Help with lens choice

Zascar

Hey guys, a friend of mine is buying some decent camera gear but a little unsure as to what to get exactly. He’s fairly set on the Canon 60D – and there is a pretty good deal with the 18-135mm lens on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0040X3DY8/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=photo – I think this is a good bundle, it’s a nice lens with a decent focal length – that will be a good all rounder. If he properly gets into it he will buy other lenses down the line, probably a 50mm, maybe a zoom etc – but for the moment he wants a decent all one one lens. I have used the Sigma 18-200mm OS and I was very impressed with it – I’ve also heard and seen great reports about the Tamrom 18-270mm too.

Just wondering what your opinions are on these types of lenses and what the best option is. I believe the 18-135mm canon is decent, it does seem to be the ‘kit lens’ on many of the higher end cameras. But is it worth paying more to get the 200 or 270 lengths, will the overall quality be much better?

Thoughts appreciated.
Thanks

Kenny Logins

I never really understood the logic behind spending hundreds on a DSLR and then lashing a big nasty superzoom on to it... Wouldn't a bridge camera do the same job, for a fraction of the cost?

Effects

I'm with Kenny. If you try and get a lens that covers that huge focal range then it won't be great at any of them. Great for lazy photogs though.

Zascar

Personally I think the body he's going for is overkill to someone fairly new to photography but he wants to get one that will last and it has features he really wants as well. As I said, he will eventually get a collection of lenses like primes etc but simply to start he wants a one-for-all lens - and then he will get better quality ones in time.

I don't think Superzooms are nasty - I have a Canon 24-105mm F4 L and although I love it I sometimes miss the versatility of the 18-200mm I had before. Not everyone can start with a collection of super bright primes.

Anyway out of the ones I mentioned, does anyone have any experience on which ones are better, or better value?

dinneenp

I began with a superzoom (18-250) and was very happy with it. In fact I sometimes miss the versitility of it (in new cities wandering around).
I've since replaced it with several lenses, all focusing on speed (18-50 f2.8 is my walkabout lens now).

Farmlife

I have a 18-200 canon that i'll be bringing on any holidays as it's a great all rounder, love the versatility of it. I have a few L series and they have there place in my photography.