24-105L or 18-135 STM for my 70D?

I'm looking to pick up a general purpose lens for my 70D. I have a70-300L that I use for youth sports - and also have an 18-55 STM.

My thought is to get something to cover a greater range for general use (vacations, family events, etc.).

I don't shoot much video with the 70D - if that makes any difference.

Thoughts / recommendations?

Thanks

Maybe get the 24-105mm and get a Canon 10-18 IS STM to go along with it?

RobinSchouten wrote in post #17160813
Maybe get the 24-105mm and get a Canon 10-18 IS STM to go along with it?

Well - my hope is to get a single lens for general use - so I don't have to deal with changing lens and carrying extra stuff.

The 18-135mm offers a better focal range on your crop body for a single walk around lens than the 24-105L. It will cover you from wide angle to telephoto, while the 24-105L will lack the wide angle coverage.

The 24-105L equates to a 38.4-168mm lens on an APS-C / crop camera----Hardly wide-angle by current standards.

I don't have any experience with the 18-135; but I can tell you "first hand" that the EF-S 15-85 is a stellar lens, and would be my choice.

http://www.leighwax.co​m/p17618270/h243253bd#​h243253bd
http://www.leighwax.co​m/p17618270/h243253bd#​h30660aa8

Leigh

I had the 18-135 STM on my T4i and it's pretty great for a kit lens. I would go for that one.

I would go for a 18-135mm STM for a APS-C also.

Thanks all for the feedback and suggestions.

My impression is also that I would be missing something on APS-C if my widest zoom is only 24mm. Since you already have the 70-300L and have good telephoto coverage, I'd also say that either the 15-85 would be a great choice (it would give you both wider and longer coverage than your 18-55), and the 18-135 STM, based on these forum comments, is also quite good.

I haven't used the 18-135 STM but I can say, I'm quite fond of my 15-85. There is quite a bit of difference between 15 and 18mm in actual use. There have been times when the 15mm was the right choice to frame a scene.... when 18 wouldn't work as well.

I don't have an ultra wide mainly because of the 15-85. We all "see" things according to our own paradigm so others might "see" a scene that needs more than 15mm but I haven't, at least, not yet.

I have both the 15-85 and the 18-135 STM. If you are not going to shoot much video, I would choose the 15-85. The 15-85 has a proper manual focus ring - I miss this on the 18-135 STM - and is supposed to be optically very good.

Your 70-300L will give you coverage at the longer end. I suggest you keep the 18-55 - it makes an ideal lightweight / video lens.

Again - thank you all for the comments and suggestions.

I ended up picking up (locally) a new 18-135 STM that someone was selling from a brand new kit they just picked up.

I ended up going with this lens because - at least to me - I think it will give me sufficient range for general photography when I only want to take one lens. I still have the 18-55 (not sure if I'll keep it) and will use the 70-300L when shooting sports (or other shooting that warrants it) - but will just toss the 70D and 18-135 in the bag when walking around.

So - thank again - this forum has really been a big help to me in picking up me new gear - you all do a great service to those with a bit less knowledge.

regards.

ddk,

Congrats on your new lens. I look forward to seeing some of your photographs with it in use. If you haven't posted there yet, you might considered visiting the 70D thread: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1324226

If you have, I'm sorry I didn't recognize your name.

For a kit lens, the 18-135mm STM is outstanding. Fantastic for videos also.

ddk2001 wrote in post #17163364
Again - thank you all for the comments and suggestions.

I ended up picking up (locally) a new 18-135 STM that someone was selling from a brand new kit they just picked up.

I ended up going with this lens because - at least to me - I think it will give me sufficient range for general photography when I only want to take one lens. I still have the 18-55 (not sure if I'll keep it) and will use the 70-300L when shooting sports (or other shooting that warrants it) - but will just toss the 70D and 18-135 in the bag when walking around.

So - thank again - this forum has really been a big help to me in picking up me new gear - you all do a great service to those with a bit less knowledge.

regards.

Good choice!

If I were you, I'd also keep the 18-55. Makes a good kit lens if you ever want to sell your body used without wanting to upgrade the 18-135 STM. (Plus, I'd assume the 18-55 wouldn't sell for a lot anyway).