Just picked up the R5 Mark II myself and I've been blown away! The Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera is expected to be available in August 2024, for an estimated retail price of $4,299.00 and it was announced as the successor to the Canon EOS R5 on July 17, 2024. For wedding work, you really can't go wrong with the holy trinity:

1. RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM - Perfect for venue shots, group photos, and getting ready scenes
2. RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM - This is your workhorse. The 24-70mm covers you all the way from wide-angle to portrait range – which is exactly what you need for wedding and event photography, where you need to quickly zoom from wide interior and group photos to intimate portraits of bridegrooms and guests. 
3. RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM - Essential for ceremony coverage and candid moments from distance

The fast, constant f/2.8 aperture comes into play as you'll be able to work across the entire focal range even in challenging lighting conditions. The 5 stops of image stabilization enable you to keep your shots steady, even at longer focal lengths and working with slow shutter speeds. The R5 Mark II's improved low-light performance makes these lenses even more capable!

Tbh, if you’re building a kit for the R5II from scratch, you gotta think about reliability and "safety" shots for when the light eventually dies. Everyone talks about the trinity, but I'm gonna suggest looking at the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM. It’s an absolute TANK. It basically replaces three primes and saves you from constantly swapping lenses in dusty or wet conditions, which is a huge reliability plus for keeping your sensor clean during a fast-paced wedding. Also, for those ceremonies where you can't use flash, I'd honestly prioritize one ultra-fast prime over a wide zoom. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM is my insurance policy when I absolutely MUST get the shot in a dark church. It gives you that extra light that can be the difference between a sharp memory and a blurry mess. Since your budget is tight, you could probably skip the 15-35mm for now—you can usually stitch a panorama or just back up a few steps with the 24mm if you're in a pinch. Focus on the glass that'll save your skin when the conditions get TOUGH!

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> Budget is tight, so prioritizing the most essential lenses first. What's your recommended wedding kit? Jumping in because I am literally obsessed with the tech inside the R5 Mark II! Before I give you my full list tho, quick question... are you shooting these solo or do you usually have a second shooter? It makes a huge difference in how you prioritize your focal lengths and whether you need to cover every angle yourself. I remember my first big venue gig where I lugged around a massive setup and my hands were cramping by the time the dance floor opened up. Honestly, if budget is a major factor, you should definitely check out the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM instead of the f/2.8 version. You get that extra 1mm on the wide end which is fantastic for tiny getting-ready rooms, and since the R5II handles high ISO like a beast, f/4 is totally fine for venue shots. Also, don't sleep on the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. I use it for all my ring shots, but the autofocus is so snappy on the new body that it doubles as an amazing portrait lens. The SA Control ring lets you mess with the bokeh style which is just fun to play with during golden hour! It's way more versatile than a standard prime imo.

My wedding lens recommendations:

Must-have trio:

• RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM (lightweight, versatile, great for detail shots)
• RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM (perfect portrait length, affordable)
• RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM (lighter alternative to the f/2.8, still fantastic)

If budget allows:

• RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM (the workhorse)
• RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (for outdoor ceremonies, candid reception shots from distance)

The improved AF system really shines in low light - I've been getting sharp focus locks in situations where my old 5D Mark IV would hunt. EOS R5 Mark II's Dual Pixel Intelligent AF sets new standards. Sharp focus is maintained on moving subjects, even when briefly obscured from view.

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Helpful thread 👍

Like someone mentioned, that 28-70mm is a total tank, but honestly, I have to disagree with the idea of relying on one massive lens for your whole setup! I love the output it gives, but from a DIY perspective, your physical stamina matters so much when you are shooting for ten hours straight. It is a fantastic piece of glass, but it might not be the most practical first step when building a business from the ground up. I have a couple of questions to help narrow down what will actually work for you:

• Are you planning to shoot with a dual-body harness, or are you gonna be swapping lenses on a single camera all day?
• What kind of venues are you primarily targeting... like dark indoor cathedrals or bright outdoor garden ceremonies? Knowing these details is super important because it totally changes whether you should prioritize aperture or focal range first!