So I finally bit the bullet and pre-ordered the R5 Mark II and I am seriously buzzing about it! Coming from a dusty old 80D so this is a massive leap for me. I’m heading out to the PNW for a hiking trip in early October and I really want to find that one "holy grail" lens that I can just leave on the camera the whole time without missing shots.
I spent hours on YouTube and forums and it seems like it's a toss-up between the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 24-105mm f/4. The 24-105 seems great for the price and reach but I’m worried f/4 won’t be enough if I’m shooting in the woods under heavy tree cover or during blue hour. Then I saw some people talking about the 28-70mm f/2 being the best lens ever made, but it looks huge and costs a fortune. My budget is roughly $2800 for the glass and I just want something that makes those 45 megapixels actually worth it.
Is the 24-70 really the sweet spot for an all-purpose setup or am I gonna regret not having that extra 35mm of reach on the long end when I'm out on the trails?
In my experience hiking the PNW, light changes fast and the trails get steep, so weight really matters. I have used many setups over the years and keep coming back to the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM. People always worry that f/4 isnt fast enough for the deep woods, but with the insane IBIS on your R5 II and its high ISO capability, it is basically a non-issue. You are gonna want that extra 105mm reach for mountain compression way more than you will need the f/2.8 aperture. Quick tip: trust the sensor and dont be afraid to bump the ISO to 3200 or higher if it gets dark under the canopy. The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM is fantastic glass, but for a one-lens trip, the 24-105mm is the safer, more versatile bet. It wont break your back after ten miles tho.
