So I finally bit the bullet and upgraded to the Canon EOS R5 a couple months ago. Honestly, it is a beast of a camera compared to my old DSLR, but I am finding that my old EF glass just isnt cutting it anymore with the adapter. I have been doing a lot of hiking around the Pacific Northwest lately and carrying a bag full of primes is starting to drive me nuts. I really need something I can just leave on the body for 90 percent of my shots, like landscapes in the morning and then maybe some candid portraits of my dog or whatever when we stop for lunch.
I have been doing some research online and I keep seeing people swear by the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L. It seems like the obvious choice but man, that price tag is tough to swallow right now especially after buying the body. I also looked at the 24-105mm f/4 L because it is cheaper and lighter, but a few reviews I read mentioned the aperture is a bit limiting for low light stuff. I keep going back and forth because I dont want to spend two grand on something and then regret not having that extra stop of light, but also lugging around a heavy brick is the exact reason I wanted to downsize my kit in the first place.
My budget is around 2k but I could stretch it if it is really worth it since I have a trip to the coast coming up in about three weeks. Does anyone actually use the 24-105 for everyday stuff and feel like they are missing out on the f/2.8, or is the 24-70 just way too bulky to be a real travel lens? Just trying to figure out if I should save up more or just pull the trigger on the 24-105 so I can actually take photos on my trip...
Like someone mentioned, hauling around a massive lens on a hike is a quick way to hate photography. I totally get the anxiety about pulling the trigger on expensive glass, but honestly, you have the R5, so dont starve the sensor with mediocre glass. I have used both, and here is the truth: if you are doing landscapes, you wont notice that extra stop of light much because you are likely stopping down to f/8 or f/11 anyway. The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM is absolutely stellar for travel. It is sharp, the range is way more versatile for hiking than the 70mm limit, and the stabilization is magic for handheld shots at dawn. If you really crave that creamy portrait look for your dog, maybe just grab a cheap nifty fifty later? Pairing the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM would still save you a ton of cash compared to the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM. The 24-70 is incredible, dont get me wrong, but for PNW hiking, the weight difference is night and day. Get the 24-105 and spend the extra money on a solid pair of hiking boots instead. You will thank yourself once you hit those trails!
^ This. Also, if the price tag on the f/2.8 is killing you, check out the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM. It is super cheap and surprisingly sharp for a starter lens. Yeah, you lose a lot of light, but it is tiny compared to the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM. Might be worth grabbing that now to save cash for a dedicated prime later.
Congrats on the R5, that camera is a total monster. I used to lug around the heavy glass for years until my back literally gave out on a hiking trip, so I feel your pain. If you really want that all-day walkaround lens for the PNW, be careful about the weight of the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM. It is optically perfect, but honestly, it gets old fast when you're trekking miles uphill. I ended up sticking with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM for most of my outdoor stuff. You might want to consider the following before dropping the cash:
- The extra reach to 105mm is a lifesaver for mountain layers and candid shots of the dog
- You can easily bump that ISO on the R5 without ruining your shots
- The size difference makes a huge impact on your fatigue level I would suggest grabbing the f/4 and maybe using the extra cash for a fast prime later if you really need the light. Just make sure to test the weight balance before your trip.
Honestly this whole pricing situation with camera gear right now is completely out of control. It drives me crazy how companies charge absolute fortunes for lenses while cutting corners on build quality, and they just expect us to open our wallets without blinking. Two grand for a piece of glass is highway robbery tbh, and it feels like they know we are trapped in their ecosystem so they can price whatever they want. Prices keep going up and up while the actual value feels like its going down. Its such a scam. Over the years I have seen so many brands push out heavy, overpriced bricks that just break your back on trails, and nobody seems to care about ergonomics anymore. They just pump out massive hunks of metal and glass because they think high resolution sensors give them an excuse to ignore weight balance. Rant over, but man it is frustrating when you just want to go take some photos of your dog and you have to weigh your options like you are buying a used car.