Honestly I am about ready to chuck this 18-150mm kit lens into the Thames because I was out in Soho last night and every single shot I took was just grainy garbage. I really love the R7 body itself but the f/4.5-6.3 aperture on the zoom is actually killing my vibe for street photography and I am just fed up with missing shots because the shutter speed has to be so slow. I need something fast and small because right now I feel like I am lugging around a telescope and people keep staring at me which is exactly what you dont want when you are trying to be low-key. Im planning a trip to Tokyo in like three weeks and I really dont want to be stuck with this slow setup while I am hitting the narrow alleys at night. I was looking at the RF 35mm 1.8 but with the crop factor on the R7 it ends up being like 56mm and I feel like thats gonna be way too tight for those crowded city streets? But then the 16mm 2.8 feels a bit cheap and maybe way too wide for what I want. I have got about $500 to spend and I am just spiraling trying to figure out what will actually give me that sharp look without all the bulk. Is the 24mm the move or is there some other prime I should be looking at for this sensor...
> Is the 24mm the move or is there some other prime I should be looking at for this sensor... You should definitely get the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM! Its such a fantastic, reliable lens and basically the safest bet for street photography! The 38mm equivalent view is way better for tight streets than a 50mm. Its super fast for night shots and fits right in your budget too! I love mine and it never lets me down!!
Building on the earlier suggestion, I think you should seriously check out the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM. > I need something fast and small because right now I feel like I am lugging around a telescope Honestly, if you wanna be low-key in Tokyo, this is the move. I've been using it for a while and I'm super satisfied with how it feels. It's a tiny pancake lens... basically makes the R7 look like a point-and-shoot. On your sensor it's about a 45mm equivalent, which is that perfect middle ground focal length for those narrow alleys. It isn't f/1.8, sure, but f/2.8 is still a massive jump from your kit lens and the sharpness is actually really impressive. It's only like $300 too, so you'll have plenty of cash left over for the trip. Definitely feels way more solid than that 16mm lens.
I started exactly where you are, feeling totally defeated by that kit lens in the dark. Switching to a prime was basically the best move I ever made. You're gonna love the change! Just a few technical warnings and ideas from my journey:
- Wide apertures mean paper-thin focus depth, so stay sharp.
- The 1.6x crop factor turns everything into a portrait lens pretty fast.
- Maybe look at an adapter for older glass as a cheaper way to get fast apertures.
