Obviously, you can take any camera you like onto the streets and get shooting but you’ll certainly get different results getting up close to people with a DSLR than with a little compact so if you’re serious about your street photography, it’s worth being aware of the options (and their respective price tags!).

Digital Leica Rangefinders

leica m8
If money is no object then these are the cameras for you! The only real option if you want a digital rangefinder, these are the kings of street photography cameras for their high quality (both camera and lenses) and their unobtrusiveness. They’re also the digital version of the Leica’s all the old masters of street photography used. If you have to have the best gear, these are for you. There are three models to choose from - the M8, the M8.2 and (if you can wait until April) the M9 - all of them gorgeous but pricey!

Panasonic LX3

panasonic lx3
If you’ve lost heart at the sight of the Leica price tags, I have some good news. You don’t have to spend thousands to get some Leica technology on a digital camera. The Panasonic LX3 is a digital compact created in collaboration with Leica combining Panasonic’s experience in digital compacts with a Leica lens (and Leica styling). Leica sell their own version of this camera called the D-Lux 4 which is pretty much indistinguishable but for looking prettier and costing more so stick with the LX3. Small, black and unobtrusive, this is a great little camera with a quality lens that’ll produce DSLR quality shots in a street-ready package. This would be my recommendation as a first street photographers camera while you save up the big money.
Dpreview.com sum it up nicely: “Simply put, the LX3 smashes all previous perceptions about the limitations of a digital compact camera, setting a lofty new standard in performance, quality and creative capabilities”.

Leica Film Camera

m5-5
The hardy German engineering of Leicas means that there are still plenty of working film Leicas out there and so they regularly turn up on eBay. Unfortunately, you won’t be the only person looking for one and they still regularly go for fairly serious money. You might be better off heading to your local 2nd hand camera dealer or even a thrift store with your fingers crossed. That said, if you want to feel what the greats of the genre felt then this is the way to go. Get yourself some Tri-X black and white film and pretend you’re Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Non-Leica Film Rangefinders

Though Leica film cameras still command a high price, there were plenty of competitors looking to imitate their success with their own rangefinders. A couple that stand out and still often appear on eBay are the Canon Canonet QLs and the Yashica Electro GSN. More information here.