When I'm looking for the best camera for street photography I think it should deliver a superior in-the-moment photographic experience. Shooting street photography is all about being there, blending within your surroundings, and finding that split-second moment where all the elements align.
As a street photographer, you'll be a keen observer, with an eye for documenting daily life. Anything from eye-catching outfits to ironic coincidences can be the purview of the street photographer. It's less about technical perfection, and more about capturing something raw and true.
We've split our list into two major categories: fixed lens compacts and interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras. If you're purely street shooting, then a simple compact may be the way to go, while mirrorless cameras are more versatile, and a good choice if you might want to try other genres like wildlife, portrait, or landscape photography.
One more thing. Street photography has a rich history in the history of photography, and there's a certain style to it. So we've taken into consideration the cameras we think best suit the style of shooting street. It's not just about aesthetics; many of these more retro-styled cameras pack in features that complement the shoot-from-the-hip philosophy of street photography.
Gareth Bevan
Gareth is the Reviews Editor at Digital Camera World, and the person in charge of approving all the latest camera-related tech. Spending a lot of time out on the streets of London snapping away, he knows a thing or two about which cameras work well for discreet street cameras. Outside of this, expect to find him cycling around, or deep in a Netflix binge.
Our quick list
Want to see our choices in a hurry? Well here they are… and if you want to find out more about them, the jump links will take you down to give you the full story of why we recommend them.
Bags of style backed up with serious imaging tech, the Fujifilm X100V has it all. The fifth in a line of prime-lens compacts, the X100V eschews zoom range in favor of a catch-it-all focal length and supreme image quality. Read more below
The GR III, is a great option for street photography, so much so that it even comes in a dedicated "street edition" with a pop-on viewfinder and natty yellow stripe included. Read more below
If you want the best of the best compact cameras on the market that has a 60MP sensor, and a whole lot of street-cred and a super-sharp fimxed 20mm f/1.7 Summilux then look no further. Read more below
The Sony RX100 VII is a brilliant compact camera that is small enough that you'll go noticed pulling this out of your pocket for some discreet street shots, but with a decent optical zoom, you can also choose to get close in to your subjects.
The Leica Monchrom might be almost the definition of the classic street camera. Rangefinder design, manual focus only, and monochrome sensor. The camera might be limiting for many purposes, but for on the streets, it is perfect.
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Bags of style backed up with serious imaging tech, the Fujifilm X100VI has it all. The fifth in a line of prime-lens compacts, the X100VI eschews zoom range in favor of a catch-it-all focal length and supreme image quality.
In our review, we found it to be a supremely enjoyable camera to use, I'd say it's one of the most purely enjoyable cameras that’s ever been made.
The X100V has evidently been put together with street photographers in mind; its dial-based controls hark back to the old days of street photography, while its hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder is one of the best examples of its type on any mirrorless camera, full-stop. All of this does come at a price, but if you can justify the expense, it’s worth it.
Like four-hour board games and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Ricoh GR cameras have acquired something of a cult following. Their fans will extol, to anyone who’ll listen, the virtues of their slim build and large sensor, a feature combination that makes the most recent model, the GR IIIx, a great option for street photography, so much so that it even comes in a dedicated "street edition" with a pop-on viewfinder and natty yellow stripe included.
With impressive features like three-axis image stabilization, a high maximum ISO of 102,400, and a lean start-up time of just 0.8sec, the GR III has the imaging cred to back up its looks.
Also consider the Ricoh has come out with an alternative version of the GR IIIx, the Ricoh GR III. It's basically the same camera, but with one crucial difference – it swaps the 40mm equivalent lens for a 28mm equivalent. Neither of these is necessarily better for street photography; it's just about personal preference. If you like the sound of the wide perspective then the Ricoh GR III is for you, but think you might prefer a closer, tighter perspective, consider the Ricoh GR IIIx!
Uncomfortable to hold for long periods without optional grip
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Pricey
The Leica Q3's 60MP sensor never failed to impress me, producing breathtaking images that capture every detail. I particularly enjoyed the digital crop feature, which adds a fun element of experimentation to the fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens.
