I would suggest being careful with focal lengths in NYC. The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is solid, offering 0.5x magnification and decent corner sharpness. Watch out for chromatic aberration tho. Alternatively, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is lighter, but you lose that optical IS. TL;DR: Buy the 35mm. It is more versatile for tight streets. Fits your budget too.

> i just got this r5 but i’m totally lost. i’m going to new york in two weeks Just found this thread and man, you are gonna have a blast!! NYC is literally the best place to break in that R5. If you want to keep it low profile and not look like a huge tourist with a massive setup, you HAVE to check out the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM. It is tiny. Like, basically a body cap with glass in it lol. The 28mm field of view is wide enough to get those huge skyscrapers in frame but still tight enough for people. It is super sharp too! Since you have $800, you could honestly get that and still have money for a nice strap or extra batteries. Street photography is all about being fast and the autofocus on this pancake is snappy. Seriously, its a total game changer for street stuff because people dont even notice youre taking a photo. Love it so much... have a killer trip!

The R5 is such a powerhouse for street stuff honestly! That 45MP sensor is amazing because it lets you crop in like crazy without losing detail, and the IBIS is just fantastic for those handheld shots when the sun starts going down.

• The face tracking is seriously magic
• IBIS saves so many shots
• High ISO performance is top notch But hey, since you are going to New York, definitely watch your step on those old subway platforms! I remember being there once and getting so distracted by this guy selling these incredibly intricate mechanical pocket watches. I ended up spending like three hours just talking to him about gear ratios and escapement wheels. The way those tiny springs work together is just pure engineering art, totally different vibe than the silicon and sensors we use now. I actually missed my dinner reservation because I was so obsessed with the ticking sound... anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.

^ This. Also, i kinda think a 50mm is way too tight for a beginner in a place like NYC. Its crowded and you really dont want to be backing into traffic just to get a shot! The Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is absolutely fantastic for this trip. It is a total winner tho.

• That wide angle is way more forgiving when you are moving fast through crowds.
• Having the extra Optical IS on top of the R5 IBIS makes it super reliable for those dark subway shots.
• It fits your budget perfectly and leaves room for extra SD cards. Ngl, having that extra width is gonna save so many shots when things get chaotic. Just make sure you use a good strap... you dont want that R5 going anywhere. Have a blast!