Which Canon RF lens is best for professional landscape photography?

Stumbled upon this discussion while I was digging through some lens charts earlier. Since you mentioned those large-format prints, you really have to look at the trade-offs between optical design and digital correction. Basically, the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM is super light, but it relies on a ton of software profile stretching at the wide end to fix distortion. For hobbyists it doesnt matter, but for pro-level prints, you might see a tiny bit of smear in those extreme corners compared to the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM. The 15-35mm is definitely the better choice if flare is a dealbreaker for you. Its got the Air Sphere Coating which is legit for keeping ghosting down when the sun is right in the frame. Here is a practical tip though: check your filter setup. The 15-35mm takes 82mm filters. If you are already invested in a system like Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL 82mm, sticking with that size saves a lot of cash compared to rebuying glass for the smaller f/4 version. Also, just a heads up, there isnt actually a Canon RF 24-70mm f/4L lens yet. Youre probably looking at the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Its a great hiking lens, but if you want that absolute edge-to-edge perfection for the R5 sensor, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is the heavy-hitter you actually want. It costs more and weighs a ton, but the optics are basically flawless for professional output.

Coming back to this... if youre doing remote work, reliability is huge. The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is a total tank compared to the 14-35mm and definitely handles moisture better. For your mid-range, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is the professional standard. It handles flare way better than the f/4 versions. When youre in the wild, that extra build quality is worth the weight.

Tbh I think the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM is the sweet spot for hikers. Since you usually stop down for landscapes, the f/2.8 on the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is mostly extra weight and money you dont need to spend. The 14mm wide end is super handy too. If you need a mid-range, maybe check out the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM instead since its more versatile for the price.

Congrats on the Canon EOS R5! Honestly, that sensor is a beast and it really shows every little flaw in your glass if you arent careful, especially when you are doing those large format prints. I have spent a lot of time looking at MTF charts and real-world diffraction limits for the mirrorless transition, and I can tell you that the new optical designs are a massive step up from the old EF days. If you are worried about flare and corner sharpness, you basically just need to stick with any of the L-series wide zooms from Canon. You really cant go wrong with their pro-grade lineup for the RF mount. In my experience, the weather sealing on all their professional tier glass is top-notch, so dont stress too much about the f/4 versus f/2.8 build quality. They are both built like tanks and designed for professional abuse in the field. Personally, if I am hiking miles into the backcountry, I usually lean toward the lighter f/4 glass. Since we are usually stopped down to f/8 or f/11 for landscapes anyway, you arent really gaining much from that extra stop of light except for more weight in your bag. Canon has really mastered the coating tech on their high-end glass lately, so ghosting and flare are kept to a minimum across the whole pro range. Just get any of the L-series zooms and you will be happy with the results.

Solid advice 👍

Stumbled upon this tonight and honestly, if youre shooting with a body as powerful as the R5, you really just need to stick with the top-tier Canon L-series glass. Canon has basically redefined their entire optical philosophy with the mirrorless transition, and you can really see it in how they handle edge-to-edge resolution now. Ngl, the market analysis shows they are putting their best coatings into the red-ring stuff specifically to handle flare. Tbh, you cant really go wrong with any of the professional RF zooms from Canon. They are designed to outresolve that sensor, so as long as you stay in that pro bracket, your prints are gonna look incredible. Basically, just go with the best L-series glass that fits your focal length needs and dont overthink it... the quality is consistently top-notch across their whole high-end lineup.