Ok so I'm just kind of getting into the photography thing with my first real slr a 400d. I want to go ahead and upgrade to a decent walk around lens as everywhere I've read says the kit lens is junk. I'm not really wanting to get into buying alot of expensive lenses until I'm alot better and more knowledgeable. I picked this lens because I don't ever suffer on the wide end with my 15-55mm but really want IS and a little more range. Anyway just wanted to see what some of you guys thought of this choice.

 

Don't bother. Save up get a 70-200 F/4 IS or a 24-70 F2.8/L. More expensive, but you can actually use the lens at high speed, low light situations. The 24-70 F2.8/L is possibly the best walk-around lens for canons you can buy

 

why would you bother making a comment like that? Considering the lens I'm looking at is $250 why would you even consider that I would be willing to spend $1200 on a lens? I just want to get a better lens than the POS kit lens that has a little more reach and IS.

 

i know a lot of people happy with the 28-135 IS. I'd try to see if you can find it used, lots of people were getting the refurbished 40D from adorama that came with this lens and then just dumping the lens cheap.

 

I'm about to pick one up used locally for 250

 

any last comments before i walk out the door?

 

It's my everyday walk around lens. I like it alot.

 

just got home and so far i'm really pleased. The IS is great around this time of day when you have to lengthen the exposure time. And the image quality seems to be superior as well...

 

I'm a bit late but I would've recommended the Tamron 17-50 2.8 as a wide angle zoom ($350 used, $430 new).

 

well jeez. i'm just saying i've used quite a few lenses, and its not worth spending 250 or 350 (new) for a mediocre lens. You can pick up a 70-200 F/4L for 500 btw. The IS version is 1000 used.

But, if you enjoy your lens, good. I just wasnt satisfied so I was passing on the opinion.

 

it's not a bad lens. I use it quite often

 

for my purposes at the moment i think its going to work great. I'llprobably end up going with something like a 17-50 and a 55-250 or maybe a 70-300 once i get beter with the equipment i have.

 

I've got a 70-200 F/4L (non-IS) and while I love it and it's a great lens i don't think it can be considered a walk around lens by any definition of the word. I use the Tamron 28-75 2.8 as my walk around and while I love it, I'm thinking about trying to find a decent IS that's a little lighter to carry around normally. Maybe I should pick up an 18-55 IS kit lens used.

 

i've got the 70-200 f/4 L and i <3 it, it's my mainstay really, that and my 17-40 f/4 L, another great lens

 

28-135 is a nice lens for its price range. the next lens you should consider is the sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (~$300-350 used). it doesn't have as much zoom as the 28-135 but it's a lot faster for low light situations. happy shooting!