I'm honestly just so fed up with my current setup right now. I spent a literal fortune on the Canon R5 thinking my old EF 16-35mm would be fine with the adapter but the edges are just a blurry mess on this sensor and the purple fringing is driving me insane. I feel like I'm wasting those 45 megapixels and it's making me so anxious because I've got this huge trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon coming up in like three weeks and I have nothing reliable to shoot with. I need something that is actually sharp across the whole frame because I'm tired of coming home and seeing mushy corners on my big landscape prints.
Here is what I need:
- Budget is around $2200 max but I'd rather spend less if possible.
- Must be weather sealed because I'm always out in the dust or light rain.
- Needs to take screw-on filters because I use my circular polarizer and NDs constantly.
- I prefer a zoom for flexibility but I'm open to anything at this point.
I was looking at the RF 15-35mm but then I saw people talking about the 14-35mm being smaller and now I'm just confused and worried I'll make the wrong choice again and regret it. Is the f/2.8 really worth the extra weight for landscapes or should I go with the f/4? I really can't deal with more soft images...
I totally feel your pain with the R5 sensor... it really shows every flaw in older glass. Honestly, for what youre doing in Zion, you should grab the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM. In my experience, that extra stop of light on the f/2.8 version just isnt worth the extra weight or the price tag when youre usually shooting stopped down at f/8 or f/11 anyway. I've used both extensively and the 14-35mm is a landscape beast. It is incredibly sharp across the frame once you enable the in-camera corrections, and it handles flare way better than the old EF versions ever did. Plus, it takes standard 77mm screw-on filters which is a huge win for your NDs. The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is a fantastic lens, dont get me wrong, but its bulky and really designed for people shooting stars or weddings in low light. For those long hikes in Bryce, your back will thank you for going with the f/4. It is fully weather sealed too... I have had mine out in some pretty nasty desert dust storms and light rain without any issues at all. Just make sure you update your camera firmware because the digital distortion correction is key for that 14mm wide end. You wont regret it, the R5 finally feels like a real 45MP camera with this glass. Reach out if you have more questions about the setup!
