04/06/2026 2:38 am
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I am literally so hyped for Prime Day this year!! I keep checking the upcoming deals and I saw one rumor on Twitter saying the RF 50mm 1.8 might be practically free but then a Reddit thread said the 2026 deals are gonna be way worse than last year for photography gear. It makes no sense. I have about $1100 to spend for my trip to Japan in July and I really need a solid lens that wont break my back.
- $1100 total budget
- lightweight for travel
- great for street photography at night
Should I hold out for the actual Prime Day drop or is it a waste of time for Canon stuff...
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04/06/2026 2:39 am
Honestly, Prime Day for Canon RF glass is usually such a letdown. Ive waited for hours before just to see a measly $30 discount on stuff that was already on sale a month prior. Unfortunately, the rumors you see on Twitter are almost always fake or just engagement bait. I wouldnt pin all your hopes on a massive price drop because Canon is notoriously stingy with their mirrorless lens pricing. For your Japan trip, $1100 is a huge budget to get something better than the cheap 50mm if you want real quality. Ive used a few of these for night street shots and here is how they stack up in my experience:
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM: This is my top pick for you. It has Image Stabilization which is a lifesaver for handheld night shots in Shinjuku. The 50mm feels too tight sometimes, but this 35mm is basically perfect for street. Downside is the autofocus can be a bit noisy compared to L glass.
- Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM: Great if you love wide shots of neon signs. It is super light too. But I had issues with distortion on the edges when shooting people. Not as good as expected for environmental portraits imo.
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM: It is tiny and basically weightless, but the lack of IS means your shutter speed has to stay high at night. I found it frustrating for low light without a tripod tbh. If I were you, I would just grab that 35mm now and spend the rest of your cash on good ramen and train passes. Dont let the Prime Day FOMO ruin your prep time... you are gonna have a blast in Japan regardless!
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04/06/2026 2:50 am
Regarding what #1 said about "Honestly, Prime Day for Canon RF glass is..." yeah, I have seen some pretty lackluster sales lately too, but sometimes the bundle deals are actually amazing!! I am so excited for your Japan trip!! I spent two weeks in Tokyo last year and learned that weight is everything when you are walking 20k steps a day. Here is why you should look at specific technical specs for night street:
- The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is a total beast because it is a pancake lens weighing only 120g. It is basically invisible!!
- I love the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM for the f/1.8 aperture which is fantastic for low light. The 9-blade diaphragm produces beautiful bokeh.
- Optically, these primes outperform the kit zooms by a mile in terms of edge-to-edge sharpness. Dont wait too long for Prime Day tho. Honestly, the peace of mind of having your gear early is worth way more than a $30 coupon!!
