honestly im so fed up with my current setup it isnt even funny anymore. I spent a literal fortune on this Canon R5 body last year and ive been stuck using my old EF 24-70mm with the adapter and the autofocus is just... it keeps hunting way too much in low light. I was shooting a dark rehearsal dinner in Seattle last weekend and missed like half the shots because the motor couldnt keep up. its heavy and clunky too and the balance feels totally off with that extra inch of metal between the lens and the body. I have three weddings coming up in late August and I seriously need one lens that can just stay on the camera for 90% of the day because im tired of fumbling with bags and getting dust on my sensor every time I swap. Ive got about 2800 bucks saved up for this but I dont want to waste it on something that isnt gonna be a huge upgrade. should I go for the RF 24-105 f4 for the extra reach or is the 28-70 f2 actually worth the weight because it looks massive but everyone raves about it? what is the best all-around zoom lens for Canon EOS R5 that actually feels native and snappy?
quick reply. before you drop that much cash, how much does weight really factor in? i would suggest being careful with the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM because its a total tank and might wreck your wrist during a wedding. plus it pushes your budget. have you looked at the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM? it fits your price point better. are you prioritizing aperture or ergonomics?
Just catching up on this thread and wanted to offer a different perspective. Like someone mentioned, native glass is a game changer for the R5, but honestly i think you might regret the f4 for weddings. Seattle rehearsal dinners are notoriously dim and that extra stop of light makes a massive difference when the sun goes down. I really think the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is your best bet here. It has the Nano USM motors which are insanely fast and silent compared to the old EF glass, so the hunting issues should vanish. Plus it has image stabilization which the f2 lens lacks. The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM is amazing for the bokeh, but its basically a brick. Lugging that for a 10-hour wedding day is gonna kill your wrists eventually. The 24-70 is the perfect middle ground... it feels balanced on the R5 and handles those low light moments way better than the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM ever could. Youll be much happier with the f/2.8 speed tbh.
Look, i went through the exact same struggle when I first moved to the R series. I tried the adapter life for a few months with my old glass but the lag and the weight distribution just isnt it. In my experience, if youre shooting weddings, you absolutely need the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM. I remember shooting a candlelit reception in a basement vault two years ago where my old EF setup would have just hunting forever, but the Nano USM in the RF version is basically instant. Its got those dual electronic motors that move the focus groups way faster than the single ring USM in your old lens. I know you mentioned the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM and yeah, the bokeh is incredible, but honestly? I used it for a 10-hour day once and my wrist was shot for a week. Its over 3 pounds and lacks internal image stabilization. On the R5, that Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM gives you up to 8 stops of shake correction when it syncs with the IBIS... it is a total game changer for those low light Seattle vibes. The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a fine walkaround lens for vacation but f/4 is gonna kill you in dark receptions. Stick with the 24-70 f2.8. Its right in your budget around 2400 bucks and youll actually enjoy carrying the camera again. The 21 elements in 15 groups really help with the edge-to-edge sharpness on that 45MP sensor too.
Regarding what #4 said about "this" - the 24-70 is definitely the play for a native setup. You might want to be careful with the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM tho. While it is a beast for light gathering, it actually lacks internal Image Stabilization (IS). Even with the R5 IBIS, you are gonna notice way more micro-shake than with the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM which has 5 stops of dedicated IS built right in. I spent a ton of time looking at the technical white papers and MTF charts on sites like The Digital Picture before I upgraded. The Nano USM motors in the native RF zooms are technically superior for tracking moving subjects compared to the older Ring USM in your EF lens. It basically eliminates that hunting you are seeing in low light because the communication between the lens and sensor is so much faster.
- Make sure to factor in the weight: the 24-70 is 900g vs the 1430g of the f2 version. Your wrists will thank you by the third wedding.
- The f2.8 has a 0.30x magnification which is surprisingly good for close-up ring shots.
- Be careful with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM because even though the reach is nice, the f/4 aperture is gonna force your ISO way too high in those dim Seattle venues. Tbh, for your $2800 budget, the 24-70 f2.8 is the most logical technical choice. It hits the balance of speed and weight perfectly. Let me know if you need more info on the AF drive specs!
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