28mm vs 35mm: Which Focal Length Is Best for Street and Travel Photography?

Which focal length is best for street and travel photography: 28mm or 35mm? If you’ve been thinking about buying a compact camera but you’re not sure if 28mm or 35mm suits your style better, hopefully, this article will help.

In March 2024, I took two compact classics with me to China for a week: the Ricoh GR III and the Fujifilm X100VI. I shot both cameras side by side during an 8-day trip. Although there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference with the focal lengths, you’ll see through the photos below just how much of a difference 7mm makes.

Taking photos in traditional costumes, Suzhou. In all photo comparisons, the Ricoh GR III 28mm image is on the left, and the Fujifilm X100VI 35mm image is on the right.

My Traditional Preference

I must confess that I’ve always been a 35mm guy—or so I thought. Before I bought the Ricoh GR III Diary Edition camera, I’d always loved 35mm-equivalent lenses. The wonderful Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R lens for Fujifilm X Series is one of my all-time favorite lenses. I’m also a huge fanboy of the X100 line with its 35mm-equivalent focal length. Since the launch of the original X100 in 2010, I’ve owned every camera in the series apart from the X100S.

Game of street cards in Suzhou. The players didn’t seem to mind at all that I was taking so many photos. The 28mm image tells more of a story here, with extra characters visible in the frame.

Ricoh GR III Versus Fujifilm X100VI 

In March 2024, I impulsively bought the Fujifilm X100VI despite telling myself I wouldn’t. A week later, I took it and the GR III on a trip to Beijing, Suzhou, and Shanghai.

I was looking forward to this match up, as I’d already come to the conclusion that the GR III was the perfect camera for street and travel photography. It was a lot of fun using both cameras, but I did get a little sick of swapping back and forth all the time.

Soon I’ll write an article about which of these you should buy, but for now, we’re just looking at how the difference in focal length affects different scenes.

Washing line, Shanghai, China. I have a thing for taking photos of washing on my travels. After taking a few images here, two ladies came out of the houses laughing. Clearly, they thought it was hilarious that some strange photographer was taking photos of their washing!

Image Comparisons

In the photo comparisons below, the Ricoh 28mm image is on the left, and the Fujifilm 35mm image is on the right. When taking the comparison images, I tried to stay in the same spot for both photos so I could compare and contrast the shots.

On the tarmac at Beijing Airport. The Ricoh GR III’s focal length for this plane shot made it easier to get more of the stairs in, but I do like the immediacy of the Fujifilm X100VI shot on the right.

Film Simulations 

All images are JPGs, with only minor cropping and exposure corrections in Lightroom. The Ricoh shots used the camera’s Positive Film simulation, and the Fujifilm shots used the new Reala Ace simulation. If you’re keen to see how Reala Ace stacks up against four other color film sims, make sure you check out my Fstoppers article Reala Ace: How Does the X100VI’s New Film Simulation Compare?

Last rays of daylight in Beijing. With some shots, it’s hard to tell which focal length I like better.

Which Focal Length Is Best?

That’s pretty much down to personal taste and the story you’d like to tell. The wider view of 28mm is ideal for street photography as it allows you to tell a more layered story, including more of your surroundings. The 35mm view can be better for focusing on a main subject in an image, with less distraction.

The 28mm vs 35mm choice also depends on which camera brand you want to shoot with, as the X100 line is strictly 35mm-equivalent focal length, unless you use the somewhat hefty wide and tele converters.

There’s quite a dramatic difference in the two focal lengths for the image of this building opposite Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

With Ricoh, you have the choice of 28mm equivalent lens on the GR III or 40mm with the GR IIIx. If you’d like to see example street and travel photos with the 40mm lens, make sure you check out my GR IIIx review and photos on Fstoppers. I’ll be including all three cameras in an upcoming comparison article.

More Image Comparisons

These close-up shots of a broom and hose in the back of a firefighting vehicle look similar, but I prefer the 35mm shot on the right as it feels more natural for the close-up shot of this subject.

In contrast, I like the 28mm shot of the front of the firefighting vehicle here. The 35mm shot feels a little cramped. Of course, outside of this test situation, I could’ve taken a few steps backward to get more in the scene.

Forbidden City, Beijing. I must have moved slightly further back with the Fujifilm X100VI for this comparison as there doesn’t seem to be much difference with the framing of these two shots.

Forbidden City, Beijing. With these two images, I like the framing and skin tones of the 35mm shot on the right better, but the background colors of the 28mm shot on the left.

I love these bright decorations in trees outside a theme park in Beijing.

Again, the 28mm focal length tells more of the story in this shot, and it’s a cleaner image. Of course, the 35mm image could be improved by taking a few steps backward if possible, but in this instance, there was a fence in front of me that would’ve featured in the image if I’d done so.

There’s no contest with this one: 35mm looks much better for portraits, though an even longer focal length would’ve been better.

If you’d like to see even more photo comparisons between the Ricoh GR III and the Fujifilm X100VI, make sure you check out the video at the top of this article where I compare more than 50 side-by-side images.

Conclusion 

After spending a week shooting two compact classics side by side in China, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for how these two focal lengths shape storytelling in street and travel photography.

I can’t help but feel that for fast-moving travel and street photography, 28mm feels more natural for me. It excels at creating a sense of place and including more elements in the frame to build a richer narrative. However, this wider field of view demands careful composition to avoid clutter or distraction.

The 35mm focal length seems to shine more when isolating a subject is key. With a slightly narrower view, it helps simplify compositions and can lend immediacy. It’s a much better choice for close-up portraits or if you want to focus attention on a specific detail.

Ultimately, the best focal length comes down to personal taste, shooting style, the story you want to tell, and which camera brand you like. Both have their strengths, and choosing one over the other depends on what resonates with you as a photographer.

Which is your pick for street and travel photography: 28mm or 35mm? Let me know in the comments.