I’m planning a trip soon and really want to keep my gear light without sacrificing that 45MP quality. I’ve been looking at the RF 24-105mm f/4L for its versatility, but I’m worried it might be too bulky for all-day hiking. Should I go with a super-zoom or stick to a couple of primes? What’s your go-to 'do-it-all' lens for travel on the R5?
Great info, saved!
In my experience, you should definitely check out the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM. Honestly, I've tried many setups over the years, and while the L-series is sharper, the STM version is way lighter for all-day hiking! It still looks great on the Canon EOS R5. If you need more light, I usually pair it with the tiny Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM for night shots. Hope this helps! 📸
For your situation, I'd honestly suggest checking out the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. I know you're worried about the weight, but that 45MP sensor really needs the L-series glass to shine! If that's still too heavy, I've had amazing results with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM for hiking. It's super light and the quality is fantastic! 📸 Maybe pair it with a light zoom?
Saved for later, ty!
Can vouch for this
Just catching up on this thread... ^ This. Also, if you go for that lighter STM zoom, you might want to consider the diffraction limit. Shooting at f/7.1 on a 45MP sensor like the Canon EOS R5 basically eats your fine detail, so you arent really getting the most out of that glass. I've had the R5 since launch and my quick tip is to get a Peak Design Capture Clip v3 for the backpack strap. It makes the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM feel weightless while hiking because it isnt swinging around your neck. Also, be careful with the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM super-zoom; the barrel distortion is massive at 24mm and the software correction can smear the edges of your high-res files if you're doing big prints.
Good to know!
Coming back to this, if you want the pixels but need one lens, the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is actually decent. Its not L glass, sure, but on the R5 it handles travel stuff fine as long as you arent expecting corner-to-corner perfection. I usually just crop a bit. Kinda reminds me of this time I spent hours researching ultralight hiking boots only to end up wearing my old sneakers because they were just more comfortable. Sometimes the simple gear works better even if its not the pro choice... but yeah. Try using a Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap cross-body too. Way better for long trails than a standard neck strap. TL;DR: Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is the practical pick. You get huge range and decent center sharpness for the R5, just dont expect L-series corners.
