I just bought this huge camera the Canon R5 Mark II because my sister told me it was the best one but honestly I have no idea what I am doing. I went to the store and the guy tried to sell me like five different lenses and I got so overwhelmed I just left with the body only. Now I have this super expensive paperweight sitting on my desk and I am actually kind of shaking because I dont want to buy the wrong thing. I have a big trip to Japan coming up in three weeks and I really just want one thing I can leave on the camera all day.
I want to take pictures of everything like the temples and the food and maybe some people but I dont want to be switching parts constantly. My budget is maybe $2000 for the lens part because I already spent way too much on the camera itself. Is there something that does a bit of everything? I heard people talking about f-stops and focal lengths but its all just numbers to me and I just want the photos to look crisp and nice. I saw some names online like:
- 24-70mm
- 24-105mm
- 35mm thingy
I am so sorry if this is a really stupid question I just feel like I am in way over my head with this thing. Does anyone have a recommendation for just one lens that is the best for like, everything? I dont want to carry a giant bag of gear around Tokyo...
I bought the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM expecting it to be the ultimate travel lens, but unfortunately, I had issues with it in low light. It was not as good as expected for Tokyo night markets. You really want the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM instead. Don't stress, you will get amazing photos. Let me know if you need help choosing anything else!
Quickly jumping in here... @Reply #2 - good point about the sensor quality! Honestly you wont be happy if you put cheap lenses on a pro body like that. If you can stretch the budget just a tiny bit or find a deal, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is basically the gold standard for travel. I use mine for everything and have zero complaints. The 24mm side is wide enough for those huge Kyoto temples, and the 70mm zoom is perfect for food or street shots. Since its a constant f/2.8 aperture, it lets in a ton of light which is huge for those narrow Tokyo alleys at night. Tbh the R5 II has 45 megapixels, so you really need that high-end L-series glass to actually see all that crisp detail you're looking for. If the price is too high, check for a refurbished unit from Canon directly, it usually saves you a few hundred bucks. You're gonna love the results once you get the hang of it!
Honestly, i've seen so many people jump into the deep end with a beast like the R5 Mark II and it’s a lot to take in at first. You’ve got a professional-grade sensor there, so in my experience, you really need high-quality glass that can actually resolve all that detail. Since you're heading to Japan and only want one lens, you have to balance weight with what we call light-gathering ability. Over the years, I’ve found that those narrow, neon-lit streets in Shinjuku or the dim wooden interiors of temples in Kyoto really demand a lens with a fast aperture. That f-stop number you saw basically tells you how much light the lens lets in—lower numbers are better for dark places and getting that blurry background look everyone loves.
- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM: This is the professional workhorse. It stays at f/2.8 no matter how much you zoom, which is vital for those evening walks in Tokyo. Its incredibly sharp and fits your budget almost perfectly.
- Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM: You get more reach for distant objects, but it lets in half as much light. Its lighter tho, which helps if you’re worried about your neck hurting after walking 20,000 steps.
- Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM: This is a tiny prime lens, meaning it doesnt zoom at all. Its amazing for food and night shots if you want to travel super light, but might feel limiting for temples. I’d seriously suggest the 24-70mm f/2.8 for your trip. It covers about 90% of what you’ll see in Japan. Just set the camera to Auto ISO and let the lens do the heavy lifting... it'll make those food photos look like they belong in a magazine.
