Help with walkaround lens - Canon EF 28-135mm / EF-S 18-200mm

[kiuilop]

Hi there, I'm having some truble deciding what new lens to buy and I was hoping to get some advice.

I currently own a Canon D500, I have the original lens I got it with -*EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. I bought the Canon EF 55mm f1.4 which I'm really happy with. My purpose now was to replace my 18-55 as a walkaround lens with something that would have at least the same picture quality over that range but hopefully that would offer me some extra range.

I'm going to buy a second hand lens and I'm willing to spend around 200-300$ (from what I've seen that goes to around a 500-650$ new lens)

I read a bunch of reviews but I would like some advice for my particular situation. I would use this lens as my primary lens when I'm traveling, or just walking around the town for some interesting scenes worth capturing.

My main options are:

EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS - seen some good reviews but I'm afraid the picture quality will suffer too much with such a large range. I particular remember reading that barrel distortion is quite large on this one.

EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM - I've read some contradictory reviews on this one, some say the picture quality is pretty good managing to get quite some sharp images, others have been harsher on the image quality on both the lower / higher end. The 28mm lower end worries me as well as I don't want to carry my 18-55 around.


What do you think I should get?

[gturner]

The canon 15-85mm IS looks about the best to me...
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

It is more but on a crop frame sensor, it looks the best

I believe is saving and getting the right lens, rather than just settling for middle ground

[GadgetRick]

Just sold an EFS 18-200 IS. The picture quality is fine unless you're trying to do pro work. Distortion at the ends of the focal range but easily corrected in software.

However, you're not going to find this one for $300. Used they're going to go for (at least) $400. It is worth it, however, as this is quite a good lens. Much sharper than you'd think for a lens at this level.

[inkista]

Just in my general experience, used lens prices tend not to be half-off. Lenses that are $500-$600 new tend to be around $400-$500.

I think for the budget you have, you may just want to stick with what you've got and add an EF-S 55-250 IS. The 18-200, while it has more range, is optically more compromised than a 18-55/55-250 IS combo would be, and more expensive.

The 28-135 was designed for film, and isn't particularly wide for film, and wasn't an ideal performer on digital, which is why Canon released the 18-135 (which is new enough that used prices aren't likely to be much lower and copies are likely to be rarer). If you think it will work for you, then it's probably going to be the closest to what you're envisioning, price-wise.

The 15-85 that someone mentioned replaces the EF-S 17-85 IS USM, and is also unlikely to be found for much under $700 or used.

All of the lenses you're looking at or that are mentioned in this post, btw, are slow lenses. If you want this lens for fast action photography, you may want to switch your attention away from zooms to primes, or just suck it up and save enough bucks for an f/2.8 zoom.

[look_yau]

Or get a prime lens, e.g. Canon 35/F2
It should be good for walkaround