Just picked up an R6 and I am absolutely stoked to get shooting! Im planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest in about three weeks and really need a versatile lens that can handle landscapes and the occasional portrait without me needing to swap glass every five minutes. I saw people hyping up the RF 24-105mm F4 but then I read some forums saying it lacks character compared to the 24-70mm 2.8. Honestly that 2.8 price tag is hurting my soul a bit since I am on a strict 1500 dollar budget.
- Need decent zoom range
- Must be weather sealed for Oregon rain
- Budget is under 1500 USD
What are you guys using?
Building on the earlier suggestion, I totally get the hesitation about the f/4 zoom. Look, ive spent years lugging gear through the PNW and honestly, you dont want to be swapping lenses when its dumping rain. Since you have a 1500 dollar limit, you should seriously check out the Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM. Its not a pro-grade lens, but for the price, it keeps your kit super light. If you want something sharper and more robust that hits that weather-sealing requirement perfectly, look for a used Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM. You can find these around your budget if you dig a bit online. Its way sharper than the variable aperture kit glass and the build quality is tank-like. Just slap a decent filter on it and you are ready for those Oregon trails.
Congrats on the R6! Honestly, for the Pacific Northwest, you really just want one reliable piece of glass so you arent stressing about sensor dust in the middle of a downpour. Everyone loves to obsess over that 2.8 aperture, but if you are mostly doing landscapes, you are probably stopping down to f/8 or f/11 anyway. I have used the Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM for years and it is honestly the workhorse you need. It covers such a solid range for travel, the weather sealing is legit, and the image stabilization on the R6 makes it super easy to get sharp shots even when the light starts getting low. You can easily pick one up used or refurbished well under your 1500 dollar limit, which leaves you some cash for a good circular polarizer for those waterfall shots. One quick tip: definitely invest in a decent lens hood and a quality weather-resistant rain sleeve because even if the lens is sealed, you dont want your camera body getting soaked while waiting for the perfect shot. You wont miss the 2.8 for landscapes, and if you really need that creamy portrait look later on, just grab a cheap nifty fifty prime down the road. Dont overthink it too much, the range on this lens is way more valuable for a trip like that.
100% agree
Late to the party but definitely hear you on the budget struggle. I tried to make the cheaper variable aperture glass work for a few trips, but honestly? It was such a headache in low light conditions. I had major focus hunting issues when the clouds rolled in during my last hike, and the plastic build just didnt give me much confidence when the Oregon mist started getting heavy. If you want something that actually lasts, look into the used market. You can usually find a Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM for right around your 1500 limit if you hunt long enough. It is built like a tank compared to the entry level stuff.
- The constant aperture makes a world of difference for consistency.
- Weather sealing on the L-series is just on another level when it actually starts pouring.
- Save your back and avoid the gear swaps. Take it from someone who learned the hard way that saving a few bucks upfront usually means rebuying gear a year later.
