A good walk around lens for 7D

My 6 year old 17-85 just bit the dust (error message: 'can't communicate with the camera' despite the usual fixes) and I'm looking for a replacement. I like the lens and could get another but am curious if there is something new / better for a lens that I can use as my default walk around lens.

Camera: 7D
Prefer Canon lenses
Currently have 10-22, 70-300, 50/1.8
Need something to bridge the 22-70 range with a little overlap?
Generally shoot in town, landscape, and some low light shots
Don't like changing lenses frequently
Don't mind paying for a good quality lens

Thanks! Happy 4th!

No Brainer: 17-55 f/2.8 IS or the 24-70 f/2.8 L. I have the 24-70 and use it as my default lens on my 7D. It takes great shots, you won't be disappointed!

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Also consider 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.

Canon 15-85mm would fit you as far as range goes.

Several options:

15-85
17-55
24-70
24-105

You will just have to decide which of those works best for what you shoot since you already have the UW zoom. There are a lot of things to take into account such as constant aperture, IS, weather sealing, reach, weight, cost, if you ever plan on going FF, etc. I'm sure you know all of those but really only you know which will work best for your needs. Sounds like you have been shooting for a while so you probably have a good idea on focal length and if you feel you were lacking anything in particular with your previous lens that you could get in a new one.

GregoryF wrote in post #12703238
Canon 15-85mm would fit you as far as range goes.

Thanks guys. I have been thinking about the 15-85 but don't know anyone that has one. Seems to get good reviews and the price isn't horrible ... a little less expensive than the 17-55 .... just not as fast.

tgara wrote in post #12703216
No Brainer: 17-55 f/2.8 IS or the 24-70 f/2.8 L. I have the 24-70 and use it as my default lens on my 7D. It takes great shots, you won't be disappointed!

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Beautiful shot! That's one of my favorite places!

15-85mm is believed to be the best walk around lens for the crop body

rick_reno wrote in post #12703519
15-85mm is believed to be the best walk around lens for the crop body

According to who?

yourdoinitwrong wrote in post #12703556
According to who?

I'm curious too.

Why the 15-85 vs the 17-55?

Big difference in price ....

rick_reno wrote in post #12703519
15-85mm is believed to be the best walk around lens for the crop body

LOL

The best walk around lens for crops are the f2.8 zooms !
e.g.
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 17-55 2.8

Because having a sharp f2.8 is very useful

XSi (450D) and Tamron 17-50 2.8

at f2.8

Drewaz wrote in post #12703276
Thanks guys. I have been thinking about the 15-85 but don't know anyone that has one. Seems to get good reviews and the price isn't horrible ... a little less expensive than the 17-55 .... just not as fast.

Tamron 28-75 2.8 would be less expensive. I use it as walkaround lens.

LOVE my 24-105...

Drewaz wrote in post #12703608
I'm curious too.

Why the 15-85 vs the 17-55?

Big difference in price ....

My belief is that there is no absolute "best," only the best tool for the job. What I mean is that the 17-55 is a great lens, but if you regularly need more reach than that or if weather-sealing is important then it is not the "best." That's why I never understand posts like what I responded to.

watt100 wrote in post #12703610
LOL

The best walk around lens for crops are the f2.8 zooms !
e.g.
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 17-55 2.8

Because having a sharp f2.8 is very useful

XSi (450D) and Tamron 17-50 2.8

at f2.8

For a walk-around lens, I still think the extra focal length range of the 15-85 is better than the f/2.8 of a 17-50 or 17-55. Having 2.8 can be useful, but so is the 4-stop Image Stabilization on the 15-85. Instead of f/2.8, I could have easily shot that same photo at f4 and used the IS to shoot at a slower shutter speed.

If you need a faster shutter speed to freeze action, it could be a problem, but bumping up the ISO usually works for me.

The 15-85 also has the added benefit of 15mm vs 17mm. 2mm really does make a BIG difference when shooting indoors or large objects outdoors.