What are you guys using for wide-angle landscape glass on the R6 Mark II these days that doesnt weigh a ton? Ive been shooting with Canon for over a decade, mostly on the old 5D line, but I finally made the jump to mirrorless with the R6II last month and the transition has been mostly great but the lens situation is bugging me. I brought my old EF 16-35mm f/2.8 II over with the adapter, but honestly the balance feels totally off and its way too front-heavy for the long hiking trips I do in the PNW.
I need something sharp edge-to-edge for big vista shots. I was looking at the RF 15-35mm L but the price tag is a bit much since my budget is capped at around $1,500 for this upgrade. I mainly do sunrise and sunset stuff out near Mount Hood so I definitely need that weather sealing because it's always misty or straight up raining. Is the RF 14-35mm f/4 actually worth the compromise on aperture for the weight savings? Or should I look at something like the 16mm prime even though it feels a bit cheap? Im worried about missing the flexibility of a zoom when Im on a cliff edge and cant exactly foot-zoom... any thoughts on the 14-35 vs the 15-35 or even a third party option I might have missed?
Regarding what #1 said about looking at the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM, I agree it is the safest bet. I would suggest being careful with the cheaper Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM tho... it lacks the weather sealing you need for PNW rain. Make sure to stick with L series glass so you dont risk your R6II in the mist. The f/4 is a fair trade for that peace of mind.
> Is the RF 14-35mm f/4 actually worth the compromise on aperture for the weight savings? Absolutely! Youre gonna be at f/8 or f/11 for those big vistas anyway, so f/2.8 is basically dead weight. Huge pro tip: Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM uses 77mm filters which are way cheaper than the 82mm glass on the bigger zoom! Check the Canon refurbished site to save some serious cash and stay under budget. Its a fantastic hiking lens!
I would suggest looking at the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM. You might want to be careful with the heavy software correction at 14mm tho—it is technically quite aggressive. But that 540g weight and 8-stop combined IS with your R6II is a lifesaver for low light. TL;DR: f/4 is plenty for landscapes; the 14-35mm saves weight without losing that L-series sealing.
Like someone mentioned, f/2.8 is mostly dead weight for big vistas. I have spent years lugging heavy glass up trails in the Cascades and let me tell ya, your back will thank you for going with an f/4 zoom instead. The consensus in this thread is honestly spot on. The Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM is the absolute sweet spot for an R6II setup, especially since you need that L-series weather sealing for our messy PNW mist. I have tried both the 15-35 and the 14-35, and while the faster lens is a beast, it is just too much to carry for miles on end. The edge-to-edge sharpness on the 14-35 is stellar once you stop down to f/8 or f/11 anyway. If the price of a new one is still stinging, definitely check for a Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM Refurbished deal directly from Canon. Youll probably have enough left over for a high-quality circular polarizer which is basically mandatory for those mountain lakes near Hood. Dont sweat the software correction too much... honestly, the results look great and you wont notice it in real-world shots.
+1
Stumbled on this late. If you go with the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM, just find a used copy and save the leftover cash for a better tripod. Quick tip for the PNW: always carry a micro-fiber cloth in your pocket, not your bag. Youll be wiping that front element every five minutes in the mist. Actually, I spent my morning trying to rig up a DIY lens hood extension using a piece of matte black plastic and some velcro because the stock one doesnt do squat for side-spray in the wind. Most of these pro accessories are kinda flimsy for real hiking. I basically end up making my own gear half the time because I'm cheap and it usually holds up better anyway. But yeah, the f/4 is solid for what you need.
bump
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
