9 Best Cameras for Street Photography Against My Phone

I’ve spent years shooting street and urban photography and testing cameras for FixThePhoto posts. When the team wanted to create a guide on the best cameras for street photography, they asked me to try out the chosen models in real-world light situations.

Cameras built for street photos need to be fast, discreet, and highly responsive. A compact, lightweight design lets you shoot without drawing attention, while quick autofocus ensures you capture fleeting moments in an instant.

Strong low-light performance is a must for shooting at dawn or dusk, and features like intuitive controls, a silent shutter, and reliable image stabilization are key for grabbing sharp, candid shots on the move. Together, these qualities make the ideal tool for capturing the raw, spontaneous energy of city life.

One of the most frequent questions I hear is whether a smartphone can work equally well as street or urban photography. Nowadays, phone cameras offer excellent performance delivering results in an instant, have compact and portable cases, and are social media-ready.

They are perfect for casual shots. But when it comes to professional photography, phone cameras cannot compete with dedicated devices.

Why? A dedicated camera provides users with overall control over such settings as exposure, depth of field, and dynamic range, making shooting in challenging lighting conditions or fast-paced street environments easier. Autofocus is more sophisticated, particularly when tracking moving subjects. Additionally, the ergonomics of using a viewfinder to compose a shot feel far more natural and intuitive compared to holding a phone out in front of you to frame a picture.

While a phone is a great option for quick snapshots, street photographers who want to realize their creative potential and take excellent images still prefer a real camera.

In the U.S., the law is clear: you can usually take photos in public places without asking for permission since people don’t expect privacy there. But it’s also important to think about ethics. Not everyone likes being photographed, especially in sensitive situations, so it’s good to be respectful and ask for permission when needed.

Every country has its own rules. In France, I found out that privacy laws are much stricter than in the U.S. Even in public places, sharing a photo where someone can be recognized without their permission can cause legal issues. In Japan, while there’s no specific law against it, taking street photos of people without their consent is generally discouraged due to cultural norms.

The main point? Always check the local laws before taking photos in a new country. If you’re unsure, just be polite and respectful to get better experiences and better photos.

Body type: Compact DSLR | Shutter speed: 1/4000 sec | Auto focus technology: 9-Point AF system, AI Servo AF

Each member of FixThePhoto team heavily relies on this Canon camera, because of its top quality, usability, and low price. After trying out this model, I can safely say that this is absolutely true.

The EOS Rebel T7 is a great starting point for street photographers, because of its 24.1 MP sensor, which produces sharp, colorful photos. I tested it in a busy market, using the optical viewfinder to frame shots quickly, and the photos turned out amazing.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF tracked moving subjects impressively well, accurately focusing on faces. Built-in Wi-Fi made it simple to transfer photos while on the move, which is great for sharing work right away. What I really liked was its intuitive operation. Whether I switched to full manual settings or relied on Scene Intelligent Auto, it seamlessly adapted to the unpredictable conditions of street photography.

I was out shooting for nearly the entire day, and the Canon EOS Rebel T7’s battery lasted surprisingly well during long walks, letting me capture multiple spontaneous moments with ease. Additionally, its compact DSLR design made it easy and comfortable to carry around for long-lasting stretches, making it a perfect choice for street photography.

Body type: Compact fixed-lens | Shutter speed: 1/4000 sec (mechanical), 1/32,000 sec (electronic) | Auto focus technology: Hybrid AF (phase + contrast detection)

I’ve been using the Fujifilm X100 series for years, and the X100V has been my favorite street photography camera since it appeared on the market. It’s small, unobtrusive, and produces amazing photos that do not even need to be edited. The 23mm f/2 lens is ideal for street shots, giving just enough background to tell the story.

I tested it in a busy downtown area, using the hybrid viewfinder to easily switch between optical and electronic modes. The manual dials made it simple to adjust settings on the go, helping me adapt to changing light and motion without missing a beat. What I love most about this Fujifilm camera is how it fits naturally into any street setting, making it perfect for capturing special moments without being unnoticed.

The nearly silent leaf shutter helped me stay unnoticed, and Fujifilm’s famous film simulations gave my photos a classic, film-like look without needing extra editing. The tilting LCD screen was great for low-angle shots, letting me frame creatively without standing out. While the autofocus isn’t the quickest, it handled everyday street scenes just fine.

