Top recommended prime lenses for Canon APS-C mirrorless cameras?

Question

I just picked up an R10 for my trip to Chicago next month and Im really wanting to grab a solid prime lens instead of just using the kit zoom. I keep seeing people recommend the RF 50mm 1.8 because its cheap but then other people say its basically a portrait lens on crop sensors and way too tight for street stuff? I also looked at the 28mm pancake which seems cool for being small but im worried the f2.8 isnt fast enough for low light. I really want something sharp but also light enough to carry all day.

Constraints:

budget is max $450

needs to be good for street and maybe some indoor shots

must be native RF or RF-S mount cuz i dont want to deal with adapters

What do you guys think? Is there something better than those two that I'm missing?

WonderfulWendy · Accepted Answer

I would suggest being careful with the 50mm because the 1.6x crop factor makes it an 80mm equivalent... way too tight for street stuff. You might want to consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Canon RF. Its priced around $369 and that f/1.4 aperture is gonna be much better for low light than the pancake. Its sharp, light, and you dont need an adapter.

Clubnika DoN · Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "I would suggest being careful with the 50mm..." - they're totally right, it's basically a portrait lens on your R10. For Chicago, you'll want something wider unless you enjoy standing across the street from everything you want to photograph. Since you mentioned the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, i wouldn't sweat the f/2.8 too much. Tbh, the R10 handles high ISO well enough for city streets. The trade-off is really size vs speed. If you want something faster, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is a solid middle ground. It's got image stabilization which helps for those handheld indoor shots you mentioned. Check out "The Digital Picture" for side-by-side sharpness crops. The 35mm is usually around $450 and is a killer all-rounder even if it's not quite as tiny as the 28mm pancake.

StormEagle77 · Answer

tbh you really need to look at the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM. In my experience, having that built-in Image Stabilization is a huge safety net because the R10 lacks IBIS. I've tried many lenses without it and honestly... shaky hands at night can ruin an entire trip. The 35mm gives you a natural look on a crop sensor that isnt as claustrophobic as that 50mm lens. A few reasons why I always trust this one:

The IS helps you keep your ISO lower for cleaner shots when it gets dark.

Its fast enough at f/1.8 to get that nice background blur youre after.

Its super reliable and wont hunt for focus as much as some third-party glass. Its a bit bigger than the pancake but still light enough to carry all day without your neck hurting. Safety first, right? You can usually find it right around your $450 limit if you shop around a bit.