Is the RF 28-70mm f/2L actually worth buying if Im mainly shooting fast-moving sports and low light indoor concerts with the R1? Ive been reading a ton of reviews online this week and half the people say it's the ultimate holy grail zoom lens while others complain it's way too heavy to handhold for a full four-hour gig in Chicago. I have about $3k saved up and need to make a decision before tour season kicks off next month. Should I just stick to primes like the 50mm f/1.2 instead or bite the bullet on the massive zoom? What are you guys actually using in the field?
Jumping in here because I really wish someone had told me about the weight-to-performance ratio before I blew my savings. I picked up the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM a couple seasons back thinking it was the end-all for low light, but honestly, the strain was brutal. The glass is incredible, sure, but after an hour in a dark venue, my arm was toast. It just didn't justify the $3,000 price tag when I couldn't steady the camera for the long sets. Unfortunately, the autofocus acquisition speed on that zoom felt sluggish compared to the smaller primes in really chaotic, fast-moving lighting. I had issues with focus hunting during drum solos where the stage lights were flickering like crazy. If you are on a budget, you might be better off grabbing a used Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM or even a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM for those really tight spots. You save a massive amount of cash that you could put toward a good monopod or even a backup body. I sold my zoom and picked up a couple of primes instead, and frankly, my hit rate for sharp photos went up significantly because I wasn't fighting the weight of the lens. Dont let the holy grail hype drain your wallet until you test the balance on your rig first.
TL;DR: Skip the heavy zoom. In my experience shooting gigs, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM saves your wrists and kills it in low light.
To add to the point above: holding that heavy zoom for hours is a real injury risk. Id definitely protect your wrists and rent first before buying.