so I just pulled the trigger on the R5 Mark II and now my bank account is crying but I am super pumped to get out there. I have a big trip to Kyoto and Osaka coming up in about six weeks and I really want to find that one perfect do-it-all zoom so I dont have to keep swapping glass while I am walking through the markets or temple grounds. I spent all last night looking at the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L because obviously everyone says its the gold standard but then I started second guessing if 70mm is actually enough reach for me. I do a lot of street stuff and sometimes I like to compress things a bit more.
then I looked at the 24-105mm f/4L which is way more affordable and the extra 35mm on the long end sounds great for travel. but my concern is the f/4. I keep hearing the R5II sensor is amazing but will I regret not having that f/2.8 when I am inside some dimly lit shrine or shooting at night? my logic was that the IBIS might make up for it but then I read some forums where people say the f/2.8 bokeh is just night and day compared to the f/4 and I dont want to buy a $4300 camera body just to put okay glass on it.
here is what I am looking for basically:
- something that can handle rain or dust since I will be outside a lot
- good enough for video because I want to vlog a bit of the trip
- stays under $2500 if possible
I also saw that 28-70mm f/2 which looks insane but honestly it looks like a literal dumbbell and I dont think my neck can handle that for ten miles of walking a day. plus it is way over my budget right now. I am coming from an old Sony setup so I am still trying to wrap my head around how these RF lenses perform in the real world. should I go for the versatility of the 24-105 or just suck it up and get the 24-70 for the faster aperture? or am I totally overthinking the f-stop thing with modern noise reduction tools? just feels like a huge choice for one lens...
Late to the party but I have been diving into the technical data on these. You might want to consider that while f/2.8 is usually the gold standard, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM offers significantly more utility for your specific trip. Be careful with the 24-70mm if you really value that telephoto compression because 70mm often feels quite short for street shots in crowded spots like Osaka. I would suggest not worrying too much about the f-stop for low light. The R5 Mark II sensor is incredibly efficient at high ISO, and when you pair it with the 8-stop coordinated IBIS, you can easily shoot handheld inside shrines. Before you pull the trigger tho, I have a quick question: what is your plan for vlogging? Are you going to be handheld or using a gimbal? The weight distribution between the 105 and the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM matters a lot for your neck over ten miles. TL;DR: The 24-105mm f/4L is technically better for travel versatility. Use the extra cash for a good software denoiser.
Just saw this. tbh consider a used Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM with the adapter. Technically it holds up for 45MP sensors and wont break your budget.
Honestly it is ridiculous how much Canon expects us to shell out just to get a decent image these days! I am right there with you on the bank account thing... it is like as soon as you buy the body, they hit you with the lens tax and suddenly you are ten grand deep. It drives me crazy how we have to choose between selling a kidney for a fast zoom or settling for something that feels like a compromise even though it still costs a fortune. It is such a scam that there is no perfect middle ground anymore!
- the price creep on these L lenses is getting totally out of hand
- why are the pro options always heavy enough to require a gym membership
- paying thousands for gear that still makes you worry about low light You either carry a literal dumbbell around Kyoto or you feel like you are missing out on that f/2.8 bokeh you paid for with that amazing sensor. The struggle to not go broke while trying to enjoy a trip is so real right now it actually hurts... just constant trade-offs everywhere you look.
