Which prime lens is best for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II?

Question

I just got the R6 Mark II and I am honestly so frustrated with the lens options right now. I spent a bunch of money on the body and now looking for a solid prime but everything is either dirt cheap or like two thousand dollars. I read a lot about the RF 35mm f1.8 but people keep saying the focus is loud and slow for video and then the 50mm looks like a plastic toy. I am heading to Chicago for a street photography trip in three weeks and need something reliable.

Budget: under $650

Use case: street and low light portraits

Weight: has to be light for all day walking

Which one should I actually buy because the reviews are all over the place...

melissa.adams · Accepted Answer

tbh i totally get the frustration with the rf lineup pricing gaps. since you're hitting chicago, you might want to consider the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM. be careful tho, the stm motor is audible in video. spec-wise, it has 0.5x macro magnification, 5 stops of optical is, and only weighs 305g. it wont kill your neck walking around and fits the budget perfectly.

eric.russell · Answer

> I am heading to Chicago for a street photography trip in three weeks and need something reliable. ^ This. Also, i tried the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM for night shots recently and unfortunately, the chromatic aberration was way worse than i expected. The focus motor is sluggish for fast street action too. I ended up sticking with the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM. Even though it feels like a toy, the optics are solid for under $200 and it saves your budget.

lincoln.greene · Answer

Just caught this thread. In my experience, if the current lineup feels like it has a massive gap, you should honestly just go with the Canon EF series.

Invest in an adapter to access high-end glass from the DSLR era.

Focus on finding used professional-grade primes from that system...

Youll get superior build quality and performance without exceeding your budget for the Chicago trip.