So I finally pulled the trigger on the R5 Mark II and its arriving tomorrow but now Im realizing I have no idea which lens is gonna be my workhorse. I have a big family wedding to shoot in Oregon in less than two weeks and I'm kinda panicking.
I read that the RF 24-70 f2.8 is the gold standard but its so heavy for a long day. Others say the 24-105 f4 is better for the reach but is f4 too dark for a reception? I need one lens that does it all because I wont have time to swap and my budget is tight now. What do you guys suggest for an all-arounder?
Saw this today and honestly, its a shame how expensive those L zooms are right now. I had issues with f4 glass before, not as good as expected when the sun goes down. If youre tight on cash, look at the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM. Its fast, super light for long days, and way more affordable than the 24-70. You got this!
Unfortunately, expensive bodies wont fix poor lighting and I had issues with f4 at weddings before. Its just not as good as expected for dark receptions. Since you are on a budget, look for these:
- Canon RF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM
- Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM Buy the f4 zoom used to save money and use the cheap 50mm prime when it gets dark. Only way to stay safe without going broke.
Coming back to this thread after thinking about your budget situation. Honestly, if you just dropped a few grand on that body, renting for this specific wedding is a really professional way to handle the panic without draining your bank account. I have been very satisfied with the results from the Canon RF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM on the R5 series because the sensor is so good you can basically push the ISO to cover for the f4 aperture. A few resources for staying under budget:
- Canon Direct Refurbished often has sales that beat every other retailer.
- Used gear sites like MPB are great for finding a Canon RF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM in mint condition.
- LensRentals lets you try the Canon RF 24-70mm f2.8 L IS USM for a few days to see if the weight is actually a dealbreaker. The R5 Mark II handles low light so well that you really dont need to stress as much about f2.8 as we did five years ago. I shoot with f4 zooms all the time and have no complaints about the image quality.
