So I finally got an R6 and im planning this big trip to Japan next month and I need to settle on one lens for the whole thing. My logic was to grab the RF 24-105mm f/4L since the range is killer for travel but then I keep looking at the 24-70mm f/2.8 and worrying I'll miss that low light performance for shots of the kids at night in the city. My budget is like $1,800 max so the 24-70 would have to be used which is kinda scary. Is the extra reach on the 105 better than the f/2.8 bokeh for a general walk around setup? I'm just stuck between the two.
Ngl I spent way too much on the Canon RF 24-70mm f2.8L IS USM and it really wasnt as good as expected for a long trip. Carrying that brick was a huge mistake and I had issues with the weight constantly... unfortunately my neck was killing me by day three. If you're on a tight budget and worried about buying used, just grab the Canon RF 24-105mm f4L IS USM and save your cash for the actual vacation. Tossing a cheap Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM in your bag is a much better move for those night shots of the kids. It weighs basically nothing and keeps you way under that $1,800 limit. Honestly, having that extra reach to 105mm is way more useful for random street shots than f/2.8 is anyway. The R6 stabilization is so good you wont even notice the slower glass.
Jumping in here... I went through this exact struggle before my last trip to Kyoto. I ended up grabbing a used Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM and honestly, be careful. I noticed some soft focus on the edges that the seller didnt mention, and since I had no warranty, I was just stuck with it. Japan involves so much walking—like 20k steps a day—and that 2.8 gets heavy real fast. I would suggest this setup instead:
- Get the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM brand new so you have a solid warranty for the trip.
- Spend the leftover cash on a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM for those night shots of the kids.
- Use the 105mm reach for those distant temple details you cant get close to. The f/4 is plenty for daytime and the R6 sensor is a beast anyway, so you wont miss the f/2.8 as much as you think. Tbh having a small prime in your pocket for dinner is way better than lugging that huge 2.8 brick all night.
I would suggest the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM for travel. Be careful buying a used Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM.
- more range
- lighter weight The R6 sensor handles low light perfectly.
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.
Seconded!
This ^
Late to the party but this whole Japan talk makes me think of my last trip there. My camera strap bracket actually sheared right off while I was hiking up near Arashiyama. I didnt have any backup gear so I had to use some paracord and a keychain ring to rig up a makeshift carry system on the fly. It looked pretty janky but honestly I was so satisfied with that DIY fix. It worked well enough that I didnt even bother looking for a real replacement for the rest of the month. I ended up finding this tiny hardware shop in a back alley that sold this incredible industrial adhesive to secure the knots. Spent way too much time just browsing their tool section instead of actually shooting photos... such a cool experience tho. Makes me want to go back just for the snacks.
To add to the point above: everyone seems to agree that the 24-105 is the safer bet for travel, but unfortunately the technical performance of that lens is just not as good as expected for the price. I have had issues with the chromatic aberration at the wide end, and the MTF charts really show how much it struggles compared to the primes. If you are a pixel peeper like me, you'll probably be disappointed by the corner softness even at f/8. Funny enough, that reminds me of my last trip to Osaka where I spent half my time trying to find a specific type of high-speed SD card because I forgot mine at the hotel. I ended up in this massive electronics department store that had like eight floors of gadgets. I got so distracted by the floor dedicated to vintage model trains that I completely forgot why I was there in the first place. Spent way too much money on a tiny replica of a Shinkansen engine instead of gear. Anyway lol.
Just catching up on this thread. Honestly, if you are really torn, look into renting the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM for a week before you commit to buying. It is way cheaper than finding out you hate the weight while you are already in Japan. Check out LensRentals or similar sites to see if the weight is something you can actually live with for 12 hours a day. Honestly, the R6 is a beast in low light anyway, so you might find the f/4 on the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is plenty for city shots if you just bump your ISO a little. Pro tip for the trip: bring a small, lightweight prime like the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM in your bag. It is tiny, cheap, and gives you that fast aperture bokeh you are worried about missing without the back pain of a heavy zoom.
