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Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Started May 19, 2017 | Discussions
Gandolphi Senior Member • Posts: 2,840
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

HampshireIan wrote:

Hi folks,

Apologies if this has been asked a few times before.

I'm looking to buy a Canon 5D mkII and I'm after opinions on the best lens to buy for general photography. I'll be taking scenic/architecture and general portrait images etc.

One that has been recommended and appears to get very good reviews, is the Canon 16-35mm f/4 EF L IS USM lens.

This could be a starting point but open to all opinions please.

Maybe spend anything up to £1000 for right lens on Canon or Canon fit if I like what I hear

Thanks very much in advance for your help

Save yourself a lot of money and use a 40mm lens.

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diness Veteran Member • Posts: 3,758
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
4

HampshireIan wrote:

Hi folks,

Apologies if this has been asked a few times before.

I'm looking to buy a Canon 5D mkII and I'm after opinions on the best lens to buy for general photography. I'll be taking scenic/architecture and general portrait images etc.

One that has been recommended and appears to get very good reviews, is the Canon 16-35mm f/4 EF L IS USM lens.

This could be a starting point but open to all opinions please.

Maybe spend anything up to £1000 for right lens on Canon or Canon fit if I like what I hear

Thanks very much in advance for your help

As others have suggested, the 16-35 is a wonderful lens, but, for most, the range is not ideal for "walk around"   Here are some suggestions...

  • Canon 24-70 f2.8 II - The sharpest general purpose zoom which also has an f2.8 max aperture.   It's expensive though.
  • Canon 24-70 f4 IS - Not as sharp as the f2.8, but is very small and decently priced.  Used to be a terrible value until they changed the price.
  • Canon 24-105 f4 IS - Nearly as sharp as the 24-70 f4, but not quite.  The range is amazing, making it a wonderful walk around.   The price for a used or white box copy make it a very good value.  
  • Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC - Sharp lens, sharper than the f4 lenses at f4, but not as sharp as the Canon f2.8 vii.   VC is a nice addition, but focus is a little slower and build quality is not as nice as the Canons.

If this is going to be your only lens for awhile, I would suggest the 24-105 f4 IS.   Some bash it on these forums, but mine is a wonderful lens and the range is just fantastic!

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SundridgePete Regular Member • Posts: 398
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
2

Don't get hung up on 'THE BEST LENS', choose the focal length and aperture that's right for you.  Nothing else matters.  Ironically, many people on this forum spend thousands on lenses and then don't even check that they're focusing correctly.  You can't go wrong with the 16-35 f4, 24-70 f4 or 24-105.  I have the 16-35 and 24-70 2.8, but I previously owned the 24-105, which is a terrific lens in its own right.  I changed to the 24-70 2.8 because I wanted a wider aperture - nothing to do with 'sharpness'.  I often miss the increased range of the 24-105 - but you just can't have everything.  This is why your personal opinion and usage is what counts.  Best of luck.

gavin
gavin Veteran Member • Posts: 8,242
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Normal zoom 24-70/2.8L

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cultr New Member • Posts: 7
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

I generally lurk and read for the past ten years; I don't post. I see lots of comments on how the 24 to 70 is better than the 24 to 105. Might be so - physics says that would be the case. However, with all the $$ I've spent on lenses (owning quite a few, to include a couple of the big white ones) 90% of my shooting is with an 8 year old 24 to 105  I primarily use on a 5DSr. Amazing lens! I can clearly see the space between the eyelashes on people. Perhaps a 24 to 70 would be "slightly" sharper, but hard to imagine it being better as a walkaround lens.

(unknown member) Senior Member • Posts: 2,067
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

24-70 f4 L is hands down in my opinion for a general zoom. Super sharp wide open edge to edge, image stabilization works awesome (I've gotten reasonably sharp 1/8 second handheld shots with it), small and light

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jjz2 Veteran Member • Posts: 4,396
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

HampshireIan wrote:

Hi folks,

Apologies if this has been asked a few times before.

I'm looking to buy a Canon 5D mkII and I'm after opinions on the best lens to buy for general photography. I'll be taking scenic/architecture and general portrait images etc.

One that has been recommended and appears to get very good reviews, is the Canon 16-35mm f/4 EF L IS USM lens.

This could be a starting point but open to all opinions please.

Maybe spend anything up to £1000 for right lens on Canon or Canon fit if I like what I hear

Thanks very much in advance for your help

Really up to you... goals, what you like, etc.

I personally don't think you necessarily need a zoom for walk arounds... events, action, sure, but walk around? Not so much... 35mm to me is the sweet spot for this. So much so I have 3 diff cameras I use this with the 5d mkiii with 35 1.4L, the sl1 with 24 pancake, and a konica c35 rangefinder camera if I want to be really discrete/particular.