Each shot I took showcased Leica's remarkable processing, with colors that pop with exceptional dynamic range, making it the perfect compact camera for Street photography. The autofocus is quick and precise, especially when it comes to subject focusing, thanks to its efficient human and eye detection capabilities.
However, I've found that the animal detection feature leaves much to be desired. It often misidentifies inanimate objects rather than living creatures however, I suspect this could be improved with firmware updates. In terms of video, the Leica Q3 delivers high-quality 8K footage in various professional codecs, but I've noticed that image stabilization struggles with handheld shake.
Despite these drawbacks, the Leica Q3 remains a standout camera for everyday use, and it easily earns its reputation as one of the best compact cameras for street photography available today. Unfortunately, being a Leica, its lofty price tag makes it inaccessible to many photographers, which is a disappointment.
Screen: 3-inch 1.84 million dot vari-angle LCD touchscreen
Viewfinder: 2.36 million dot
Max continuous shooting speed: up to 30fps (1.25x crop) or 20fps (no crop)
Max video resolution: Up to 6K30P 4:2:2 10-bit internal, 4K60P, 1080HD240P
Reasons to buy
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Small and compact size
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6K30P video in 4:2:2 10-bit
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Subject recognition and tracking autofocus
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Bigger battery
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Vari-angle screen for vlogging
Reasons to avoid
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Vlog mode isn’t well explained
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Price might be too much for some
In my review, I found that the Fujifilm X-S20 is the most versatile camera for most users. Its straightforward controls and excellent fully automatic modes make capturing great shots a breeze.
Plus, its small and compact size makes it easy to carry around wherever you go. Despite its size, the X-S20 packs a punch with its powerful processor capable of 6K video and subject recognition tracking, making it a great choice for photo enthusiasts, content creators, and those who love to shoot street photography too, like me.
While the price is a little higher than the previous version, I believe it's worth it considering the capabilities of this camera. It offers more than enough features to satisfy most users' needs, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about photography or videography.
AF points: 357-point phase AF, 425-point contrast AF
LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 921k dots
Viewfinder: Pop-up EVF, 2.36m dots
Dimensions: 101.6 x 58.1 x 42.8 mm
Weight: 302g (with battery and SD card)
Reasons to buy
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Extremely high-speed shooting
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With fast AF to match
Reasons to avoid
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Small, cramped and fiddly
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Pricey
A camera doesn’t get seven iterations unless the idea was good, to begin with, and the Sony RX100 VII is the latest in a line of terrific tiny compacts. Pairing a 24-200mm equivalent Zeiss-engineered lens with an extremely sophisticated autofocus system and enviably fast burst shooting is a winner in anyone’s book, and all this makes it right up the alley of any street photographer.
All this tech doesn’t come cheap, however, and one could argue, as we did in our review, that the RX100 VII is a wee bit aggressively priced for a camera of its size (and sensor size).
The good news, though, is that if the asking price is too dear for you, the preceding RX100 models are still largely in production, so by all means have a look and see if one better suits you (our RX100 comparison guide will come in handy there).
Max shooting speed: DNG: 15 shots, JPG: >100 shots
User level: Expert
Reasons to buy
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Pristine B&W quality
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Incredible in low light
Reasons to avoid
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Incredibly expensive
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Immovable rear screen
The Leica M11 Monochrom is a camera that speaks directly to my niche interests, and maybe yours too. As a black-and-white, manual focus-only rangefinder camera, it stands apart from the mainstream offerings. Sure, it can't shoot video, and the price tag of $9000 (£8,300) is hefty, but these characteristics are what make it so special.
Far from being shortcomings, these features encouraged me to approach my photography with a more deliberate mindset. Every shot becomes a thoughtful process, reminiscent of the glory days of film photography. Using the M11 Monochrom has been one of the most enjoyable photography experiences I've had in a while.
