So I just did something kind of crazy and I am literally shaking with excitement right now!! My wife is probably gonna kill me but I just went ahead and ordered the new Canon EOS R1 because I saw some videos online saying it is the absolute king of cameras and I really want to start taking amazing photos for my sons soccer games and our big family trip to the Swiss Alps in about three weeks. I know it is probably way too much camera for a total beginner but I figured I might as well just start with the absolute best one right?
Well now I am looking at lenses and I am totally lost and honestly a little embarrassed. I thought the camera came with the glass part on the front but it turns out it is just the body and I feel so stupid haha. I have been looking at the Canon website and there are so many numbers and letters like RF and L and USM and f/2.8 and I have no clue what any of that actually means for my pictures. I definitely want a zoom lens because I dont want to be running back and forth on the sidelines while the kids are playing but I want it to be professional quality since the camera itself is so high end. I have about five thousand dollars left in my hobby budget for this month so I can afford a really nice one if it makes a big difference.
I need something that can see far away for the sports stuff but maybe also take pictures of the big mountains while we are hiking? I saw one that is a 24-70 and another that is 70-200 and some people told me the white ones are the best because they are the ones the pros use at the Olympics? Is that true or just for show? I really dont want to mess this up and buy something that doesnt fit the camera or makes the photos look blurry. Sorry if this is such a basic thing to ask but I really just jumped into the deep end here and I have no idea where to start.
What is the best professional zoom lens that I should buy for the Canon R1? Like if you could only pick one to do everything which one is the winner?
Since you have an R1, you need optics that can actually keep up with that 40fps burst rate. If you really want just one lens to cover both soccer and the Alps, look at the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z. It's quite the beast but the constant f/2.8 aperture makes it incredibly versatile for low light and getting that blurry background look. The USM motors are surgical. It's a bit short for professional soccer though... you'll find yourself wishing for more reach if the kids are on the other side of the field. For the field, the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM is technically superior for reach. Using it for wildlife and sports is great, and the results are always satisfyingly sharp. It is surprisingly light for what it is, which helps for hiking in the Alps, but the aperture is slow, meaning it lets in less light than the white f/2.8 lenses. Basically, it's a daylight lens. The white one most pros use is the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM. It works well for portraits, tight landscapes in the mountains, and it is standard for sports. It won't get you as close as the 500mm, but the glass quality is noticeably better. If you can afford it, grab the 70-200 first. It is the gold standard for a reason and fits that professional look you're after perfectly.
Be careful with weight, I once fell hiking steep mountains. The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM is lighter, while Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM gives way more reach.
Congrats on the R1! Seriously, that is a monster of a camera. Since you want to cover both soccer and those massive Swiss landscapes, you have a bit of a dilemma because sports usually need a lot of reach, while mountains look best with wider angles. If you really only want one lens, look into the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z. It is pricey, but the constant aperture is amazing for those afternoon soccer games that go into twilight. If you decide that 105mm just isn't getting close enough for the action, you will eventually want to add the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z to your bag.
- The 24-105mm gives you a great mix of wide shots for the Alps and some zoom for the pitch.
- Professional L-series glass is weather sealed, so you wont have to stress as much about a little mountain mist.
- Dont worry about the white color, that is just a heat-resistant coating Canon puts on their pro telephoto lenses. Honestly, just take your time learning the autofocus settings on the R1, because that is where the magic really happens.
