Canon Users - What's your favorite general purpose lens?

[kparlin]

I have a Canon EOS 300D with the kit lens. I love photography and want so badly to practice and get better, but I'm constantly frustrated when I take a bunch of shots only to find that I hate most of them because of the constraints of the lens (focal length, auto-focus speed, etc).

I'm still finding my way around the manual options, but I feel like if I had a better general purpose lens I'd get better results. Of course if I had unlimited resources I'd buy a bunch of different options, but like most people I have to research and save for the one I want.

I do plan to try to rent some lenses prior to buying, so at least I can get a feel for what I like. But I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions for an amateur on a budget!

[inkista]

I don't have a favorite general purpose lens. I have favorite special-purpose lenses. The trick with any lens is to know its strengths and weaknesses and work within them.

With the kit lens--its main weakness is that it's soft wide open, and it's slow. So, if you use it outdoors, stopped down to f/8 - f/16, that can make up for a great deal of the kit lenses weaknesses.

Its strengths are that it's a) cheap enough to be trashable, so you can be fearless taking it along and sticking it into anything; b) it's small and light so nobody notices you with it and it can go everywhere; and c) it goes 18mm wiiiiide--it's a superb option for landscapes and used close-up for portraits for that reason.

If you're on a really cash-strapped budget, my recommendation for another lens would be the EF 50mm f/1.8 II. ($80). It is, however, not a "general purpose" lens. It is a portrait lens, designed more for available-light photography (i.e., it can be used indoors without a flash). It's optically better than the EF-S 18-55, but that's easy for it to do because it doesn't zoom. It will teach you how to zoom with your feet, and possibly how to search out other angles of attack. Also, it will teach you how to use your autofocus system.

[Saralonde]

For a general walkaround lens I have the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. I bought it to replace my kit lens. The 2.8 lets it work well in low light, it covers the focal lengths I like and it is nice and sharp. Price is about $350.

[jblaschke]

I started out with the Nifty 50 and Canon's 75-300 zoom, and quickly realized I'd go insane with those as my main lenses. The 50, with the 1.6 multiplier on my crop-sensor XTi, was simply difficult to work with in anything but wide-open spaces (although the picture quality was excellent). When I saved up the money, I got the Canon 28-135mm USM IS and have been very happy with the autofocus speed, the great zoom range and the image quality. IS is currently acting up, but that might be my camera's fault. Did I mention the GREAT zoom range? It's a nice lens for what it is.

[Elmo]

My most used is a 17-50 Tammy, but that is based on me knowing what will likely fall into my viewfinder. If I cannot mentally determine what lens will be best overall I use the 28-135 IS as it carries the most range.

[shootoften]

The lens I usually have on my camera (EOS 20D) when I am just out and about, is a Tamron SP AF24-135mm F/3.5-5.6. I bought this lens when I was shooting with a 35mm Canon Elan 7E. It has been a great lens, that produces very sharp images. The zoom range is awesome for a lot of different subjects ie...landscapes, portraits, close-ups, etc... The only drawback I have with this lens is that when I switched to "Digital", the 1.6x crop factor took away my 24mm wide view. The lens became approximately a 38-216mm (still fairly wide) on the 20D. Although I lost on the wide end, I gained on the telephoto side. For an all-purpose lens, I don't think you can go wrong with this Tamron. Just my opinion!

[Sime™]

I think my most used lens is my 50mm f1.4, but my most used multi-purpose lens is the 24-70mm f2.8 - A stunning lens.

[Tiberius]

Put me down as another fan of the 17-50mm Tammy. i got it to replace the kit lens, and I've been very happy with it.

[ding]

Ditto what Saralonde says. My Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is my favorite daily use lens. My 70-200 f/4L is my favorite overall, but it's too long for a walkabout. If you don't want to drop $300, I'd say go for the 50 f/1.8 for about $80. You'll have a lot of fun with it.

[joefish]

I'd also throw in a recommendation for the 50mm 1.8, as it's very cheap but does a good job. I especially like it for shooting in low light situations. It does depend exactly on what you'll be shooting though. What sort of photography would you like to do that your current lens is restricting you with? The answer to this question will help you choose another lens.