Best Lenses under £400 for street photography

Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR AF 20mm f/2.8D 20mm

79 Street Score
20mmf/2.8Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Weighing just 97g, this 20mm f/2.8 prime is an ultra-portable full-frame wide-angle that relies on a Super Integrated Coating for contrast. Its compact build and 62mm filter thread make it a discreet, affordable entry into expansive perspectives on Nikon F-mount bodies with a focus motor. This lens is best for street photographers who prioritize a lightweight setup and can work around the lack of weather sealing.

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Sigma Art 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM

48.5 Street Score
24-105mmf/22Nikon FIS
Why we recommend this ▼

The constant f/4 aperture across a 24-105mm range, paired with a complex 19-element optical design using FLD and SLD glass, delivers sharp, aberration-free images for high-resolution Nikon F bodies. Its Hyper Sonic Motor and Optical Stabilizer provide fast, quiet autofocus and effective shake compensation, while the bundled filter kit adds immediate shooting value. This lens is best for landscape and travel photographers needing a single, durable full-frame zoom that balances optical performance with everyday versatility.

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Yongnuo YN 35mm f/2 11mm

46.3 Street Score
35mmf/22Nikon F
Why we recommend this ▼

Weighing just 155g, this 35mm f/2 prime offers full-frame coverage for Nikon F mount with a multi-coated 7-element optical design. Its ultra-quiet digital stepping motor and compact build make it a discreet, lightweight option for everyday shooting. This lens is best for budget-conscious Nikon DSLR users wanting a standard walkaround prime for general photography and travel.

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Rokinon 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS 10mm

30.9 Street Score
10mmf/22Nikon F
Why we recommend this ▼

Its 10mm f/2.8 focal length combined with Nano Crystal Coating, ED and two aspherical elements delivers 110-degree edge-to-edge coverage on APS-C Nikon bodies, aided by an AE chip for auto metering. The manual-focus lens includes built-in stabilization and an inner focusing system that maintains a constant length while enabling a 9.5-inch close-focus distance for near-macro shots. This lens is best for architectural and landscape photographers who need dramatic ultra-wide perspectives, as well as journalists working in confined spaces.

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Nikon 2042 36mm

41.4 Street Score
36mmNikon F
Why we recommend this ▼

This set transforms existing Nikon F-mount lenses for close-up work by adding 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm extension tubes between the body and lens. The hollow design maintains full electronic coupling for autofocus and auto-exposure, a key differentiator from cheaper manual-only tubes. It is best for Nikon DSLR shooters wanting to experiment with macro photography without investing in a dedicated macro lens.

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Best Lenses under £800 for street photography

Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR 2178 16-85mm

73.5 Street Score
16-85mmf/3.5Nikon FIS
Why we recommend this

Covering a versatile 16–85mm focal range (5.3x zoom) with Vibration Reduction that compensates for up to four shutter-speed stops, this AF-S DX lens handles wide-angle to short-telephoto shots on Nikon DX DSLRs. Its Super Integrated Coating reduces flare and ghosting, and the compact 794g build, often available renewed, offers an affordable all-in-one walkaround solution. It’s best suited for Nikon DX hobbyists and travelers who prioritize a single lens for everyday photography, though landscape sharpness rates low at 29/100.

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Tamron SP A032 24-70mm

73.3 Street Score
24-70mmf/2.8Nikon FISWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The constant f/2.8 aperture combined with 5-stop Vibration Compensation and a sophisticated 17-element optical design with eBAND coatings delivers sharp, high-contrast images in challenging light. Its weather-sealed, moisture-resistant construction and fluorine-coated front element provide durability for field use without a premium price tag. This lens is best for landscape and travel photographers who need a reliable, stabilized standard zoom with full-frame coverage.

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Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM

72.6 Street Score
28mmf/1.4Nikon FWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The f/1.4 maximum aperture and an optical design with three aspherical and five SLD/FLD elements deliver exceptional sharpness and contrast control for low-light scenes. Its weather-sealed, robust build and Super Multi-Layer Coating ensure reliable, flare-resistant performance in demanding conditions. This lens is best for professional landscape and street photographers needing a fast, wide-angle prime with uncompromising optical clarity.

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Zeiss Otus ML 50mm f/1.4 50mm

42.9 Street Score
50mmf/16Nikon FWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

Its Distagon optical design with 14 elements, including 4 ED and 1 aspherical lens, delivers exceptional sharpness and aberration control for a manual-focus 50mm f/1.4 prime. The modernized, weather-sealed build is notably compact and portable, paired with a smooth 260° focus throw for precise control. This lens is best for deliberate stills photographers and filmmakers who prioritize optical rendering over autofocus speed.

