Travel Lens — The Quick Take
After months of back-and-forth, the choice comes down to reach and flexibility versus rendering and speed. The RF 24–105mm f/4 wins on range: 24mm can save a shot when you can’t step back, and 105mm pulls distant details without swapping lenses—perfect for travel and run-and-gun work where versatility matters most. The RF 28–70mm f/2.8 wins on look: it delivers warmer, more organic video, snappier AF feel, slightly better stabilization, and subtly stronger subject separation—especially between 28–50mm—while maintaining a small, packable footprint (collapsible start at 28mm aside). Sharpness is close across most of the range; the 28–70 edges it in overall clarity while the 24–105 softens at 105mm, and low-light advantages of f/2.8 help in tougher scenes but are often mitigated by modern RF bodies and noise reduction. For photography-first travel, pick the 24–105mm and add a small f/1.8 prime when you want extra blur. For creators prioritizing video character and portrait “pop,” the 28–70mm is the keeper. The final call here: keep the 28–70mm f/2.8 for its rendering; let the 24–105mm f/4 go—unless pure versatility is your top priority.