“Walk around” Lens for Canon

[mike b.]

I currently have two kit lenses…18-55 and 55-250.

[Don Thompson]

Although I do not personally have the lens, I have a friend who uses the 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS and he really likes it. You don’t mention $ but the 28-135 sells for $455 at B&H. You might look at it if it is wide enough for your use.

[kurt budliger]

What’s your price range Mike and do you want to get into some L series glass?

[mike b.]

I would like to stay below $500, if possible, but certainly below $1000.

[Adam McDowell]

Mike, I purchased a 17-55mm 2.8 IS eariler this year for my 30D and I would strongly reccomend it. I found it used on POTN for $835 and it looks brand new. The image clarity between it and the 18-55 is incredible. Of the three lenses that you mentioned, i would lean towards the new 15-85. Here is a link to POTN’s lens sample photo archive http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=141406
They keep running threads of user photos from most Canon compatible lenses.

[anonymous]

Tokina on the wide end.

[Mike Anderson]

For an XXD body I’d seek out the 17-55 2.8 for sure. The 24-105 F4 is nice, as well as the 17-40 F4.

[bill 93]

I’m on a full frame so your milage may vary. . . I’ve had the 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS and the 24-105 f/4 L. The 24-105 is a much better lens, and in my opinion worth every extra cent I paid for it over the 28-135.

It might hurt the wallet up front, but it’s usually better to pay once than to be constantly upgrading. However, if you have a cropped sensor you may wish to go wider.

For landscape photography, I use a lot of manual focus Nikon Lenses from the ’70s and ’80s on an adaptor. The image quality is usually fantastic and these lenses can often be had for very little $$$. However, these aren’t really walk-around lenses I only mention them since you mentioned you’re interested in landscape photography and on a tight budget.

[Author]

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