Lens Choices in the Subways of NYC

[ChipMcD]

Like some of the other posters, I've found that a 50mm can work very well in some situations. I've used an f2.0 with minimal problems. Going to f1.4 would give more leeway for slower films or digital ISOs. A 35 mm would probably be best. Going wider means getting closer. If you're fine with that, 28, 21, 15 mm? Depending on what you are doing, all could work. You'd be paying a speed price with most 15mms, at least ones that I could afford.

[jkrumsick]

I was the guy complaining about how I couldn't make it to the NYC monthly meetup in the thread ;-). I would really love to see the Plaubel. Maybe some other time. Any chance you would want to get together for some street shooting one evening? Are you in Manhattan?

Cheers

[jkrumsick]

Originally Posted by ChipMcD

Like some of the other posters, I've found that a 50mm can work very well in some situations. I've used an f2.0 with minimal problems. Going to f1.4 would give more leeway for slower films or digital ISOs. A 35 mm would probably be best. Going wider means getting closer. If you're fine with that, 28, 21, 15 mm? Depending on what you are doing, all could work. You'd be paying a speed price with most 15mms, at least ones that I could afford.

Hey Chip - I agree, going wider means you have to get closer. Of course I would like to work more with a 50mm but on the train the angle of coverage is too narrow. Because of that I think anything above 50 is really just not useable inside the train car (for the work I do).

Funnily enough... I just did some shooting with my 135mm in the train not too long ago... awaiting the results... will update.

[jatiphoto]

checkout christophe agou

[Roger Hicks]

21/2.8 in London

Cheers,

R.

[Godfrey]

Presuming 35mm FF, 28 to 50mm is the normal range I'd use. Prime and reasonably quick. Mostly 35mm or 40mm for me. BUT, on the trips to NY I made in 2007 and 2010, I shot the subways and streets with an equivalent short tele (60 to 70mm), which worked very nicely for what I was after.

This small batch, streets in NYC but not down in the subway, were made with a Ricoh GXR fitted with A12 28mm camera unit:

Day in Manhattan - New York City 2011.

[robklurfield]

Thirty years ago I shot with a 35 Summicron in the NYC subway even with slow film (Pan X) and got results that surprise me in a pleasant way all these years later. Now, having foolishly traded the cron, a Canon 35/2 fills the bill nicely. I've also played around with a CV 15/4.5 on my M8 at high ISOs with mixed results (sometimes the noise gets overwhelming; sometimes not). I like the fact that with the super wide you can incredibly close to people without being obtrusive, but that's a lot of light gathering capability to give up with such a slow lens. However, if I'm not shooting from the hip or over my shoulder, a Canon 50/1.4 or 50 cron would do nicely. I still lean more toward the wide angles when underground.

[Sylvester]

40mm. Best compromise, if you have the right camera for it.

[rxmd]

Mostly a 35/f2.8, strangely enough. I would have used a 21 if I had a faster one than f/4. I don't care much for ISO 800 and faster film.

In the Berlin subway, you can shoot pretty much everywhere at f/2.8, 1/25 of a second with ISO 400 film. That was also where I learned to love the Contax/Kiev shutter - soft and quiet as a whisper, much more so than anything Leica.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by jkrumsick

I was the guy complaining about how I couldn't make it to the NYC monthly meetup in the thread ;-). I would really love to see the Plaubel. Maybe some other time. Any chance you would want to get together for some street shooting one evening? Are you in Manhattan?

Cheers

I live in Madhattan, specifically in Spanish Harlem, AKA. SpaHa. LOL.

This Sunday is the Meet-Up and generally I use any excuse to shoot. Send me a PM and we'll hook up.

Cal

[Range-rover]

Hi,
35mm, 28mm, 25mm would do it for me depending on camera, SLR
would be a zoom.

Range

[denizg7]

Originally Posted by jkrumsick

Hey guys - I wrote a post about which lenses are best for street photography on the subway in NYC. My main argument? Fast, wide and prime - 21mm to 35mm.

