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[Closed] Photographers - Whats the best all round / do it all lense?

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As above, about to pull the trigger on a DSLR, You can get it packaged with a 24-105mm lense, but was wondering whether to get body only and get an 18-135mm??

So Whats the best do it all/travel lense, if you can only have 1?


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:37 pm
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Knowing what the body is will help.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:37 pm
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I didn't want to say really, as it would start a Canon/Nikon debate and people may put me off my choice but if it helps... Canon 6D (Full frame)


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:39 pm
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Canon I'm guessing? If that is the 24-105L I'd go for that.

Edit- For a 6D definitely the 24-105L.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:39 pm
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You won't get an 18-135 full frame lens.

24-105 is useful in good light. A 24-70 f2.8 may be more flexible.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:41 pm
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if your going full frame and need to ask this question, should you really be going full frame?


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:45 pm
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24-105L is a blinding lens on a crop body as well.

The 18-135mm is an EF-S lens anyway so it won't fit on a full-frame body and it's nowhere near the 24-105 optically.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:45 pm
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Swavis and 5th Elefant, can you elaborate? Still new to the full frame stuff.

Edit- For a 6D definitely the 24-105L.

Why?

You won't get an 18-135 full frame lens.

Didn't realise that, asssume the 24-105 is the FF equivalent of the 18-135?


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:48 pm
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I have an EF 28-135 that I find ok as a walkabout lens, I use it on a crop 60D body and sometimes isn't quite wide enough, I've a Tamron 17-50 2.8 as well though so not too much of an issue.
With full frame I think 24mm would be perfect.

Edit - as above, the EF-S won't fit a full frame body and the 24-105 is optically far superior.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:48 pm
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The 24-105mm is ideal for the 6D, IS comes in handy too


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:51 pm
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Didn't realise that, asssume the 24-105 is the FF equivalent of the 18-135?

An 18-135 on a canon crop body is the full frame equivalent of 29-216, so nothing like 24-105.

Elaborating on my earlier post...

Focal length is only one aspect of "doing it all". A long zoom range means small apertures so you need more light than a lens with large apertures.

So some prefer a slow 24-105, other prefer a fast 24-70 depending on what they mean by "do it all". For example: you want to shoot some landscapes in the day and in a dim bar at night - the fast lens is preferable.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 12:57 pm
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On a Nikon, it used to be (and probably still is) a Nikor 50mm f1.8.

Awesome lens. Maybe Canon do something similar.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:00 pm
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Having been jealous of many a shot taken with the 24-105L, I would just get that.
You can save money, but not get equal performance in a walkabout zoom (it's quite heavy mind).


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:10 pm
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On a Nikon, it used to be (and probably still is) a Nikor 50mm f1.8.

Awesome lens. Maybe Canon do something similar.

Canon do something pretty much exactly the same, yes. Great bit of kit for sub-£100.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:11 pm
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No such thing as a 'do it all' lens. You can get lenses with a wider range of focal lengths, but as above they just compromise in other areas.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:15 pm
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I use a 24-105 f4 on Canon FF, for what I use it for it's the best allrounder. It's a great lens, it hasn't got the best rep. for reliability, but it's cheap (relative to Canon's recent price hikes).


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:19 pm
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If I only took one lens with me, it would be a 50mm prime.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:26 pm
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24-105L is a superb lens in terms of quality and it's a useful kit lens length (it's the 5D kit lens with good reason). If you like doing big landscapes you might find it a bit limiting on a cropped sensor.

By all accounts the 18-135mm is worlds away from the 24-105 in quality, so you need to be really honest with yourself about how much you need the wider end.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:27 pm
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As stated above, 18-135mm won't work on a 6D....and it's pretty nasty by all accounts. The Tamron 24-70 F2.8 might be be an option if f2.8 is important to you.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:41 pm
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Despite having a drawer full of various zooms and prime lenses, these days my walkabout on my ff cameras is a 35mm f2 lens. Just can't be bothered with the weight / size of a zoom.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:45 pm
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I don't have that problem with my Olympus 🙂


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 1:49 pm
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I have the 24-105 one and a mate is looking to buy one, I described it to him as brilliantly versatile. So aye, get one of those.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:20 pm
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travel? 20mm prime? on a m4/3?

at least then you'll take it out with you!


