oh man, congrats on the R5!! That sensor is literally insane, right?? I totally get the struggle though. Finding one lens to rule them all is basically the holy grail for us R5 users. I went through the exact same thing when I first upgraded... honestly, I spent weeks obsessing over charts and reviews lol. For your situation, here's how I see the two main heavy hitters compared: 1. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: This is actually my daily driver. The reach from 70 to 105 is a HUGE deal for family portraits and travel shots where you cant always walk closer. People worry about the f/4, but honestly, the R5 handles high ISO so well that it doesnt even matter most of the time. Plus, it's way lighter for those long hikes!
2. Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM: This lens is a total beast for image quality. The f/2.8 definitely gives you that extra pop and creamy background for portraits. But ngl, it is noticeably heavier. If youre hiking all day, you might find yourself leaving the camera in the bag more often, which is like the last thing you want. If I had to pick the absolute best 'do-it-all' for you, I’d highkey recommend the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. It balances the weight and versatility way better for travel. If youre really worried about low light, you can always toss the tiny Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM in your pocket for when the sun goes down. That combo is basically unbeatable for a light setup! Anyway, hope that helps u decide. You’re gonna love the shots you get with that setup... it’s seriously a game changer! peace ✌️

I know everyone says you gotta go L series or go home when you have an R5, but honestly i’m totally satisfied with the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM for my travel and family stuff. It basically never leaves my camera. Compared to the super expensive Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, the extra reach is such a lifesaver when you’re hiking and see something cool in the distance you cant walk closer to. Quick tip tho... if you're really worried about the low light stuff, just pair it with a Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. It weighs nothing and covers you for those indoor portraits. Honestly, unless you're shooting pro weddings every weekend, you dont always need the red ring glass to get awesome results from that sensor. It works well and my wallet is way happier.

To add to the point above: honestly, you gotta look at the CIPA stabilization ratings for that Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. When you pair its internal OIS with the R5 body stabilization, you are getting a combined 8 stops of correction! Thats absolutely insane tech. It basically means you can handhold shots at half a second or even a full second if you have a steady hand. That totally negates the f/4 low light worry for landscapes or static family shots in my experience. If you really want to maximize that 45MP sensor without the f/2.8 weight, just throw a tiny Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM in your jacket pocket. It weighs almost nothing and covers the low light and bokeh gap perfectly for portraits. Also, for those long hiking days, a SmallRig L-Bracket for Canon R5 is a total lifesaver for switching to vertical for landscapes on a tripod. Since that R5 sensor eats data like crazy, make sure you are using a fast ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 card so you dont hit a buffer wall during family events!

In my experience with the R series over the years, settling for the f/4 zoom is usually the first thing people regret after the honeymoon phase with the R5 sensor ends. While the reach is nice, I have to politely disagree with prioritizing weight over aperture if you really want that do-it-all reliability.

• Stick with the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM. That f/2.8 is non-negotiable for professional family portraits and keeping ISO down in low light.
• Invest in a Peak Design Capture Clip for your backpack strap. It makes the lens weight a non-issue while you're hiking. Ive tried many setups and skipping the faster glass always feels like youre leaving performance on the table. If you want one lens to stay on the body forever, dont compromise on the speed.

just catching up on this thread... ive had my R5 since day one and honestly the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is the only lens that stays on my camera 90% of the time. im totally satisfied with how it balances weight and sharpness. people get all worked up about low light but the R5 handles high iso like a champ anyway. ive taken it on 10-mile hikes and never felt like it was too much. quick tip for you: if you find yourself in a dark room just use a small flash like the Canon Speedlite EL-100. it weighs basically nothing and solves the f/4 problem way better than a heavy 2.8 lens ever could. also, dont be afraid to push that iso to 6400 or even 12800... the files are still super clean.

Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷

Sooo i just saw this thread—in my experience, picking the wrong glass for the R5 is basically a rite of passage lol. When i first upgraded, i actually went way overboard and bought the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM thinking i needed that crazy aperture for everything. Honestly?? It was a HUGE mistake for travel. My neck was basically dying after two hours of hiking, and i realized i spent way too much money on weight i didnt actually want to carry... For ur situation, i would suggest the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Technically speaking, the image stabilization (IS) on that lens combined with the R5's IBIS gives u like 8 stops of compensation, which is literally insane. People worry about f/4 in low light, but the R5 sensor is so good u can highkey push the ISO to 6400 and it still looks cleaner than older bodies at 1600. Plus, its only 700g compared to the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM which is 900g—and that extra weight really matters on a long day. If ur worried about the price tag, maybe check out a used copy to save a few hundred bucks. Just be careful to check the serial number for any early production issues. My big lesson? Reach and weight usually trump a faster aperture for a "do-it-all" setup. You can always toss a tiny Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM in ur bag for low-light family dinners if u really need to. gl!

Honestly, I went through this exact same panic when I got my Canon R5! Being so broke after buying the body meant sticking with a slower, lighter kit zoom I found for a steal. I thought I was gonna regret not getting the fast pro glass immediately, but it turns out that more compact lens is the absolute best choice for a do-it-all setup. Actually, after a whole week hiking with it, my back felt amazing compared to my old heavy gear. The high ISO on this sensor is so good that I barely notice the slower aperture even when the sun starts going down!! Best decision I ever made was not overspending on a massive lens just because the internet said I needed it. My current setup is light, sharp enough for my needs, and didnt cost me a second mortgage. If you want to keep the weight down for those long days of hiking, definitely look at the more affordable, lighter zooms. You really dont need the heavy f/2.8 glass to get incredible results with this sensor.

Tbh, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is the absolute winner here! I've been shooting with the R series since day one and this lens is just fantastic for a do-it-all setup. Dont let the f/4 aperture scare you. The R5 sensor is a total beast at high ISO, and honestly, you wont even notice the noise after a bit of post-processing. Its light, sharp, and that extra reach to 105mm is a lifesaver for family portraits where you want that nice background compression. Heres how I make it work for everything:

• Map your control ring to ISO so you can adjust for low light without even looking
• Use a BlackRapid Sport Breathe Camera Strap instead of a neck strap to make it feel weightless while hiking
• Practice your breathing to nail sharp handheld shots at 1/10th of a second with that amazing IBIS I love it because I can go from a wide landscape to a tight portrait in a second without swapping glass. If things get really dark at a family dinner, just bump the ISO to 6400 and keep shooting... the R5 can handle it easily!

Great info, saved!