Workhorse Lens: I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now...

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

pdsilen wrote:

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

I have two of them and they are pretty much all the time on my cameras, one is the 16-35/2.8, the other one is the 70-200/2.8,. Those are my walk around lenses!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

What is your budget?

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

pdsilen wrote:

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

My favorite walking lens is the Canon 24-105. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, I would say get the version L II. But even the first L version is sharp.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

pdsilen wrote:

I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) ...

That lens seems a bit short, are those birds in a cage?

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

RichardTaylor wrote:

What is your budget?

And what camera body are you using?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

pdsilen wrote:

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

What do you mean about experiencing a vignette with your 28-80? Assuming a T2i from your prior comments, do you have lens peripheral illumination enabled? Do you have the lens profile for this model downloaded to the camera for JPEG processing? See pages 104-105 of the T2i manual for details, where the profile has to be downloaded from Canon via the EOS utility and the camera connected to the computer to install. Do you apply lens profile corrections for RAW files in your RAW processing tool?

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

LOL No. they're in trees.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

pdsilen wrote:

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

Vignetting is easily dealt with in post processing, or of you use the Canon jpeg profile.

What's not working for you with the 18-55?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

My "utility" lens for both Canon and Nikon is 28-300. My "utility" cameras are, Canon 5D mk IV and Nikon D7200.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

pdsilen wrote:

I'm looking to buy an all around lens to use for impromptu shots when I'm driving or walking around, but not for specified use. In short a "workhorse" lens. Right now for that those purposes I'm using a Canon 18 - 55mm kit lens (which is for the birds) and an old Canon 28 - 80 lens which vinyets excessively when I extend it. I am open to any ideas.

If they are still making the EF-s 15-85 get it. It's a very good lens.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Vignetting is possibly due to the lens hood or filter frames getting in the field of view.

Depending on budget and amount of zoom wanted, for a Canon APS-C camera you might get the Tamron 18-400mm, Sigma 18-300mm, the Canon 18-135mm USM. But if you worry about grain in low light situations, you need a lens with wider full open apertures.

The best glass are the "L" series such as EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II or EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM , wider opening but less zoom (life is a trade) and more $$.

BebuLamar

I don't think it's a workhorse but it happens that I use the 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 non VR about 90% of the time. And it's on a FF camera. If I use the APS-C it wouldn't be.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

The lens that stays on my camera a large portion of the time is the Canon 18-135mm USM Nano. It focuses fast and produces excellent images. For me, this is a great focal range to have readily available. If your camera has an APS-C sensor, I highly recommend this lens.

duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

For "walkaround" use, I often affix a Sigma 17-70 1:2.8-4 DC on Nikon D7200 (APS-C) - I find the minimum focal distance on longer zoom telephotos restricting sometimes, as is many of their smaller maximum apertures- also their additional weight and size. Of course I use them for "mission-specific" shooting- that's the purpose of an interchangeable lens platform. As others have said, choice depends on your "style," and what you are trying to capture most often during your "walkarounds." I would zero-in on the fastest, highest-quality lens you can afford in the focal-length range you use most often.