Best Camera For Street Photography Big Vs Small!

We're always told that small cameras like Leica's, X100's etc are best for street photography. While that may well me true for the photographer, what about the subject?

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[andytheghosthunter]

Interesting point of view. Great vid, Thanks for posting.

[jamesspicewilliams]

Great advice.  Info that one could use photographing people in general.

[DavidRobinson]

I use an old Canon 10D currently with a small manual prime lens zone focused, normally a 28mm, Even so it's large camera and not quiet in terms of shutter release so people see it and either ignore it or look right at the lens. I have the camera on small strap around my neck so its high on my chest so produces candid almost normal looking shots. Sometimes I use a wired remote when walking in crowds and sometimes I just rest my thumb on the shutter. If I need to compose the shot I'll raise the camera to my eye but most of the time nobody spares me a second glance while I take a picture..

In a quiet area firing off continuous burst mode shots on a lone subject with a zoom in their face is in my eyes a no-no. Walking around London's West End or Brick Lane your find all manor of street togs with various camera and lens sizes.Including lots of DSLRs.

[simonhindle]

Thats an interesting point. I think alot of younger people particularly women almost feel flatered by a paparazzi style big DSLR because of the the attention seeking/celeb culture which is more accepted today. I like shooting on holiday with a Ricoh GR because i can take it out and not make a 'scene' with my with wife in a restaurant/bar etc. However when at the Roosevelt hotel LA I got out a big SLR (with provia film in) around the swimming pool bar several women started adjusting their bikini's, hair and pre posing presuming I was a pap and was just taking radom holiday photos of the the pool bar...
Most of the best shots I have got are random but most talking to people and just say 'can I take your photo you look cool just keep doing what you were doing'. Then thanking them. So its mirco direction in a outdoor studio and you get their blessing to shoot and make friends often expaining the project.
I work in Old St. London but travel alot btw.