brixton Film presets

First up for the portrait photographer is the Brixton Film preset bundle. These presets are brought to you by The Luxe Lens, a website that sells dozens of presets, Photoshop actions, LUTs, overlays, and much more. The names of each collection in the Brixton Film bundle evoke the type of mood they portray: Bold & Vibrant, Yesteryears, Earthy Moods, Film Essentials, and Love Story, to name just a few.

In particular, the Brixton Film Cinematic collection caught my eye, and I was instantly impressed when I applied the black and white Light and Lifted preset for a classic monochrome look:

Brixton Film presets — Brixton Film collection: *Light and Lifted*

There were a number of interesting color choices in this collection, but my next choice was the Teal and Berry preset, thanks to its eye-popping hues. It gave the portrait a completely unique look:

Another gorgeous collection from the Britxon Film stable is Oak & Ivy. This collection contains 25 film presets, 8 layer presets, and 62 tools presets, designed to bring out the organic colors of nature in your images. My favorite from this collection is Muted Forest, which did a great job of mixing earthy colors with clean skintones (see the image below). All of the Brixton Film presets were fun to use, instantly transforming my RAW file into a beautiful final product.

2. Mastin Labs

Mastin Labs are the market leaders for portrait and wedding photography presets, and it’s easy to see why.

These presets were first created over a decade ago by photographer and color scientist Kirk Mastin. After painstakingly scanning many different types of film, Mastin Labs developed a series of presets to give the classic look of your favorite film emulsions to digital images.

Mastin Labs claims to have the most authentic film emulation presets on the market, and many of their preset bundles reference names of classic film stocks, such as Portra Original, Fuji Original, and Fuji Everyday.

Full disclaimer: I’m a huge Mastin Labs fan. I’ve bought all three of the classic film packs I just mentioned, but while writing this article, I decided to use two new preset packs for the first time: Ilford and Portra Pushed.

Installation is a breeze; just download the presets, quit Lightroom, run the installer, and get ready to roll. Using the presets is simple with Mastin’s easy, three-step workflow: apply the preset, adjust the exposure, then adjust the white balance and tint.

Mastin Labs portrait presets — Mastin Labs Ilford: *Pan F* *with green filter*

Mastin Labs: Ilford Original pack

The Ilford Original pack contains three highly customizable presets that mimic classic British black and white film emulsions: Pan F, HP5, and Delta 3200.

Pan F gives you a high contrast look with low grain, the ever-popular HP5 delivers medium contrast and grain, and Delta 3200 gives your images glowing highlights and the chunkiest grain in the pack. Each emulsion gives you two further choices – 35mm or 120, with the latter giving you more subtle and smoother grain.

As with all Mastin presets, the Tone Profile section provides various combinations for making the highlights and shadows hard or soft in your image. It’s often hard to know which one you’d prefer without a bit of testing.

What I love most about the Ilford presets is the next two sections: B&W Filter and Paper. For decades, photographers have been using colored filters to control contrast and mood in their black and white photos. The clever people at Mastin Labs allow you to consider these creative effects by three different filter options: red, green, and yellow.

Next up are three paper types that mimic the effect of the image printed in the darkroom on warm-tone, cool-tone, or neutral paper. I really love these choices; I have a lot of fun playing around with them!

Mastin Labs: Portra Pushed pack

I’m a big fan of the Mastin Labs Portra Original pack, which is ideal for giving clean, warm tones and glowing skin to portraits. With this in mind, I was more than a little intrigued by the Portra Pushed pack. I’d heard it gave a wonderfully dark and moody look to images, but would it meet my expectations?

Note: You may be wondering why this pack is called Portra “Pushed;” pushed is a borrowed term from film development. A roll of film generally has a recommended ISO (e.g., 400), and you typically match it with the ISO dial on your camera.

If you set the ISO on your camera to 800 despite an ISO 400 recommendation, however, you are underexposing the film by one stop, so you’d typically ask for the film to be pushed in development one stop. In other words, you’d ask the lab to develop the film for longer to make up for the underexposure. Why would you want to do this? There are a couple of different reasons, but one is that the process typically gives color film more contrast and saturation.

The Portra Pushed presets mimic this effect with intense, moodier colors and boosted saturation. The pack has a choice of three different film looks – Portra 160, Portra 400, and Portra 800 – and with each, you can apply the one-stop or two-stop push look.

This pack may not have the B&W filter and paper options of the Ilford pack, but it does include a tone profile, a toolkit with auto white balance and lens correction, and a choice of 35mm and 120 grain.

I was impressed by the clean and consistent look of the Portra Pushed presets. They gave a high-contrast, moodier look to images than the Portra presets and really brought out the earthy tones.

3. Julia & Gil

For the last seven years, Julia & Gil have been photographing people in love all over the world. Not only are they skilled photographers, but it’s clear they’ve learned a thing or two about editing photos along the way.

