What is the absolute best all-around lens I should get for my new Canon EOS R6 Mark II?
Sorry if this is a super basic question but I am a complete beginner and honestly have no idea where to start with all this. My uncle actually gifted me this camera body because he upgraded, but it did not come with a lens. I am looking for just one single lens that can do a bit of everything because I do not want to carry a heavy bag of gear around.
I live in Seattle and want to use it for:
- taking photos of my dog at the park
- landscape shots when I go hiking
- family photos at holidays
My budget is around $800 to $1000 max. I have a trip to Olympic National Park coming up in three weeks so I would love to buy something before then. Someone mentioned a 24-105mm lens online but there are different versions and I got so confused by the numbers. Is there one specific lens that fits my budget and does all these things well?
Honestly, just grab a used Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM. I've used it for years and it easily covers everything you need while staying right around your budget.
^ This. Also, if you wanna stay way under budget, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is amazing because its so light! I took it up Mount Rainier and honestly forgot it was even on my neck. Quick tip: spend your savings on a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC card. Youll definitely need that speed for dog photos since the R6ii hits 40fps!
If you want to buy brand new and stay within that budget, look at the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM. It retails for around $900. The massive 10x zoom range is incredibly convenient for hiking in Olympic National Park because you wont have to swap lenses on the trail. It features Canons Nano USM motor, so autofocus is quick enough to track a dog running around. The trade-off here is the variable aperture. At the long end, it drops to f/6.3, meaning it lets in less light. This can make indoor holiday photos a bit tricky without bumping up your ISO, but the R6 Mark II handles high ISO noise very well anyway. Its a solid, versatile option for a one-lens setup.
