During my time in NYC this year I took out my trustee Fujifilm X-E5 and 23mm lens for some street photography. This combination, which is a 35mm equivalent in full frame terms is my go-to for street work. Some prefer 28mm full frame getting in close to the scene, or even 50mm for more discreet work and portraits.
But the Fujifilm 23mm ‘pancake’ f2.8 worked perfectly for me. Lightweight, fast focussing, and 2.8 is plenty fast enough even at night with the image stabilisation that the camera has. I normally work with auto iso, and set the minimum shutter speed to 1/125 to avoid any slow shutter issues, and if the camera decides to go high with the iso then I’m all good with the grain produced as a result.
The Fuji X-E5’s flip screen was also very useful for hip shooting and when down at ground level, and the silent shutter was in use at all times. To be honest I only engage the mechanical shutter when taking on portrait photography, and I find that subjects when having their headshots taken like to hear the sound of the shutter.
New York City is a street photographer’s dream, such a diverse and interesting place especially away from all the tourist traps, and just make sure you are prepared to put in the steps!