I understand that this camera isn't for everyone. It's tailored for a specific audience, and Leica knows exactly how to cater to their needs. For those of us who appreciate its unique qualities and Black-and-white only images, there's good news: it's possibly the best version of this camera to date.
Burst rate: 14fps continuous, 30fps RAW burst mode
AF points: Dual Pixel CMOS phase detect, 143 / 99 points (depending on lens)
LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.04m dots
Viewfinder: No
Dimensions: 119.6 x 70.0 x 49.2 mm
Weight: 398g (body only, with battery and SD card)
Reasons to buy
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Impressive 32.5MP APS-C sensor
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Formidable burst shooting
Reasons to avoid
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No in-body stabilisation
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Limited native lenses
If you’ll pardon our French for a moment, the EOS M6 II represented the kick-up le derrière that the EOS M series desperately needed, and for its price, it’s one of the best Canon cameras and mirrorless cameras around.
Pairing a seriously impressive APS-C sensor with super-fast burst shooting and a beast of an autofocus system, this pocketable camera is more than just suited for street shooting, it excels at it. And given that it’s packing more megapixels than the majority of Canon bodies, it’s also a great choice if you’ve one eye on printing your images big.
The Fujifilm X-T5 marks the latest step in Fujifilm's X-T series, and for me, it's more of an evolution than a revolution. As someone deeply passionate about street photography, especially capturing simulations of my favorite films too, this camera feels like a classic SLR-style companion with a modern twist.
I love the traditional dials on the top of the camera; they make changing ISO and shutter speed settings a breeze, giving me that tactile connection to my craft. The X-T5 builds upon the beloved X-T4 with an impressive 40.2MP sensor and 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 6.2K/30P, all while maintaining its lightweight design.
One of the standout features for me is the 3-way tilting touchscreen, which adds flexibility to image composition. In terms of its aesthetics, feel, and handling, the X-T5 stands out from the crowd, offering a unique shooting experience compared to other cameras like the Fujifilm X-H2.
If you're torn between the X-T5 and the X-H2, I'd recommend checking out our comparison article, "Fujifilm X-T5 vs X-H2," to see which one aligns better with your needs and preferences.
How to choose the best camera for street photography
When it comes to street photography, I've learned that the best mirrorless cameras and the best compact cameras may boast various features, but specific requirements truly make a camera shine in this genre.
For me, a good street photography camera must be small and discreet. It's essential to blend into the surroundings, observing scenes without drawing unnecessary attention. Big bodies and bulky lenses tend to stand out, which is not ideal.
Speed is another crucial factor. Snappy autofocus and a reliable burst mode ensure I capture the decisive moment without delay. It's reassuring to know that if I miss a shot, it won't be due to the camera's limitations.
When it comes to controls, intuitiveness is key. I prefer well-laid-out and tactile controls that allow me to adjust settings quickly without diving into menus. After all, time is of the essence during a street shoot.
Lastly, weight matters. Carrying the camera around my neck or on my shoulder for extended periods requires it to be lightweight. The ideal street camera shouldn't weigh me down as I navigate through the urban landscape, capturing fleeting moments of life.
How we test camera
In evaluating what cameras made the best ones for street photography, we conduct thorough assessments both in real-world shooting situations and under meticulously controlled lab conditions. Our lab examinations focus on key performance metrics including resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio.
Resolution is gauged using ISO resolution charts, while dynamic range assessments are facilitated through DxO Analyzer test equipment. Additionally, we utilize DxO Analyzer for comprehensive noise analysis across the camera's ISO range.
As for compact cameras, our evaluations are primarily based on real-world results and ergonomic handling, serving as the foundation for our informative guides.
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Gareth is a photographer based in London, working as a freelance photographer and videographer for the past several years, having the privilege to shoot for some household names. With work focusing on fashion, portrait and lifestyle content creation, he has developed a range of skills covering everything from editorial shoots to social media videos. Outside of work, he has a personal passion for travel and nature photography, with a devotion to sustainability and environmental causes.
