Ok so, congrats on the R5II—that body is a beast for high-res travel work!!! Before diving into the glass tho, what’s your total budget for this kit and what are you actually shooting most? Europe can mean tight street photography or sweeping landscapes, and that changes the value prop significantly. If you're looking for the best bang-for-your-buck without sacrificing that 45MP sensor's potential:
* **The Value King:** The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is basically the industry standard for versatile travel. It’s significantly cheaper than the f/2.8 or f/2 options, giving you extra cash for a fast prime like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM for low-light nights.
* **Practicality Check:** Honestly, the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM is optically divine, but carrying that weight for 3 weeks is a recipe for back pain - it's a massive brick for walking tours. Tbh, spending $3k on a single travel zoom is overkill when the f/4 covers 90% of scenarios thanks to the R5II's incredible IBIS anyway. Do you already have any primes to supplement the zoom??

@Reply #4 - good point! Honestly, the bag you choose is half the battle. I spent years hauling around the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM with an adapter and it just gets old after two weeks of walking.

• Bring a small prime like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM for dinners.
• If you want one lens to do it all, the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is actually a sleeper hit compared to the expensive L glass. I recently did a side-by-side with my buddy's Sony kit and his Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art. While his third-party setup was way cheaper, the autofocus on the R5II with native glass just feels snappier. The 24-240 was my pick for my last trip and the versatility was way more valuable than the extra stop of light during the day. Ngl, sometimes simple is just better when you're busy eating gelato...

Totally agree that the 24-105 is the smart play here but I want to chime in on the reliability and safety side of things. When youre trekking through Europe - especially in crowded tourist spots - carrying a massive and expensive setup like the 28-70 f2 can actually be a bit of a liability. It draws a lot of unwanted attention and ngl my back would be screaming after day three. If youre looking to save money for the actual travel experiences while keeping your gear safe and functional, check these out:

• Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is honestly the ultimate budget travel lens. It covers everything so you dont have to swap lenses in dusty or busy areas, which protects your sensor from gunk and keeps your kit sealed.
• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM is a great, inexpensive prime that weighs almost nothing. Its way more discreet for street shooting at night and serves as a reliable backup if your zoom ever has a mechanical failure. I personally prefer the one-lens approach for travel reliability. Less time fumbling with bags means more time getting the shot and keeping an eye on your surroundings. Plus the 24-240 is surprisingly sharp for the price point and the AF is snappy enough for quick snapshots.

Coming back to this thread... honestly if you want reliability you cant go wrong with just sticking to the official Canon stuff. I have been really satisfied with how their pro lenses handle rain and dust when traveling. No complaints at all on my end. But I gotta ask, what kind of bag are you using for this trip? Like are you carrying a backpack or just a small sling? It makes a huge difference for how much weight you can actually handle for three weeks. Just go with any of the Canon zooms and you will be fine.

Any lightweight RF lenses are recommendedd.