Honestly so over my current setup right now. Ive been lugging around a bag of heavy primes for my R5 and it is just killing my back and my mood. I literally missed a great shot of a hawk yesterday because I was stuck swapping between my 35 and 85mm like a total amateur. Im going to Tokyo next month and I refuse to spend the whole trip fiddling with lens caps. I need one lens that can basically do everything without being a total brick. I have about $2200 to spend but I just want something reliable so I dont have to keep switching. What is the actual best all-around lens for this thing?
Like someone mentioned, software fixes distortion, but the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM has disappointing edge resolution and heavy vignetting. What focal range do you usually favor? TL;DR: its mediocre for $1300.
Regarding what #1 said about "You need a high-end zoom, but unfortunately the..." distortion issues, honestly, most of that is handled by the R5's internal corrections these days. I went through the exact same struggle before a trip last year, spending way too much time obsessing over MTF charts and lab data. I eventually just grabbed the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and it was the right move. It is basically the most logical choice for a one-lens setup. It weighs around 700g, which is a massive relief compared to lugging primes. Technically, you lose some light compared to the f/2.8 version, but the image stabilization is rated for 5 stops, which helps a lot. Since you have $2200, you will have plenty of cash left over. The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is technically the pro choice, but its heavier and the extra reach at 105mm is way more useful for travel. It just works.
You need a high-end zoom, but unfortunately the one I tested had terrible barrel distortion at twenty-four millimeters. The technical specs looked amazing, but actual performance was a huge disappointment.
