oh man, congrats on the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV!! honestly, it's such a beast of a camera and i've been sooo happy with mine since i got it. i totally get what you mean about the kit lens tho... it's fine for everyday stuff but when youre looking at those huge mountain views, you just NEED that extra width. for your situation, i'd highkey suggest going with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM. i know you were looking at the prime, but honestly? having the zoom is such a lifesaver when you cant move your feet because there's a cliff in the way lol. i've used it for a few golden hour hikes and the way it handles flare is actually incredible. plus the weather sealing is solid - i've definitely gotten mine a bit misty near waterfalls and it didnt even flinch. if youre worried about sharpness, dont be! the version III is seriously sharp even at the edges. i mean, i'm still kinda learning the technical side of things, but even i can see the difference compared to my old glass. if the f/2.8 is too pricey, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is also a total gem and basically just as sharp for landscapes where you're probably stopping down anyway. plus it's lighter for hiking! are you planning on doing any astro stuff too? i've heard the 2.8 is better for that but idk for sure. anyway, gl with the choice, you're gonna love the results either way!! cheers!!

Totally agree!
1. 30MP sensors kinda need pro glass.
2. Edge sharpness is EVERYTHING for landscapes.
3. Maybe try Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM? It's $650 used and SO sharp...

bump

Adding my two cents here. In my experience, prioritizing sheer sharpness can be a bit of a trap when youre actually out in the field. I've tried many different glass setups over the years and honestly, flare resistance is often more critical for those golden hour shots. I think someone told me that the coatings on the newer zooms are actually superior to some of the older primes in that regard, tho I'm not 100% sure if that applies to every single model. I usually take a DIY approach and build my own lens hood extensions or use custom flags to block stray light. It's a lot more practical than carrying a massive kit of specialized gear and saves a ton of money. IIRC, the weather sealing on the top-tier glass is robust enough for most hikes, but I'd still be wary of switching lenses in dusty environments. Dust on the 5D IV sensor is a real pain to clean yourself. Given your focus on hiking, the versatility of a zoom likely beats out the marginal sharpness gains of a prime when youre trying to keep things light and avoid fumbling with caps.

Basically, the consensus here seems to be that you need high-end glass to match that 30MP sensor, whether you go for the f/2.8 zoom or the f/4 version for sharpness. > Maybe try Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM? Its $650 used and SO sharp... I spent weeks doing market research on this exact dilemma when I upgraded. Its interesting how the landscape has changed lately tho. Honestly, the competition between the big names and those third-party manufacturers has gotten so intense. I ended up looking at a ton of lab data and MTF charts because I was worried about edge softness and vignetting. In my case, I actually went with a non-native option for my wide angle needs. I found that the technical specs on the glass elements in some of those newer third-party models actually outperformed the native stuff in terms of distortion and chromatic aberration in several independent tests I read. I took my current setup on a trip to the coast last month and the way it handles flare during golden hour is night and day compared to what I used to use. I dont think you always have to stick to the same brand as the body anymore to get that professional level resolution, especially with how much the market has shifted. Definitely worth looking at the technical comparisons between brands before you commit to one of the main ones.

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Nice, didn't know that