I’ve now been shooting on the Sony system for over a year and after a lot of (expensive) trial and error, I can share what I think is the essential street photography kit for a Sony system. Of course, this is my personal opinion based on my own experience, so don’t take it as gospel. Furthermore, in no way am I saying that you need this kit. The same can be achieved with a much more affordable like-for-like solution. Finally, you will see links to the products throughout this blog. These are affiliate links that cost you no extra, but give me a small % kickback if you end up purchasing something. This allows my blog to stay ad-free for the best reading experience.

Sony A7RV / A7CR

Let’s start with the most important item, the camera. In this case I’m actually prioritising the sensor, not the body it comes packaged in. The 60mp sensor you get in the Sony A7RV or the Sony A7CR is utterly outstanding. The reason I personally go for such a high-resolution sensor is that it allows me to shoot in APS-C mode and still retain 26mp, thus extending the usability of the system. The decision now is between the A7RV and the A7CR, and it can be boiled down to the following key points.

Get the A7RV if:

You need a bigger body for use with thick gloves or very large hands.
You plan to use big and heavy lenses.
You need the maximum amount of physical buttons and a joystick.
You must have the fancy screen that flips in all directions.
You want the best EVF experience.
You plan on shooting in burst and need the fastest buffer times.
You need dual memory slots.
You want the best build quality from Sony.
https://geni.us/rVCH9At

Get the A7CR if:

You want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter, and cheaper body.
Small form factor is your number one priority.
You want a camera that doesn’t scream “pro”.
You plan to mostly use compact and light lenses.
https://geni.us/3lsU0q

I personally own both, as they serve different purposes for me. However, you absolutely do not need to do the same. For most hobbyists, I would recommend the A7CR due to its small footprint, and I would only suggest the A7RV if you need the specific features, or you’re thinking of professional applications.

24-50mm / 24mm & 40mm

Lens preferences are very individual, so I would recommend two options. If you like zooms, then look no further than the Sony FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G. It’s the size of a prime, has a fast constant aperture, and is reversed. This means that in its most compact form, the lens is at 50mm, and only when you zoom out to 24mm does the lens extend. Between 50mm and 35mm the extension is minimal, so if you tend to shoot between those two focal lengths, then this lens would act like a prime with the option to zoom out. https://geni.us/9BNhbN

If you prefer primes, then look no further than the Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G and Sony FE 40mm f/2.5 G. The selling point is the extremely compact size. By no means are these the fastest primes out there, nor do they have Sony’s best image quality, however if portability is important, then these two are clear winners. The reason I suggest these two focal lengths is because you are covered for a substantial focal range when you take the 60mp sensor into account. The 24mm becomes a 35mm, and the 40mm turns into a 60mm when switched into APS-C mode. This gives you immense versatility in such a small package. 24mm: https://geni.us/aKqUspv40mm: https://geni.us/mM7E

90mm

The second (or third) lens is the Sigma 90mm f/2.8. This lens will fit in your pocket while achieving very respectable image quality at a fairly fast aperture. This is your telephoto lens that might not be used as often, but when needed, it will save the day. It always comes with me and I’ve lost count of how often it captured an image that would otherwise be physically impossible. Once you’re in APS-C mode, it becomes a 135mm, which is the top end of what I’d shoot with in a city. The only negative is that to my understanding, this lens is being discontinued in some regions.https://geni.us/mr2q3J

Urth Magnetic Filters

I only use two types of filters: ND8 and CPL. The ND8 is essential when shooting wide open in bright light or with a slow shutter speed. The CPL isn’t used as often, but it can do wonders for reflections, glare, and boosting some colours. The filters attach using a simple magnetic system from Urth. The overall footprint is small, and the kit even comes with a magnetic lens cap that’s sturdier and smaller than the original plastic one. https://geni.us/klGhyo5

CF Cards / V90 SD Card

If you end up with the A7RV, I would highly recommend getting CFexpress cards instead of SD if you want to have the full potential of the camera. If you’ve opted for the A7CR, then I suggest a V90 SD card if you don’t want buffering and transfers to take forever. It’s worth noting that some advanced video codecs will not be supported on slower cards. CF:https://geni.us/DXhy0B SD:https://geni.us/5bUNh

Thunderbolt Cable

When it comes to offloading your photos from your camera to a computer, I would highly recommend getting a Thunderbolt 4 cable. This allows you to plug your camera directly into your device and offload files at an incredibly fast rate. This is also better than always taking the memory card in and out. I use Thunderbolt 4 cables by Anker.https://geni.us/QNUHws3

Battery & Charger

A spare battery is essential. I’ve always used genuine ones as I’m a bit paranoid about cheaper third-party ones playing havoc with the camera. I also picked up the rapid charger from Sony which is insanely fast.

PD Neck & Wrist Strap

I have two straps from Peak Design, one for neck and one for wrist. Sometimes I want to throw the camera round my shoulder for a casual walk round town. Other times I want the camera to stay in hand if my main focus is photography. Wrist: https://geni.us/jpkNkQl Neck:https://geni.us/Jybbd1m

Bags…

In previous blogs I used to recommend specific bags I was using at the time, however these days I find myself using a bunch of different bags. Some days the Bellroy is what I go for, other times it’s a PD, and as I write this I have one from an obscure Japanese company called Filer. The brand of bag doesn’t matter. The only tip I can give you is to make sure it’s a cross-body sling. This keeps your stuff close to you and makes changing lenses easier. While backpacks offer better ergonomics if you have a heavy load, slings are preferred in cities due to their security. However, if you have heavy gear, then I’d recommend a backpack.

Small Mic

This last one isn’t a photography accessory, and if you don’t care about video at all, feel free to stop reading here. While the A7RV and A7CR are amazing photo cameras, their video capabilities are just as good. I often find myself taking small video clips of scenes as memories or to share alongside the photos. The built-in mics are fine, but on windy days can result in ruined audio. I picked up the tiny Sony ECM-G1 mic that connects via the hot shoe and gives clean, high-quality audio.https://geni.us/hf9QYE