Best Camera for Street Photography | 2025

The best camera for street photography will allow you to document everyday life as it happens. When pounding city streets for memorable images, you need a camera that’s speedy, accurate and portable. The cameras on this list will offer all that. 

Many photographers favour compact cameras for street photography, ideally one with slim dimensions and a nice, sharp prime lens on the front. Accordingly, most of the cameras on our list do indeed conform to those criteria, but we have also included a budget-friendly interchangeable-lens option for those who want something less specialised.

You can scroll to the bottom of this page to see the criteria we’ve used when making our picks, and we also have a dedicated guide to the best compact cameras that includes lots of street-friendly models. 

What's coming up:

Best camera for street photography overall: Fujifilm X100VI
Best X100VI alternative: Ricoh GR IV
Best Leica camera for street photography: Leica Q3 43
Best budget camera for street photography: Canon EOS 2000D
Best medium format camera for street photography: Fujifilm GFX100RF

Best camera for street photography overall:

The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of a series that has long been considered the best of the best for street photography, offering a slew of upgrades. We have a versatile 40MP sensor, some of Fujifilm's best AF performance and finally, in-body image stabilisation. 

The model retains the same classic Fujifilm dial-based control system as the previous entries in the series, giving that throwback to the days of analogue shooting. As with all Fujifilm cameras, the X100VI produces images with beautiful colours straight out of camera, minimising the need for too much time editing and allowing you to spend more time shooting. Of course, you can take it a step further by experimenting with Fujifilm's hugely popular Film Simulation modes.

More on that sensor. It is the same 40.2MP X-Trans 5 sensor as used in the X-T5 and X-H2 and is coupled with the X-Processor 5 which together provide excellent speed and precision. This upgrade also provides a boost to video capabilities allowing you to shoot up to 6.2K video footage. The full list of upgrades is dizzying, to say the least, but all in all, the improvements further show how well this camera is suited to street photography, and now, videography too.

Best X100VI alternative:

Ricoh’s GR cameras may not be quite as TikTok-famous as the X100VI and its predecessors. However, they are brilliant cameras that serve a very similar purpose, and if you’re looking for something a little more affordable and easier to find than the X100VI, the new Ricoh GR IV should be high on your wishlist. 

With a fixed 28mm lens and a high-quality APS-C sensor, the Ricoh GR IV provides a perfect platform for street photography. It’s slim enough to slip into a pocket or small bag, or hang on a wrist strap, and it’s a fast camera too, able to start up in fractions of a second. The 5-axis stabilisation system makes it easier to get sharp shots at slower shutter speeds, and there’s also an unusual feature we really love — 53GB of internal storage! This means that even if you forget, lose or damage your microSD card, you can still keep shooting with the GR IV.

Best Leica camera for street photography:

The name “Leica” is a watchword in street photography, and if you want a street-shooting camera from the best in the business, our recommendation is the utterly fabulous Leica Q3 43. It’s a compact camera similar to the X100VI and GR IV, only instead of an APS-C sensor it offers full-frame, and its lens is a narrower 43mm optic. This provides a naturalistic field of view, similar to that of the human eye, giving you a little less of the wider scene but making it easier to hone in on specific elements. 

The 60MP sensor delivers utterly dazzling images, with that renowned Leica colour science producing images with that unmistakable Leica “look”. It’s also a triple-resolution sensor, meaning you can shoot at 36MP or 18MP if you want to save on card space. In terms of handling and ergonomics, the Q3 43 is a dream, with an all-metal body built to Leica’s exacting engineering standards, as well as a beautiful high-resolution OLED viewfinder for composition.

Best budget camera for street photography:

A popular beginner’s DSLR from Canon, the EOS 2000D comes straight out of the box with everything you need to start shooting, including a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens. While you may start chafing against the limited maximum aperture once you get used to operating the camera, it’s still a solid foundation to learn on. Plus, with the guided modes on the EOS 2000D, you can get acclimated with its features and functions nice and quickly, meaning you don’t have to spend too much time getting used to the camera before you can start shooting street images.

With an APS-C sensor and 24.1MP of resolution, the EOS 2000D offers impressive image quality for your money. And while it isn’t going to match the high-end cameras for things like autofocus speed or burst rate, it does a credible job nonetheless, and it’s perfectly possible to get excellent street shots with this camera.

