Canon 5d mk2 Lens

[mje59]

Hi I've a Canon 5D MK2 i'm totally new to photography, i wondered whats the best all rd lens for me to start with, I want to be able to take all types of photos till i get used to the camera, nothing too exspensive though.

Regards Martin

[Skirball]

What do you consider too expensive?  The 5d2 is a full frame camera, and doesn't offer many cheap lenses.

The best all around, affordable lens, that will allow a wide range of photography would be the EF 24 - 105, which you can get as a "white box" for around $700.  Cheaper than that, you're looking at used, poor third party options, or prime lenses.

[ebiggs1]

The "Golden Boy" of Canon lenses is the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.  This is a sweetheart lens and one of the very few non-L lenses I recommned.  It has been in the line for years and has proven it's worth.  Which is BTW, brand new, lees than $500 bucks.  Try it, you'll like it. 

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

The "Goldne Boy" of Canon lenses is the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.  This is a sweetheart lens and one of the very few non-L lenses I recommned.  It has been in the line for years and has proven it's worth.  Which is BTW, brand new, lees than $500 bucks.  Try it, you'll like it. 

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It's FF-compatible, but makes a very nice medium-range telephoto on a crop camera. I picked one up several years ago as part of a 50D kit. I didn't really need it, so I gave it to my wife to use on her T2i. It may be Canon's most underrated lens.

[ebiggs1]

"It may be Canon's most underrated lens."

Absolutely!  I have two of them.  They go on my second shooter and/or assistant's camera at events we work.  Great for FF like the 6D.

[trulandphoto]

You should also check out the new 24-104 STM lens. I'm guessing image quality will be better than the 28-135 which I found quite soft.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_24_105mm_f_3_5_5_6_is_stm

[RobertTheFat]

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@trulandphoto wrote:

You should also check out the new 24-105 STM lens. I'm guessing image quality will be better than the 28-135 which I found quite soft.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_24_105mm_f_3_5_5_6_is_stm

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I hadn't heard about that one. What's its role, do you think? Sort of a modernization of the old 28-105mm /3.5-4.5? A 70D kit lens for someone starting to anticipate FF?

[Skirball]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@trulandphoto wrote:

You should also check out the new 24-105 STM lens. I'm guessing image quality will be better than the 28-135 which I found quite soft.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_24_105mm_f_3_5_5_6_is_stm

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I hadn't heard about that one. What's its role, do you think? Sort of a modernization of the old 28-105mm /3.5-4.5? A 70D kit lens for someone starting to anticipate FF?

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I'd guess it's more for the 6D videographer.  I wouldn't be surprised if Canon starts using this as a kit lens for the 6D or even 5d3.  A new line of "affordable" full frame.  With current gray market prices of the 24-105 f/4 this lens won't sell well - better build quality, constant aperture, and USM for practically the same cost.  So something has to change to make space for it.  Cutting off the source of the gray market - kitting with the 24-105 f/4, would be once place to start.

[trulandphoto]

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@Skirball wrote:

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@trulandphoto wrote:

You should also check out the new 24-105 STM lens. I'm guessing image quality will be better than the 28-135 which I found quite soft.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_24_105mm_f_3_5_5_6_is_stm

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I hadn't heard about that one. What's its role, do you think? Sort of a modernization of the old 28-105mm /3.5-4.5? A 70D kit lens for someone starting to anticipate FF?

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I'd guess it's more for the 6D videographer.  I wouldn't be surprised if Canon starts using this as a kit lens for the 6D or even 5d3.  A new line of "affordable" full frame.  With current gray market prices of the 24-105 f/4 this lens won't sell well - better build quality, constant aperture, and USM for practically the same cost.  So something has to change to make space for it.  Cutting off the source of the gray market - kitting with the 24-105 f/4, would be once place to start.

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It will for sure be a kit lens for full frame bodies. Which is why the OP should "check it out" for their 5DII. This also means there will be white box options from broken up kits to get it at a good price. Should be available at close to half the f/4L price.

I'm betting this lens will do fine if it's as good quality as the recent EF-S kit lens offerings. 

[ebiggs1]

"Sort of a modernization of the old 28-105mm /3.5-4.5?"

This lens has already been "modernized" as it has several different incarnations.   This lens is not in the same league as the 28-135mm, although they look simular.  They can be had for $100 bucks (used) or less and have been discontinued.  There are 1,000's of them around.  It's not built really well and it's performance is just so-so.  I got one around here somewhere.