Building on the earlier suggestion about that 35mm field of view, im super satisfied with the Viltrox 23mm f1.4 AF Sony E. It works well without breaking the bank, and honestly, i have no complaints about the image quality. Going this route leaves you plenty of budget for extra memory cards or a better strap. It's a solid choice that wont let you down while exploring Tokyo...

Regarding what #1 said about Shinjuku, those narrow alleys demand a specific field of view. Tbh, 35mm equivalent is basically the gold standard for street. When I shot in Japan, the Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E was my go-to for technical performance.

• 34.5mm effective focal length
• 13 optical elements
• f/1.4 max aperture It costs $549 and handles distortion better than the 15mm... really solid choice if youre avoiding lens swaps.

I remember hitting Shinjuku a few years back with just a 50mm equivalent and it was a struggle in those narrow alleys, honestly. You really want something that captures the vibe without being too tight or too distorted. The Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E is basically the gold standard for a reason. It gives you that 45mm look which feels very natural to the eye, but for Tokyo, it might feel a bit cramped when youre surrounded by skyscrapers.

• Sigma 30mm f1.4: super fast for night shots, but can feel narrow in crowds.
• Sony E 15mm f1.4 G: amazing for architecture, but you gotta get really close to subjects.
• Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E: the perfect middle ground for street work. If I had to pick just one, I would grab the Sigma 23mm. It hits that 35mm full-frame equivalent which is the sweet spot for street. I used it last spring and barely took it off the camera... it just works for almost everything.

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.