Just bought an R5 for my trip to Italy next month and I am totally lost with all these lens options. I only have about 1000 bucks left in the budget and just want something that works for general travel shots. Is there one lens that does it all so I dont have to keep switching them out?
Honestly, grab a used Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM to save cash! It is super sharp, lightweight for walking Italy, and leaves plenty of money for gelato.
Been thinking about your setup since I saw this earlier. With an R5, you really dont want to slap cheap glass on there or the sensor will just expose every single flaw. If you want a do-it-all lens, be careful with those super-zooms because the image quality can get soft at the far end. Here is what I would suggest looking at instead:
- Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is super convenient for travel but make sure you have enough light since it is not the fastest lens.
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a beast. You might want to consider this for the sharpness, though you lose some reach compared to the 24-105 options. I dragged a heavy bag through Venice once and regretted it immediately. Stick to one versatile zoom so you actually enjoy the pasta instead of worrying about your camera bag.
Honestly, grab the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and dont look back. I took that exact setup through Tuscany a few years ago and it honestly never left my body. You get that wide angle for the massive piazzas and enough reach to capture details on old buildings without needing to swap glass. The constant f/4 aperture is super reliable for daylight and the image stabilization is top tier for those handheld sunset shots. Since you only have a grand left, you can probably find a clean copy used if you look around a bit. Its basically the ultimate travel companion because it just works, no complaints at all. You will be super happy with the versatility, trust me.