In the never-ending debate (or is it ever-evolving?) about what makes the best street camera, here’s an intriguing suggestion that’s worth a look.

I have long waxed poetic in my posts about how much I love the Micro Four Thirds system. Whether it’s creating an unobstrusive, lightweight kit for journalism, or just the infinitely usable features of the system’s cameras, the system has definitely matured and has come to the point where there’s pretty much something for everyone.

And for street photographers, the system offers the excellent pairing of the Panasonic Lumix GX9 with the Micro Four Thirds staple, the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. Lens, according to photographer and YouTuber Grant Robert Davies.

Davies (and I) are certainly not the only ones to extol the virtues of this little gem of a pancake lens. Its predecessor was the first mirrorless lens I owned, and it was the kit lens for the original Panasonic GF1. Even Panasonic’s engineers realized the system’s potential for street photography with a kit lens like that.

Between portability, image stabilization, focus speeds and image quality, among other features, Davies highlights why the combo is so good. That said, to be ultra-discreet, I’m still always a fan of the long-discontinued Panasonic GM series cameras, the GM1 and GM5. While both have their drawbacks and shortcomings, having a camera the size of a deck of cards that can hook up to any Micro Four Thirds lens is incredibly appealing.

All that said, lately Panasonic and Olympus haven’t been focusing on small, street-able cameras, and the camera referenced here, the GX9, was released five years ago. It’s a big reason my street photography has shifted mainly to the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, released in 2021 and with much more sophisticated autofocus capability and image quality. Paired with the diminutive EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens, it’s a package about as small as the Panasonic gear here, but, to me, a more capable package.

What are your recommendations on an ultimate street photography camera/lens combo? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.