^ This. Also, if youre sticking to that $300 budget, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a very cost-effective choice. I have been satisfied with its performance on the R8:

• Portability: It is incredibly light and tiny for travel
• Value: Costs well under your budget limit
• Low light: The f/1.8 aperture works well for night shots Its a solid lens that provides great results without spending too much.

> my budget is like $300. sorry if this is stupid but which prime lens is best for street photography on this camera? Saw this a bit late but honestly for Tokyo on an R8 you've got two main paths. Since you're on a budget and want small, you gotta check the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM. Its a total pancake lens, basically makes your camera pocketable. Tech-wise, it uses three aspherical elements to keep things sharp despite the tiny glass. 28mm is a classic street width because Tokyo streets are tight and you'll want that extra field of view for the neon signs. The other big contender is the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM. It might be closer to $400 new but you can find it used under 300 easy. That f/1.8 aperture is king for night shots in Shinjuku. Plus, it has 5 stops of optical image stabilization. Since the R8 doesnt have stabilization in the camera body, having it in the lens helps a ton for handheld shots when its getting dark. 35mm is basically the gold standard for street photography because it looks very natural, kind of like what your eye sees. If you want the absolute smallest setup possible go for the 28mm. If you plan on shooting a lot of low light or want that blurry background, the 35mm is better value. Either way, they're both gonna be way lighter than that bulky kit zoom...

Regarding what #6 said about how the industry is pushing cheap plastic... it really is a trade-off for the low price point. If you want something that will actually last and perform reliably in a place like Tokyo, you might need to look at the secondary market for older but higher-quality optics. Since you dont know much about how these work yet, reliability should be your priority. The R8 is a great sensor, but without stabilization, your hit rate for sharp photos will drop when it gets dark. Since your budget is strict, I suggest looking into a used Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and an older Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM. It is a more professional build than the entry RF primes:

• Metal mount and much better internal construction compared to the $150 plastic RF lenses.
• Dedicated Image Stabilization (IS) which is mandatory for the R8 to get clear street shots at night.
• Physical distance scale which actually helps you learn how focal distances work. It adds a bit of bulk, but it is a much safer long-term investment than the budget RF lenses that feel like they might snap. Tokyo is dense and you will likely bump your gear into things in the subway or crowds; having that extra durability is worth the trade-off. Just ensure the adapter is a genuine Canon one so the autofocus stays fast.

I've tried many setups over the years and honestly both the 28mm and 50mm mentioned are solid picks, but you gotta be careful. Since the R8 doesnt have built-in stabilization, you might struggle with blurry shots when the sun goes down in Tokyo. In my experience, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is the safest bet for a beginner because it actually has Image Stabilization built into the lens. Its usually a bit over $300 brand new, but you can find it used or refurbished closer to your budget if you look around. 35mm is basically the perfect natural view for street stuff... not too wide, not too zoomed in. If you cant find a deal on that, just stick with the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM because its way easier to handle in crowds than a 50mm. Just keep your shutter speed up so you dont get shake.

stumbled on this today and man, i feel your pain so much. i took my R8 to kyoto last fall and it was a constant headache trying to find a lens that didnt feel like a total compromise. honestly the lack of IBIS on the R8 makes every lens choice feel risky and i hate that for us...

• Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM: its tiny and cheap but the uncorrected raw files are a disaster. the barrel distortion is over 5% and you lose so much corner resolution when the software stretches the image back into place. it basically relies on digital wizardry to not look like a fisheye.
• Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM: finally gives us that 5-stop stabilization but it completely blows the budget and the weight makes the R8 feel front-heavy. plus the vignetting is nearly 3 stops in the corners when shooting wide open. it drives me crazy that canon keeps the mount closed to third parties. i look at my friends with sony bodies using tiny sigma primes with better mtf charts and it makes me so frustrated. we're basically stuck in this weird gap where you either get a pancake with no stabilization or you spend way too much for a lens that ruins the whole point of having a light street setup. its like we just cant win with this system right now...

Regarding what #4 said about honestly the whole situation with lens pricing lately... I really felt that. It is so frustrating seeing how the industry has shifted. You buy a great body like the R8 and then you are basically staring at a wall of overpriced glass or cheap plastic that feels like it is gonna fall apart in a month. It honestly drives me crazy how much they charge for entry-level stuff these days and the quality just isnt what it used to be. I have spent so much time lately just trying to DIY repairs on my older gear because I am so fed up with the current market prices. Its kind of a scam when you think about it. Companies know they have us trapped in the ecosystem and they just keep squeezing. Just be really careful with what you pick because it is easy to waste money on something that doesn't live up to the hype. I hate that for beginners especially... it should be about the art, not about how deep your pockets are. Hang in there though.

honestly the whole situation with lens pricing lately is just ridiculous. It drives me crazy how you buy a decent body like the R8 and then realize the affordable lens market is basically a total desert. Companies are pushing everyone toward these massive, overpriced optics and it feels like a total scam for anyone who just wants to shoot street without carrying a brick. I look at the MTF charts and the manufacturing tolerances on some of this entry-level glass and its honestly depressing how much theyve compromised on optical quality while hiking the price tags. Quality is going downhill while the profit margins keep climbing, and its such a headache for people just starting out. Its like they want us to spend thousands or settle for something that feels like a toy, which is just garbage tbh. The lack of weather sealing or even basic physical switches on anything under five hundred bucks is another thing that just kills me...