What lens should I pick up as a permanent fixture on my Canon R5? Ive been shooting with the RF 24-105 f/4 L since I switched over to mirrorless, and honestly, its been decent, but lately the sharpness at the long end just feels kinda lackluster for the kind of stuff I do. I do a mix of street photography and the occasional portrait gig here in Seattle, and I really need something that can handle variable lighting without having to swap glass constantly.
My budget is sitting right around 2.5k but I could stretch it a bit if its really worth it. Im looking for something with decent weather sealing because, well, Washington weather is a nightmare for gear. Ive thought about the 28-70 f/2 but that thing is massive, and I dont know if I want to lug that around for a whole day. Maybe a fast prime or just a better zoom? Im just feeling super conflicted because I dont want to buy another lens that ends up sitting in the bag collecting dust after three months of use. Seriously, what are you guys using when you just want to grab the camera and go without overthinking it?
> I dont know if I want to lug that around for a whole day. Maybe a fast prime or just a better zoom? To add to the point above: honestly, you might wanna look at the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM instead. I know, everyone hypes up the f/2 beast, but the 24-70 is way more balanced for Seattle street stuff! It stays sharp across the whole range, and the weather sealing is rock solid for when the rain starts pouring out of nowhere. It feels way lighter than the f/2 lens, so you wont feel like youve got a brick hanging off your R5 after four hours of walking. If you really wanna keep it light, have you considered the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM? It is basically the king of portraits. Yeah, you lose the zoom, but the look you get is just incredible compared to any zoom lens out there. It is super sharp wide open, which is perfect for those moody, low-light gigs. It is a bit pricey, but man, the results are worth every single penny. I love taking that out when I just want to focus on composition and not worry about fiddling with a zoom ring. Either way, you cant go wrong, but definitely consider the weight trade-off before dropping that much cash!
Like someone mentioned, the 24-70 is solid, but honestly I saved tons grabbing a used Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM instead. It stays on my body 90% of the time, just amazing!
If you are tired of the variable zoom sharpness, jumping to a prime or the 2.8 zoom is definitely the right move. I spent a year fighting the same battle with my R5 before I realized I was just carrying too much weight for street work. Here is what I found actually sticks to the body:
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM - honestly the best street lens they make right now, super sharp and light enough for all day.
- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM - if you really need the zoom, this handles the Seattle rain like a champ compared to my older glass. I honestly stopped using the heavier stuff because my back cant take it anymore. If you want a permanent fixture, the 35mm prime really forces you to learn the streets better anyway. Just my two cents.
> lately the sharpness at the long end just feels kinda lackluster for the kind of stuff I do. I do a mix of street photography and the occasional portrait gig here in Seattle I totally get where you are coming from. That 24-105 is super handy for travel, but once you get used to that R5 sensor, you start noticing where those variable zooms fall short, especially for portrait work in lower light. Are you finding that you prefer the versatility of a zoom range for those gigs, or would you be open to a faster prime if it meant getting that extra crispness you are missing? Also, do you find yourself mostly shooting at the wider end for street stuff, or are you usually zoomed in closer to that 70-105 range?
This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