Julia & Gil offer three stunning sets of presets: wedding, portrait and mobile. I took the wedding and portrait presets for a spin in Lightroom and was impressed by what I saw.

The Wedding collection is designed to add soft colors and “a little magic” to wedding photos. Julia & Gil are fans of soft tones, creamy whites, beautiful skin tones, and natural colors, as you can see from the image below. The collection is perfect for all lighting situations.

Best Lightroom portrait presets Julia & Gil — Julia & Gil Wedding: *Classic*

The Portrait collection is made up of eight presets for couple and portrait shoots. They are billed as “the modern answer to creating that popular film look” and are designed to add soft colors to your photos. As you can see from the Cream preset below, this collection gives a soft, dreamy look which I really love.

Both preset packs offer a range of tools, including colors down, colors up, a range of options for grain, three different sets of tones, vignette tools, and several ways to warm up your images. In just a click or two, Julia & Gil presets give a wonderfully unique look!

4. @rwpho Portrait Lightroom presets

@rwpho Portrait Lightroom presets are brought to you by Filtergrade, an online marketplace offering a range of resources for photographers and videographers, including actions, presets, LUTs, overlays, and templates.

Created by photographer Reed Walchle, the @rwpho presets are focused on adding warm, complementary, orange and teal tones to your images while keeping natural-looking skin. The presets shift the overall palette toward complementary colors to make photos stand out, adding character and depth. They seem to work especially well on pictures where the subject is well lit compared to the background.

There’s only a handful of presets in this pack, but sometimes less is more. I really liked the tones of both the Joyce Warm and Elena Cupcakes presets. All in all, the presets were easy to apply and gave great results instantly.

5. Etchd Portrait presets

The next set of Lightroom portrait presets come from award-winning portrait, landscape, and travel photographer Matt Horspool, better known by his Instagram handle, @etchd.

Matt is incredibly well traveled, having backpacked across 48 countries on all seven continents. His images and articles have been published by National Geographic, Australian Photography Magazine, The Australian, and Olympus Passion.

Etchd Portrait Presets Volume 1 contains 15 timeless and beautifully refined presets that “soften and breathe life into your portraits.” The presets come with a detailed, 37-page, step-by-step installation and application guide. I really like the information in the second part of this guide – Matt gives you a detailed description of each preset, along with information on what to adjust in your images. For example, there are tips on suggested adjustments to the RGB tone curve, white balance, and split toning.

Many of the preset names are a nod to Matt’s travels: Roadtrip, USA, India, and the preset I used for the image below, Verona. The latter preset comes with two versions, and the one I’ve used has a built-in Radial Filter. (The guide also gives step-by-step instructions on how to apply Radial Filters to your portraits.)

6. dPS

Last but certainly not least are the comprehensive range of portrait presets by our very own Digital Photography School team. The dPS preset bundle consists of three packs, each containing 101 presets: 101 Lightroom Presets, 101 Landscape Lightroom Presets, and 101 Lightroom Portrait Presets.

dPS portrait presets — dPS Portrait Presets: *Art Series 50s*

For this article, I tried out some of the portrait presets created by Rachel Devine. These give you countless image-enhancing options, and included in the pack are the Art Series, Black and White, Film Series, Traditional Series, and a Touch-Up Kit featuring 37 brushes.

I really love the look of all the Art Series presets, but perhaps my favorite was Art Series 50s, which gave my images a classic vintage appearance. Another fantastic preset is Found, which has a beautiful, warm effect reminiscent of film stocks such as Kodak Gold.

What are the best Lightroom portrait presets in 2021?

The best portrait presets for Lightroom will differ from user to user. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which look and feel suits the images you take!

I love using all of the preset packs recommended above; they’re simple and give incredible results.

So which preset is your favorite? Tells us in the comments below.

Best Lightroom portrait presets: FAQs

Should I use Lightroom presets for my portraits?

Lightroom presets are a fantastic way to get a consistent look in your portrait photo shoots.

Which Lightroom presets should I buy for portraits?

That depends on your photographic style and your budget. Take a look at the images above and visit the websites featured to find the presets best suited for your images.

Are Lightroom presets easy to use?

Most of the presets featured here are very easy to use. You can transform images in one or two clicks.

Do professional photographers use presets?

Yes, many professional portrait and wedding photographers use off-the-shelf presets.

The post Best Lightroom Portrait Presets in 2021 (6 Gorgeous Picks) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

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The Best ND Filters You Can Buy in 2021 (9 Picks)

28 Jun

The post The Best ND Filters You Can Buy in 2021 (9 Picks) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

the best ND filters to enhance your photos

Choosing the best ND filter isn’t just about buying whatever option is the most expensive. While some pricier filters certainly use higher-quality components than their cheaper counterparts, there are a variety of factors to consider when looking at neutral density filters.

