New to street photography? One of the first few things you’ll learn is using the right focal length for the scene you’re photographing. Among the most popular is 35mm, which is ideal for capturing more of the setting to add more context to your street snaps. But some photographers prefer to have an extra reach with a long lens like 85mm, which is more commonly used for portrait photography. But is there a big difference between the two? Is one really better for street snaps than the other? Let’s take a look in today’s featured video!

Above, photographer and videographer Adrien Sanguinetti takes us around the streets of Osaka through two prime lenses: 35mm, which he used, and 85mm, which his photowalk buddy Carlo O’Brien used. It’s an interesting comparison since Sanguinetti does more street photography, while O’Brien shoots more portrait, wedding and landscape photography.

While the advantages of 35mm for street photography are widely documented, we don’t always hear about the plus points of using 85mm for the genre. But Sanguinetti noted that this long lens is getting popular for street photography beginners. What makes it a good choice is mainly the extra reach — it’s easier to incorporate human subjects without getting too close to their subjects. Perfect for the shy and introverted street photographer!

However, the compression and bokeh created by 85mm lenses are another reason this focal length is getting used more for street snaps. As such, it’s perfect for adding candid portraits to your street photography repertoire.

So, which focal length would you be using for your next street photography session? Tell us why in the comments below!