So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed an R6 Mark II last week after saving up for like forever. It feels amazing coming from my old T7i but now I am staring at the body with just the body cap on because I cant decide what glass to actually put on it lol. I spent hours on YouTube looking at reviews and I keep seeing everyone say to just get the 24-70mm f2.8L because it is the standard but man that thing is pricey and heavy as hell. Then I see other people saying the 24-105mm f4L is more versatile for travel but I am worried about the f4 aperture because I live in Portland and it is basically grey and dark half the year. I dont want to be stuck with noisy photos because I didnt get a fast enough lens but I also dont want to spend over two grand right out the gate if I dont have to.
I am going to Japan in about two months so that is the big motivator here. I need something that can handle a bit of everything because I really dont want to be swapping lenses constantly while we are walking around Tokyo or Kyoto. I read that the R6II has amazing stabilization so maybe the f4 isnt a big deal? But then I see people saying the bokeh on the 2.8 is just way better for that professional look. Its so confusing because everyone has a different opinion on whats actually essential for a first lens.
Here is what I am looking for:
- Budget is around $1500 to $1800 maybe a bit more if it is truly worth it
- Needs to be good for street photography and some nice background blur for portraits of my wife
- Not too heavy because I will be walking like 20k steps a day in Japan
- Weather sealing would be nice since I shoot in the rain a lot back home
Is the jump from f4 to f2.8 really that massive for a hobbyist on this specific body? I know the R6ii has great ISO performance so maybe I can get away with the slower lens and just bump the settings up? Or should I just skip the zooms entirely and get like a 35mm and an 85mm prime combo? I feel like I am overthinking this but I dont want to make a huge mistake before my trip. What would you guys pick if you only had one lens to start with...
Congrats on the upgrade! I moved from a Rebel too and the jump to full frame is honestly wild. I went through this exact same panic before my last big trip. Since you're doing Japan, you really gotta prioritize weight because those train stations involve way more stairs than people tell you lol. I ended up going with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and I've been super satisfied with it. Here is why:
- The extra reach to 105mm is huge for getting those tight shots of Tokyo architecture or street signs.
- It's way lighter than the f2.8 version so your back wont be screaming at you by lunch time.
- The weather sealing is legit... I've used it in some pretty heavy mist and it just keeps ticking. About that f4 aperture... ngl with the R6 Mark II you can just crank the ISO and not even worry about noise. Plus the stabilization works so well that you can shoot slower shutter speeds without blur. If you're really worried about portraits of your wife, you could always grab a Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM and toss it in your pocket. It weighs nothing and gives you that f1.8 look when you need it. Stick to the 24-105mm for your main walk-around lens though, it just works so well for everything and fits right in your budget. You'll be glad you didn't carry that heavy Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM brick all day... trust me.