These small pieces of dark glass can work wonders for your photography and are a great way to add a splash of creativity to your shots or see things in a way you never thought possible. But if you are overwhelmed by the options and aren’t sure where to start, this list of the nine best ND filters should help point you in the right direction.

fountain in a park with a rainbow — Shot with a 10-stop ND filter.
Nikon D750 | 50mm f/1.8G | f/16 | 15s | ISO 100

Before we get too far into the list, know that there are many ND filter varieties and options that can suit your needs. ND filters perform a specific task, but they go about it in different ways – and what works for one person might not always work for another. So this list is designed to help you determine the best ND filters for specific needs, budgets, and quality levels.

It’s also important to know that ND filters come in many sizes, designed to suit different lenses. Most lenses have a screw-on thread size (you can find this printed on the lens itself). When purchasing an ND filter, you’ll need to ensure that the filter thread size matches your lens thread size.

Generally speaking, smaller filters will be less expensive, so think of the prices of the filters featured in this article as a rough estimate. The exact price of a filter for your lens will vary. To facilitate easier comparisons in terms of price, most of the filters here are 58mm, but don’t just buy a 58mm filter (or any other size) without checking your lens first.

1. Best ND filter for new users: Tiffen ND Filter Kit

If you are just getting started with ND filters and aren’t sure what you want to do with them, you can’t go wrong with Tiffen’s basic set. It’s inexpensive and includes three separate filters that let you block a small – but not insignificant! – amount of light.

The 4-stop filter is great for trying longer exposures in well-lit situations, whereas the 2-stop filter is nice if you want to use a prime lens wide open in bright light but your camera can’t support ultra-fast shutter speeds like 1/8000s.

Construction quality on Tiffen filters is decent but not outstanding, and while these filters might produce an unsightly color cast, it can be corrected easily in post-processing (just make sure you’re shooting in RAW).

Pros

Relatively inexpensive
Contains three separate filters
Includes carrying case

Cons

Subpar image quality
Average build

2. Best inexpensive ND filter: Neewer ND Filter Kit

For photographers who are more concerned about price than anything else, this set of Neewer ND filters is the way to go. Neewer is well-known in the photographic community for producing decent-quality-yet-inexpensive gear, and this filter set is no exception.

The Neewer ND Filter Kit won’t win any awards for quality, but the variety of filters included in the kit leaves room for a great deal of experimentation. Also, you can stack filters to produce even longer exposures; simply put one on your lens, then screw another onto that filter. This lets you test out very long exposures in bright light, with the significant caveat that your image quality will take a big hit (expect your pictures to take a major dip in sharpness and have a deep green or red color cast when stacking).

However, for budget-conscious photographers, these tradeoffs might be well worth it considering the cheap price.

Pros

Very inexpensive
Kit includes four filters, which is great for learning and experimenting
Filters can be stacked to block out even more light

Cons

Subpar image quality
Average build quality
Stacking filters results in a severe loss of sharpness

3. Best midrange ND filter: Hoya 3-Stop ND Filter

Why purchase a single ND filter when you can buy multiple filters for an equivalent price? The answer really comes down to two things: image quality and construction quality.

This Hoya filter is only three stops, so it won’t let you get super long exposures in bright daylight, but image quality is superior compared to some of the less expensive options on this list. It also has a special coating to reduce glare and other image artifacts, plus it undergoes a higher level of quality control to minimize problems more common in cheaper filters.

Pros

Good image quality
Good build quality
Negligible color cast in final images

Cons

Coating does not resist dust and scratches as effectively as more expensive filters
Can be difficult to attach and remove if not careful

4. Best semi-professional ND filter: B+W 6-Stop ND Filter

B+W filters strike a nice balance between image quality, construction of materials, and price. So while this 6-stop filter isn’t the most expensive option out there, it’s a significant upgrade from the cheaper ND filters on this list in a few key areas.

For instance, image quality is improved; you will see almost no green or magenta color cast in your images, unlike cheaper filters that often come in kits. And six stops of light-blocking power give you the freedom to create interesting images and play around with longer exposures without stacking several filters on top of each other.

Pros

Reduces light transmission more than less expensive filters
Great image quality
Very good build quality
Easy to screw on and off a lens

Cons

High price may dissuade beginner and casual photographers

5. Best budget 10-stop ND filter: B+W 10-Stop ND Filter

If you really want to go all-out with longer exposures but don’t want to go broke in the process, I highly recommend this 10-stop filter from B+W.

Image quality is excellent – you’ll notice a slight color cast that can be easily fixed if you shoot RAW – and build quality is outstanding. 10 stops of light-blocking power let you shoot in broad daylight for several seconds even at larger apertures. You can get creative with long exposures, and by closing down your aperture and leaving the shutter open for 20 or 30 seconds, you can eliminate moving objects and passersby.

