So I finally saved up and bought the Canon R6 because everyone said it was amazing but now I am looking at lenses and I am totally lost. Everything is so expensive and has so many numbers on it and I honestly have no idea what they mean. I am going on a family trip to Maine in three weeks and I really just want one lens that can do everything because I am super scared of changing them and getting dust inside the camera. My budget is pretty tight now like maybe 700 dollars tops since the camera cost so much. I want to take pictures of my kids running around but also the ocean and stuff. What is the one lens that basically stays on the camera all the time and works for everything?
I took my R6 to the rugged Maine coast last summer and never swapped lenses! Try these:
- Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM: Incredible range, bit heavy.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM: Super fast, lightweight. Check DPReview!
@Reply #2 - good point! Just be careful with the weight on that 24-240mm if you are chasing kids. To recap, you are choosing between the light Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM or the longer Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM.
- Check refurbished stores to save cash
- Watch for f/7.1 aperture limitations
- Trust the R6 IBIS I would suggest a clear filter... Maine salt spray is harsh. Dont stress too much tho!
Look, the R6 has an amazing sensor that handles noise really well, which is super helpful when youre using a lens with a narrower aperture. Honestly, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is likely your best option right now. It typically retails around 400 dollars, so it fits comfortably under your limit. At the 24mm end, you get a decent wide angle for those Maine landscapes, and at 105mm, you have enough reach for portraits of the family. The variable aperture of f/4-7.1 means the lens lets in less light as you zoom, but the R6 can easily crank the ISO to 6400 or higher without losing much detail, which compensates for that nicely. If you can find a used deal or stretch the budget a bit, the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is the true do-it-all lens. It has a 10x zoom range and includes 5 stops of optical image stabilization. This is huge for handheld shots of the kids running around. Regarding the dust fear... the R6 actually closes its shutter blades to protect the sensor when the power is off, so as long as youre quick, its safe. Basically, just keep the camera body pointed down when swapping and youll be fine. Its a steep learning curve but that camera is gonna take amazing photos for you once you get the hang of the settings.
