In my extremely subjective opinion, Fujifilm produces the best cameras for street photographers on a budget. Its compact, discreet, good-looking cameras produce JPEGs that look amazing with no editing, thanks to its stellar Film Simulations, and its XF lenses are utterly stunning.
Fujifilm isn’t the cheapest brand – but I was serious when I said I still think it’s the best brand for budget-conscious street photographers. The trick is to look beyond the latest models and to shop used, as you can find some absolutely fantastic deals on amazing Fujifilm cameras if you’re willing to look back across the range.
I’ll show you what I mean with an example: let’s look at the Fujifilm X-T30 vs the X-S20. The newer X-S20 is one of Fujifilm’s most highly regarded hybrid cameras, brilliant for photography and video alike. With a 26.1MP X-Trans 4 BSI CMOS, it produces fantastic-looking images, and benefits from a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system with intelligent subject recognition. Video-wise, it shoots beautifully crisp 6.2K
The original Fujifilm X-T30 (there have since been Mark II and Mark III versions) came out back in 2019. Its autofocus system is a couple of generations older than the X-S20’s, meaning you don’t get that super-sophisticated intelligent subject recognition, and it shoots video in a maximum resolution of 4K. It also does not have in-body image stabilisation, which the X-S20 does.
However, there are many categories in which the X-T30 holds its own as a compact mirrorless for street photography. Its 26.1MP sensor still produces crisp, vivid and vibrant images on a par with those of the X-S20, and it also has access to Fujifilm FIlm Simulation JPEG modes, allowing you to imbue your images with the looks of classic film stocks like Provia, Velvia or monochrome Acros.
And then there’s its major ace in the hole: its price. The Fujifilm X-T30 costs around £525 in “Excellent” condition on the used market, and can be paired with a street-friendly used lens like the Fujifilm XF 27mm f2.8 for as little as £273, resulting in a total spend of £798. Whereas buying the X-S20 new, and pairing it with a new street-suited lens like the XF 18mm f2 R, comes to a total cost of £1,643 – just over double the used combo.
The best affordable camera for street photography
I think for most street photographers, a used Fujifilm camera like the X-T30 is going to make much more sense than going full-bore for a brand-new X-S20. You still get those fundamentals – that brilliant Fujifilm image quality with crisp, great-looking JPEG Film Simulations – at a fraction of the cost.
Both cameras can make use of the same compact primes, meaning there’s no reason you couldn’t save money on the camera and use the extra room in your budget to splash out on a more expensive XF lens. The XF 18mm f2 R will pair just as well with the X-T30 as it does with the X-S20.
There’s no doubt that the X-S20’s IBIS is nice to have. And if your practice involves shooting video, then it’s probably worth reconsidering as in this department, the newer camera is simply streets ahead. But otherwise, in my view, the best street photography camera on a budget is a second-hand X-T30 every time.
Take a look at our extensive range of second-hand products here!
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art and technology. When not writing about cameras, Jon is a keen photographer who captures the world using his Olympus XA2. His creativity extends to works of fiction and other creative writing, all of which can be found on his website www.jonstapley.com
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