[peppersmum]

Not sure if anyone remembers but I was asking about 6 months ago about which camera to buy (talking about my sister-in-laws fantastic Nikon D7000). Anyway I finally bought a camera a few weeks ago and I am now the proud owner of a Canon EOS 600D. I went with more of an entry level camera as I decided it was more important to spend money on len's than the camera itself for what I wanted it for (just taking shots of family and our life - holidays etc).

Anyway I am now after some lens advice. I only bought the camera body as I had a old kit lens for my old Canon SLR which I can use and I also bought a 50 mm 1.8 as I wanted to take great shots of my kids. Anyway I LOVE the 50 mm lens and it's getting GREAT shots but my old kit lens is horrible with really faded out colour (I think it's not in great shape, may have scratch's etc).

Anyway I would like to buy a lens that I can use as an all rounder, so something that I can take on holidays and use when I want to have some zoom or take a photo of something closer up (I have noticed with my 50 mm I can't get certain shots if there are things behind me or in small spaces).

I was looking at the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens but not sure if it fits everything I need or whether there is a better lens people consider as an 'all rounder'.

So if money was no object, what is the best 'all rounder' lens you would buy for a Canon?

[Cat©]

I have the 24-105 and it spends a great deal of time on my camera.

It really depends on the main use. I know a lot of people have the ?24-70 I think it is, but that again limits even more!


I just got the 70-300 L series, and I LOVE it, BUT it is darn heavy (less than a 70-200 L IS but heavy still!).

If you main use is walking around general photography with a bit of kids in the park phootgraphy etc, I would get the 24-105, along with the 50mm you already have.

Then if you get more into it later you may want to consider a super wide angle (16-35/17-40) or a super telephoto - great for bird shots and wildlife far away, but these can come later if you find you need them.

[peppersmum]

Thanks Cat, good to know it spends a lot of time on your camera! I have been told to look at tamron and sigma too but then another friend said stay away from them, so confusing!

It really is mainly for kids photos and so we can use it if they are far away in a park or for some scenic shots. No plans to get into bird watching or sports photography so don't think I'd need a huge zoom anytime soon.

[jaylo]

I love my 24-105, it stays on my camera most of the time also.

Highly recommended!

[antsy]

I think the 24-105 length is great and would be perfect for everyday shooting (I have a 28-75 that stays on my camera most of the time). The only thing I wouldnt like is being limited to f4. If you are taking a lot of portrait shots and want that beautiful blurred out background then you might be a bit limited with only f4. Though you also have the 50mm lens, and that is has the ability to go below f4, so you could always use that when you want to take portraits.

I tend to agree with your friend, I have both a tamron and a sigma and have had focusing issues with both and needed to sned them back for calibration. My 2 canon lenses have been perfect straight out of the box.

[fire-truck]

I also have the 24-105mm 4L which is pretty much my everyday lens. The 24-70 2.8 is really nice, but it is a bit heavier and doesn't zoom as far as the 24-105, plus if you want the larger aperture you have the 50mm that can do that. So I'd probably go with the 24-105. I only own canon lenses so can't really comment on the sigma or tamrons.

This post has been edited by fire-truck: 31/07/2012, 05:47 PM

[peppersmum]

Thanks everyone, you've given me the confidence to go ahead and spend the money, looks like I won't regret it

[rbat]

TBH on a crop camera, 24mm is a limited for landscape so I don't consider it an all purpose lens. You would need at least 18mm to have a wide landscape on a crop. Just putting it out there.

[melaine]

I agree with rbat - I shoot a lot at 17mm with my 17-50mm lens and I think I'd miss that part of the range more than I'd miss length at the other end.

But, I can't think of a lens that goes from wide angle (on a cropped sensor camera) to a longer zoom that also has a fixed aperture...

[MakkaPakkaDad]

I'm using a 28-135 (f3.5-5.6) IS USM as my "everyday" lens. It's much sharper and gives richer colour than the included kit lenses that came with the body (EOS 400D), and does the job >90% of the time. I get a crisper photo at 135mm cropped in than I do with the 300mm kit lens! The only drawbacks are that it's nearly a kilo, and after 4 years and 18'000 photos the USM motor has worn out.