That being said, I consider a FF camera, at least an 5d mk ii almost a non starter as a walk around/travel lens due to size/weight. I really prefer small APS-C bodies for just walking around. My FF is only used for assignment type stuff or around the house when I don't have to carry it. And if I do go with a zoom, I'd rather pair the 18-200 with an aps-c body, honestly both 24-70 and 24-105 still seem limiting, I've used both ranges in that application and still left me wanting. Might as well go all out compromise w/ a bigger zoom range and stop down. Again, this is just me, after lots of trial and error in different shooting situations.

I'd also suggest a tamron 28-300, if set on FF walkaround... the canon is just way too big.

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OP HampshireIan Regular Member • Posts: 297
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Well thank you all for taking the time to give me your advice and opinions.

I just had to find some extra money down the back of the sofa and go 'all in' as I thought I may regret and have to buy twice.

I did settle for a 24-70 f/2.8L in the end. I'm off to France at the end of next week for a fortnight's holiday, so i'm looking forward to playing with it and getting to understand it, along with the 5D mkIII (I found so much down the back of the sofa that I went for a mkIII instead of a mkII)

BlueRay2 Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
1

HampshireIan wrote:

Well thank you all for taking the time to give me your advice and opinions.

I just had to find some extra money down the back of the sofa and go 'all in' as I thought I may regret and have to buy twice.

I did settle for a 24-70 f/2.8L in the end. I'm off to France at the end of next week for a fortnight's holiday, so i'm looking forward to playing with it and getting to understand it, along with the 5D mkIII (I found so much down the back of the sofa that I went for a mkIII instead of a mkII)

that would be a perfect match! a 16-35 f4.0 IS would be way too wide, IMO! 24-70 f2.8 II covers some real practical range. wish you fun at on your trip

txsizzler
txsizzler Senior Member • Posts: 1,801
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
1

HampshireIan wrote:

... I just had to find some extra money down the back of the sofa and go 'all in' as I thought I may regret and have to buy twice.

Wow, I wish I could find enough money down the back of my sofa to afford a 24/70 f/2.8 lens!

I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. Enjoy your trip!

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kopper Contributing Member • Posts: 933
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
1

Graham Meale wrote:

Canon are no fools. They bundled the 24-105 in the kit for this very reason — it is the ideal walkaround lens. Some will tell you the 24-70 is better. Perhaps it's a tad sharper, and I have contemplated getting one, but I don't want to forgo the 70-105 and the IS, and have a bigger, heavier lens (most of my photography is travel).

I have the 16-35 f/4. It's a great lens, but if ever I were to travel with just one lens, it'd be the 24-105.

DITTO!

kopper

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Roberto 21 Regular Member • Posts: 221
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

16-35 f/4L IS and be happy!

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justlikeit Regular Member • Posts: 126
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

24-70 2.8L will be the one.

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OP HampshireIan Regular Member • Posts: 297
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Well, i've been in France now since Saturday and had a few days out giving me opportunities to use my new camera and lens.

I have to say that I'm so impressed with this combo. I've uploaded a few images for you all to see. I make absolutely no excuses for them being edited as that's how I like to finish of my shots for my viewing pleasure.

The shots don't even do themselves justice via Flickr. The one of the church lights/chandelier was hand-held (guess who left his tripod at home) and in a very dark area of the church. Lots of noise when zoomed in but this gear gave me the best opportunity to get an image good enough for me.

Thanks for looking

https://flic.kr/p/Unvcft

(unknown member) Senior Member • Posts: 2,067
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Lemme help you with that

And agree, I just traded out my 24-70 f4 L is for the 24-70 f2.8 ii and I'm extremely happy with it.

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sungparkphotography.com

OP HampshireIan Regular Member • Posts: 297
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Thanks for that - I was trying to work out how to get them up as I have another 5 or so better ones?

Sr1racha wrote:

Lemme help you with that

And agree, I just traded out my 24-70 f4 L is for the 24-70 f2.8 ii and I'm extremely happy with it.

OP HampshireIan Regular Member • Posts: 297
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII
BlueRay2 Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

Sr1racha wrote:

Lemme help you with that

And agree, I just traded out my 24-70 f4 L is for the 24-70 f2.8 ii and I'm extremely happy with it.

agree, i think canon 2470 f2.8 II is one heck of a lens, i am not sure it has a rival in its class as of today

Pando54 New Member • Posts: 1
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

I have the Canon 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 with the Macro name on it and I agree that it is an exceptionally good deal.

mojorisn Regular Member • Posts: 459
Re: Opinions On Best 'Walk Around/General' Lens For Canon 5D mkII

As others have said: 24-70 f2.8L II. Colors and sharpness especially on my 5D II were “special”. And for wide, you can’t beat the 16-35 f4L. I still use it on my Canon mirrorless.

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