Looking for best all purpose lens for an EOS 20D

[dallas]

Hi Everyone.  I have had my EOS 20D for over 10 years now.  I've never been satisfied with the EFS 18-55mm lens that it shipped with.  Just doesn't have enough zoom or wide angle.  I don't do anything professional.  Just like to take lots of family and outdoors / nature shots.  I would like to be able to take quality portrait pics as well as a picture of the grand canyon and have it turn out great.  I would like to be able to just take one lens with me on vacations.

I've been looking at the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.  It seems to have it all.  Are there any other general purpose lens I should be looking at?

Thanks,

Dallas

[jrhoffman75]

Thats an OK lens; my wife has one on her Rebel.

If you don't need the 200mm end the 18-135 STM lens is an option.

If you don't mind two lenses you can add the 55-250 STM to your 18-55 and get even more range.

[dallas]

Hi John.  Thanks for the tips.  I guess I do care more about being able to take all the different kinds of shots I want than the inconvenience of having to lug around multiple lenses.  I am an unprofessional ;), but I do care a lot about quality.  I have just a couple questions:

Will the 55-250 STM be able to take nice wide angle shots too?

If you could choose the best quality / most versatile for $ set of lenses for the EOS 20D, what would they be?

Thanks

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

"Will the 55-250 STM be able to take nice wide angle shots too?"

That depends on your definition of wide angle. I think most would say no.  If you will start thinking of angle-of-view "AOV", it will become easier to tell.

A 55mm lens on your 20D has an AOV of 28 degrees (approx).  Not very wide is it?  Your 18mm lens has a AOV of 84 degrees.

The AOV spec is easy to find because it is listed in all lenses specs. BTW, 250mm is approx 6 degrees.

Canon is supposed to be coming out with a Canon EF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens.  I don't know if it is for sale yet so you might want to check.  AOV will be 84 to 5 degrees (approx.)  Pretty wide to pretty tele, isn't it?  The larger the AOV number is, the more wide angle.  The smaller that number, the more tele it is.

[dallas]

Thanks ebiggs1.  It looks like the Canon EF-S 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is not out yet but may soon be in mid February according to the rumour mill.

[dallas]

Any tips on best value for $ wide angle lens if I wanted to go beyond AOV 84?

[ebiggs1]

Yes I do.    The Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens.  I have one of these and it is not only a great lens, it is an outstanding lens.

AOV on this jewel is 108 to 61 (approx).  This lens is exceedinly better than the kit EF-S 17 - 85 mm F4.5 - F5.6 IS USM lens.

BTW, the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens was introduced about the exact time as your 20D.

[dallas]

Looks awesome! Thanks. So now I'm thinking of getting one of these EF-S 10-22mm, and also one of the 55-250 STMs. Seems these will give me the versatility I presently lack.

Just one last thing. Can you please recommend a good all around flash attachment?

[ebiggs1]

"Just one last thing. Can you please recommend a good all around flash attachment?"

Canon Speedlite 430EX II

[dallas]

Thanks ebbigs1.  I think I'm all set now.