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Senior Member
For me, the RF 24-105/2.8 addresses a long-running quandary of wanting more range on the long end vs wanting a wider aperture for my standard zoom. I've had both the EF 24-105/4L and the EF 24-70/2.8L II. The latter was preferable and worth giving up the zoom range because of the better AF performance on a DLSR (higher accuracy AF points with an f/2.8 lens). That advantage is moot on an R-series body. I find that the RF 24-105/4L does very well as a walkaround lens, but indoors I still would like that extra stop of light. But having that lens, I couldn't justify getting the RF 24-70/2.8 and I got the RF 28-70/2 instead. The 24-105/2.8 is basically a compromise between the two lenses I have that are even further apart than the EF versions.
It feels a little obscene having three standard zooms, but I can see use cases for all of them. The 24-105/4 will be used almost exclusively for travel, since it's much smaller and lighter than the other two. Whereas today the lens I leave on my R3 is the 28-70/2, I expect I'll switch to the 24-105/2.8 as my general purpose lens and use the 28-70/2 for poorly lit indoor events. Possibly I'll end up just using the 24-105/2.8 for those as well, and if I end up not really using the 28-70/2 very much, I may not keep it.
The 24-105/2.8 is an interesting lens. I agree that we'll see at least a 70-200/2.8 internal zoom 'Z' lens as well, also compatible with the power zoom accessories (that start at an extra $1K). I do hope they release a firmware update for at least some current bodies (R3, R5) so the aperture ring works for stills. Not a huge deal as the lens will last through many bodies, and I'll likely get the R1 when it comes along.
Out of curiously, have you considered a dedicated video camera? Personally, I don't shoot video on my ILCs and when I do want video I'm usually also shooting stills. I have a Canon HF G60 (no longer readily available) that is basically the consumer version of the XA70 (4K30, same sensor and lens, the former just lacks the handle with the XLR inputs). Has a built-in ND filter wheel, mini-hotshoe that takes a directional microphone, and with the 1" (Sony Exmor, I think) sensor and relatively fast lens (26-380mm equivalent, f/2.8-4.5), it does quite well in low light.
The 200-800 is an interesting lens, not L but white and weather sealed. Quite a departure. Not something that interests me, personally. That's really because I already have the RF 100-500 with TCs, RF 100-400 for travel, and EF 600/4 II that I use mostly with the 1.4xIII so I'm already at 840mm f/5.6, and nothing to do with the lens itself. I also don't typically shoot wildlife while traveling (but if I were to do so, I'd probably just use the 100-300/2.8 with the 2x TC instead of buying the 200-800).
Either way, if you decide to keep your preorders for one or both, I hope you get them from the first batch!
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