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GP Zoom Lens Choice

Started Dec 14, 2018 | Discussions
ThePointblank Regular Member • Posts: 119
GP Zoom Lens Choice

So, I recently bit the bullet and purchased a Canon EOS R two weeks ago to upgrade from my Rebel T6i.

I did get the EF to R mount adapter with it for free, but I didn't purchase the RF 24-105mm lens as I didn't have the budget for it at the time, but I still need a GP zoom lens to cover the wide end. In the interim, I'm fitting the trusty 50mm f/1.8 STM on my EOS R as my everyday lens.

Looking around, I'm seeing a lot of choices for a general purpose zoom lens; these are the choices I'm narrowed down to:
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 - the default, native choice, and is a Canon to boot

Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art - Another decent choice, good reviews, plenty sharp, and cheaper than the Canon RF lens.

Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 - shorter on the long end than the others, but it is a f/2.8 lens, and has strong reviews. A bit more expensive than the Canon RF 24-105mm, but the price difference is small.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art - like the earlier Tamron, but the reviews indicate that the Tamron does edge it out, slightly.

So, what should I get when I got the budget? Personally, I'm kinda leaning towards the Tamron because it's a f/2.8 lens, but wanted to get additional feedback. Thanks.

 ThePointblank's gear list:ThePointblank's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM +1 more
Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 Art Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 G2
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Rawpaul
Rawpaul Senior Member • Posts: 2,567
Re: GP Zoom Lens Choice

ThePointblank wrote:

So, I recently bit the bullet and purchased a Canon EOS R two weeks ago to upgrade from my Rebel T6i.

I did get the EF to R mount adapter with it for free, but I didn't purchase the RF 24-105mm lens as I didn't have the budget for it at the time, but I still need a GP zoom lens to cover the wide end. In the interim, I'm fitting the trusty 50mm f/1.8 STM on my EOS R as my everyday lens.

Looking around, I'm seeing a lot of choices for a general purpose zoom lens; these are the choices I'm narrowed down to:
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 - the default, native choice, and is a Canon to boot

Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art - Another decent choice, good reviews, plenty sharp, and cheaper than the Canon RF lens.

Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 - shorter on the long end than the others, but it is a f/2.8 lens, and has strong reviews. A bit more expensive than the Canon RF 24-105mm, but the price difference is small.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art - like the earlier Tamron, but the reviews indicate that the Tamron does edge it out, slightly.

So, what should I get when I got the budget? Personally, I'm kinda leaning towards the Tamron because it's a f/2.8 lens, but wanted to get additional feedback. Thanks.

If you want all of the benifits of the RF mount buy the Rf 24-015.

Like superior Af

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 Rawpaul's gear list:Rawpaul's gear list
Canon EOS M5 Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon EOS R5 Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM +6 more
Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,571
Re: GP Zoom Lens Choice

ThePointblank wrote:

[snip]

So, what should I get when I got the budget? Personally, I'm kinda leaning towards the Tamron because it's a f/2.8 lens, but wanted to get additional feedback. Thanks.

The RF 24-105, without hesitation. More compact, more reach than the 24-70's, and don't forget you are already gaining 1 1/3 stops by moving to full fame - f/4 is better than you might think. Optically it's very good. Nano USM is as fast as ring USM but smoother and even quieter.

lawny13 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,132
Re: GP Zoom Lens Choice

I agree with the other two comments

RF 24-105 should be what you get. 
Only RF lenses allow you to get a high speed refresh of the EVF when shooting continuously. If you intend to shoot any sports/fast-moving subjects, then this makes a very very big difference. 
f4 will give you DOF of a f2.8 lens on a crop sensor and essentially the same goes for ISO. So a shot at f2.8 @ ISO 3200 on a crop sensor is like shooting f4 @ ISO 6400 on a FF sensor, with DOF being the same on the two. 
For shallow DOF you already have teh 50 f1.8 stm. Note that DOF at 105 f4 is pretty good too.

Martin Muehlemann
Martin Muehlemann Senior Member • Posts: 1,463
Re: GP Zoom Lens Choice

RF 24-105, no doubt

 Martin Muehlemann's gear list:Martin Muehlemann's gear list
Olympus E-M1 III Olympus TG-5 OM-1 Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 Pro Olympus 17mm F1.2 Pro +9 more
David Hull
David Hull Veteran Member • Posts: 6,831
Re: GP Zoom Lens Choice

I got the RF 24-105. On the 5DIII that I used to have (sold it to get the "R") I had the 24-105, 24-70, 70-200, 16-35 and the 100 Macro pulse a few others. U used the 24-105 the most, it was the one that was always on the camera. Not that I didn't use the others but the 24-105 was always the lens that came off to put one of the others on.  I sold it with the 5DIII (it was a version 1) and bought the RF 24-105 kitted with the EOS R.  I highly recommend it -- IMO, that is the one lens that every EOS "R" owner should have.

 David Hull's gear list:David Hull's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM +1 more
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