The best cameras for street photography are small and discreet, yet fast and flexible to allow you to respond to fast-moving situations. So what features are must-haves for this type of work? To some degree this depends on your photographic style and personal tastes, but there are some common specifications that are particularly suited for all styles of street photography.

We mentioned size. Many street photographers prefer a small camera body. They want to be as discreet as possible and don’t want their subjects to see their camera and stop their natural behaviour. Because of this need, many street photographers look for the best mirrorless cameras, as they have that size advantage over a DSLR.

The best cameras for street photography are also fast – both in frame rate and autofocus performance. In fast-moving situations a street photographer might want to shoot in burst mode to ensure they capture the scene. Likewise, they will want AF to lock focus quickly and track subjects accurately. This is why a powerful image processing engine is something many street photographers look for when choosing a camera.

It might sound abstract, but you’ll also want a camera that feels good. It should feel intuitive and instinctive. When shooting street photography you don’t have a lot of time to sit and scroll through menus. Many street photographers want a camera that fits their hand well and has well-positioned direct controls that they can adjust without having to stop and look down.

The best cameras for street photography you can buy today

The good news is that as the industry has started shifting to mirrorless, camera bodies have gotten smaller, faster and AF performance has improved. More cameras than ever will suit your needs as a street photographer. Below are some of our picks for the best street photography cameras based on our tests. For a deeper dive into the many different camera types and features available, check out our range of camera buying guides.