Japan is honestly a dream for street shooting... been there a few times myself. With $400 left, you can actually get a killer setup. In my experience, for food and narrow streets, you really want something wider than a 50mm. I've tried many lenses on my R series bodies and these are my top budget picks:

• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
• This is the gold standard for travel. It has Macro in the name which means you can get really close to your food photos. Look for a used or refurbished one to stay under $400.
• Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM
• This is a pancake lens. It's so small you'll forget it's on the camera. Really good for street stuff where you dont want to look like a pro photographer.
• Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
• The cheapest option. Its great, but sometimes feels a bit too zoomed in for tight Japanese restaurants. If I were you, I'd hunt for a deal on that 35mm. Over the years it's become my most-used lens for casual trips. It's worth the extra search time.

I'd be a bit careful with your last $400. Japan gets pricey! For street and food, you'll want something light that wont draw too much attention.

• Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - tiny pancake lens, very discreet.
• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM - try finding one used; the close-focusing is awesome for food. Lower numbers (like 28) just mean you see more of the scene. Make sure you grab a spare battery too... the R8 is kinda hungry lol.

Would love to know this too

Had a sec to think... honestly, I was kinda let down by some of the cheaper glass lately. The build quality feels like a toy sometimes. Quick question tho, are you shooting in tight restaurants or just out on the streets? Basically:

• stick with the Canon house brand
• look for their budget primes Just get any of their compact lenses and youll be fine for $400, even if they feel plasticky.

Choosing your first prime lens for Canon EOS R8 is an exciting step. Based on your question and the available information, there isn't one single "best" lens, as the right choice depends on what you love to shoot. However, we can break down the top contenders based on your interests.

Here are the best prime lenses for the Canon EOS R8, categorized by their strengths.

• For Versatile, Everyday Shooting: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
• For Classic, Flattering Portraits: Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
• For Low-Light & Street Photography: Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
• For Ultimate Image Quality (Higher Budget): Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Stumbled upon this today and had to weigh in because I'm super satisfied with a combo nobody's really pushed yet. Like someone mentioned, the 35mm is a classic, but I'm gonna politely disagree about it being the best solo option for a beginner in Japan. Those streets are tiny and sometimes you just cant back up enough to get the whole view... it gets frustrating. If I were you, I'd actually grab these two instead:

• Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
• This is ultra-wide so it sees a ton of the scene. Perfect for narrow alleys and architecture.
• Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
• This is more zoomed in and great for those blurry background food shots. You can usually find both for around $400 total if you shop around or find a deal. I've been using this pairing and honestly have no complaints... its way more fun having two different looks to play with. Plus they're both tiny so they wont weigh down your bag while you're walking 20k steps a day lol. Just makes things way more flexible.