Does anyone shoot in the subways of NYC here? If so what lens choices do they make?

Cheers,
Jeremy

I don't take kindly to people that take shoots in the subways

[bastian a.]

35mm or 28mm.
Usually 21mm is too wide for me.

[maddoc]

Originally Posted by denizg7

I don't take kindly to people that take shoots in the subways

"shoot the shooter" !?

[denizg7]

just that subways are were i find peace and I usually relax my eyes a bit after a busy day , i feel like it would be bothering someone , similar to toilet street shooting in public toilets

[helenhill]

35 or 50 for me... Works very well
Funny I never shot the 21SA in the Subway...just on buses & streets

[Hamfish]

I use 35 1.4


Forever Alone by Topen, on Flickr

[dtcls100]

Prefer using ultra to very wide lenses like 17mm, 21mm and 24mm for 35mm format on subway. The wider lenses convey more of the atmosphere and sometimes harried craziness of the subway environment. Also allows one to take photos more discreetly of interesting but questionable characters up close -- just point camera at waist level in general direction of subject and fire with only bare estimate of focusing distance due to great depth of field.

[ChrisPlatt]

Originally Posted by maddoc

"shoot the shooter" !?

Have you been on NYC subways lately? Ever?

Chris

[Paul Jenkin]

I don't shoot in the subways of New York but I expect that the London "Underground" system is similar in many ways. I try to keep it very simple - Leica M6TTL, 28mm or 50mm lens and Fuji Neopan 1600 (I still have a few rolls left). Once the last of the Fuji is gone, I'll be using Delta 3200 or up-rating XP2.

[maddoc]

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

Have you been on NYC subways lately? Ever?

Chris

Never, ever !!

[denizg7]

About 7 months ago i used to live in Brooklyn Heights..

Long story short , I used to take the 2/3 train that came from Atlantic ave to my political science classes.

So as usual I wait for the subway and on time , 40 mins before class starts..

I wait and wait and no one has any idea what's going on.

So at the end one of my class mates who comes from Atlantic Ave said, "There was a lady who gave left over food in plastic containers to the hobo, the hobo took the food and threw it to her face , and tried to push her into the rails."

After when the hobo was interviewed he said , "She thought she was so much better than me , that she had to give me food"

Rule 1: Never stand too close to the rails without knowing whos on your back

Rule 2:Best to act like the homoless do not exist , they have nothing to loose and may take it wrongly if you try to do them good or if you try to do bad , delusional state they have.

Interesting stuff.

Oh almost forgot this topic , fish eye lens lol

[jkrumsick]

Originally Posted by aperture64

I moved from NYC a few years ago, so I am out of the loop, but I thought you couldn't shoot in the stations or trains without a permit.

Nope. 100% incorrect my friend. No permit required to take photos on the subway.

"Photography, filming or video recording in any facility or conveyance is permitted except that ancillary equipment such as lights, reflectors or tripods may not be used. Members of the press holding valid identification issued by the New York City Police Department are hereby authorized to use necessary ancillary equipment. All photographic activity must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Part."

NYC Subway Rules Here

And I am amazed that some people don't take photos in the subway... it's the best place!

One of my more recent posts has some more from the depths...

HERE

[jkrumsick]

Originally Posted by denizg7

Rule 1: Never stand too close to the rails without knowing whos on your back

Rule 2:Best to act like the homoless do not exist , they have nothing to loose and may take it wrongly if you try to do them good or if you try to do bad , delusional state they have.

Interesting stuff.

Oh almost forgot this topic , fish eye lens lol

I agree about the delusional state of the homeless... they can be unpredictable so you must be really careful.

Also, I used to shoot with a 15mm CV 4.5 but found it too wide. The 21mm works well!

[DNG]

There are no subways in Indianapolis, IN....
BUT, I really like my tough Nikon FE and Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AiS, for all kinds of street photography... Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AiS, not so much.