Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Like most other things in photography – I believe (said the peanut farmer) that a walk-about lens is a compromise – if not, then there would be little need for interchangeable lenses.
But one man's walk-about could be different to another's – in which case his walk- about lens might also be different. For instance, the city dweller and the farmer.
So - when Hogs mention “walk-about lens”, should we imagine their circumstance and then the lens accordingly?
It is highly probable that the two city dwellers would not agree over what makes an ideal walk-about lens - and the same for the two farmers.
So really, there is no such thing as a walk-about lens - but perhaps a general purpose lens, which is what most “kit” lenses are designed to be.
Therefore we should not, perhaps, abandon our kit lenses at the earliest opportunity – lets just call them walk-about lenses.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

You can take a perfectly acceptable image with Kit Lenses. Nikon's 18-55 is very capable. But, there I was, 40 km from Mt Denali, wishing I had a longer reach for a tighter crop. So, for me, a walk around lens is the 18-300. I have been able to switch from a wide angle frame to zoom in on a Deer crossing the trail.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

With respect, Hogwash. I have found that even on my ranch in Colorado at 7000 feet, fishing at a mountain lake at 9200 feet or downtown Santa Barbara my 24-85 lens just fine. I could use it anywhere and have for 90% of my photography. For the other circumstances such as macro photography I use a 105 f2.8 lens. Of course the 105 does well as a portrait lens too. Only for specialized use such as wildlife photography or wide(r) angle photography will I ever need anything else. I have been to American cities, African plains, European countries and the 24-85 did pretty much most of my shooting and did it well.

Let's remember that kit lenses pretty much fall into the same MM range as professional lenses. The difference is the quality of materials in building the lens. For most photographers the image quality of kit lenses compared to professional lenses would be nil.

I am not talking about want here but genuine need.

Dennis

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That's also pretty easy, the lens that's parked the most on someones camera for most of the time, is that persons "walk around lens" (I still call it that, because its a somewhat established description of such lens)! And of course, it differs for every person!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The Canon 24-70/2.8 L and f/, the 24-105/f4L II, all these are kit lenses, and the quality of materials is top notch, as is the IQ!!

ELNikkor

I walk around with the 18-55 on my D5100 90% of the time. Before that, I walked around with a 43-86 on my FM2. Can I still call these my "walk around" lenses?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

My walk around lens is a 18-200.Gives me the range I want for just walking around. For Birds In Flight I will put on my 200-500

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Maybe we should ask Alfred Wainwright, he would know!

I have six walkabout lenses. When I go walkabout, they all come with me...

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Ok all - so my thoughts on walk-about lenses could be wrong. What started these thoughts were one or two recent threads requesting advice on the purchase of a "walk-about" lens. I felt like replying "what did you do with your kit lens"? or "you should have bought the kit lens with your camera".

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I sure would and if they work for you they are excellent choices.

Dennis

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

It may be a philosophical discussion. I have my walkabout grab bag of equipment, lenses range from fish eye through ultra wide zoom, to wide to medium telephoto zoom (the default), to medium to long telephoto zoom, plus a couple of primes. And a decent flash.

I'm not looking to minimize what I carry so much as to maximize the opportunity. And it all fits under the seat on an aircraft and is easy and comfortable to carry.

Perhaps we should be asking about people's motivation for selecting equipment?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I think you have upon the term I had a problem coming up with, medium telephoto. That is, in my opinion, the type of lens many of us choose on the camera all the time. I know there are the proponents of the 18-300mm or thereabouts. I have done that myself. Then I realized I never much used anything over 100mm. I don't have a 24-140 lens for my Nikon but can see myself buying one in the future. It is a bit longer than my 24-85 and is a sharp lens from what I hear.

I can certainly appreciate wider and longer lenses for Grand Canyon or Monument Valley shots and Wildlife photos. Certainly they have their place. But for me the medium telephoto rules.

Dennis

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Ditto on the 24-85! I have taken many trips across the US (including to Co. ) amd recently checked the data on my images, the bulk of them were at or about 24mm with just a few over 50mm. This kit lens has done all I could ask of it and the IQ is plenty good enough. There is one image in particular, taken at Eagle Nest lake in New Mexico that I printed 34" wide without it "falling apart". I'll go out on a limb and say that for most of what we use our cameras for the so called kit lens will more than suffice. Made by Nikon, Canon or who ever. Today's glass is pretty darn good.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

You're over thinking a non-issue.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I believe there is much confusion between the terms walk about and general purpose. The ideal walk about lens will be determined by where you are walking about and what you plan to photograph. A general purpose lens is a lens that does not excel at any one application but is useful in many applications, from wide angle to telephoto.
A walk about lens can be pretty much anything you want it to be or need it to be.
A general purpose lens is a jack of all trades, master of none.
My general purpose lens is also more often than not my walk about lens on one of the two cameras I usually have handy, my Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS USM. I've used it to photograph flower shows, car shows, car races, dog shows, family gathering, city scenes and country scenes, kite flying, beach activities and generally anything I felt like pointing it at, and lots and lots of photos of my dogs. It works great with a speedlite and without. It is quite the general purpose lens and although it's not the sharpest lens I own, unless one is preoccupied with pixel peeping, it's sharp enough. I've made pleanty of 13 X 19 prints from images shot with that lens and they look just fine.