What is the best all-around prime lens for Micro Four Thirds?

Question

What is the best all-around prime lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras because I am so confused by all the numbers and stuff? Sorry if this is a total beginner question but I just bought a used Panasonic Lumix GX85 and I only have the little kit lens that came with it. I keep reading that prime lenses make your photos look way more professional with the blurry backgrounds and better colors but there are so many options and I dont really get what the 17mm or 25mm or 42.5mm stuff actually means in real life or what I should buy first.

I am super excited because I am finally taking my dream trip to Tokyo next month and I want to take amazing pictures of all the street food and the neon lights at night but I dont want to carry a giant bag of gear. My budget is pretty tight like maybe 300 dollars max since the flight alone was so expensive. I want something that I can just leave on my camera all day while walking around the city without having to swap it out because I know I will probably drop something if I try to change lenses in a crowd lol.

Is there one lens that can do everything like portraits of my girlfriend and also big buildings or narrow streets? I heard the Panasonic 25mm 1.7 is cheap but then people say the Olympus 17mm is better for street stuff so I am just lost. What should I get for a first real lens...

Chameleon · Accepted Answer

I agree the 20mm is a great middle ground, but honestly, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 is probably your safest bet for those tight Tokyo streets. It gives you a wider 34mm equivalent view which is way more forgiving for big buildings. Its plenty fast for night shots and very reliable. You can find a used one for under 250 dollars, so it wont break your budget... basically leaves you cash for extra snacks.

ObscuraOrchid · Answer

Tokyo is literally the best place for testing glass! I remember my first time in Shinjuku with just a single prime, it totally changed how I saw the city lights. Since MFT has a 2x crop factor, those focal length numbers basically double. A 25mm feels like a standard 50mm which is amazing for that natural eye look, while a 17mm gives you a wider 34mm street vibe. To figure out the best fit for your GX85:

When you use your kit lens now, do you find yourself zoomed all the way out to see more, or zoomed in for more detail?

Is the blurry background look more important than fitting a whole neon building into the shot? Seriously, that camera is such a sleeper hit for street photography, you are gonna love it!