I really enjoy using this filter, and it’s a great step up from other less expensive options on this list.

Pros

Relatively inexpensive compared to other 10-stop ND filters
Good build quality

Cons

Slight color cast to images compared to more expensive options
Can be difficult to remove from the lens if over-tightened

6. Best budget variable ND filter: Bower Variable ND Filter

Variable ND filters solve an interesting problem faced by many photographers: how to block different amounts of light without physically altering your gear. Variable ND filters let you turn a ring on the filter itself to adjust its light-blocking power, so there’s no need to buy multiple filters or attempt filter stacking.

The Bower Variable ND filter is a great entry point for people who want to use this type of filter without spending much money. Image quality on variable ND filters like this one is not as good compared to a solid ND filter, but if you value convenience over sharpness, then the tradeoff is worth it. I wouldn’t recommend doing professional work with this inexpensive filter, but for new users who want a good option without spending a lot of money, this Bower filter fits the bill.

Pros

A great way to explore variable ND filters without spending too much money
Pretty good image quality
Very versatile, with adjustments from 2 to 8 stops of light

Cons

Build quality isn’t as good as more expensive options
Overall image sharpness is lacking

7. Best 10-stop ND filter: PolarPro QuartzLine ND Filter

If money is no object and you value image quality above all else, this PolarPro filter is the perfect choice. Like its less-expensive B+W counterpart, it blocks 10 stops of light for very long exposures in bright light, but it also comes with several quality-of-life improvements that many photographers will appreciate. These include rock-solid image construction, thickly-knurled edges to help grip the filter as you screw it on and off, and special coatings to reduce problematic image artifacts as well as protect against damage from dust and water.

I don’t recommend this ND filter for beginners, but if you are looking for a significant step up from the less-expensive options on this list, the PolarPro is a stellar buy.

Pros

Outstanding build quality
Big, chunky knurled edges make it easy to attach and remove
Excellent image quality

Cons

Very high price

8. Best graduated ND filter: Hoya Graduated ND10

Normal ND filters have one key limitation: they block light uniformly across the entire lens, which can be problematic in some scenarios (e.g., when a scene features a significantly brighter foreground than background or vice versa). Enter graduated neutral density filters, which block varying degrees of light across the frame.

This Hoya Graduated ND filter is a great option for landscape photographers who want a darker sky but a lighter foreground (and other such tricky scenarios). The Hoya blocks light gradually from three stops to one stop, is built from quality materials, and won’t break the bank like other, more expensive options.

Pros

Smooth, even gradations from dark to light
Very good image quality
Direction of gradations can be easily altered after the filter is attached to a lens

Cons

Price is a bit higher than what some beginners would want to spend

9. Best 15-stop ND filter: Lee ProGlass IRND 4.5

The Lee ProGlass IRND is big, expensive, and won’t work without a special holder that attaches to the front of your camera lens. It’s impractical for most people, but it’s also the best option available for photographers who want to block out a lot of light.

This 15-stop filter lets you capture extraordinarily long exposures in broad daylight; shutter speeds are measured in minutes rather than seconds. Moving objects will disappear from your final shots, and the surface of any body of water will be transformed into smooth glass.

This 15-stop filter is not for the faint of heart – but for those willing to spend some money and put in the time and effort to learn how to use it, the results are phenomenal.

Pros

Excellent build quality
Outstanding image quality
Comes with an exposure guide for calculating very long shutter speeds

Cons

Very expensive
Requires the use of a filter holder (which must be purchased separately)
Not as convenient or easy to use as a screw-on filter

Best ND filter: conclusion

long exposure sunset with ND filter — The setting sun combined with a 3-stop ND filter made it possible for me to shoot a long exposure and smooth out the surface of the water while capturing motion in the clouds.
Fuji X100F | 23mm | f/16 | 30s | ISO 200

Neutral density filters are a great way to experiment with fun, creative ideas and explore new photographic possibilities. If you’ve never used an ND filter, I recommend getting one of the less expensive options on this list to see what you have been missing, and if you are a seasoned professional, you might consider a graduated ND filter or even a Lee 15-stop filter to really expand your horizons.

No matter what type of photographer you are, there should be at least one option on this list of best ND filters that is right for you.

Now I’d love to see some of your long-exposure shots and hear your thoughts on your favorite ND filters. Leave photos and share your opinions in the comments section below!

Best neutral density filter FAQ

My camera has a built-in ND filter. Can I use that instead of buying a separate ND filter?

You can, of course, use the ND filter that is built into your camera, but these typically only block 2-3 stops of light. That’s enough to do some experimenting, but you won’t be able to get ultra-long exposures in broad daylight. For that, you will need a separate ND filter such as one of the options on this list.

When are the best times to use an ND filter?

