What lens should I buy? RF lens recommendations for novice

[BDR_529]

Hello community, my name is Joseph.  I am a complete novice.  I have never owned a camera.  It will be for my personal use and my new hobby, I am not going to be a professional.  I have done some research and I am going to purchase the Canon R6 Mark III when it is released.  But I can not figure out what lens to buy.  I want the best but the best are so large and heavy I am afraid it will stop me from using my new camera.  I would love to hear all suggestions.  I am leaning toward either the RF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM or the RF 24-70 f/2.8 L IS USM.  I know there is a big difference in price, but I am more concerned about size.  So what lens should I buy first?

[WCETECH]

Is your goal to shoot stills or video, they have some things in common however video is way more complex and expensive to produce properly.

[Tronhard]

I can only applaud your decision to engage in photography as a retirement activity.  It offers many gifts in that context:

1. Intellectual stimulation: as it uses the left and right brain because of its technical and artistic aspects
2. It makes us actively look, something that is becoming rarer these days with cell phone distractions.  That is good for just being aware of the world around us.
3. It is a great stress reliever - when we look for an image and concentrate on taking it, we are 'in the moment' and not plagued by other challenges.  So, good for mental health.
4. You don't generally get photos sitting on a couch.   I shoot with camera gear that can weight several kilos for hours at at time.  So, I do weights to let me have the endurance to control the gear and that is important because we lose muscle mass as we age, and that is a health risk.

So, kudos on choosing photography as your retirement activity.  If I can offer any support just PM (personal message me).  You can do that by clicking on my ID and from my profile page select [Send a Message] on the right of screen.

[BDR_529]

Just stills for now. 

[TomRamsey · Accepted solution]

I don't believe there is a best beginner lens for everyone.  A lot depends on what you are shooting, and i understand that you may not really even know yet, and as you get more experienced you may change your focus.  I've shot Pentax for several years and just recentley bought an R6 MarkII.  I bought it to go along with the RF200-800 lens I had ordered, which was my reason for buying into the RF system anyway.  But I knew there was a long wait for the 200-800 lens, so I bought the camera with the kit 24-105 STM lens, so I could learn to use the camera while I waited. It's a great camera, and getting that kit lens was really helpful in getting to know the camera as well as setting it up for my use. There is nothing wrong with getting the best lens you can afford as your first lens, as long as it meets your needs.  But, if you aren't sure of your needs yet, nothing wrong with renting, or getting one of the cheaper lenses to learn with.  There are several directions that you can go with photography, and it is almost a guarantee that you will change your focus a few times, so why box yourself in by blowing your budget right away then finding out that another lens could suit you better.  My case was a little different, I knew what I wanted through many years of experience.  Choose wisely and have fun.

[WCETECH · Accepted solution]

What you have posted is 100% true.

I understand this from personal experience and from others I know, when I first got into photography I had an idea of what I wanted to do which faded out when I found out what I really like doing.

Likewise I used to carry a bag with something like six L lens's inside thinking only the best will make me produce excellent shots, after a time I realized I consistently only used two of the six equaling a lot of unnecessary weight and money spent that I could have used elsewhere.

Fast forward to today and what I carry now is two bodies with one lens for each and with that combination I can produce the best photographs I am capable of producing, which from what I have been told and sometimes sold are excellent shots.  

In my less than humble opinion too many people jump into the waters of photography and quickly burn holes through their wallets and purses thinking the best I can buy will allow me to produce the best shots anyone can make, when the reality is the person framing the scene and pressing the shutter, at just the correct time will produce the best shots they possibly can.

Anything else is a good way to burn through way too much money and burn oneself right out of the hobby.