Canon DSLR users: what is your "walk around" lens?

[Ahnberg4]

I will be buying a Canon XTi next week. I have decided (I think) to buy it with the kit lens, but I am sure it won't give me enough reach for the type of pix I tend to take. Do you generally use a 18-55 as your walk around? If not, what lens do you tend to use. I am thinking that I will also buy the 28-135 F/3.5-5.6 USM in addition to the kit lens. I also like to take football pix. I can't afford the 70-200 2.8 at this time. I am thinking about the 70-300 F/4-5.6 IS USM. Is this a good idea for those far away shots, or would you recommend something different? Thanks for any and all advise!!

 

[ktulu]

I will be buying a Canon XTi next week. I have decided (I think) to buy it with the kit lens, but I am sure it won't give me enough reach for the type of pix I tend to take. Do you generally use a 18-55 as your walk around? If not, what lens do you tend to use. I am thinking that I will also buy the 28-135 F/3.5-5.6 USM in addition to the kit lens. I also like to take football pix. I can't afford the 70-200 2.8 at this time. I am thinking about the 70-300 F/4-5.6 IS USM. Is this a good idea for those far away shots, or would you recommend something different? Thanks for any and all advise!!

I have the 28-135 adn I'm pretty happy with it, good walk around lens.

If you're looking at the 70-300, then you might want to look at the 70-200 f/4L. For L glass it is a decent price. I may end up with that if the CFO won't sign off on the 70-200 f/2.8L IS.

 

[jann1033]

i have the 70-200 f4 and love it, very sharp,great lens...but last weekend i mostly used my 28-135 while away for the weekend, it was lighter ( a little ) and just more versatile so i didn't have to cart both....I'm downloading the photos now so I'll soon know if that was a mistake or not

 

[boBQuincy]

If you look at data from Wega2 you will probably see that most photos (taken at WDW anyway) are in the wider range. In this case your 18-55 is a good walk-around lens.

28 is not very wide on a 1.6x camera so you will probably still want the 18-55. You may be interested in Canon's 55-200 to complement the kit lens, it's not a great lens but probably close to the 75-300 for image quality.

 

[skr8pn]

I bought a Tamron 18-250. It works great for that "never miss a shot" type. However it's not the sharpest thing in the world but thats no surprise. I've also got the 75-300 USM and I love the USM feature. It crazy fast IMO and prety sharp compared to my 18-55 kit lens. I'm at the point in my photography phase that I'd rather have "A" shot as opposed to "THE" shot. Much of anything I can get I'm happy with, never miss a shot. However, not to many wall hangers without tweaking some.

 

[0bli0]

i love my 24-70 f/2.8L - great range and perfect walkaround.

 

[Groucho]

The Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 is pretty well-regarded, I've been using it as my primary lens (with another mount) since I got mine. Sigma and Tokina have similar lenses but the Tamron seems to be the sharpest.

 

[DragonSlyr]

I love my Sigma 24-70 f2.8. Takes very sharp pictures, not overly large and fast enough for shooting football action under the lights.

 

[minie_meese]

My regular walk around lense for most things is a Tamron 28-75 f2.8
but dependng on where I will be I sometimes carry my Canon 70-200 f4.0 on my camera. I like both lenses a lot.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I walk around with canon's:
50mm f1.8
28-135 IS
70-300 IS

that is all, I like the overlap of the two zooms. It helps make the choice of lens for each setting a little easier. The 300 gets a little wide and the 28 gets a pretty good zoom. Of course all those opinions based on those being my first and only lenses. (except the kit lens)

Mikeeee

 

[JCTurner]

I will be buying a Canon XTi next week. I have decided (I think) to buy it with the kit lens, but I am sure it won't give me enough reach for the type of pix I tend to take. Do you generally use a 18-55 as your walk around? If not, what lens do you tend to use. I am thinking that I will also buy the 28-135 F/3.5-5.6 USM in addition to the kit lens. I also like to take football pix. I can't afford the 70-200 2.8 at this time. I am thinking about the 70-300 F/4-5.6 IS USM. Is this a good idea for those far away shots, or would you recommend something different? Thanks for any and all advise!!

Funnily enough on my XT the 28-135 is my walkabout lens. However I also carry my 10-20mm Sigma.

If I know I am going to be out in the evening / indoors or at night I carry my Sigma 30mm 1.4.

If I am going somewhere that I can get some zoom usage then I use my 70-200 F4 IS L.

I dont think that there is a single perfect lens which will cover all eventualities but with a bit of planning 2 will suffice

 

[DizGeek]

Canon 28-135IS works for me!

 

[Marinerbaby]

My walkaround lens is the 24-70L f/2.8 if I am going to be inside at all. Outside I love my 85 f/1.2. I prefer the sharpness I can get with my 85 but if I am going to be inside I cannot get back far enough sometimes. If I could it would never leave my camera.

 

[Metallicat]

Mine is the Sigma 18-200mm DC OS (optical stabilizer) I love this lens! I sold my 28-135 IS to get it, and have absolutely no regrets.
great range and pictures are very sharp. I highly recommend it.

 

[Cyrano]

The 28 - 135 here

 

[mabas9395]

I struggled over this same question for a long time. Got the 28-135 and really like it. But I also have the 10-22 and 85 f/1.8 which I love more but they aren't as versatile.

So instead of having a walk-around lens, I have a walk-around bag that I use and carry all of my equipment everywhere I go. That way, if I need any of my 5 lenses or 430ex flash, I'll have it. It may seem like a lot to carry, but the only thing worse than a sore back is the pain from kicking myself for not bringing the right lens to get the shot.

By now, my family and friends just expect to see me with a big back pack just about everywhere I go.

 

[DVC Jen]

Primarily I also use my 28-135IS lens as my walk-around. I am very happy with it - just wish it did a bit better in low light situations. Oh well - if there was a lens that did everything we wanted that would be awesome - but I seriously doubt that is gonna happen anytime soon.

 

[webshark3]

I've come to love the simple joys of prime... (24mm f2.8). However, if I need wide angle, I prefer the kit lens. Light weight and wide work great at Disney.

 

[BFL]

The 28-135 IS is the lens I use the most; but I have gotten great pics with the 18-55 kit lens. With the IS you can get some pretty good shots in low light situation.
Barbara

 

[June0802]

I had the canon 28-105 and it was not wide as I would like. I sold it and bought the sigma 17-70. The sigma is perfect for me and very sharp.