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

[Weetbix]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

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

Canon Speedlite 430EX II

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for forgot rubber bands and a blank piece of paper or white card stock to use as a bounce card 😛

[RobertTheFat]

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@Weetbix wrote:

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

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

Canon Speedlite 430EX II

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for forgot rubber bands and a blank piece of paper or white card stock to use as a bounce card 😛

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The 430EX II doesn't have a built-in bounce card?

[Weetbix]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@Weetbix wrote:

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

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

Canon Speedlite 430EX II

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for forgot rubber bands and a blank piece of paper or white card stock to use as a bounce card 😛

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The 430EX II doesn't have a built-in bounce card?

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it does but its to small to be efficient when it comes to outdoor and high ceilings and when using high speed sync

(the less light you waste the lower the flash power needed, which translates to less battery swapping and faster recycle times)

[ebiggs1]

"it does but its to small to be efficient when it comes to outdoor and high ceilings and when using high speed sync

(the less light you waste the lower the flash power needed, which translates to less battery swapping and faster recycle times)"

Just curious, do you use a 430EX II ?

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

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.

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I have to agree with Ernie on the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.  It is very sharp lens, with quick focusing.  The lens will give you f/4.0 when it is zoomed to 18mm. 

I get fantastic shots when using a tripod, because I can accurately level the camera, which minimizes the effects of barrel distortion.  Vertical lines stay nice and vertical, without leaning inward or outward.  Below 14mm you will see some distortion, but it has a pleasant quality to it. 

Rebel T5, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5, 20mm, f/18, 1/80, ISO-100.  The camera was taken on a tripod, with the camera angled upward about 20-30 degrees.  It is an old wooden roller coaster.  It was once used in a Mariah Carey video.

[ScottyP]

Or just think in terms of what 10 years of shooting your 18-55mm lens has taught you.  

The wide end of your current zoom lens is 18mm. The long end of your lens is 55mm and that is what you see when you zoom in all the way. 

If the 55-250 lens STARTS at 55mm. The widest it can shoot is equal to what you get with your current lens zoomed in all the way to 55.  So no, a 55-250 will not give wide angle shots. You would use your 18-55 lens for the wide shots.