What is the absolute best budget-friendly zoom lens for a Canon RP right now? I am taking a trip to Zion in about two weeks and really need something more versatile than my 50mm prime for landscapes. I am trying to keep it under $350 which I know is a big ask for full frame gear. Ive been looking at the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 STM since its so cheap but everyone online says the slow aperture makes it totally useless in low light which has me worried for sunrise shots. I also saw the EF 70-300mm IS II USM is great with an adapter but is that just gonna be way too bulky for hiking all day? Just not sure if I should go native or adapt...
TL;DR: Grab the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM. The aperture isn't an issue for tripod-based landscape work. I have used both, and for Zion, weight is basically everything. The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is surprisingly sharp for the price and fits your budget easily if you find it used or refurbished. Regarding the low light concern, if you are shooting sunrise, you really should be on a tripod anyway to keep ISO low. At f/8 or f/11, the slow max aperture doesnt actually matter at all for landscapes. The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM is great glass, but once you add the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, it gets bulky fast. It's also often too tight for those wide canyon shots. Keeping it native and light is definitely the better play for all-day hiking.
> 105mm just didn't give me enough compression Building on that, unfortunately the Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is way too limited. Id suggest the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for reach, tho it lacks stabilization.
^ This. Also, I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree about the RF 24-105 being the only play here. I spent a week hiking Zion last fall and found that 105mm just didn't give me enough compression for those massive canyon walls. Technically, you're losing a lot of versatility at the long end. I'd look at the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM instead. Even with the adapter, the performance is night and day:
- The Nano USM focus is significantly faster than the STM motor.
- You get a digital display for distance and focal length which is super handy for tripod work.
- Image stabilization on this unit is rated for 4 stops, which is huge for handheld sunrise shots. Tbh, I just used a Peak Design Capture Clip to offset the weight while hiking. It felt way more balanced than a neck strap. Grab it used and you'll stay right under that $350 limit while getting much better reach for the park.
I have been dealing with the exact same dilemma for my RP setup lately and it is honestly a massive headache trying to balance weight and cost. Its one of those things where you really want to make sure the gear is reliable enough for a big trip like Zion without breaking the bank. Tbh i am still stuck on which way to go myself and keep going back and forth between weight and reach...
- check out some of the long term reviews on youtube for the stm glass
- look through the gear threads on reddit for real world hiking samples
- the manufacturer site has all the weight specs if you want to compare the adapter setup bulk There is a really thorough video comparison out there that covers exactly what you are asking, just search for something like canon rp landscape lens guide and it should pop right up. Let me know if you find a good deal tho, i could use the help too!