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Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

47.1 Street Score
14-24mmf/22Nikon FWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The constant f/2.8 aperture across the 14-24mm zoom range combines with ED and aspherical elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness, while ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings suppress flare in backlit scenes. Its weather-sealed, 1000g magnesium-alloy body includes a programmable control ring and an OLED information panel for quick setting checks in the field. This lens is best for landscape and architecture photographers who need a rugged, ultra-wide zoom with consistent low-light performance.

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Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro 25-125mm

33.1 Street Score
25mmf/16Nikon F
Why we recommend this ▼

Reaching 5:1 magnification with a 1.6-inch working distance and one ED element, this lens captures sharp, color-accurate extreme macro images. Its 400g slim profile and 25mm focal length afford greater depth of field and easier lighting space than telephoto macros. This lens suits enthusiasts photographing sub-centimeter subjects like insect eyes or jewelry textures on full-frame Canon EF bodies.

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Best Lenses under £1,000 for street photography

Best Pick

Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM 50mm

72.2 Street Score
50mmf/1.4Nikon FWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this

The 14-element optical design with three ED and one aspherical element delivers exceptional sharpness and suppresses aberrations even at its bright f/1.4 maximum aperture. Its robust, weather-sealed metal build and smooth, ring-type HSM autofocus system offer a premium handling experience that belies its price point. This lens is best for portrait and studio photographers using Nikon F-mount DSLRs who demand critical image quality and shallow depth of field control without the cost of first-party optics.

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Best Lenses under £2,000 for street photography

Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR 1910 16mm

68.6 Street Score
16mmf/2.8Nikon F
Why we recommend this

A full 180-degree diagonal picture angle on full-frame sensors delivers dramatic, distorted perspectives, while the close-range correction system maintains sharpness down to a 0.25m minimum focus distance. Weighing just 289g with a bright f/2.8 aperture, it remains exceptionally portable for low-light interiors and tight spaces without sacrificing contrast thanks to the Super Integrated Coating. This lens is best for FX-format photographers seeking exaggerated, creative wide-angle effects for close-ups and stylized portraiture.

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Sigma Art 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM 100mm

51.1 Street Score
50-100mmf/16Nikon F
Why we recommend this ▼

A constant f/1.8 aperture across the 50-100mm zoom range delivers full-frame equivalent depth of field control on APS-C sensors, paired with 7 ED elements for high clarity. The internal zoom and Hyper Sonic Motor provide fast, quiet autofocus without extending the barrel, maintaining balance on a gimbal. This lens is best for portrait and event photographers who need a fast telephoto zoom but don't require stabilization.

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Premium Lenses for street photography

Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G 58mm

70.8 Street Score
58mmf/1.4Nikon F
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 aperture and two aspherical elements deliver sharp subject isolation with a distinct, smooth bokeh inspired by the legendary Noct NIKKOR. At just 385g, this lens combines a fast Silent Wave Motor with Nano Crystal Coatings for flare-resistant, high-contrast rendering in a portable build. It is best for portrait photographers who prioritize three-dimensional rendering and character over clinical sharpness.

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Sigma 185955

32.4 Street Score
500mmf/32Nikon FISWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The constant f/4 aperture combined with two FLD and one SLD element delivers exceptional clarity and chromatic aberration correction, while the magnesium alloy body provides a dust- and splash-proof build at 3310g. Its optical stabilization offers a 4-stop advantage, and the Hyper Sonic Motor provides fast, accurate autofocus that excels in challenging low-light conditions. This lens is best for wildlife and sports photographers who need a durable, hand-holdable 500mm prime with full-frame coverage and reliable weather sealing for extended outdoor shoots.

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Nikon 20052

48.7 Street Score
24-70mmf/22Nikon FWeather Sealed
Why we recommend this ▼

The constant f/2.8 aperture and internal zoom mechanism, a first for its class, maintain the lens's center of gravity for stable gimbal use while its Nano Crystal Coat and ED elements suppress flare and ghosting. Its optical formula delivers sharpness and pleasing bokeh in a weather-sealed, 900g body that is smaller and lighter than typical 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses. This lens is best for landscape photographers and video shooters who need a durable, stabilized workhorse zoom with silent, fast autofocus.

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