Good "All Around" "Every Day" use lens for EOS 30d?

Hello everyone. I am looking for a good "All Around" lens for every day use. I am not a photog and don't do any portrait work, just taking pics of the family and kids outside, inside, at night, on trips, and holidays. I take some pics of ebay items sometimes also. I currently have a 100mm 2.8 USM for macro and the lens that came with my camera an EFS 18-55. I was told I could use the 100mm 2.8 for all around use and macro so I purchased it, but I have found I have to be a "mile" away just to take a pic of the kids so I have to be really far away to get everything in the pic. Not sure if there is a setting to fix this or not. Is there a way to use the 100mm 2.8 as both macro and "every day use"? Is there a lens out there that will serve both purposes? If not what lens would you recommend to add to my collection for an all around every day use?

What do you find limiting about your EF-S 18-55?

You have a good idea of focal lengths by having the 18-55 and the 100 macro. I would suggest you figure out what are you want more or less range in and then go from there. Truth be told, the 18-55 is a great all around range for many, and if you just want more IQ in that range something like the off brand 17-50s or the Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS (more money) would be good ones to look at.

Other good options if you want a larger zoom range sacrificing the wide end a bit would be the 24-105 or for a mid-long range zoom something like the 70-200.

There is no one answer as it depends on the person. For example, many think that 24 is not wide enough on a crop body like the 30D for a walkaround, personally I love my 24-105 as a walkaround.

Not really limiting. Well I was thinking that the 100mm 2.8 would serve both purposes, macro and normal use. I guess I am wanting a lense that will do both more than anything. If I want to take a pic of my kiddos then turn around and take a close up of them I would like to be able to do both without changing lenses if possible.

sigma 17-70

If you can afford it, I think the 24-105L would do a great job. It is very flexible due to IS and zoom range. It also has a macro mode, although this would not give true macro as per your 100mm lens. It was my preferred lens on my 1.6 camera.
Ian

I endorse everything Ianfp has said.

The 100mm focal length (160mm on your 30D, due to the "crop" factor) is what it is... you just need more space to take the picture if you want to have the entire body and its surrounding shown. What it's awesome for is close-up (in terms of view, might not be distance) portrait shots where you are focusing on the face, or a particular action that's happening (hand picking up a toy, etc). It's also great for getting very close shots of eyes, ears, noses etc.

For a more "all-purpose" lens for the 30D, try the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 if you don't want to spend all that much, or the Canon 24-105 f4L IS if you can afford it.

What is "IS" and "IQ"?

tristay wrote in post #7706382
What is "IS" and "IQ"?

Image stabilization and image quality.

17-55 2.8 IS is my recommendation. Everyone who has one seems to love it.

tristay wrote in post #7706303
If I want to take a pic of my kiddos then turn around and take a close up of them I would like to be able to do both without changing lenses if possible.

When you say a "close up" picture of your kids, do you really need macro? Does "close up" mean a head shot? If so, your 18-55 should be fine. But if you want to fill the entire frame with, say a single eye, then yeah, you'll need something approaching macro.

To AGC1019, I already have the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro. I am wondering if there is a lens out there that would do the same job as the 100mm 2.8 and also "every day" use all purpose lens so I didn't have to change lenses so much. Is there much difference between the 17-55 and the 18-55?

What is your budget?

+1 Sigma 17-70

Another to consider is the Tamron 28-75, which is a very nice range for an everyday walkabout, and does a great job on close-up photography too. I find this a good range with kids, where you don't necessarily need a wider lens, but sometimes need the extra length.