Ugh, Im losing my mind trying to pick a lens for my R6. Just spent all day looking at reviews and honestly Im more confused than when I started. I need something versatile for travel and street photography since I have a trip to Italy coming up in three weeks. Im stuck between the RF 24-105mm F4 L and the RF 24-70mm F2.8. I know the 2.8 is faster but it costs a fortune and feels super heavy, and I really dont want to haul a brick around Rome. Is the F4 sharp enough to justify the weight savings or am I gonna regret not having that extra stop of light? Someone help me decide before I go broke...
Late to the party but I gotta chime in. I dragged the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM around for a while and honestly, the weight is no joke. I ended up swapping it for the Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM and I have been super satisfied ever since. You really dont miss that extra stop of light with the R6 since the sensor handles high ISO so well.
- The F4 is way more balanced for all-day carrying
- Having that extra reach to 105mm is a total game changer for street details
- You save a ton of cash for actual gelato and wine in Rome Basically, dont overthink it. The lighter setup means you will actually take the camera out, which is the only way you are gonna get those shots anyway. You'll be happy you left the brick at home.
Had a moment to think about this more while grabbing coffee. Look, I spent way too many years lugging heavy gear before realizing that if your camera is too heavy, you just leave it in the hotel room. That happened to me in Florence years ago with a massive prime kit and I still regret the shots I missed because I wanted to save my back. In my experience, the Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM is the sweet spot for travel. That extra reach at 105mm is a lifesaver when you cant get close to architectural details or street performers. Unless you are shooting late at night in dark alleys, the R6 sensor handles higher ISOs so well that the single stop difference compared to the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM really isnt the dealbreaker people make it out to be. If you really crave that creamy background blur for portraits, maybe tuck a tiny Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM into your bag. It costs next to nothing and weighs basically nothing, so you get the best of both worlds without breaking the bank or your shoulders. Don't overthink the glass too much, you're gonna be busy eating gelato and having a blast, just grab the F4 and go enjoy Italy.
Oh man, Rome is gonna be incredible! You are going to have the best time. Honestly, I totally get the stress about the weight. Walking around cobblestone streets all day with a literal tank attached to your camera sounds like a nightmare, right? I personally think the F4 is such a solid choice for travel because keeping things lightweight makes you way more likely to actually keep shooting instead of just stuffing the camera in your bag. Plus, the stabilization on that body is pretty insane anyway. Before you pull the trigger though, are you planning on doing much shooting at night or inside those dark old churches? Also, do you think you prefer having that extra zoom range or is the wider aperture more of a priority for that dreamy background blur?