This is really a matter of personal preference, but I like to use ND filters to get smooth motion with water. Some people use them to remove moving objects when shooting static subjects, like a monument or a sculpture. Another great option is to use them when shooting portraits in bright light; you can then work with wider apertures without reaching the limit of your camera’s shutter speed.

Will an ND filter protect my lens?

Yes, but that’s not their primary purpose. If you want to shield your lens from dirt and scratches, look into a UV filter or a clear filter. You can then attach an ND filter on top, though image sharpness will decrease just a bit as a result.

Do I have to shoot in RAW when using ND filters?

No, but I do recommend it. Shooting in RAW makes it easy to adjust the exposure of your image, fix green or magenta color casts, and clean up spots from dust on the lens. The latter is usually not visible with larger apertures, but when shooting long exposures it’s common to stop down your lens, which makes small imperfections on your lens easier to see in the final image.

The post The Best ND Filters You Can Buy in 2021 (9 Picks) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

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The Best Lens for Street Photography: Top 11 Picks (in 2021)

24 May

The post The Best Lens for Street Photography: Top 11 Picks (in 2021) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

What’s the best lens for street photography on the market today?

In this article, I’ll share my favorite street photography lenses, including options for all budgets and camera brands. I’ll also explain how you can pick the perfect street lens for your needs – by taking into account important factors such as focal length, sharpness, and low-light performance.

So if you like street photography and you’re looking to buy a new lens to improve your photos, then read on.

people walking on the street — Which direction will you go with your street photography?
Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 50mm f/1.2L | f/8 | 1/800s | ISO 320

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

best street photography lens Canon 50mm f/1.2

If you’re prepared to pay the price, then the Canon 50mm f/1.2L is one of the best lenses for street photography available today. The large aperture lets you photograph in low-light conditions without needing to boost the ISO, and the optics and build quality are outstanding. The 50mm f/1.2 works well for both street photography and street portraits (i.e., posed portraits with people on the streets), and the standard focal length offers enough reach for intimate compositions.

Low-light performance: Stellar; not many lenses have an aperture as large as f/1.2
Quality: Excellent build, just what you’d expect from a flagship Canon lens
Price: On the expensive side ($ 1399 USD)
Weight: Pretty heavy, thanks to the solid build quality and wide maximum aperture

2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Like the 50mm f/1.2, above, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is a great lens to have in your street photography bag – in fact, there are plenty of reasons to buy it over the f/1.2 version. For one, the cheaper price is going to be much more appealing, especially if you’re new to photography and not yet ready to commit to more expensive gear. And the 50mm f/1.8 is also much smaller and lighter than its bulky f/1.2 sibling. While low-light performance isn’t on par with other lenses on this list, you can still count on the 50mm f/1.8 in the shade and at night.

Low-light performance: Pretty good, thanks to a relatively large maximum aperture
Quality: Good, but not as solid as the f/1.2 version (above)
Price: You can pick up this lens for just over $ 100 USD – it’s just about the cheapest lens you can buy
Weight: The size and weight of this lens make it easy to carry around

3. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

Those looking for a longer street photography lens could do a lot worse than the Canon 135mm f/2L. At 135mm, you’ll be able to photograph your street scenes from a distance, though the size of the 135mm f/2 makes discreet shooting difficult. It’s a great lens for separating your main subject from a busy background – you can use that extra focal length to compress the scene, and the f/2 aperture helps achieve outstanding background bokeh. And while the 135mm f/2 isn’t as forgiving as a 50mm lens, you can use it in low light, especially at f/2.

Low-light performance: Good for the longer 135mm focal length
Quality: A great build that’s usable in all weather conditions
Price: Reasonable ($ 999 USD) for a high-level lens
Weight: Relatively heavy, but much lighter than a 70-200mm f/2.8

4. Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

Nikon users looking for an affordable street photography lens should consider the 50mm f/1.8G. It offers good quality with an aperture that’s large enough for most situations, plus the 50mm focal length is a street photography classic. Nice build, weight, and size make it a great option for any Nikon street photographer.

Low-light performance: Good for most situations
Quality: Well built
Price: The most affordable lens for Nikon street photographers (that offers a decent maximum aperture)
Weight: The slightly smaller aperture means less lens glass, which means it’s easy to carry

5. Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4D

Thanks to its zoom range, the Nikon 24-85mm offers a little more flexibility than other options on this list – and it can double as a general-purpose lens, too. It’s a step up from a kit lens and offers you an aperture of f/2.8 on the wide end. This lens covers the 50mm focal distance that many consider optimal for street photography, and you’ll be able to zoom in and out, a major advantage if you want to frame a photo quickly without needing to move. The major downside is the 24-85mm’s low-light capabilities; the f/2.8 to f/4 maximum aperture just won’t be enough for some situations.

