What are the absolute must-have lenses for the Canon EOS R6 Mark III? I’m finally upgrading from my old DSLR and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the RF mount options. I’ve been reading forum threads about the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 being the ultimate 'do it all' lens, but others swear that the prime lenses are the only way to get true sharpness for portrait work. I’m mostly doing wildlife and travel photography (need something versatile!), and my budget is around $2k-$3k for my first lens. I'm worried about the weight for hiking—is the L-series overkill? Also, do I really need an adapter for my old EF glass, or is that gonna hurt autofocus performance too much?
TL;DR: Skip the heavy f/2.8 zooms for hiking. Get the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM for travel. It is sharp enough and saves your back. For wildlife, grab the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM. I've been through three L-series cycles; the EF adapter works fine, but native glass is faster. Don't overthink the sharpness for portraits, just use a decent prime.
To add to the point above: I agree that keeping weight down is essential for hiking. I have been through three different 70-200mm variants over the years. Don't worry about the EF adapter; it works fine, but native is better for weight. Consider these for your travel and wildlife needs:
- Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM for reach without the bulk.
- Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM for a true travel one-lens solution.
Re: "Like someone mentioned, the native glass is better." I agree with that assessment. If you are hiking, keep weight in mind. I'd recommend:
- Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM for travel reach. It is compact and light.
- Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM for sharp portraits without the heavy L-series price tag. Just make sure to double-check that your firmware is updated for optimal focus performance with any adapter.
Came here to say the same thing lol. Great minds think alike I guess.
Noted!
I am no expert, but I just went through the exact same research process last week while upgrading my own kit. It is definitely easy to get overwhelmed by all the RF options right now. Before I toss out the notes I took on different setups, I need to know a bit more about your specific style. When you are out hiking, are you looking for a single lens that stays on your camera all day, or are you comfortable swapping between a zoom and a prime? Also, for the wildlife shots, are you mostly shooting birds that require a ton of reach, or are you focusing on larger mammals where you can get a bit closer? Knowing that will help narrow down which trade-offs between weight and focal range are actually worth it for you.
Like someone mentioned, the native glass is better. Ngl, I lowkey think you should just grab a prime lens for portraits instead since you are worried about the zoom weight.
Interested in this too