walk around camera lens - which one?

Associate
Joined
16 Jan 2003
Posts
1,913
I currently have a canon 60d and the following lens
50mm 1.8
10-20mm sigma
70-200mm zoom.

I am find myself finding the 50mm is sometimes too zoomed in and the 20mm too wide for certain shots. I am after something which bridges the gap but offers a bit more flexibility without needing to change the lens so frequently.
I use the zoom lens rarely.

I suppose its either the
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
or the Canon EF - 28 mm - 135 mm - f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

so the later means I miss out on a bit of range but get USM.

What lens would you recommend from the above or any other lens that fits the bill?
 
I wouldn't buy either of those, the first is too much of a compromise lens and the second for me at least wouldn't be wide enough at the long end I'd find myself changing to the 10-20mm all the time.

I'd be very tempted in you position to pic up one of the various 17-50(ish)mm f2.8 lenses if money is no object get the Canon, slightly cheaper and excellent quality is the latest sigma with OS then you have the VC tamron and at the other end of the list the non VC tamron that is an excellent lens and very well priced.

Other options if you want a bit more length would be the sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 OS which is a brilliant piece of kit for the money or you could stretch to the 15-85mm IS USM canon lens which is getting some rave reviews.

Finally it is worth considering a second had 24-105mm f4L normally I wouldn't recomend one on a crop but because you have the 10-20mm to cover the wide end it might be an option allthough I wouldn't in your circumstance as I would be for ever swapping them over.
 
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM if you have the money, Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] if you don't.
 
Thanks for the help.
The canon 24-70mm looks is more than I would want to spend.
The 17-55m f/2.8 is a possibility but again a bit more than I would rather spend. I could go for this if its worth it.

I'll have a look at the sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 OS model but anyone else comment on the Canon EF-S 15-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
is this ok for a crop sensor (I will be using a 60d)?
I suppose there is also the Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4.0 L USM Lens to consider?

hmmm
 
Last edited:
I've got the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (non VC) and the 70-200 f2.8 L IS II, and they're both fantastic lenses, but I still find myself using my Tamron 18-270 f3.5-6.3 PZD quite often as a walkaround, especially when I'm not sure what I'll be shooting and don't want to be swapping.

Maybe I have a good sample, but it's plenty sharp enough to be useful, especially wide.

I even prefer it to the 17-50 for wide night-time handheld shooting as f3.5 isn't unusable, and the IS is simply superb.

I was going to flog it when I got the 70-200L, but I think I'd miss it.
 
On Nikon my favourite walk around lens is the 16-85 VRII, very sharp and contrasty, I love the 16mm end and the 85mm is good to have as well, solid a build, small light, very good VR etc. The only downside is it is not value for money considering the aperture but the lens is fantastic

The Canon 15-85mm is going to be somewhat similar so i recommend that. Getting 24mm Full frame equivalent at the wide end is a big bonus and will often mean you can leave behind the 10-20mm.


These lenses are quite slow aperture wise so you have to think about use cases. When walking about I mainly take landscape, architecture, urban/street etc. For this f/5.6 is fine , especially combined with the IS/VR. if you do more portrait work then something like the Tamron 17-50mm f/32.8 will make more sense.
 
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the 15-85. As I said, I had one and loved it.

Since I moved to Nikon their 16-85 hardly comes off my camera and is nearly identical.
 
Yep, echo the Canon 15-85 or 17-55 recommendations. Basically whether you prefer the extra reach of the former or wider aperture of the latter.
 
Back
Top Bottom