I'm leaving for a trip to Tokyo in literally ten days and I'm freaking out because I still haven't picked a prime lens for my R7. I've been looking at the RF 35mm f1.8 since everyone says it's the best all-rounder but then I realized the 1.6x crop factor makes it more like a 50mm or 60mm equivalent. Is that gonna be way too tight for busy city streets? I saw some people recommending the 24mm or even the 16mm pancake lens instead but I'm worried about weird distortion on faces if I get too close. I really need to stay under $500 since the flight was so expensive. Which one is actually gonna give me that classic street look without being stuck too far back?
Unfortunately, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is often too restrictive on an R7. I had issues with that 56mm equivalent reach in tight Tokyo alleys. It wasnt as good as expected for busy scenes. The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is also disappointing due to heavy distortion. Honestly, you should check out the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM pancake. Its a safer, more reliable focal length for street photography.
Just caught your post. You're totally right to worry about the math because that 1.6x crop factor really changes the game. If you go with the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM, you're effectively looking through a 56mm field of view. For Tokyo's crowded Shinjuku or Shibuya streets, you might find yourself constantly backing into walls just to frame a shot. I'd be very careful with the 16mm too because the barrel distortion is pretty aggressive unless you're relying heavily on digital corrections. I would suggest looking at the Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM instead. It hits that 38.4mm equivalent sweet spot. It's basically the goldilocks focal length for street work on an APS-C sensor. You get a wide enough view for neon signs and crowds without the weird face stretching you get on ultra-wide glass. Just make sure to watch your shutter speeds, but you'll be fine.
Facts.
