Just picked up the R5 Mark II and my bank account is already crying lol. Im totally stuck on what glass to put on this thing for my main everyday shooter. Since I do a mix of street photography around London and some casual portrait sessions for friends, I need something super versatile that wont make me regret carrying it all day.
My logic was to go for the RF 24-105mm F4 L because of the range, but then I keep looking at the RF 24-70mm F2.8 L because... well, that extra stop of light is really tempting when the sun goes down, right? Ive got a hard limit of about 2500 bucks since I blew the rest on the body, so the 28-70 f/2 is definitely out, which is a bummer. Im worried the f/4 might be too slow for low light, but the 24-70 is so bulky. Has anyone switched between these two? Im flying out for a trip in three weeks and really need to nail this down before then because I cant deal with swapping lenses constantly while traveling...
Honestly, skip the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM if you care about low light at all. I owned that lens for a few months and honestly found it pretty frustrating whenever the sun dipped. It just felt really weak in dark alleys or late evening shots around the city, and the f/4 aperture just didnt cut it for that nice background blur in portraits. I was pretty disappointed with the performance compared to what I expected from an L series piece of glass. Grab the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM instead. Yeah, it is a bit heavier, but the extra stop of light is a total game changer for the R5 II. You wont regret having that speed when you need it.
Re: Honestly, skip the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L... I get the dilemma. Honestly, if you want one lens to rule them all, the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM is the gold standard. Sure, it is a bit heavy, but the image quality is insane on the R5 Mark II sensor.
- The f/2.8 aperture is a game changer for London street scenes when the light gets tricky.
- You wont need to carry a prime lens for portraits because the separation at 70mm is great. If you really want to save some cash and weight, you might look at the Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM but just know you will be cranking that ISO high at night. Honestly, if your budget allows, get the 2.8 version used. It is worth every penny for the extra stop.
Look, congrats on the R5 Mark II, but honestly you should be careful about spending your last bit of cash on glass that might not fit your workflow. Carrying around a heavy piece of equipment all day in London can get exhausting pretty fast. If you really need a reliable workhorse, think about these points before pulling the trigger:
- The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM is fantastic but definitely heavy. If you plan to walk around London all day, make sure your neck strap is up to the task because that weight adds up.
- You might want to consider the Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM if you value reach over aperture. Tbh, with the high ISO performance on the R5 II, you can get away with f/4 more often than you think, especially if you have a decent denoising tool in post.
- Please double-check your budget for a solid bag or a weather-sealed case since you are heading on a trip. Dont leave your gear exposed.
- Carry a backup battery. Mirrorless bodies are hungry, and the last thing you want is a dead camera halfway through your trip. Personally, if I were in your shoes, I would pick the f/2.8 for the portrait capabilities. Being able to separate your subject from those busy city backgrounds is worth the extra weight. Just be safe with it and watch your bag in crowded areas.
