The Ultimate Camera Setup for Street Photography in Hong Kong
Introduction
So you’re ready to hit the streets of Hong Kong for some amazing street photography? Great! Let’s take a look at some recommendations for cameras and lenses that will enable you to to get the best compositions, subjects and scenery for the Hong Kong cityscape.
Firstly, there are a couple of unique attributes to HK that affect how easy it is to get the shots that you want and can subsequently affect your choice of gear that you bring out with you. Let’s take a look at these in detail first so as to give you some context to the following recommendations.
Considerations for Street Photography in Hong Kong
Even though the pandemic is long behind us, a lot of people still wear masks in HK when in public. This may affect your choice of subjects in your photographs.
Summer weather is hot, humid and oppressive. I’d advise against carrying your entire lens selection on your back when you’re out and about.
Some people just don’t want photos taken and are very vocal about it. Zoom lenses usually avoid any confrontation but may also affect the compositions of your images.
Hong Kong streets can be narrow and crowded. Smaller cameras and lenses are better for maneuvering and getting up close in these instances.
The bright neons and shop lights are good light sources, meaning that you don’t necessarily need super fast lenses to get the best out of your shots at night.
The Hong Kong Street Photography Gear Guide
Below I’ve listed out a number of possible gear combinations for you to consider to get the best out of your time on the streets. Depending on your goals and individual style, you can choose which one works best for you.
The Lightweight Solution
Lightweight setups mean leaving your lens collection at home, ditching the bulky zooms and settling for a compact, convenient solution in the form of a small camera and high quality prime lens. Interchangeable lens cameras are good, but will traditionally be more bulky than fixed lens mirrorless setups like the ones suggested below. Street photography is usually done with 28mm, 35mm or 50mm lenses to add context to your compositions, so finding a setup that incorporates these focal lengths is good practice.
Option 1: The Fuji X100V - For lovers of a classic look, the Fuji X100V sports a 23mm F2 lens and a 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans BSI CMOS 4 Sensor. It sports a tilting touchscreen, shoots up to 11 fps with a ISO range of 160-12800, and DCI/UHD 4K Video Recording at 30 fps. The JPEGs from this camera look very polished, imitating a classic film look. The fact that it’s small and compact also helps you go unnoticed, and it’s appearance as a classic, older style camera may help you avoid the attention of thieves - not that it’s a problem in Hong Kong.
Option 2: The Ricoh GR3 - Referred to as a ‘pocket powerhouse’, the Ricoh GR3 (or GRIII) is the latest iteration of Ricoh’s small, lightweight cameras. It offers a 28mm focal length with an aperture of F2.8 on a 24MP sensor - slower than the Fuji X100V, but still a good option. The 28mm focal length also brings it closer to traditional street photography focal lengths like 35mm.
Option 3: The Leica Q2 or Leica Q3 - For those that have money to burn, this is the most expensive, albeit one of the best options for compact solutions for photography setups. The Leica has a faster lens, with an aperture of F1.7, producing what is often referred to as the ‘Leica look’, and a whopping 47.3MP sensor, with 35mm, 50mm and 75mm crop modes that enable to you still get stunning detail even with a wider angle lens. Speaking of focal length, the FOV for this lens is 28mm (although it seems wider than most 28mm equivalents), giving you the option of capturing some incredible photos. It’s also built like a tank, with fantastic weather sealing that means that you’ll have no issue taking it out on rainy days. At over $5,000 USD it’s not a cheap purchase though.
Option 4: The Sony A7C - More compact than other Sony mirrorless cameras the Sony A7C is overdue a refresh, but is still a great option for street photographers if paired with the right lens. The 35mm F1.4 GM or 24mm F1.4 GM are both great, but can be larger and more clunky than the other options mentioned.
The Zoom Solution
Zoom lenses are a feasible way of getting close up shots without being too intrusive. The downside of zoom lenses is that you’re immediately more suspicious if you do get spotted (try comparing a Sony mirrorless camera to a Leica Q2) and it may elicit some negative responses. That being said, if you want versatility, the lens options below certainly offer that for your escapades.
Ultimate versatility: The 24-70mm F2.8 - The lens's focal range from 24mm to 70mm allows you to capture a wide range of shots, from sweeping cityscapes to close-up portraits of people and details. This versatility is especially useful in Hong Kong, where the city's crowded and dynamic streets can change quickly and unexpectedly. Depending on which brand you go for, there are some relatively light options that won’t be too cumbersome if you choose to carry them around the whole day.
Keeping your distance: The 70-200mm F2.8 - A 70-200mm F2.8 lens can also be a valuable tool for capturing the city's unique atmosphere. The lens's longer focal length allows photographers to capture more distant subjects and details, making it ideal for capturing candid shots of people and street scenes from a distance. The lens's fast F2.8 aperture also allows for beautiful bokeh and shallow depth of field, which can help to isolate subjects from the busy background of the city. Additionally, the 70-200mm F2.8 lens is often used by street photographers to capture Hong Kong's iconic skyline from a distance, creating stunning images that showcase the city's architecture and atmosphere. Overall, while a 70-200mm F2.8 lens may not be as versatile as a 24-70mm F2.8, it can still be a valuable tool for capturing the energy and diversity of Hong Kong's streets.
What do you think about the recommendations above? Is there any particular lens or camera combination that you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments.
