Walk around lens?

I was hoping for some feedback from you guys on this. My efs 17-85 is needing service and I am considering replacing it, depending estimate for repair. Max budget $1,000. I need a lens for basically walk around shooting, chasing 2 1/2 year old granddaughter around the house and playground. Was considering a used canon 24-70 f2.8 or 17-40 f4. Even have a chance to get ahold of a practically brand new 16-35f2.8. Any advise and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I would recommend the new 16-35mm lens.
While the MSRP is at $1200 it is optically sharper than both the 17-40 and 16-35 2.8 lenses
It also offers IS.
THere is also the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS lens that can be bought refurbished or used for about $600
Which is half the cost of the new 16-35 IS lens.

tom f wrote in post #17137918
I was hoping for some feedback from you guys on this. My efs 17-85 is needing service and I am considering replacing it, depending estimate for repair. Max budget $1,000. I need a lens for basically walk around shooting, chasing 2 1/2 year old granddaughter around the house and playground. Was considering a used canon 24-70 f2.8 or 17-40 f4. Even have a chance to get ahold of a practically brand new 16-35f2.8. Any advise and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Do you need anything wider then 24mm? If yes then a 24-70 is a no go. Do you need anything longer then 35-40mm? If so then the 16-35 or 17-40 are also no goes. (on a side note; If you're always under 35mm then, for a crop, I'd suggest the sigma 18-35mm f1.8 over either of the 16-35's or 17-40.)

Look through your photos, what focal length range do you uses the most? If your under 35mm then get a sigma 18-35. If you're never below 24mm then get a 24-70. If you're under 24mm and over 35mm then I'd do the 17-55. If you're all over the place with the 17-85 then the 15-85 or 18-135 seems like a logical choice.

There are a ton of lens options and without knowing what focal length range you need you're just spinning your wheels and getting anywhere.

Great advise gremlin75! I looked at shots taken with the 17-85 and most are around 45mm. A few at wide open,17mm and a few at 85mm. On an average 40-50 would be a good range I guess.

the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non VC is a good walk around lens for the crop
and in a half the price you put

tom f wrote in post #17137918
I was hoping for some feedback from you guys on this. My efs 17-85 is needing service and I am considering replacing it, depending estimate for repair. Max budget $1,000. I need a lens for basically walk around shooting, chasing 2 1/2 year old granddaughter around the house and playground. Was considering a used canon 24-70 f2.8 or 17-40 f4. Even have a chance to get ahold of a practically brand new 16-35f2.8. Any advise and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Heya,

You're shooting on APS-C, so I would suggest you consider what properties you're willing to compromise on, to get focal length options in a zoom.

24-70 F2.8 is not going to be very wide, but will be good for normal and telephoto ranges. Fast, sharp. Pricey. I would actually just consider a simple Tamron 28-75 F2.8 instead for the cost. Alternatively, consider a tamron 17-50 VC lens or Sigma equivalent. They're sharp and fast. Good general focal lengths for APS-C.

17-40 is stuck at F4 at the widest. Pretty slow lens, and not much depth of field control. So if you're looking to have some isolation and pleasing bokeh, this may not do what you want on APS-C to the degree you may want it. F4 at longer focal length will do it. But at wide angles like this, not really, on APS-C. Avoid the 16-35 F2.8, it's soft wide open for what it is, not worth the cost in my opinion.

I would look at primes like: Canon EF 28 F1.8, Canon EF 35 F2 IS, Canon EF 40 F2.8 STM, Sigma 50 F1.4.

Or, look at some general zooms like: EF-S 18-135 IS STM, or the EF-S 15-85.

Or some fast zooms, for APS-C, like the Tamron 28-75 F2.8, or Tamron 17-50 F2.8 VC.

Lastly, get an E-TTL flash (Yongnuo 565EX II is inexpensive and is awesome).

Very best,

OP, you are replacing a 17-85. From the tone of your post I would guess you want something similar but better. The 15-85 is a much better lens than the 17-85. It is the most direct replacement. I think the other lenses you mentioned would give you less, overall, than your current 17-85. Not necessarily less IQ - they are all better lenses than the 17-85 - but they would each limit your photography in ways the 17-85 didn't. The 15-85, on the other hand, gives you everything you already have in a sharper, slightly wider, and better made package.

I stand by my belief that the 24-105 is the best walk around lens; it's wide enough for most shots, it has enough reach on the other end. I've found that in the times I've rented lenses and also carried around my other lenses, the 24-105 is on my body more often than anything else. 16-35, 70-200, 14, 50; I constantly found myself having to switch around when using those. The only other lens I could consider is the 24-70, but honestly I wasn't impressed with the MKI and the MKII exceeds your budget.

TheInfamousGreedo wrote in post #17138389
I stand by my belief that the 24-105 is the best walk around lens; it's wide enough for most shots, it has enough reach on the other end. I've found that in the times I've rented lenses and also carried around my other lenses, the 24-105 is on my body more often than anything else. 16-35, 70-200, 14, 50; I constantly found myself having to switch around when using those. The only other lens I could consider is the 24-70, but honestly I wasn't impressed with the MKI and the MKII exceeds your budget.

For it's price on the used market now ($550ish) it's pretty tough to beat the 24-105 as a general walk around lens. I have a 24-70 a 135 a 70-200 and a number of other lenses, but when it comes down to just needing a nice walkaround my 24-105 is always on the camera.

24mm is not wide on a crop sensor (well, barely). I think it is clear from the OP's choices in his original post that would like wider than 24mm. My main lens is a 28-135 (on a 50D) and I look forward to replacing it with a 24-105. But I also have a 10-22 so my circumstance is different than the OP's and I also know just how wide 28mm (or 24) isn't on a crop.

Well that's a lot of great feedback! I actual forgot about the canon efs 15-85. Thanks!

I have the 15-85 and it a very nice lens and a great range.

tom f wrote in post #17137918
I was hoping for some feedback from you guys on this. My efs 17-85 is needing service and I am considering replacing it, depending estimate for repair. Max budget $1,000. I need a lens for basically walk around shooting, chasing 2 1/2 year old granddaughter around the house and playground. Was considering a used canon 24-70 f2.8 or 17-40 f4. Even have a chance to get ahold of a practically brand new 16-35f2.8. Any advise and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Guess I am different from the rest but I don't ever want to be without a 85mm 1.8

farmer

I love my 15-85! Great lens for general purpose.

The AF is blazing fast with the Canon 17-55is. If your budget can afford an f/2.8 zoom I'd highly suggest getting the fastest glass you can get.

Remember image stabilization reduces hand shake. It does NOT stop action. Everyone is so excited about the new 16-35 f/4IS. Mind you it appears to be a great lens. HOWEVER if your shooting young ones you want fast shutter speeds!!! I cannot tolerate motion blurr so to me its a no brainer to buy f/2.8 zoom or fast primes. If your deciding on buying a full frame down the road (6d, or any FF) the 16-35Lmk2 f/2.8 might be a great stepping stone in that direction. This will allow you to use that lens down the road for full frame.

If you definitely going to stick with crop.....Canon's 17-55IS would be the lens to get if I owned a crop.

If your wanting to do video the 18-135mm may work better for vids but lack a tad on image quality.

choose your poison