ligneus

At least you said lens instead of the pretentious sounding 'glass', but lense?

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I would ask you, 'What do you photograph and what focal length do you primarily use?'

A zoom lens such as an 18-300mm is going to be full of compromises in quality. Depending on your individual taste and expectations, you may well be satisfied with the results or you may feel that you wasted your hard earned cash. Try to rent the Sigma or Tamron lens and see if it works for you.

I used a Canon 24-105mm F/4L on my Rebels (T1i and T2i) as the primarily lens for years. There was only one time that I wished that I had a wider lens with me and that was on one of my trips to Las Vegas.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If money matters and you can find one, the Tokina ATX 24-200 is a very nice lens - especially on crop frame - about $150 on ebay.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Own it and love it. Small, light and accurate. Excellent I Q. And it is a BLACK "L" lens so when someone looks at it they don't realize it is a Canon "L" lens.

I don't think this is what the OP is looking for though.

Jim D

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I don't think anyone would consider any of the 'L' lenses to be a kit lens!

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Upon the recommendation of another Hogger, my "walk around" lens for my Canon 70D is a Canon 15-85 with image stabilization. The lens is a bit pricy -- around $800. I am very happy with it.

buddy

LarryN Loc: Portland OR & Carbondale, CO

I have a 24-105 f4 L for my walk around lens on a T5i. Absolutely a great lens. Furthermore Canon had it on sale as a refurbished lens a couple of days ago at $639. I was told by a Canon rep that the reburbished lens I bought was really a new lens that had been returned from a retailer as an overstock item. And the lens I received was in a new box without any sign of having ever been used so I believe it was truely a new lens. The price on the Canon site under reburbished lens for the 24-105 does jump around a lot and frequently the lens is out of stock or doesn't even appear on the "Canon camera, lenses, refurbished" site.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Why not? Canon thinks it's a kit lens. They've sold it in kit with 5DII and 5DIII.

Personally I wouldn't spend the money for the 24-105/4L ($500-600 used, $1000 new). Yes, it's a pretty good lens... But for a lot less money an EF 28-135 IS USM can deliver just as good shots, has equal AF performance, close focusing ability and just as effective IS, plus a similar range of focal lengths. The 28-135 is not as well built as the L, but is widely available used for well under $200 (new for $300).

Some like a little wider lens. One of the EF-S 18-135s is another option. There are two versions... one with STM (stepper motor focus) and a $50 cheaper one without. I don't think the T3/1100D can take full advantage of STM tech... but it might focus faster and quieter. These sell for $500 and $550 new, $175 to $275 used.

The premium "walk-around" lenses for crop sensor Canon cameras are the EF-S 15-85mm IS USM (top image quality, fast AF, 3-4 stop IS, and wider than most) or the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS USM (for it's f2.8 aperture and high image quality).

Today's are better than they were in the past, but the superzooms have never impressed me very much (and used to be awful). They try to "do-it-all", but don't do anything particularly well. Any zoom with more than about 4X or 5X or 6X focal length ratio is pretty hard to make a good performer across the entire range. Some of the ones being discussed here are 10X or even 15X or more. I gotta say they have improved a lot in recent years and are capable of making images for online display.

18-200, 18-270, etc. are not "walk around" lenses. That phrase refers to moderate wide to standard to moderate telephoto zooms such as the 15-85, 18-135, 24-105 and 28-135. The 18-200, 18-270, etc. are do-it-all "superzooms".

But, seriously, why even have an SLR if you don't want to change lenses? One of the main points of an SLR is the ability to adapt the lens to different situations by changing the lens. Maybe you should look at a more compact point-n-shoot instead? For example, the Canon Powershot G1X have larger sensors... almost the size in a DSLR... for better high ISO performance and overall image quality. These aren't the smallest digital P&S cameras, but can do almost all that a DSLR can do (except change the lens, which is equal to about a 24-125mm). The Mark II sells for $750 new, can occasionally be found used for about $500. The original (lens equiv. to 28-112mm) is no longer selling new, but can be found used for around $300, sometimes a little more or less.

If you mostly just share images online, don't need high ISOs and make small prints (8x10 and under), you might consider any of the recent Canon Powershot G series (11, 12, etc... current model is the G16). The earlier ones used CCD sensors and the later use CMOS that are a little larger (but not as large as the G1X). As a result the later ones have slightly higher usable ISOs. Typical lens on these is equivalent to 28-135, approx. They have hot shoes and can do much of what a DSLR can do. The G16 is selling new for $400, used for about $300. The earlier models are selling used for a bit less. I wouldn't go too far back, though. The G11 and later can shoot RAW files, in addition to JPEGs.

There are other point-n-shoot models from Canon and others with wider ranging focal length lenses (might compromise on image quality more).

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

Ok - so if you want a lens that covers all those bases - then you need something that goes from about 18 - 300mm... So although the Canon 24-105 is great, it does not cover all that range for a true, "walk around" - and it is pretty heavy.
I do believe that Tamron makes the best "walk around lens" -
I have 18-270, 16-300, and the 28-300 (the 28-300 is the one for sale because I simply don't need it)
I LOVE all of mine - they are light and have delivered fantastic images.

I have not tried the Sigma - so that may be a really good option too. I do have 1 sigma lens (120-400) and it is freaky nice. So those are probably great.

The one walk around I don't like is Canon's 18-200.... it is heavy and did not give me great anything.. very average everywhere. I have kept it for my yearbook staff to use and I am still always shocked at how average it performs.

Hope that helps -
ps - Where ever you decide to buy one - make sure there is a good return policy - just incase you don't like the feel of it -etc...

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I don't as well!

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Well, I am sure that Leica cameras come with a lens, but I still wouldn't call it a 'kit'. Same with Hasselblads...

The term 'kit lens' is normally used to refer to cheap, mass-produced lenses which are sold in bundles with entry-level cameras. A bundle of a 5DIII with this lens would hardly meet anyone's definition of 'cheap'.

There is nothing wrong with kit lenses, I still use 2 of mine, and take most of my shots with one or the other. I just think you are stretching the definition way beyond breaking point If you start including 'L'-class lenses.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I would suggest the Canon 18-200. I own a 28-200 which is no longer made because of the 18. My lens is crisp, tack sharp and accurate to a fault. For video I don't take this lens off my camera.