13/03/2026 6:40 pm
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RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
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Ive been shooting on an old crop sensor Rebel for like eight years now but finally made the jump to full frame with the R8 last week. I thought my old EF glass would be fine with an adapter but honestly its way too bulky for this tiny body. It kinda defeats the whole purpose of the R8 being so light.
Im looking for a solid prime lens that wont break the bank—budgeting maybe $700 max—for a trip to Tokyo I have coming up in about 20 days. I need something fast for those neon street shots at night but I cant decide between the RF 35mm f1.8 or if I should look at something wider. What are you guys actually using as a daily driver on the R8 that doesnt make it feel super front heavy...
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13/03/2026 6:40 pm
Unfortunately, the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM isnt as good as expected for fast street work because the autofocus is quite sluggish. I had issues with it hunting in low light which is disappointing for neon shots.
- Grab the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM.
- Utilize the 0.5x magnification for food photography. It balances perfectly on the R8. Let me know if you need more specs!
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13/03/2026 7:05 pm
Jumping in because I did a Tokyo trip recently and honestly, weight is everything there. I would suggest the Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM instead. Carrying a bulky setup through Shinjuku once was a total mistake. Be careful with the 35mm cuz those alleys are tight... you might want that extra width. Make sure you order soon to test it before your flight. Plus, its well under your budget.
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13/03/2026 7:05 pm
Re: "Jumping in because I did a Tokyo trip..." - yeah, honestly its ridiculous how companies market compact full frame but the physics of optics keeps everything front-heavy. I dealt with the same center-of-gravity issues on a trip last year and it drives me crazy. We pay these high prices for lightweight bodies just to get gouged on the specialized glass needed to keep the weight distribution manageable. It feels like a total scam sometimes.
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28/03/2026 8:40 pm
I totally agree with empirestatezen about those Tokyo alleys, they are way narrower than you think. In my experience, weight distribution is everything when you're walking 20k steps a day. After trying many setups, the Canon RF 28mm f2.8 STM stands out as a very reliable daily driver if you want to keep the R8 feeling like a point-and-shoot. Its tiny and the AF is super snappy. If you are dead set on that low light performance tho, taking the Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM over the 35mm is a better bet. Over the years I have found that 24mm gives you way more flexibility in Shinjuku or Shibuya where you cant always back up to get the shot. The 35mm is nice but can feel a bit tight for cityscapes. Plus the AF on the 24mm feels a bit more consistent than the 35mm in my testing... it just finds focus and stays there. Dont overthink it too much, any of these will blow your old Rebel setup out of the water.