Low-light performance: Decent, but not what you get with a prime lens
Quality: Good overall quality for street photography
Price: In the midrange price bracket (around $ 750 USD). You’re paying for a zoom lens with a large maximum aperture.
Weight: The lens is heavier than a prime lens (a compromise for more focal length flexibility)

6. Sony 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar T FE ZA

While 35mm is on the wider side for street photography, the Sony 35mm f/2.8 is great for those with an APS-C sensor who want to photograph with a 50mm field of view. Build quality is good, so you can shoot in most conditions. And while the f/2.8 aperture isn’t ideal for nighttime outings, it’s more than enough for daytime and twilight street photography.

Low-light performance: It’s going to be more of a challenge to use this lens in dim light, though the wide focal length means you can handhold at a slightly slower shutter speed.
Quality: It’s a nice lens, and its compact size is a definite plus for street photography
Price: In the midrange price bracket ($ 799 USD)
Weight: Coming in at just 4.2 oz (119g), this lens isn’t heavy

7. Sony E 50mm f/1.8 OSS

If you’re just getting into street photography, you’re a Sony APS-C user, and you want an affordable option, then the Sony 50mm f/1.8 could be the lens for you. The sleek, compact design makes it ideal for the street photographer, and its fast focusing is important for nailing the perfect shot. You get a 75mm effective focal length, which is a bit tight for some photographers – but if you like the narrower field of view, then the 50mm f/1.8 is a perfect choice.

Low-light performance: The larger maximum aperture is good for most low-light situations
Quality: Well built; ideal for both beginners and more experienced photographers
Price: Offers great value (around $ 350 USD)
Weight: Standard primes aren’t usually heavy, and this lens weighs just over 7 oz (200 g)

8. Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R

The Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 is a great lens for any Fujifilm camera user, whether you’re interested in street photography, portraits, or simply creating abstract bokeh. The lens is sharp, has decent focus speeds, and offers an f/1.4 for nice blurred-out backgrounds and nighttime photography. The bokeh effect is especially good (and can produce very nice street photography backgrounds).

Low-light performance: With a 35mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, this lens is ideal for low-light shooting.
Quality: A solid, dependable lens; will keep up with the fast pace of street photography
Price: Midrange ($ 599 USD), thanks to the wide maximum aperture
Weight: Decent to carry around for a day on the street

9. Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R

The Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 offers a wide maximum aperture, one that’s perfect for low-light street photography, plus it can generate beautiful backgrounds. The focal length is on the long side – on Fujifilm APS-C cameras, it’s an effective 84mm – but you can use it for close-ups, tighter scenics, and intimate street portraits. And for an f/1.2 lens, the price is pretty reasonable!

Low-light performance: You’re not going to get a better lens than this for low-light scenes
Quality: This is a great piece of glass that produces excellent images
Price: Quality lenses cost a lot; this lens will set you back around $ 1000 USD
Weight: It’s heavier than most of the primes on this list, but that’s one of the tradeoffs for such a wide maximum aperture

10. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART DG HSM

Sigma has been making excellent lenses with its ART series, and the 35mm f/1.4 is no exception. The lens comes in mounts for all the major camera manufacturers, including Nikon, Canon, and Sony, and while it’s a third-party lens, it does well against the other glass on this list. The large aperture and medium-wide focal length make this an ideal lens for any street photographer, whether shooting in the day or at night. It really is one of the best lenses for street photography available today, and it’s cheaper than the high-end lenses offered by other major manufacturers.

Low-light performance: Strong. This is a fast lens that allows for great images in tricky lighting
Quality: Very nice; Sigma is one of the best third-party manufacturers, and the ART series is top-notch
Price: For around $ 700 USD, you’re picking up excellent glass at a midrange price.
Weight: The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is on the heavier end of the scale

11. Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2

Looking for a versatile street photography lens? The Tamron 24-70mm offers a similar focal range to a kit lens but with a fast f/2.8 aperture. You get significant flexibility thanks to the wide-to-telephoto zoom capabilities, so you can easily capture street photos that require rapid changes in composition. The downside is this lens’s size and weight (f/2.8 zoom lenses are always on the heavier side). For a zoom lens, the f/2.8 aperture is impressive and will let you blur out backgrounds, though you might prefer a larger-apertured prime lens in low light. Bottom line: The 24-70mm is a good daytime street photography lens, and it’s also perfect for other types of photography, such as travel.

Low-light performance: Not the best; you’ll primarily use this lens in the daytime
Quality: Good quality, with image stabilization compensating for the smaller aperture
Price: On the pricier side ($ 1200 USD), though it is multifunctional thanks to its range of focal lengths
Weight: Pretty heavy, but the zoom range lets you carry one lens rather than several

Factors to consider before buying a street photography lens

All the lenses on this list are great, but the final decision is up to you – and should depend on your shooting style and preferred type of street photography.

