Honestly, if you want to talk about actual performance benchmarks, you should look at the native Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. I know people suggest adapting old EF glass to save money, but the communication speed on the RF mount is realy on another level when it comes to tracking moving subjects. When I did some side-by-side testing, the native RF version had a much higher hit rate in Servo AF compared to the older adapted versions. Heres why I think its the best performance pick for a beginner on a budget:

• AF response time is snappy enough for those blink-and-you-miss-it candid moments
• Center sharpness is excellent even at f/1.8, which is wierd for a lens this cheap
• The weight is basically non-existent so you can walk all day without neck pain I did notice some corner softness in my test charts at the wider apertures, but for street work, you usually want that subject isolation anyway. Its definitely a solid performer for the price point. Like, for under $200, you really cant complain about the optics... I think its the best way to start out without breaking the bank.

Building on the earlier suggestion about going native, I have been really happy with that approach. Honestly, it is just way less of a headache when you dont have to deal with potential compatibility issues between an adapter and the camera body. Sometimes those adapted setups can be a bit finicky with the eye-tracking or getting the stabilization to sync up perfectly. Native glass just feels more responsive because the communication is seamless. I am satisfied knowing everything works perfectly out of the box without any weird glitches or the extra bulk of an adapter. Basically makes the whole street shooting experience a lot more reliable when things are moving fast... no complaints here.

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Honestly, if you want to stay under budget, the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is the way to go because its pancake profile is basically invisible on the street, right? Tbh as an expert I'm always cautious about factory QC, so I recommend a DIY approach to lens validation—do your own decentering tests by shooting a grid at various apertures to ensure the aspherical elements are properly aligned. Don't just trust the 'professional service' at the factory to have caught every minor tilt in the optical axis! If the AF feels sluggish, check your firmware version first because self-serving your software updates is way faster than sending it in to Canon for a calibration you can basically handle yourself through the body menus lmao. Keep those gold contacts clean yourself and you'll save a fortune on professional cleaning over the life of the lens!!!

Great info, saved!

Honestly? RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM! I've used it for years. Lightweight, sharp, and the image stabilization is fantastic for walking around. Got mine used for $350 – amazing value!

RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM. Consider its distortion correction profile; crucial for street!

Skip the fancy RF glass for now. The EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with an adapter is ridiculously sharp for the price (around $125). Spend the savings on more street time!

For street, consider Canon's RF 35mm f/1.8. Used copies are often <$400. Aftermarket brands can be cheaper, but Canon's image quality is generally worth the slight premium, IMO.