Best walk-around lens for the new Canon EOS R6 Mark III?

Question

I finally pulled the trigger and got the R6 Mark III and man I am so hyped to start shooting with this thing! Ive been saving up for forever and finally treated myself because I have this big trip to Tokyo and Osaka coming up in about three weeks and I want to capture everything. Im mainly looking for one lens that can stay on the camera like 90% of the time because I hate switching glass when Im walking around crowded city streets or hitting up temples.

Ive been doing a ton of reading and these are the two I keep seeing:

The RF 24-105mm f/4L which seems like the gold standard for travel

The 24-70mm f/2.8 which everyone says is better for that professional look

My budget is around $1400 which fits the 24-105 perfectly but the f/4 aperture kinda worries me for those late night food stalls and neon light shots. But then the 2.8 version is just so much heavier and way more expensive... like is the extra weight really worth it for a walk-around? I also saw some stuff about the non-L 24-240mm being decent for travel but I feel like putting a budget lens on such a nice body is a waste of that new sensor and autofocus power.

If you guys had to pick just one lens for a three week trip where youre walking 20k steps a day what would it be?

GA_PPPW · Accepted Answer

To add to the point above: i think the 24-105 is definitely the safest route for a trip like this. I would suggest you be careful about the weight of that Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM because after 15k steps your neck is gonna really start feeling it. People always underestimate how much those extra grams pull on you during an all-day hike through Fushimi Inari or Shibuya. One thing you might want to consider though is that f/4 can feel a bit restrictive once the sun goes down in places like Shinjuku. Even with the R6 Mark III having incredible high ISO performance, you still run the risk of getting some noise in your shadows if you arent careful with your exposure. Make sure to watch your histogram when you're in those narrow alleys. If I were you, I’d actually look at grabbing a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM as a secondary safety lens. It weighs almost nothing and fits in a jacket pocket easily. It gives you that f/1.8 safety net for those dim food stalls without the bulk. Putting all your eggs in one basket with just one lens can be risky... if the zoom gets stuck or you drop it, the trip is basically over. Stick with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM for the versatility, but that small prime is a life saver for low light night shots.

Brooke Nicole Rogers · Answer

Im happy with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Spec-wise, its 5-stop CIPA-rated stabilization works well for handheld shots. 700g is basically perfect weight.