So here are the key items to consider when looking for the perfect street photography lens:

Focal length

Many photographers say the best focal length for street photography is 50mm, and 50mm lenses do offer a great perspective (plus, this field of view has been popularized by many famous street photographers). Those who like the 50mm focal length but use crop sensors should go for a 35mm lens.

That said, you don’t need to feel constrained by what has come before, and wider focal lengths are becoming more popular among street photographers.

best street photography lens nighttime — Nighttime street photography needs a larger aperture or a high ISO.
Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 50mm f/1.2L | f/2 | 1/400s | ISO 500

Low-light performance

For moody and dramatic street photos, you’ll often need to shoot in low light. You might find yourself doing street photography in a dingy indoor market, at twilight, or at night – and in all of those situations, a lens with a large aperture provides a major advantage. Yes, modern cameras perform well at high ISOs, which negates the need for a high aperture to some extent. However, a large aperture is still required if you want beautiful bokeh lights in the background of your low-light photos.

Size and weight

To get great street photos, you’ll need to be out walking for much of the day. This means a smaller, lighter setup is a big help. Try to pick just one lens and keep it as light as possible.

Autofocus speed

Street photography is often done in fast-paced and dynamic environments, so if your lens is too slow to focus, you’ll miss a lot of shots. You need a lens that focuses almost instantly, especially if you hope to capture action-oriented street images.

Sharpness

Pretty much all forms of photography require sharpness, and street photography is no exception. Look for a lens that gives you crisp, clear, detailed photos. Some street photographers do like a softer, grainier look, but you can add this in post-processing. Generally speaking, the sharper the lens, the better.

street at night — Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 50mm f/1.2L | f/2 | 1/60s | ISO 1000

Time to choose the best lens for street photography

Now that you’ve finished this article, you should be ready to choose the right street photography lens for your needs.

Remember: the best street photography lens is the one that matches the aesthetic you want to create. So don’t think too much about the popularity of different lenses; instead, ask yourself how they’ll work with your interests and style.

Now over to you:

Which of these lenses is your favorite? Is there one in particular that appeals to you for street shooting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

the best street photography lens — The best lens for street photography will allow you to get close to the action!
Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 17-40mm f/4L | 24mm | f/4 | 1/60s | ISO 2500

The post The Best Lens for Street Photography: Top 11 Picks (in 2021) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

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65 Films About Photography: Our Picks to Watch

30 Jan

Photography and movies have a lot in common. While one is the art of capturing a frame, another is capturing moving frames. However, both are powerful creative mediums to tell a story. Apart from practicing photography yourself, one of the easiest ways to learn and improve your photography skills is to watch other people’s work and be inspired. And, what’s Continue Reading
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DPReview picks the best lenses for Canon, Nikon and Sony

09 Nov

We’ve published the first three of our new Lens Buying Guides, covering Canon and Nikon DSLRs, as well as Sony mirrorless cameras. We’ve started with these three as they’re the most sought-after, and we hope to expand it to other systems soon.

In each guide we’ve chosen the best standard zoom, prime, macro, telephoto, wide-angle and travel zoom lenses – there’s a quick primer on these lens types at the bottom of this page if you’re not familiar with them. The winner is what we consider the best overall value and, in most cases, we’ve provided ‘bargain’ and ‘money is no object’ options as well.

Don’t agree with our picks? Please leave comments in the guides and we’ll take your suggestions into account.

Best lenses for Canon DSLRs

Best lenses for Nikon DSLRs

Best lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras

Lens primer:

Standard zooms are just what they sound like – versatile, general-purpose lenses that start with a fairly wide angle of view and allow you to zoom in to a focal length traditionally used for portraits.

Prime lenses are just a single focal length; removing the complexity of a zoom often allows for these lenses to be smaller, lighter and sharper, while letting more light through and being more useful in dimly lit situations.

Macro lenses allow you to focus very close to small subjects, which is very handy for photographing flowers or bugs.

Telephoto lenses start out being fairly zoomed-in, and allow you to zoom in further so you can fill your frame with more distant subjects.

Wide-angle lenses are often useful for taking photos of interiors, landscapes and architecture.

Lastly, travel zooms are like your kit zoom lens but taken to the extreme. You still start out with a fairly wide field of view, but you can zoom in almost as much as many telephoto lenses. This is convenient, but these lenses tend to let less light through them, so aren’t as useful in dimly lit situations, and they may not always give you the sharpest results.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Spectacular editors’ picks from early 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year entries

11 Sep

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo by Nancy Elwood/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
The Eye Of A Gator

National Geographic’s 2016 Nature Photographer of the Year competition is underway, and like many of the subjects depicted in entries, the competition is looking mighty fierce. National Geographic’s editors have highlighted some standout early entries, but there’s still time to enter – the competition closes November 4.

