Ive been shooting with my 90D for about three years now and honestly I love the versatility of the sensor. Mostly I stick to my 18-135 kit lens because its convenient when Im traveling but lately Ive been getting into street photography specifically around downtown Chicago and the zoom is just way too bulky and not fast enough for the low light scenarios I keep finding myself in. I tried using my old 50mm f/1.8 nifty fifty but on the aps-c sensor it feels a bit too tight for tight alleyways and cramped city corners, makes me feel like I cant get the shot without backing into traffic.

Im looking for something that is sharp and compact so I dont look like a complete amateur carrying a bazooka around. Budget is around 500 bucks maybe a little more if the glass is really worth it since I want to pull the trigger before a trip to Seattle next month. I keep going back and forth between getting a pancake lens like the 24mm f/2.8 for the stealth factor or maybe biting the bullet on a 35mm f/2 IS USM for the extra light and stabilization. The 35mm on a crop sensor feels like that classic 50mm field of view which I usually prefer but I worry about it being too slow for candid shots or just not wide enough for the claustrophobic city streets.

Has anyone here used either of these on the 90D specifically? Im really worried about the autofocus performance since the 90D can be a bit picky with older glass and I really dont want to miss a moment because of hunting. Should I just stick to the 24mm pancake for the portability or will I regret not having that extra stop of light with the 35mm? Would love to hear if anyone has a better suggestion for street work that isnt going to break the bank or make me look like a pro photographer that people want to avoid...