Body type: Compact fixed-lens | Shutter speed: 1/4000 sec | Auto focus technology: Hybrid AF (phase + contrast detection)

The Ricoh GR III has always been one of the best street photography cameras, and many of my photographers-colleagues highly recommend it. One of them let me try her GR III, and I quickly saw why this compact camera has so many dedicated supporters.

It’s tiny and barely noticeable in a crowd. I took it for a walk in a busy shopping area, and no one even noticed I was taking photos.

For street photography, the snap focus feature is a game-changer: you just need to set it to f/8, and then shoot without worrying about autofocus. It also has built-in image stabilization, which helps keep photos sharp in low light, which cannot be said about most compact cameras. The touchscreen is quick and easy to use for adjusting settings on the fly, though I did miss having a viewfinder when shooting in bright daylight.

The 28mm equivalent lens captures a wider view than I’m used to, which I noticed while photographing the shop with the big signboard. This turned out to be an advantage, as it allowed me to include more of the scene without needing to step back. For photographers who prioritize speed, discretion, and portability, the GR III is an excellent choice.

Body type: SLR-style mirrorless | Shutter speed: 1/180,000 sec (electronic), 1/8000 sec (mechanical) | Auto focus technology: Phase detection + AI-based subject tracking

I really like Fujifilm cameras, as they seem perfect for street vibes. To show my team why I think so, I asked my coworker Eva to join me for a walk in a historic area where old buildings and the busy city life come together.

The unsteady lighting conditions varying from bright sunny days to cloudy skies let me evaluate the performance of the X-T5 in different scenarios. The 40MP sensor caught all the small details, like the cobblestones and people’s expressions. The shutter is quiet, so I could take photos without being noticed.

Three-way tilting LCD is another advantage of this camera for city photography. It made it easy to shoot from low angles, perfect for catching reflections in puddles or people walking by. The autofocus wasn’t the fastest, but it worked well. Eva mentioned there’s no battery grip, but that’s not a big issue for street photography.

Body type: Compact | Shutter speed: 1/32000 sec | Auto focus technology: Hybrid AF (phase + contrast detection)

I’ve noticed the Sony RX100 VII is often listed as one of the best cameras for street photography on Reddit, so I was excited to try it out. Fortunately, we have one at our FixThePhoto studio, so I took it with me for a few days to see how it handles street shooting. Right from the start, I was amazed by how small and light it is: it perfectly fits in a pocket, making it great for shooting without drawing attention.

The 24-200mm zoom amazes me with its versatility, letting me easily switch from wide street views to close-up candid shots. The autofocus on this Sony camera is quick and precise, making it easy to focus on subjects. The real-time tracking feature also made it simple to capture moving subjects.

The lens has a great zoom range, but its aperture changes from f/2.8 to f/4.5 when you zoom in, which isn’t the best for low-light shooting. Still, Sony added some cool features to this small camera like optical stabilization, which helps in darker settings, the pop-up viewfinder is handy for framing your shots, and the 20fps shooting without blackouts lets you capture quick, fleeting moments easily.

Body type: Compact | Shutter speed: 1/2000 sec | Auto focus technology: Contrast detection

When Eva came back from her trip to London, I was amazed by the street photos she took with the Canon PowerShot G7 X. Even before trying it myself, I was pretty sure this camera would appear on my list.

I took the camera out for a day of shooting, and it quickly impressed me with its portability, fast lens, and great picture quality. The 24-100mm zoom range is perfect for street photography, letting me capture both wide cityscapes and close-up details. Thanks to the f/1.8-2.8 aperture, it performs well in low light, ensuring sharp and clear photos even at night.

The G7 X has some downsides too. It doesn’t have an electronic viewfinder, so I had to use only the touchscreen, which can be tricky in bright sunlight. Also, the autofocus is good but not as fast as some other cameras. Still, the overall experience was fun: the camera is fast, responsive, and produces bright, high-quality photos.

Body type: Full-frame mirrorless | Shutter speed: 1/8000s - 30s | Auto focus technology: Hybrid AF (phase + eye detection)

The Z5 is one of my top picks among Nikon photography cameras because it’s very flexible and also one of the smallest full-frame mirrorless models. I used it for a day of street photography, capturing both busy city moments and still, calm scenes.

The picture quality produced by this device was amazing, and even photos shot in challenging lighting conditions featured crisp details and rich colors. Thanks to its in-body stabilization, I could take pics handheld without any blur. The eye-detection autofocus worked smoothly, quickly focusing on subjects whether I was taking street portraits or snapping candid shots in a crowd.

