I just got this R5 Mark II because my friend said it was the best but there are so many buttons and I have no idea what I'm doing. Looking at lenses online is a nightmare because there are so many letters like RF and L and numbers that just dont make sense.
I spent so much on the camera body that I only have $1000 left for a lens and I need it for my Yellowstone trip in two weeks. I just want one lens that does everything like zooming in on bears but also taking pictures of trees. Everything is so expensive and I'm kinda lost. What zoom lens should I actually get for just general stuff?
Congrats on the R5 Mark II! Honestly, you picked a complete beast of a camera, but I totally get why the buttons and terminology feel like a nightmare right now. In my experience, even after shooting for years, the jump to these high-end mirrorless bodies can be a lot. Basically, RF just means it is the modern lens mount for your specific camera, and L is for their top-tier glass that has better weather sealing and build quality. Yellowstone is incredible but it presents a huge challenge because you want wide shots for the geysers and massive zoom for the wildlife. Over the years, I've tried many single-lens setups for trips like this and there is usually a compromise somewhere. To help narrow this down within that $1000 budget, I have a couple of questions for you:
- Are you planning to do most of your hiking and shooting during the day, or are you hoping to catch bears at dawn and dusk when the light is pretty low?
- How much weight are you actually willing to carry around all day on your neck or in a bag? Usually, lenses that claim to do everything are either very heavy or they dont perform as well when the sun goes down. Knowing if you're okay with a bit of bulk or if you need something lightweight for long walks will help a lot. Don't worry tho, we can definitely find something that works for your trip.
