What to look for…

Get a lens with some street smarts

IN THE HOOD

A hood can improve image quality and gives protection to the lens’s front element. With the Nikon DX format zooms on test, you’ll need to buy this as an optional extra.

AUTOFOCUS

Ring-type ultrasonic autofocus is quick and whisper-quiet, whereas the newer stepping motor systems, featured in most Nikon lenses on test, are near silent.

MANUAL FOCUS

It’s a sign of the times that only the Samyang lenses featured are manual-focus optics, with a focus distance scale accompanied by depth of field markers for multiple apertures.

PRIME OR ZOOM?

The fixed focal length of a prime lens offers a conventional approach to street photography, but there’s no denying that a zoom lens adds versatility.

IMAGE STABILIZATION

The DX format Nikon zooms and FX format Tamron prime feature optical stabilization, whereas full-frame Z-mount mirrorless cameras offer in-body stabilization when using any lens.

FOCAL LENGTH

35mm is the ideal focal length for street photography on full-frame cameras. A 24mm lens on a DX format body gives a similar viewing angle of about 63 degrees.