Street photography is a genre that requires one to be less intimidating. One of the reasons being that your device should not scare people away. The only way to achieve this is with the help of smaller cameras, ones that can easily fit into your pocket. If you are someone who is a beginner and wants simpler point-and-shoot, and are on a budget, then here are two offerings that can be of help. Remember: you don’t need the latest and greatest gear.
Sony RX100 V
What makes it great? The camera has a nice, accurate autofocus. But that can be a challenge at some point. However, it is quite fast, and with a wide focusing area, the device will catch focus on everything. Thus, focusing and recomposing are the best options to work with this. The RAW files are versatile; it is best to shoot JPEG with this camera. For deep color profiles, set it to daylight white balance or use the black and white mode for high contrast and sharpness. You can get some bokeh from the lens, and at ISO 6400, you get clean results.
Why is it unique? The Sony point-and-shoot is ideal for many young photographers who like compact cameras. It houses a 20MP sensor, a 24-70mm f1.8-2.8 equivalent Zeiss lens, and you get 315 autofocus points. Hybrid shooters will also have an internal UHD 4K video and S-Log2 gamma option, which works for most social media posts. There is also a pop-up EVF, which is great if you like shooting through the viewfinder. It is quite sleek and can shoot 24 fps of burst rate. The placement of the buttons is nice, but there is not strong weather sealing. This makes the Sony X100V a bit of a challenge to be taken out during rains.
A fun camera is one that you want to use, and that’s what this is. Street photographers and those that just like having a serious camera at parties will really appreciate much of what this camera has to offer. In fact, I genuinely hate doing selfies, but they’re fun with the Sony RX100 V.
Fujifilm X100 V
What makes it great? The point-and-shoot offers a 26MP sensor, 14-bit RAW, a 23mm f2 lens, and a 3-inch LCD screen. The design is similar to the previous model, which means people who use Fujifilm will feel at home. The camera also includes weather sealing, and the only place it is not sealed is the lens. The lens adapter ring is nice, and it is durable for most shooting conditions. The design is retro, which means you get an aesthetic camera with ease. The dials are nice for most part, and you can rely on auto mode if needed.
Why is it unique? The camera’s focus is pretty good in both bright and low light. You can use the Zone and AF-C options, which offer you better images for the most part. As you can see below, the device could track a man and a dog running. In our review, we barely faced any challenge. Similarly, the camera’s images are stunning. The lens helps you get sharper images and also some nice bokeh. In fact, this camera also a photographer won awards with the World Press Photo awards. For digital use, the image is usable up to ISO 12,800. However, 17×22 prints from the Fujifilm X100V are fantastic. RAW files are also quite versatile.
Shooting with the single focusing point is great. If you’re shooting events or street photography, that’s how you’re going to want to shoot. What I also noticed is that oddly enough, it was faster to focus in the OVF mode than the EVF mode. It’s slight, but noticeable.
