08/06/2026 9:30 am
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So I just spent way too much money on this new Canon R5 Mark II because I wanted the best for our big family trip to Yellowstone in three weeks, but now I realized it doesnt actually come with a lens?? I feel so stupid. I’m looking at the Canon website and there are so many options and I have no idea where to even start. I was thinking maybe I just need one lens that can do everything? Like I dont want to be carrying around a giant bag or switching things out in the wind and getting dust inside the camera. My logic was that a bigger zoom range is better, like that 24-240mm one I saw online, but then some guy on a blog said the L lenses are the only ones worth it for this camera? But those are so heavy and expensive. I have like $2000 maybe $2500 left to spend but I'm worried I'll buy the wrong thing and everything will be blurry or I wont be able to see the animals far away. Is there like a goldilocks lens that works for landscapes and also people? I'm honestly so stressed I might have bought too much camera for my brain to handle... help?
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08/06/2026 9:30 am
tbh it sounds like you might want to consider playing it safe with your first lens since that R5 II is a beast. Putting basic glass on a 45-megapixel sensor can be risky because you wont get the sharpness you paid for. I would suggest the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM as your primary option. Here is why:
- It has professional weather sealing which is a must for the dust and wind in Yellowstone.
- The image stabilization is incredible for keeping shots from being blurry.
- It covers everything from wide landscapes to decent portraits of the family. Just be careful because 105mm is still kinda short for distant wolves or bears. The 24-240mm has more reach but lacks the sealing and clarity of an L lens. For a big trip, I would stick to the higher quality glass to make sure those memories are actually sharp.
