Quentin Mui (@quentinmui.photos) is a street photographer whose love for traveling and people has seen him move across the world to London and then New York City, which is where he currently resides. Quentin’s photography journey has evolved significantly over time. From shooting landscapes and cityscapes, his passion now lies within the street and street portraiture genres. “Using the Sony Alpha 7C and an assortment of Sony prime and telephoto lenses, I have been able to capture everyday moments of New Yorkers in ways that elevate the stories of those from all walks of life.” We connected with Mui to learn more about the gear you’ll find in his street photography kit.

Street photographer Quentin Mui shares the Sony Alpha gear he uses to create his bold street photography images.

Camera

Sony Alpha 7C: When I transitioned over to street and street portraiture, I quickly realized how important it was to have fast, snappy and reliable AF. The Sony Alpha 7C was the perfect upgrade. The small and light form factor is ideal for a “run and gun” street photographer. The flip out screen is clutch whenever I needed to shoot from awkward heights and angles. And the AF! As a photographer that shoots in a variety of random, fast paced and frequently low-lit environments, the AF is everything I’d want it to be.

Photo by Quentin Mui. Sony α7C. Sony 35mm f/1.8. 1/500-sec., f/1.8, ISO 2000

Lenses

Sony 35mm 1.8 G: As a street photographer, a 35mm prime is essential for me. It presents the most comparable perspective to the human eye which is great when I want to add a bit more context to my photos without losing focus of the people within the frame. The 35mm f/1.8 is simply a must-have in my camera bag. Its small and lightweight build, coupled with its incredible fast and accurate optical performance, makes it a must-have in the bag for whenever I need a wider perspective on the streets.

Photo by Quentin Mui. Sony α7C. Sony 35mm f/1.8. 1/320-sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200

Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: This fast 50mm has become my favorite lens in recent times. As a photographer that used to constantly switch between the 35mm and 85mm primes, I found the 50 f/1.2 to be the perfect in between lens that gives me just enough reach for the vast majority of my typical shooting requirements, as well as having incredible low light performance with its mind blowing f/1.2 aperture. Focusing speeds with this lens are also incredible and that's allowed me to capture images that would not have been possible with any other set up. I’m particularly impressed with how well Sony has developed this 50mm f/1.2 G Master. Its smaller than expected size makes it largely inconspicuous for the vast majority of street environments that I frequent.

Photo by Quentin Mui. Sony α7C. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/1.2, ISO 1600

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master: This is a newer lens for me and, because my core focus is street photography, it doesn’t come out all the time. The desire for a good telephoto lens comes from my landscape and cityscape days when I used to go around the city shooting astro (sun+moon) or when I went traveling. The throw on the zoom ring is perfect for me. It allows for a smooth and quick transition along the entire 100-400mm range. The AF is quick and snappy and the images I get from this lens are just tack sharp. While the 100-400mm is a bigger and heavier lens made for more specific/niche shooting situations, the quality that I get from it is second to none.

Photo by Quentin Mui. Sony α7C. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Accessories

Manfrotto Sling: The perfect run and gun option for street photographers. While not the largest on the market, it’s ideal for whenever you simply need to carry a body and two lenses in an easy to manage set up.

Lumecube Panel GO: While dim lit environments are amazing for creating mood, sometimes the addition of ambient lighting helps to create the perfect scene.

Moments Cinebloom Filter 10%: Amazing for whenever you’re shooting directly into a light source and want to create a more dreamlike, ambient effect.

Photo by Quentin Mui. Sony α7C. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/1.2, ISO 400

Smallrig L bracket: The perfect addition to the Alpha 7C that gives it a slightly bigger grip and added utility for whenever I need to use a tripod

Z batteries (2): I always bring two spares with me.

Sony 64GB TOUGH Cards: So I know my images are safely stored.

See more of Quentin Mui's work on Instagram @quentinmui.photos.