Im getting so frustrated trying to pick a lens for my R8. I really need something cheap because I blew most of my savings on the body, so like 300 bucks max is my limit right now. I keep seeing people recommend the RF 50mm f/1.8 everywhere since its basically dirt cheap, but then I read a bunch of threads saying the focus is super noisy and slow which scares me since I do a lot of street photography and need to be quick. Some people suggest adapting old EF glass, but I dont want to deal with bulky adapters if I can avoid it. Should I just suck it up and get the 50mm or is there something else I missed...
@Reply #2 - good point! But honestly, I think suggesting the ultra-wide for general street work is a bit risky if that is your only lens. You'd be stuck with a very specific look. Since you are worried about the autofocus speed and noise of the 50mm, maybe stop looking at native RF glass for a second. If you really cant stand the adapter, you are kinda stuck with limited choices, but dont ignore the manual focus option.
- Honestly, if you want something sharp and fast for street photography on a budget, consider the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4 for Canon RF. It is manual focus only, which sounds scary, but for street work, you can just zone focus and keep shooting without the hunting motor noise.
- If you really need AF and hate adapters, you might just have to deal with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. The motor isnt that loud unless you are shooting in a dead silent room.
- Dont write off the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R completely. If you pick up a used Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens, it is tiny, snappy, and silent. Be careful with the ultra-wide options if you arent used to them, they make street candids super hard. I would suggest keeping the 50mm for now or grabbing a cheap manual lens to learn the ropes.
Honestly, I get your frustration. I started out the exact same way after grabbing my body. Look, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is cheap for a reason. I used it for a few months for street stuff and it drove me nuts. The focus motor sounds like a tiny blender, which totally ruins the stealth vibe you need when you're on the street. It hunts way too much in low light too. If you want something better, I would suggest looking for a used Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. It's super tiny and wide, which is honestly perfect for street photography if you like that look. Just be careful with the barrel distortion, you have to lean into the profile corrections. Save your sanity and skip the 50mm unless you're just shooting portraits.
I have to disagree on the nifty fifty being unusable. Honestly, for the price, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is optically sharp enough to justify the minor focus quirks. If you really want speed, you might be better off saving a bit more for the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. It is super compact and the wider focal length is perfect for street work. Just set your R8 focus mode to servo and you wont notice the motor lag as much.
