if you could have only ONE lense........

which would you pick?
body is a 60d

subject is almost 100% family and kids. some posed a la birthday party, but most will be spontaneous and unplanned. lighting is a crapshoot, could be indoors, outdoors, whatever it is when the kids are being cute or funny is how i gotta shoot it, shadows and all.

there's little to no desire (or budget) for swapping lenses for trips or circumstance. fast low light is essential cuz these buggers are fast and cuteness can be fleeting.

i've got a sigma 30/1.4 on there now but have been entertaining the thought of replacing this good-for-most lense

so what's the collective wisdom? stick with what i've got or am i missing something?

canon 24-70 2.8

I cannot help you. I shoot a long lens on my 50D and a wide lens on my 5DII. But the 24-70mm lens would be my choice if I only had one to pick from.

are you guys referring to the L series lense? don't know if i could swing that.

24-70 is a great lens, I love mine, but on my full frame. The lens I use most on my 40D is my 17-40. But if I went back to a crop body only again it would be a 17-55 f/2.8 instead. When I only had a 50D I had a 15-85 as a general purpose and walkaround, but always said I should probably have gone 17-55 for the f/2.8 aperture. That would be the one I would go for in your shoes. BTW I also had a Sigma 30 f/1.4 and absolutely loved it.

If you can't swing the 24-70 f2.8L, I'd look hard at the Sigma 17-50 f2.8. If that's above your budget, the Tamron 17-50 non VC. There is also the Sigma and Tamron 24-70.

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non VC

wow, thanks for all the quick responses.

specific lenses aside, i'm getting that the general consensus is that i should sacrifice some aperture for zoom?

ekkthree wrote in post #14769519
which would you pick?
body is a 60d

subject is almost 100% family and kids. some posed a la birthday party, but most will be spontaneous and unplanned. lighting is a crapshoot, could be indoors, outdoors, whatever it is when the kids are being cute or funny is how i gotta shoot it, shadows and all.

*snip*

Because things are spontaneous and unplanned, having the zoom will be a godsend. On family trips and what not, if insane high ISO and f2.8 isn't enough, you can always resort to the pop-up flash. Better to have a shot than no shot!

Something to think about: I've been using the Sigma 30 pretty much exclusively. I've taken it to Tokyo Disney Land and had no problems with my friends. The only limitations I have run into while using the Sigma 30 was trying to get group pictures in cramped restaurants. I've also had limitations taking pictures at live shows when I'm cramped right in the front of the stage. Sometimes I crave for a zoom and I'll be picking up a Sigma 17-50 if I go on a 4 day tour with a band next month.

Canon 17-55 f/2.8. I prefer using old MF lenses, but I do want one with AF and the 17-55 is the only one for me!

i2ichal2d wrote in post #14769525
canon 24-70 2.8

Maureen Souza wrote in post #14769528
But the 24-70mm lens would be my choice if I only had one to pick from.

One more vote for the 24-70 f2.8. It doesn't matter which body to me, I love it on either my 5D or 20D.

for the 60D..

17-55 f2.8 IS USM - lighter than the 24-70L and wider on a crop, bonus of IS.

if on a budget, consider the non-VC Tamron 17-50 f2.8

My 2c

Thats what I have; been pleased with it. It’s noisier than others is all.

I LOVE my Tamron 28-75 2.8 - Next on my wish list is to replace it with the Canon 24-70 but the Tammy has been good to me.

Tamron 17-50mm non-VC - Best lens for the price for a crop in my opinion.