You can see a few of the incredible entries here – head to the competition website for more.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and caption by Nancy Elwood/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

The Eye Of A Gator

As I was sitting on the bank of the wetlands, watching a pair of anhingas prepare their nest, when one flew right down in front of me to fish. I quickly focused on her and out of the water came a wonderful fish brunch.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Christopher Markisz/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Moonlightning

Lightning strikes lower Manhattan as a summer storm approaches a moonlit New York City skyline.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Kym Illman/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Curious Lions

Using a wide-angle lens (16mm) on our remote-controlled camera buggy results in the background being smaller in shot and appearing further away. We fire the camera shutter using the same remote-control transmitter that we use to drive the buggy, allowing us a range of a couple of hundred meters although we rarely sit more than fifty metres away from camera.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Takashi/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

UFO formation

A baby cloud had born at dawn. The baby cloud had grown bigger and bigger than before. When it came the time of the morning glow, It had grown to many huge lenticular clouds. It looked like UFO formation.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Flamine Alary/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Mist and Wind

Early this morning we were on our way for hiking at the Bruce Peninsula National Park. The sun was rising, it was misty, eerie and we did not see very far away when suddenly these wind turbines appeared out of the mist. It was quite spectacular.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Lidija Kamansky/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Daybreak at Monument Valley

A storm was rolling in from the west and the few of us gathered for sunrise were watching and hoping that day would break before the rains came. The moment the sun peeked above the horizon, we were hit with incredible winds and sideways driving rain. My husband jumped behind me to block the blowing sand and to try to shelter me from the wind. I kept shooting as the skies lit up, while gripping the tripod to keep it steady. This image is the result of those efforts from this memorable sunrise!

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Jassen T. /2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Fossil Fuel Galore

“A quarter century ago, scientists warned that if we kept burning fossil fuel at current rates weíd melt the Arctic. The fossil fuel industry (and most everyone else in power) ignored those warnings, and what do you know: The Arctic is melting, to the extent that people now are planning to race yachts through the Northwest Passage, which until very recently required an icebreaker to navigate.” New York Times, May 12, 2015. Midway-Sunset is currently the largest oil field in California. Aerial.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Li Liu/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Beauty Beyond Disaster

The Soberanes Fire, located south of Carmel and Point Lobos, started Friday morning 07/22/2016. By Saturday night, the fire covered the entire mountain. The sky was illuminated by the golden glow of the forest fire. I hiked down towards a cliff by the beach. Because the wind was blowing south and slightly east, the sky to the southwest was clear. I witnessed the most spectacular sight I have ever seen, the Milky Way glowed above the raging wildfire. Beauty rose beyond disaster.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Kyon. J/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Through

It was amazing to capture China’s beautiful mountains in such magnificent morning rays coming through.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Kim Aikawa/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Swamp Raccoon

While looking for alligators at a swamp in Louisiana, this beautiful little creature wanders out of the murky waters right into the morning light, pausing just long enough to capture.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by T. King/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Hugh McCrystal/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Wildebeest Migration

This is a photo of Wildebeest during migration in the Serengeti.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by QIAN WANG/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Let’s picnic

Yellowstone National Park, west thumb geyser basin, a perfect spot for picnic, and I mean not for human.

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Aaron Baggenstos/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Bear Hug

Brown Bears, Katmai National Park, Alaska

Editors’ picks: National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2016

Photo and Caption by Yh Lee/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Bull Race

Pacu Jawi, or bull race, is held in Indonesia where bulls are coupled, with the jockey standing on the plow harnesses attached to each bull, running a short distance of about 100 feet. Whichever pair runs the fastest in a straight fashion fetches the highest price (as they are deemed the best workhorse in plowing the paddy fields for harvesting).

Which images are your favorites? Let us know in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Introducing the PDN & Rangefinder 2015 Gift Guide – with DPReview editor’s picks

25 Nov

Our friends over at Photo District News and Rangefinder Magazine have just published their first ever holiday gift guide, with contributions from Rolling Stone, Tiny Atlas Quarterly, TIME and our very own editor, Barney Britton. Click through to read the full guide!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Top 7 Gear Picks 2014 to Try This Summer

18 Jul

Summer is a great time to get outdoors and shoot amazing photos. The weather is sublime, the plants are all blooming and it’s just an all around great time of year. The last thing you want to do is lug around your hunky DSLR. This list of sleek and compact image makers will provide you with all of the best Continue Reading

The post Top 7 Gear Picks 2014 to Try This Summer appeared first on Photodoto.

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DPReview Top Picks: Stand-out third party lenses

28 Nov

When you buy into a camera system, it can be tempting to only consider lenses of the same make as your camera. But companies such as Sigma, Tamron and Tokina offer some excellent options too. In this article, we’re highlighting our pick of stand-out third party lenses. We’ve chosen them based on their ability to offer something different to the camera manufacturers’ own, in terms of either focal length range, maximum aperture, image quality or value. Click through to read all about them.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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