Best "general use" lens

[Jody Arnott]

Hi all,

I'm looking at my next lens purchase. I currently own a Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 and a Tokina 11-16.
I'm now after more of a "general use" lens for my 650D and C100. Something that covers a wide zoom range... a 18-200mm would be perfect, but I can't seem to find anything like that.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm looking at the Canon EF 24-105MM F4L, but it doesn't quite have as much zoom as I would like. Is there anything similar I should be looking at?

Many thanks in advance.

[Dave Baker]

Hi Jody,

Here are some for starters Canon Fit - Camera Lenses - Wex Photographic

Dave

[Darren Levine]

perhaps you misspoke, because you said you can't find anything in the range you want, but every single major lens manufacture has something in the 18-200mm range, and they show up in just about any general lens search

[Richard D. George]

Much less range, but the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 (constant) would be a superb general purpose lens for the two cameras you mentioned. Optically equal to "L" lenses (better than the 24-105, in my experience) though not quite as rugged and dust-sealed. Look through forum entries and you will find many folks that have the same opinion.

[Jon Fairhurst]

I was thinking about the same lens. "General use" depends on the "use". For a vacation, an 18-200 zoom makes a lot of sense as a photo lens. You can shoot a large space up close or a small animal at a distance. But for filmmaking, you would need a high-end tripod or grip setup to make that 200 mm shot look stable and onw would rarely use such a long view, except for that long, surveillance shot or heatwave effect. 17-55 would cover most "human scale" films quite well - and would cover a documentary about wolves very poorly.

For me, knowing the application is key. Changing lenses isn't difficult and a belly pack or side-access backpack allows one to change lenses while walking, never having to set anything down. Multiple lenses make especially good sense when going with a long telephoto. Long lenses require heavy tripods and once you've committed to a big head and sticks, an extra lens or two is small and convenient by comparison.

[Jody Arnott]

Thanks for the info.

I'm now looking at the 24-105 f4 USM and the EF-S 18-200 f3.5-5.6. I'm thinking that the 24-105 might be the better lens, the constant aperture is nice even if it's not overly fast.

I think that the EF-S 17-55 (mentioned above) is probably too similar to my existing Sigma 18-35 f1.8 lens. Although the image stabilisation would be nice.

I shoot wide variety of different events/corporate/real estate, etc. So this would basically be a "go to" lens if that makes sense.

Anyway, thanks again for all the info. I'll consider my options :)

[Rob Cantwell]

i use almost exclusively a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L and a EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS with my DSLR they do everything i need, id like a EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II but the price is a bit high.

[Richard D. George]

Perhaps you should rent the 17-55 f/2.8 and test it. You might be surprised with the results.

I found the 17-55 optically better, with better colors, than the 24-105, which I sold. For crop factor bodies, the 17-55 f2.8 combined with a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, make a good combination.

[Jon Fairhurst]

We have the 24-105 at work. On the 5D2, I find the results a bit ...dull. Not that there's anything objectively bad about the lens, but with aperture limited to f/4, the images I got were so so. Not bad. Not great. That said, I'm used to fast primes.

I would also recommend checking out the 17-55. When shooting at f/4, you won't be shooting at the lens' limit. It might not be a prime, but it's as close as you'll get - and possibly better, given that it has IS.

Renting before buying isn't a bad way to go, but if you're comfortable buying and selling used lenses, just go ahead and buy. The 17-55 is in demand.

[Robert Benda]

Most of the time, I see either the 24-105mm f/4 OR a combo of the 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 24-70mm f/2.8

With these two different cameras, perhaps 2 of these lenses would give you the reach you want on one camera, and flexiblity on the other.

[Ade Towell]

The 18-135mm STM lens is great on the c100 with dual pixel af - fast silent af makes it ideal for run n gun type of stuff

[Michael Bishop]

I like the 18-135mm STM lens on the 70D for a all around lens.

[Bob Drummond]

Another vote for the 17-55 2.8 IS

[David Probst]

the canon 24-105mm looses about 1-1.3 stops of light as you zoom in. so even though officially it it appears that it stays @ f4.0 it does not in reality.

this is a good all around workhorse but its not without falts.

id look at the Sigma 24-105mm f4.0. optically this is very close to the canon but it has a smoother zoom feel where you can actually do some manual zooms that almost feel like a servo where its hard to do that with the canon 24-105.

david