Best medium format camera for street photography:

Street photography on medium format?! The Fujifilm GFX100RF makes it not just possible, but spectacular. Cramming a large sensor into a body that’s really not that much bigger than that of the X100VI, this incredible camera delivers 100MP image quality in a format that’s suited to the fast pace of street photography.

The sensor is paired with a 35mm (28mm equivalent) F4 lens that’s sumptuously crisp and sharp, making the most of all those pixels. And having all that resolution to spare means you can make use of powerful digital crop modes to simulate longer focal lengths, with 45mm, 63mm and 80mm equivalents available. Even cutting into the image significantly, you’ve got so many pixels that you’ll still get a high-quality image, and if you shoot in RAW, the entire sensor readout will be recorded anyway — so you can always “de-crop” the image if you change your mind later. Though if you do shoot in this format, be prepared for your memory cards to fill up quickly. 

With superb ergonomics, the Fujifilm GFX100RF achieves its mission of bringing an X100-style experience to medium format. A spectacular camera. 

FAQs

What kind of camera should I buy for street photography?

Look for a camera that's compact and lightweight, with good autofocus, low-light performance, and fast burst shooting. A mirrorless camera or a high-end compact camera would be a good choice.

Do I need to buy an expensive camera for street photography?

No, you don't need an expensive camera for street photography. A good camera with a fixed lens and manual controls is all you need. The important thing is to master the art of seeing and capturing interesting moments.

Which lens is best for street photography?

A prime lens with a wide aperture (such as f1.8 or f2) is ideal for street photography. A 35mm or 50mm lens is popular among street photographers because they're versatile and allow you to capture a wide range of subjects.

Should I shoot in manual mode for street photography?

Shooting in manual mode gives you full control over your camera settings, which is important in street photography. However, it can be challenging to get the settings right in a fast-moving environment. If you're new to photography, you may want to start with aperture priority mode and then gradually move to manual mode.

Do I need a tripod for street photography?

No, you don't need a tripod for street photography. In fact, it can be a hindrance when you need to move quickly to capture a fleeting moment. A handheld camera or a camera with in-body image stabilisation should be sufficient.

Should I shoot in RAW or JPEG for street photography?

Shooting in RAW format gives you more control over your post-processing, allowing you to adjust the exposure, colour, and sharpness of your images without losing quality. However, it also requires more storage space and processing power. Shooting in JPEG format is more convenient if you don't plan to do a lot of post-processing.

How important is the camera's autofocus system for street photography?

The autofocus system is crucial for street photography, as you need to be able to focus quickly and accurately on your subject. Look for a camera with a fast and reliable autofocus system, preferably with a high number of autofocus points and face detection.

How to choose the best camera for street photography

The definition of street photography is quite broad, but at heart, it’s about documenting public spaces and the people who live and work in them. Any camera can be a street camera in the right hands, but at the same time, there are a few ways you can make the discipline easier and more accessible by focusing on the kinds of features that are best suited for the particular art of street shooting.

Here are the main criteria we’ve kept in mind when picking the best camera for street photography:

Speed: Street is all about capturing fleeting moments, and the thing about fleeting moments is… well, let’s not get redundant. Suffice to say, a camera with fast autofocus and solid burst speeds is really going to help you up your hit rate when street shooting.

Portable dimensions: A good street camera is ideally going to be unobtrusive. You want to see people behaving naturalistically, as they would if you weren’t there, so it helps to be able to blend into the background. Despite what some photographers may think, a massive SLR with a battery grip and a lens longer than your arm does not blend into the background. Thinking small is a good idea.

Tilting/articulating LCD screen: This isn’t completely essential. Many street shooters prefer a viewfinder, and that’s fine too. However, if you want to shoot unobserved, a great way to do so is to avoid bringing the camera up to your eye — and having a tilting or (even better) a fully articulating LCD screen is an excellent way to compose your shots while keeping the camera around waist level. 

Affordability: Street photography is a fun, exciting discipline that requires no expensive lighting or other accessories. It’s just about you, the camera and the environment – as such, we’ve made an effort to keep this list accessible by including plenty of affordable cameras, as well as more expensive options for those who can stretch their budget.

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