Which prime lens is best for street photography on Canon EOS R8?

Question

Honestly I'm about ready to chuck this kit lens into the lake because it is just not working for what I want to do with my R8. I bought the R8 because it's supposed to be this small, lightweight full-frame beast but with the zoom lens it feels like I'm carrying a brick around and everyone in the loop stares at me like I'm some tourist when I'm just trying to get some candid shots. I'm so frustrated with the slow aperture too because Chicago gets dark so early now and everything is coming out grainy or blurry since I can't keep my shutter speed up without cranking the ISO to like 12800. Its honestly ruining the experience for me and making me regret moving to full frame if this is how it's gonna be.

I need a prime lens that actually makes sense for street photography and doesn't weigh a ton. I keep looking at the RF 35mm f1.8 but then I hear the autofocus is noisy and slow and then I look at the 50mm and people say it's too tight for narrow streets so I'm just going in circles here and it's making me want to just sell the whole setup and go back to Fuji or something which I really dont want to do because I like the Canon colors.

I have about $700 saved up for this and I'm hoping to get something before my trip to New Orleans next month. Here is what I'm looking for:

has to be light because the R8 is light and I want it to stay that way

fast enough for night shooting (f2 or wider please)

quiet enough so people dont hear the motor whirring when I'm close

good enough build quality that it wont fall apart if it gets a tiny bit of mist on it

Is the 35mm really as loud as people say or is that just gear snobs being picky? Or should I be looking at the 28mm pancake even though it's f2.8? I feel like 2.8 might be too slow for the night shots I want to do but maybe the R8 sensor handles it better than I think? I just need something that feels snappy and invisible...

Sebastian · Accepted Answer

I've had some bad misses with the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM pancake because f2.8 just isnt fast enough for dim alleys. Be careful there. I would suggest the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 IS Macro STM instead. Its much better for low light than the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM which feels too tight for street work. Just watch out for that extending barrel if it's raining in New Orleans, since it isn't fully weather-sealed...

Shraunbti · Answer

Stumbled upon this today and totally get the frustration. Honestly, I have been a bit disappointed with the current lineup of affordable RF primes because none of them feel as pro as the old EF glass did. If you are heading to New Orleans, those narrow French Quarter streets are gonna feel super cramped with a 50mm, and even a 35mm can feel tight when you are trying to capture the whole vibe.

Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM: This is probably my top pick for you. It is wider than the 35mm, which is great for architecture and tight crowds in NOLA. The f/1.8 is fast enough for night, and it has Image Stabilization. Unfortunately, it is not fully weather-sealed, which is a letdown for the price, so maybe bring a plastic bag if it drizzles.

Canon EF 35mm f2 IS USM with the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R: This is a bit of a curveball. I have had issues with the STM motors on the native RF lenses being a bit buzzy for my taste. This older EF lens is incredibly reliable, has a fast USM motor that is way quieter, and the build quality feels more substantial than the plastic-y RF primes. It stays well under your $700 budget even with the adapter. The 28mm pancake is basically useless for the look you want at night, so dont waste your money there. Just be careful with the exposed front elements on these cheaper lenses since they arent built like tanks... hope you find something that works.

Archie · Answer

I've used a lot of gear over the years and honestly, people are way too picky about the motor noise. In my experience, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is your best bet for the R8. That f/1.8 is a literal lifesaver for low light compared to those slower pancakes.

Stays super light on the body.

Snappy autofocus for moving subjects.

Solid build for the price. Stick with that one... you wont regret it.