Best Lenses under €500 for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Contemporary 56mm f/1.4 DC DN

85.7 Street Score
56mm f/1.4 Canon EF-M Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 aperture and 56mm focal length provide excellent subject isolation and a classic portrait perspective on Canon EF-M cameras. The lens is remarkably compact and lightweight at 281g, making it easy to carry for extended shooting sessions. This lens is best for portrait photographers and street shooters using APS-C mirrorless bodies who prioritize a fast, sharp prime with a natural field of view.

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Great Alternatives

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Sigma Art 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM

69.9 Street Score
30mm f/1.4 Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Its bright f/1.4 maximum aperture excels in low light and provides excellent subject isolation for portraits. The lens offers a versatile 45mm equivalent focal length on APS-C cameras and features a quiet Hyper Sonic Motor for fast autofocus. This lens is best for Nikon DX-format photographers seeking a sharp, fast prime for portraits and street photography.

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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

58.9 Street Score
50mm f/1.4 Nikon F (FX)
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 maximum aperture provides excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field for portraiture. The ring-type ultrasonic AF motor offers fast, quiet autofocus with the convenience of full-time manual override. This lens is best for Nikon DSLR shooters seeking a classic portrait focal length with professional-grade optics on a budget.

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Best Lenses under €900 for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Contemporary 16mm f/1.4 DC DN

78.6 Street Score
16mm f/1.4 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 maximum aperture and 24mm full-frame equivalent focal length deliver excellent low-light performance and a versatile wide-angle perspective for APS-C Nikon Z cameras. The lens features a stepping motor for quiet, smooth autofocus, making it well-suited for both stills and video capture. This lens is best for portrait photographers and content creators on APS-C platforms who need a bright, fast prime for environmental portraits and vlogging.

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Great Alternatives

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Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN for L-Mount

43.3 Street Score
f/2.8 leica_l
Why we recommend this

Its constant f/2.8 aperture and lightweight 470g body make it a versatile, portable standard zoom for L-Mount cameras. The lens is distinguished by its superb build quality, internal focusing, and a focus mode switch for reliable handling. This lens is best for portrait and street photographers who prioritize a compact, fast-aperture zoom for everyday shooting.

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Best Lenses under €1,500 for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Art 85mm f/1.4 DG DN

73.1 Street Score
85mm f/1.4 Sony E Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 maximum aperture delivers exceptional background blur and low-light performance, ideal for isolating subjects. The lens is built with a complex 15-element optical formula designed to minimize aberrations and produce sharp, high-contrast images. This lens is best for portrait photographers and videographers who prioritize creamy bokeh and optical clarity over portability or weather sealing.

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Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A1

62.1 Street Score
35mm f/1.4 Sony
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field, supported by a complex 13-element optical design. The lens scores highest for portrait photography, achieving a 77.1/100 rating in that category. This prime lens is best for portrait photographers and professionals who prioritize sharpness and bokeh quality in a versatile 35mm focal length.

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Best Lenses under €2,500 for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Art 50mm f/1.2 DG DN

71.1 Street Score
50mm f/1.2 L-Mount
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.2 maximum aperture and four aspherical elements deliver exceptional sharpness and beautiful bokeh for a 50mm prime. The high-response linear actuator AF system provides fast and quiet focusing performance. This lens is best for portrait photographers and cinematographers who prioritize optical quality and shallow depth-of-field over portability.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Sigma Sports 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS

58.1 Street Score
70-200mm f/2.8 Sony E IS
Why we recommend this

Its constant f/2.8 aperture and high-response linear AF motor deliver fast, precise performance for action and low-light shooting. The internal zoom and focus design provides excellent balance and handling, while the advanced OS2 stabilization ensures sharp handheld shots. This lens is best for sports and wildlife photographers who need reliable tracking and a robust, well-balanced telephoto zoom.

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Premium Lenses for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC

69.9 Street Score
17-40mm f/1.8 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

Its constant f/1.8 aperture across a 17-40mm zoom range provides exceptional low-light performance and consistent depth-of-field control for APS-C Canon RF cameras. The lens offers a versatile full-frame equivalent field of view from 25.5mm to 60mm, making it a superfast wide-to-normal zoom option. This lens is best for portrait photographers and content creators on APS-C bodies who need a bright, flexible prime-like zoom for both environmental shots and standard focal lengths.

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