Which wide-angle lens should I buy for landscape photography on Canon R6?

Question

Finally pulled the trigger on a Canon R6 after years with my trusty 80D and I am honestly blown away by the low light stuff but man I am struggling with the lens situation. I usually do a lot of hiking and I have a huge trip to Zion coming up in about three weeks so I need to figure this out fast lol. I used to use the Tokina 11-16 on my crop body and loved that perspective but obviously that wont cut it now.

I was looking at the RF 14-35mm f4 L because that range seems perfect but it is pushing my budget a bit since I spent so much on the body. I could go EF with the adapter since I already have one but I dont know if the older glass is gonna hold up on this sensor or if the autofocus is gonna act weird for landscape stuff. Is the RF 15-30mm worth looking at or is the glass quality too much of a step down from the L series? I really want something sharp for those wide canyon shots. Budget is around $1200 and I kinda want to stay native if possible but I am open to suggestions. What are you guys using for your wide stuff on the R6?

Backlitqxx · Accepted Answer

Saw this post and had to jump in because Zion is literally the best place on earth for wide shots! Since you are on a budget but want L-series quality, you should definitely look at the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM. Seriously, dont worry about using the adapter. It works flawlessly on the R6 and honestly the sharpness is still incredible even compared to the new RF stuff. You can find them used for like 600 or 700 bucks which leaves plenty of cash for your trip. If you really want to stay native RF and need that 14mm edge, check out the refurbished section on the Canon USA site. The Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM goes for way cheaper there sometimes if you time it right. Another super fun and light option for hiking is the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. Its tiny! I love it for when I dont want to carry a heavy zoom up a trail. For technical comparisons, you should check out The-Digital-Picture website. They have this tool where you can compare ISO crops of different lenses side-by-side. It really helped me see that the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is decent but definitely loses some sharpness in the corners compared to the L glass. Youre gonna have a blast in those canyons!

Kerwfat · Answer

Building on the earlier suggestion, I'd stick with native glass as it's safer.Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM is professional and reliable.Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is a decent budget alternative.

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Which wide-angle lens should I buy for landscape photography on Canon R6?