I am so tired of carrying around this heavy bag of primes and missing shots because I'm fumbling with lens caps while everyone else is already moving on. I just bought the R6 last year and I love the sensor but honestly im fed up with the 24-105mm f/4-7.1 STM kit lens it came with. The aperture is just garbage once you zoom in even a little bit and everything looks grainy and noisy if I'm indoors or if it starts getting dark outside. I'm finally heading to Japan in three weeks for my dream trip and I'm super hyped but also stressed because I dont want to be that guy holding everyone up while I swap gear in the middle of a crowded street in Osaka.
I need one single lens that can do it all so I can just leave it on the camera for the whole two weeks. I have about 1600 bucks saved up for this and I've been looking at the f4 L version but then some people say the 24-240 is better for the reach even if it's slower. Then others say it's not sharp enough for the R6 and my head is just spinning lol. I just want something that wont make me regret leaving my primes at home but also wont break my neck while I'm walking 20k steps a day. Is the 24-105mm f/4L really the gold standard for this or is there something else I'm totally missing?
Like someone mentioned, that 24-240 is pretty disappointing once you see the raw files. I tried it for a week and the vignetting and corner softness were just not as good as expected for an R series body. I eventually went with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, which is way better, but honestly I still had issues with it in Japan. When you're in those narrow Tokyo alleys at night, f/4 still feels slow... the R6 sensor is great but it can only do so much. Heres my comparison of what I've lugged around:
- Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
- Best balance of weight and sharpness, but f/4 is just 'okay' for low light.
- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
- Incredible glass but it blew my budget and it's super heavy for 20k steps. Unfortunately, you wont find a single lens that beats a prime for speed. The f/4L is the professional choice, but dont expect it to solve every low-light grain problem you're having now. It's a compromise either way tho.
Unfortunately, I had some issues with the 24-240mm being way too soft at the long end, it was not as good as expected for the R6 sensor. Honestly, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is the only one I'd trust for a big trip like Japan. Its the safest, most reliable choice that fits your budget perfectly. Japan is gonna be awesome, just enjoy the views!
Building on the earlier suggestion, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is really the only lens I pack when I dont want to think about gear. In my experience, the weather sealing alone makes it worth the L price tag, especially if you get caught in a sudden downpour in Kyoto or Nara. Reliability is king when youre 6,000 miles from home and only have one shot at the trip. If youre worried about f/4 being too slow for those dark alleys, honestly just lean on that R6 sensor. I've pushed mine to ISO 6400 or even 12800 with this glass and the files are still super clean. One quick tip: set your minimum shutter speed in the camera menu so it doesnt drop too low when youre zooming in, and let the ISO do the heavy lifting. Youll be fine and your neck will thank you for not carrying a bag of primes.
Big if true
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
Helpful thread 👍
Late to the party but
- Grab the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM refurbished to save big money!
- Its amazing and super reliable.
- Use the savings for fantastic sushi!
Solid advice 👍
