if you could have just one......

[piiooo]

These are lenses that"live" on my bodies:


EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS on my APS-C


EF 24-105 4 IS L on my FF.I also own the 24-70 2.8 L and still I don't use it as much as the 24-105.

[Sean Setters]

I'm going to have to go with the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS like piiooo. It's the ultimate general purpose lens for my 50D. Most of my work is done with it.

[Daniel Browning]

If you could just have one lens, which would it be. General uses would be portrait and landscape.

24mm f/1.4 II. Awesome landscapes. Low light. Environmental portraits (crop for tighter portraits). It's just my favorite all round lens.

[Cozen]

I know I will never just get one lens, this was more of a poll type thing. In fact I already have 3 lenses. I just wanted to see what everyone thought. As for parameters, I own a 40D with plans of getting a 7D. I'm just waiting on specs for the new 60D. As for lenses I own a Sigma 10-20mm, a Canon 50mm 1.8, and a Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro. I find I generally shoot landscapes and portraits and some artistic/abstract stuff. Occasionally I need a telephoto, but not enough to need an expensive one.





I just notice sometimes when I'm out shooting it is a hassle to switch between the 3 lenses and it slows me down. Here is what I like/dislike about the 3 that I have:


Sigma 10-20mm- Love the super wide angle. Sometimes images don't "pop" as much as I'd like. Distortion can sometimes be a problem.


Canon 50mm 1.8- good low light lens, great shallow depth of field. Bokeh and flare issues leave a little to be desired. Also auto focus is kinda slow.


Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro- great for close up macro work. Super sharp and great depth of field. Auto focus searches sometimes and isn't as fast as I'd like.





I'm looking for a lens that can "do a little of everything" (I know, almost impossible.)


I was mainly considering the Canon 24-70L as it has a decent wide angle, low light capability (as far as zooms go), and fast auto focus. Apparently it also has semi decent close up capabilities (obviously not a macro lens).


Others I was considering were the Tamron 17-50mm (very affordable), the Canon 24-105L (broader focal range, but F4), and I'm open to other suggestions.





Does anyone have a non-cropped "macro" shot taken with the 24-70L? I just want to see how close up it can get. Thanks.

[neuroanatomist]

For a crop body (like you have and are planning on upgrading to), the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. If there was an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, my answer might be different...

[Maleko]

If it had to be ONE lens, would be 24-105. Good range imo.

[Manofmayo]

Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II Tilt-Shift if price is not a factor


Canon 85 f1.8 if price is an issue

[db_ch]

Canon EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS.

[Cozen]

good to hear all your opinions. How about this curve ball then. Say I were to have a 7D, what one lens would you want to have considering HD video shooting as well?

[db_ch]

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L or a decent lightstrong fixed lens that still gives you enough wide angle on a 7D 1.6 crop factor cam..