Hey everyone! I recently made the jump to the Canon EOS R6 after shooting on an older crop-sensor body for years, and I’m absolutely blown away by the autofocus and low-light performance so far. However, I’m currently struggling to decide on the perfect 'walk-around' lens that can stay on my camera most of the time.
I tend to do a mix of everything—lots of travel photography, some street shots, and plenty of candid family photos during weekend outings. I’ve been looking closely at the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM because the focal range seems incredibly versatile for everyday use, but I’m also wondering if I’d regret not having a faster aperture like the f/2.8 found on the 24-70mm. My main concern is finding a balance between image quality and weight, especially since I want to take this setup on a long hiking trip next month without breaking my back.
I’ve got a budget of around $1,200-$1,500, and I'd really prefer to stick with native RF glass if possible to get the most out of the stabilization. For those of you who have been using the R6 for a while, which lens do you find yourself reaching for most often when you can only bring one? Is the f/4 zoom enough for most situations, or should I be looking at something else entirely?
Totally agree with the above! The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is basically the king of value. Honestly, since it's under your $1,500 budget, you could snag a Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM for dark shots and still have cash left! I did this for a trip last year and it was amazing... you get the reach for hiking plus a fast prime for dinner, you know??
For your situation, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is the winner! Here is why: 1. **ISO Performance:** The R6 handles high ISO so well that f/4 is plenty for low-light candids.
2. **Hiking Weight:** It’s way lighter than the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, saving ur back on long treks.
3. **Versatility:** That extra 35mm reach is huge for travel shots. Seriously, save the cash and enjoy the hike!! It’s an amazing value lens.
My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.
Honestly, I basically just use the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM! Its way lighter for hiking and under $1,300... seriously amazing value, right??
Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.
Great info, saved!
Jumping in here because I have been struggling with this exact same dilemma for ages. Honestly, deciding on a single walk-around setup is basically my biggest photography headache. A trip to the Alps comes to mind where I spent more time worrying about my kit than actually shooting.
- left my primary lens cap at a trailhead
- missed a golden hour shot because I was swapping filters
- carried a heavy tripod for six miles and never even deployed it It turned into this whole ordeal where I was basically checking technical charts on my phone while standing in front of a massive glacier. The Canon EOS R6 sensor data looked great when I finally did click the shutter, but the indecision really ruined the flow of the hike. It is kinda funny looking back at how much I overthought the gear weight vs the optical performance back then... still havent quite settled on a permanent fix tho.