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:20 pm
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http://craigmod.com/journal/gf1-fieldtest/

that type of thing

save some cash too 2nd hand


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:22 pm
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I'd rather have the Oly 17mm prime tbh.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:23 pm
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Yeah, Oly too is great. That was just an example but I think the GF1 and Oly EP whatever are generally thought of as the better ones.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:25 pm
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I use a 24-105L 90% of the time.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 2:29 pm
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Anyone recommend any good online dealers, that Canon honor warranties with?

Was looking at SLR hut.


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 3:00 pm
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These are all UK official stock (or at least the site owner tries to filter out any grey imports):
http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod.php?n=CanonEOS6D+24-105mmLens&p=3289

(Versus about £1800 for imports from reputable online shops)


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 3:08 pm
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You want to travel with that huge lump? 😯


 
Posted : 20/03/2013 3:29 pm
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I'd LOVE to travel with that huge (not that big you girl) lump (weighs a kilo and a bit, I weigh 100+ - I can cope with a 1% increase). Nothing worse than a fiddly little camera with no weight behind it.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 2:12 am
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It's a great lens, it hasn't got the best rep. for reliability,

Agreed. I've just had to replace the one that came with my 5DII, which I've only had for four years. Not happy about that, but not much to be done either.

I had a mooch about both the new fast Tamron (24-80??) and the Canon 24-70, but just decided for direct replacement in the end. IMO the Tamron, despite its pricing seemed remarkably cheap in construction and feel, even if it was sharp. The 24-70 is a lot more expensive (Mk II), and I've found the IS on the 24-105 easily gets me three extra stops with care, as opposed to just the one extra stop between 2.8 and 4


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 3:43 am
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You can always emulate a wider lens taking a set of portrait shots and stitching them. Hence a 50mm prime is fine for landscapes of any aperture. You'll also get a higher res and lower distortion image that way. Likewise you can crop to emulate zoom, but obviously at the expense of resolution.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 10:38 am
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Anyone recommend any good online dealers, that Canon honor warranties with?

[url= http://www.wexphotographic.com ]Warehouse Express[/url]


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 11:01 am
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Was looking at SLR hut.

No personal experience, but search back through the forum; IIRC, they've been broadly panned here in the past.

I think also their prices don't include VAT, so aren't as cheap as they appear (though I could be misremembering here).

Onestop Digital are well regarded.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 11:27 am
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Probably been said already, but in my limited experience (28 years photography, 7 of those with digital), as a do-it-all lens you'll be disappointed if the lens doesn't AT LEAST go as wide at an equivalent of 28mm wide-angle full-frame. Anything less isn't really 'wide angle'.

35mm in film (i.e. full-frame) days was considered 'normal' as opposed to the 50mm by many.

Lens speed is a huge issue (despite what Ken Rockwell spouts), get the fastest (i.e. largest aperture) you can afford.

At the long end, again, get what you can afford. 75mm equivalent, 85mm equivalent, 105mm equivalent...it's all good.

In my opinion, and depending on your aspirations, avoid the wide-angle to super zoom consumer monstrosities. Too many optical compromises.

There are many lens reviews sites out there, I have narrowed them down to just the one that's actually any good, it's Polish:

[url= http://www.lenstip.com/lenses_reviews.html ]Lens Tips[/url]

Thumbs up for Warehouse Express.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 11:32 am
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I use my 35mm f1.8 almost exclusively. Very versatile, weighs very little and not bulky. I love it. (Nikon, by the way.)


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:10 pm
 Kato
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I like a Tamron 18-50 2.8 for everyday walking around stuff. It's pretty fast for a small zoom


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:13 pm
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Buy the biggest dick-swinging lens you can and make the camera club goons green with envy, take pics of cats/sunsets secure in the knowledge that you are top dog.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:18 pm
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Buy the biggest dick-swinging lens you can and make the camera club goons green with envy, take pics of cats/sunsets secure in the knowledge that you are top dog.

Still taking pictures of building sites and rubbish, or moved to an engaging subject yet?

I'll tell you what, if I ever meet anyone who needs a picture taking of a green pop bottle, I'll be sure to recommend you.

I'll make sure the OP apologises to you for having the temerity to consider anything beyond their cameraphone. It's easy to forget that only self important pros are allowed to use an SLR.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:29 pm
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I use my 35mm f1.8 almost exclusively. Very versatile,

Excellent lens for the price (I have one too). But on anything smaller than full frame it's a telephoto lens. Group shots in a room?


