Lens Choice for Street and Candid Photography

Hello friends and fellow photographers

This is for my son who is extremely interested in street and candid photography. He mainly uses my old D90 coupled with my AF-D 50mm lens or AF-S 55-200 Dx lens. Sometimes he uses my D7200 with the same lens. I am planning to gift him a lens for his photographic journey, and together we have short-listed the following.

AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8 G
AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G ED
AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 35mm f/2 D
20mm f/2.8 Nikkor

It would be a great help if the members here may comment on these lenses and point me to the best possible lens, keeping the price in mind.

Thank you all in advance.

Alochhaya wrote: Hello friends and fellow photographers
This is for my son who is extremely interested in street and candid photography. He mainly uses my old D90 coupled with my AF-D 50mm lens or AF-S 55-200 Dx lens. Sometimes he uses my D7200 with the same lens. I am planning to gift him a lens for his photographic journey, and together we have short-listed the following.
AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8 G
AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G ED
AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 35mm f/2 D
20mm f/2.8 Nikkor

The two focal lengths associated with street photography are  35mm and 50mm    50 is also used more for portrait and is a little wide for street and 35 distorts the nose and facial features when shooting portrait closer, but work better for street.

You have neither of these focal lengths with your current lenses.

Always go for the widest aperture for most flexibility
If you want 35mm equivalent,(I would recommend this for street photography) I would go with the

AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 G ED  (30mm)  I would probably choose this one
AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 G ED  (38mm)

If you want a 50mm equivalent then
AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G ED (50mm) (has the narrowest Depth of Feild)


If I were you I would do research on these lenses and see which one has the best sharpness and over all image quality. and the least  lens defects like vignetting or chromatic aberration. Between these 3 choices.

Thank you for your reply.

I did search o the net, but I could not find many reviews of these lenses and none are comparative reviews.

It seems that the 20mm should be the way to go as you have pointed out.

thanks again.

Alochhaya wrote: Thank you for your reply.

I did search o the net, but I could not find many reviews of these lenses and none are comparative reviews.

It seems that the 20mm should be the way to go as you have pointed out.

thanks again.

Good luck.. Both lenses seem to have good reviews, 20 a little better maybe?
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-24mm-f1-8g
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-20mm-f1-8g-ed

Might I suggest the Sigma art  20mm 1.4 and the 24 1.4 around the same price.. Full frame lenses (in case he moves to a full frame camera, the only downside is that they are bigger and heavier.

I'd add the Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX lens to your consideration since he uses a DX camera.
It has gotten so many great review from everyone and it's very inexpensive.

Here's one such review.
www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm

And another comparison.
photographylife.com/nikon-35mm-f1-8g-vs-50mm-f1-4g

Alochhaya wrote: Hello friends and fellow photographers

This is for my son who is extremely interested in street and candid photography. He mainly uses my old D90 coupled with my AF-D 50mm lens or AF-S 55-200 Dx lens. Sometimes he uses my D7200 with the same lens. I am planning to gift him a lens for his photographic journey, and together we have short-listed the following.

AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 G ED
AF-S Nikkor 28mm f/1.8 G
AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G ED
AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 D
AF Nikkor 35mm f/2 D
20mm f/2.8 Nikkor

It would be a great help if the members here may comment on these lenses and point me to the best possible lens, keeping the price in mind.

Thank you all in advance.

The 35 f/2 D, is perfect for street photography. Cheap too.