The electronic viewfinder of this compact street photography camera is bright and accurate, making it easy to compose shots confidently. While the 4.5 fps burst speed isn’t the quickest, it satisfied my photography needs. The cropped 4K video might disappoint videographers, but for street photography, the Z5 performs brilliantly.

Body type: Compact mirrorless | Shutter speed: 1/4000s - 60s | Auto focus technology: Contrast detection

I decided to try out this mirrorless camera for street photography because of Robin’s recommendation. She is our technical specialist, so I can safely rely on her expert opinion. The Olympus E-M10 Mark IV was a great little camera for capturing different street scenes. I used it for a relaxed day of shooting, and I immediately liked its small size and retro look, as it’s both stylish and practical.

The 5-axis in-body stabilization was a major highlight for me about this model. Thanks to it, I could take crisp pics in dim lighting conditions handheld. Fitted with a 20MP sensor, the camera produced vibrant and detailed pics, whereas the selection of fun art filters allowed turning every shot into a creative composition even on the go.

Flip-down touchscreen was another feature that stood out for me. It made it easy to frame shots from various angles. However, while the autofocus was mostly reliable, it had some trouble keeping up with fast-moving street scenes. Also, compared to DSLR cameras, the E-M10 has a slower burst shooting mode.

Body type: Compact | Shutter speed: Not specified | Auto focus technology: No (manual focus)

While looking for street photography cameras under $500 on Amazon, I was surprised to find the VJIANGER YL06 in the results. It’s mainly advertised as a vlogging camera, but because of its low cost, I bought it to test if it could handle street photography.

I was surprised by how useful this little camera was. Its small size made it easy to carry, and the flip screen allowed me to shoot from creative angles. The wide-angle lens let me capture more of the street scene, and the Wi-Fi feature made it simple to transfer photos to my phone.

However, manual focus takes some time to get right, and the image quality isn’t great in low light. Colors can sometimes look too bright, but for daytime street photography, it works well for its price. Overall, it’s not a professional camera, but for beginners who want to try street photography without spending much, it’s a surprisingly good option.

As experienced photographers, we thoroughly test cameras in real-life conditions. For this article, the FixThePhoto team and I personally used each camera in busy urban settings, capturing everything from fast-paced action to quiet, spontaneous moments.

I wanted to check how each camera handled real-world challenges like changing light, fast autofocus needs, and ease of transportation. To ensure a thorough test and rate, I shot in various settings like busy markets, dark alleys, and open streets seeing how well each camera worked in low light, how fast it focused, and if it was small and quiet enough to stay unnoticed.

Battery life, user-friendliness, and quick file transfer options were also crucial factors to consider. After extensive shooting and reviewing the results, I narrowed down the top cameras that truly shine for street photography.

While creating this list, the FixThePhoto team and I tried out many models of affordable street photography cameras. However, not each of them appeared in our final selection. That doesn’t make them bad cameras: some of them are better suited for other types of photography. But they were missing important features for street photography, like quick autofocus, portability, or the ability to shoot discreetly.

Here are some models that didn’t enter our rating:

• Canon EOS 90D – Amazing DSLR, but too large and noticeable for capturing spontaneous moments.
• Sony A7R IV – High resolution is great, but the huge file sizes make editing slower, which isn’t the best for quick, fast-paced photography.
• Nikon D7500 – Solid picture quality, but its smaller sensor and slower autofocus make it less ideal for fast-moving street photography.
• Fujifilm GFX 50S II – It’s a powerful medium format camera, but its big size and slow shooting speed make it hard to use for quick, spontaneous photos.
• Panasonic Lumix GH6 – Great for video, but its autofocus isn’t as dependable for fast, spontaneous shooting.
• Leica M11 – It’s a well-known camera for street photography, but its high price makes it too costly for most photographers.
• Canon EOS R5 – It has top-level features, but it’s more than needed for casual street photography and is also heavier than preferred.
• Olympus Tough TG-6 – It’s a great rugged camera, but its small sensor affects image quality in different lighting situations.
• Pentax K-1 Mark II – It’s excellent for landscapes, but its heavy build and slower autofocus make it less suitable for street photography.

Each of these cameras has its strengths, but they didn’t quite deliver the speed, discretion, and efficiency required for street photography.