What's your "walk-around" lens?

[phlyersphan]

I'm currently saving up to upgrade my kit lens. I do have a 70-300mm that I use to shoot birds and animals, but unless I'm specifically shooting birds and animals, I pretty much keep the 18-55 kit lens on the camera.

Here are a couple resources I've found while trying to make my decision on what lens to buy next:

Video from CameraLabs.com on upgrading the Canon kit lens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm3f7eF4W3g

SLRGear's article - "Your Second Lens"
http://www.slrgear.com/articles/secondlens.html

[dj.bader]

I shoot with a Canon Rebel and took the kit lens off the first day and never put in back on. My first pictures where with a 17-40 f4/L lens and it rarely leaves the camera. I also have the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and the 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III IS USM lenses which are great when I need them but the good old 17-40 goes back on quickly when I'm done with the others. This lens was 1.5 times the price of the camera but I can't be happier with following the advise of a friend and getting a good lens.

[tibu]

On my Nikon D80 I use a Tamron 17-50 2.8 most of the time, but sometimes find it short. So, I have not gotten rid of my Nikon 18-135 and am considering using that more often. I often use bounce flash anyway and the IQ is similar.

[baseballboy828]

I currently use the 18-55. Once I become of legal working age/make more than I do walking dogs I'll buy the following:

(all nikon)

105 f/2.8 VR
80-200 f/2.8 (and a 1.4x teleconverter)
17-55 f/2.8 (this will be if I ever get clients for something like portraits or product shots.

[ELAY]

Originally Posted by baseballboy828

I currently use the 18-55. Once I become of legal working age/make more than I do walking dogs I'll buy the following:

(all nikon)

105 f/2.8 VR
80-200 f/2.8 (and a 1.4x teleconverter)
17-55 f/2.8 (this will be if I ever get clients for something like portraits or product shots.

That's a lot of dogs.

EL

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by ELAY

That's a lot of dogs.

EL

Not so many if you find the right neighborhood

[baseballboy828]

About 2-3 years worth for me Last year I walked someone's dog for them monday to thursday, so that really added up over the approx. 8-9 months I did it. My dad has a nikon D80, but for some reason doesn't seem to believe in lenses. He scoffs at the fact that I'm interested in $700 lens, even a $300 lens. Come on. How can you get a great lens for $150? My parents will give me some money (not nearly even half a lens) for my birthday, but other than that I'm on my own. My dad would never consider getting me one of the lenses I mentioned for my birthday. That's the problem. He wastes his money on kit lenses which I receive when he passes down his D50 to me. He buys himself kit lens. I'm already bumping my head on the ceiling with the D50. My head is practically out the roof with the lenses. His philosophy seems to be to buy junk which you just replace with something good when you get sick of having junk. (He does it every time with printers and then complains to me to fix the printer. Oh the irony.) Anyway, back from that rathole.

By the way, anyone who needs a fast zoom lens for nikon: The 80-200 f/2.8 is super-cheap for its class at $800 (Imported). Add a $40 warranty so it can be serviced in the U.S. for 7 years, and you're good.

I'm running around feverishly trying to figure how to sell prints (suggestions anyone? Please?!? PM me with any ideas.) of some landscape and macro stuff, as well as a wildlife or two. The real market now is for portrait and wedding guys. And I doubt I'll be hired for a wedding anytime soon. I'm probably at least 6 years younger than the youngest couples, probably more than ten years younger for most. I really want to just spend a few thousand and be done with it. Lenses unlike bodies are investments. The lineup I selected seems moderately future-proof so everything should last me a long long time.