stumbled upon this while looking for updates and felt like i should weigh in. over the years ive found that being conservative with your gear choice pays off way more than chasing the flashiest glass. i actually have to politely disagree with the idea of going for the heaviest f2 option mentioned above... ngl those lenses are mechanical marvels but they're just so heavy for a wedding. in my experience, fatigue is the biggest killer of safety and reliability during a long day. i once had a heavy setup fail me because i was too tired to hold it steady by the end of the night. honestly, that Canon EOS R5 Mark II sensor is so high-res that any tiny bit of shake is gonna show up if you're exhausted. what kind of lighting are you actually dealing with at the venue? and are you planning to use a second body for backup or just the r5ii?

That R5 Mark II is absolutely insane! Since youre shooting a wedding, reliability is everything. You need gear that handles those high burst rates and has top-tier weather sealing so nothing fails mid-ceremony. I love the technical specs on the new AF system, and these lenses keep up perfectly.

• Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
• The Nano USM is incredibly fast. With the R5 II, you get up to 8 stops of Coordinated Control IS which is fantastic for low light receptions.
• Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
• This lens is amazing because it is so compact. It still yields 0.23x magnification which is great for close-up ring shots without swapping lenses.
• Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
• For low light, this is the king. It features 15 elements in 9 groups for edge-to-edge sharpness even at f/1.2. Ngl, having that L-series glass is the only way to go for professional reliability. The build quality is just superior!

Building on the earlier suggestion, I've spent years hauling around heavy zooms and my back still hasn't forgiven me. You really don't need those f/2 monsters to get pro results on the R5II sensor. I've moved toward a lighter, more cost-conscious setup that actually performs better in tight spaces. I usually roll with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM and the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. The 35mm is only about 305g, which is a massive weight saving compared to the L zooms. The 0.5x magnification on that 85mm is killer for detail shots like the rings. It actually reminds me of a wedding I shot at a historical library where the macro focus saved me because the couple wanted shots of these tiny inscriptions on a family heirloom watch. I ended up spending half the reception talking to the librarian about their archival process for 19th-century maps... they had these incredible humidity-controlled drawers that were fascinating. I almost forgot I was there to work. Anyway. TL;DR: Grab the RF 35mm f1.8 and 85mm f2 primes. They're way cheaper, lighter, and the macro capability is a huge bonus for wedding details.

The RF 28-70mm F2L is impressive but bulky. I chose it over the RF 24-105mm F4L and RF 24-70mm F2.8L after testing rentals. Many wedding photographers prefer the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM for its lighter weight, smaller size, and wider angle for group shots. The 1-stop ISO difference on the EOS R5 Mark II is negligible. Pairing it with the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USMwould cover most scenarios. Consider selling your RF 24-105mm F4L and EF 70-200mm f/2.8 to fund these lenses. However, I recommend trying the kit before purchasing to ensure it meets your needs. Renting is a great option for testing professional lenses.