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:34 pm
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I'll tell you what, if I ever meet anyone who needs a picture taking of a green pop bottle, I'll be sure to recommend you.

So that's what it was, I did wonder......


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:36 pm
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It was just a bit of light hearted banter 😀

Buy the fastest lens you can afford. Which could possibly be a S/H 24-70 2.8 mk1. Means your cross AF points are fully utilised and better than IS as IS doesn't stop your subject moving. It's not a patch optically on the new version or primes but if it's for Flickr you are not going to notice the difference.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:40 pm
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By far and away my most used is my 10-22mm wide angle.
the equiv for FF is the 16-35mmL and is fantastic

My second most used is a 24-70 f2.8

Third is a 50mm f1.8 prime (only for portraits)

it really depends on what you are taking photos of, but I would avoid a broad range zoom, as the more range it has the greater the compromise in image quality to price (as a rule of thumb)


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:46 pm
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TuckerUK - Member

But on anything smaller than full frame it's a telephoto lens. Group shots in a room?

true... I just stand further back. 😀

(or potentially stick a different lens on if I have one with me!)


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:50 pm
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It was just a bit of light hearted banter

Sorry, it's hard for us sometime sunset shooters to tell at times


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 12:51 pm
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Not particularly that relevant to the op but my lenses in order of least used on my Sony (crop sensor) are...

Tamron 70-300mm f4

Sony 18-55mm f3.5 kit lens

Minolta 50mm f1.7 - my usual choice for walkabout

Want a wider prime next - prob 35mm and also something really wide angle.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 1:02 pm
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Sorry, it's hard for us sometime sunset shooters to tell at times

Sunsets! That makes you a pro. I mainly shoot cats - in boxes....

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8545669460_345c31c29e.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8545669460_345c31c29e.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/8545669460/ ]George in a box[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 1:04 pm
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Sunsets! That makes you a pro.

Nope, can't be. I clearly don't take enough pictures of cranes on dull days from oblique angles.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 1:07 pm
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Having now bothered to read the whole thread and your camera body choice, if you can afford it the already recommended by many £822 (Warehouse Express) Canon 24-105mm f/4 would be ideal.

Read a review from (in my opinion) the best (i.e. most accurate) online lens review site [url= http://www.lenstip.com/240.1-Lens_review-Canon_EF_24-105_mm_f_4L_IS_USM.html ]HERE.[/url]


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 1:58 pm
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Nope, can't be. I clearly don't take enough pictures of cranes on dull days from oblique angles.

weather looks a bit iffy, what's stopping you.


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 2:42 pm
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That makes you a pro. I mainly shoot cats - in boxes....

You are Erwin Schrödinger and I claim my £5


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 2:47 pm
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weather looks a bit iffy, what's stopping you.

I live in Australia - weather's glorious. Oh, and I have a real job to get to....


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 10:07 pm
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Back before I jumped ship I used a Canon 24-105L rather a lot... and it was pretty good, but then I bought a 24mm prime which was so much better.

Currently I am using a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 most of the time, and if I were going back to Canon I would probably get the equivalent. It is a big, heavy lump but optically it is superb and the extra stop of light is so handy both for low light situations and nice background blur.

That said, I think I am going to invest in a 24mm, 50mm and 85 or 105mm in the near future as that should cover most my basis - and for Ultrawide I have a 12-24 anyway... and the long end covered by a 70-200 2.8 and 300 4


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 10:32 pm
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Currently I am using a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 most of the time, and if I were going back to Canon I would probably get the equivalent.

There isn't an equivalent, trust me. 😉


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 10:56 pm
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I live in Australia - weather's glorious. Oh, and I have a real job to get to....

Oh well, there's always the beautiful sunsets.
'real job' ? I had one of those once, never again 8)


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 11:26 pm
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a fast 35 and a set of legs?


 
Posted : 21/03/2013 11:55 pm
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If I only took one lens with me, it would be a 50mm prime.

If I had to have just one, then it'd be my fast fifty. If I was allowed two, then the 50 and the 12-24 (crop sensor Pentax).


 
Posted : 22/03/2013 12:02 am
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Oh well, there's always the beautiful sunsets.

Every cloud, MrSmith, every cloud....

*looks out of window* Oh, there aren't any!


 
Posted : 22/03/2013 12:25 am
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24-70 f/2.8


 
Posted : 22/03/2013 1:09 am