Canon Rebel T3i

[williamli]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, and I have a Canon rebel T3i, along with the kit lens of 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, a 50mm f/1.8 and a 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS.
I was looking to get a "walk-around" lens and I couldn't decide on a couple:

Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Yes, I understand that one is an L, but for the price of the other two, is the image quality that much of a difference?
and I believe that the 28 and 24 on a crop sensor will hardly give me a wide angle.

some advice would be great!

Thanks

[andnowimbroke]

You're right. 28mm isn't really wide at all on a crop. As for the "L" lens, most on this Site would push you to the EFs 17-55 IS instead. Same amount of money as the "L" , but a better tool for the job with the camera you currently have.

[neuroanatomist]

EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS or EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. The former is better indoors, for action and for portraits because of the faster and constant f/2.8.

[Kombi]

Welcome
I have a T2i and started with the 18-55 and 55-250 like you.
I went with a used 24-105L and have been happy with my choice.
When you first pick up the 24-105 you will think it is huge and heavy- when compared to the lenses you have, but get used to it quickly.

Suggest reading the reviews on this site. the 18-55 is small enough you could carry around with your walk around.
but maybe consider the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS or EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens
and if you haven't looked at it, here's a link to Bryan's reccomendations
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/C...pose-Lens.aspx

* I had a short list of lenses and chose the best for me based on the first I could get within my budget ($750).
Although still extremely happy with my lens I have learned more about my camera and how I can use the lenses. If I was choosing today I would probably go with the 17-55.

[Busted Knuckles]

Where will you be walking around? Outside? in the city and doing street work during the day - city park nature types, the 15-85 would be fantastic, a little more indoor lower light the 17-55 is the way to go. I have a t3i and have worked through 18-55 to the 15-85 and now have the 17-55 as I have found I am a little more indoors. With the 2.8 17-55 I find that I effectively never use the nifty fifty 1.8. I like to have it as an emergency lens (on a trip to France loaned it to another Cannonite when their 24-105 on their new 5diii stopped working).

One way to see how wide you need/want is to "walk around" with the 18-55 set on 24 and look through viewfinder, take some shots and see if you are happy w/ the 24 as the widest option. Also do the zoom from 55 to 85 and see if need/want the extra 3-4 steps of sneaker zoom saved by the 15-85. Think about your subjects, do you find yourself swapping out the 55-250 often? trying to "back out"? You won' be getting any extra speed with the 15-85 above about 40mm - 40-85 neighbor hood is still going to be above f4 - a bit of overlap with 55-250 - lastly you would/should sell the 18-55 if get either as both a significant improvements.

For what it is worth, I went "all the way" on the long side and have the 70-200 2.8 mkII, it is indeed a beast, but what a great beast, I have even put extension tubes on it and shot some macro work!!!

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, and I have a Canon rebel T3i, along with the kit lens of 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, a 50mm f/1.8 and a 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS.
I was looking to get a "walk-around" lens and I couldn't decide on a couple:


Thanks

[Steph]

Hi williamli,

I have the 17-55 and I highly recommend it. Now, if you plan some trips where only one lens can be taken, you might find the 55mm a bit too short. Also, if I were you I wouldn't give up the 17-24 range as 17 isn't that wide on your camera. Therefore, I'd say the 18-135 is a very good choice if you want/need to limit the number of lenses you carry with you.

Let us know what you decide at the end.
Cheers,
S.

[sambisu]

I bought a T2i earlier this year with the same kit lenses. After quite a bit of debate, I went for the 17-55 f/2.8 and haven't looked back. It is an awesome lens. Personally, I ruled out most of the L zoom lenses because they don't go wide enough on a crop body. 24mm would definitely not be wide enough for my walk-around lens. And I love being able to get the narrow DoF with the f/2.8.

[EricPvpi]

I thought the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS was a great walk around lens. I started with it, but ending up selling it to get the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS since I do more indoor and I love the f/2.8. I don't miss losing the 55-85 as much as I thought I would since I have a 70-200 f/4L.

If you are mainly outdoors and use the flash indoors, the 15-85 is a good pick. If you are more indoors then the 17-55.

If you are only looking at your list, I would pick the Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, but still, I love the 17-55mm f/2.8.

[Scott Stephen]

I'm with Neuro and Busted Knukles and about 6 others. The 17-55 f/2.8 is the way to go. This is going to be your "walk around" lens. That means it needs to handle the lighting wherever you "walk around." Unless you want to leave a speedlite flash attached at all times, you will NEED and want that wide bright aperature for A LOT of your walk-around shooting. Basically anything shot indoors.

Also, the f/2.8 gives you nice background blur wide open for portraits. A variable lens that runs 3.5 to 5.6 can't do that.

This lens gives you a constant big bright aperature across its whole range, and its image quality is famously great too.

Consider used if you want to save about $150.00 to $200.00.

Good luck, and enjoy whatever you choose!

[Scott Stephen]

Where will you be walking around? Outside? in the city and doing street work during the day - city park nature types, the 15-85 would be fantastic, a little more indoor lower light the 17-55 is the way to go. I have a t3i and have worked through 18-55 to the 15-85 and now have the 17-55 as I have found I am a little more indoors. With the 2.8 17-55 I find that I effectively never use the nifty fifty 1.8. I like to have it as an emergency lens (on a trip to France loaned it to another Cannonite when their 24-105 on their new 5diii stopped working).

One way to see how wide you need/want is to "walk around" with the 18-55 set on 24 and look through viewfinder, take some shots and see if you are happy w/ the 24 as the widest option. Also do the zoom from 55 to 85 and see if need/want the extra 3-4 steps of sneaker zoom saved by the 15-85. Think about your subjects, do you find yourself swapping out the 55-250 often? trying to "back out"? You won' be getting any extra speed with the 15-85 above about 40mm - 40-85 neighbor hood is still going to be above f4 - a bit of overlap with 55-250 - lastly you would/should sell the 18-55 if get either as both a significant improvements.

For what it is worth, I went "all the way" on the long side and have the 70-200 2.8 mkII, it is indeed a beast, but what a great beast, I have even put extension tubes on it and shot some macro work!!!

Hi, Busted K's:
You should post some of your macro shots. Since you and I seem to have somehow bought exactly the same bag full of lenses, I always read your posts when I see them!