Noela

I am in a quandary. I have always shot just Canon glass, and I love it.
Did a shoot today that required my using my 24-70 and my 70-200 lenses.
I know that Canon makes a fabulous 28-300 lens that would solve my problem of being able to have a great range, without having to continually change lenses (which lost me some great shots today).
I am looking for something that would give me a good range, without having to float a second mortgage, while not sacrificing to much quality. I can be flexible in terms of wide angle and telephoto ranges, but I am looking for the expertise of the people on this forum. I am shooting a Canon 5D MkIII, and occasionally borrow my daughter's Canon 7D.
Thank you for your help.
I should mention, I have the Canon 28-200 f/5.6, but it is slow and fuzzy. It does say it's f/4.5, but the biggest aperture I can get is f/5.6. I've had it for a while, I'm assuming it is a kit lens.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

On a zoom like that, the aperture continually gets smaller as you zoom in more or you pay thousands. I personally am a big fan of the Sigma 18-300 as a good walking around lens. It has an aperture of 3.5 at 18mm and eventually ends up at 6.3 as you get to the highest zoom. But, it's only $579. Good luck.

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

I try to stick with fixed-aperture zoom lenses; I have the 24-70 and 70-200 f/2.8. I looked at B&H for a Canon zoom in the range you specified; there were no constant aperture lenses. My past experience with zoom lenses whose widest aperture was a function of the focal length has taught me to avoid those lenses if possible. Perhaps a fast prime lens around 300 mm. I haven't looked for one, because I don't need one, but I would imagine that there is at least one available at f/4, and possibly at f/2.8, but the f/4 would be cheaper and probably provide the image quality you want.

Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas

Ditto.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I use the Canon 18-200,as a walk around, on my 7d. Is it the best lens in the Canon stable? of course not but I have many tack sharp photos with it.. Refurbished about $400 new $600. Drawbacks, Lens creep, slow. But you have to put up with drawbacks unless you want to part with mucho cash.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Folks, the OP has a FULL FRAME camera ........

I have and use the Tokina ATX 24-200 3.5-5.6 - it is a very good lens - better on crop frame.

Another older lens to look at is the Tamron 24-135. These lenses are not speed demons but work quite well.

Another lens to consider is the Tamron 28-105 2.8 for speed. ALL these lenses are full frame.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

Is the OP a pro doing it for a living? If so, you have to do what you have to do. I know of a young lady in England that does lot's of dog photo's that are exceptional! She use's a D3000 with a 55-200 kit lens. After seeing her photo's I know I'd have a lot of work to do to reach her level. She's probably great in Photoshop also. If I were in the situation the OP is in and not doing it for a living, maybe even if I was doing it for a living, I'd go with an 18-105 or a bit more. I have the 18-105 and since I got it the 18-140 came out and it's the one I wish I had. The low end will give him a wider view which means he can be closer. It also passes the 70-200 on the low side so no change is required if he need's a bit more. As for the 70-200, that would work for me. If at 200 if your a bit short, simply crop later to what you want. Full frame camera should crop really well. I shot an indoor tennis match years ago with my old Nikon FG and an old Nikon 70-210, worked out well for me! Also for a bunch of other's. I was not selling them, they were for me but I could have made a few buck's if I had sold them.

I'm always reading how the best photo's seem to be had only with fast lenses, I don't believe that. I don't believe much more than a 12mp camera would put anyone behind either. What make's a really good photo is a well exposed and well composed photo. To some degree that can be done in PP in the digital era. I would worry less about which lens I'm using and more about how I use what I have!