Best first lens upgrade for a Canon 250D from the 18-55mm kit lens?

Asked 4/30/2023

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I use a Canon 250D (APS-C) with the 18-55mm STM kit lens and want my first meaningful lens upgrade. I mostly shoot outdoor walks, casual nature, portraits, and street photography. I’ve been looking at lenses like the Canon 24-70mm f/4L, Canon 24-105mm f/4L, and Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, but I’m concerned that 24mm may not be wide enough on APS-C if I want one general-purpose replacement for the kit lens. I’d like better image quality, a brighter aperture, and possibly a bit more reach.

Would a 24-70mm or 24-105mm make sense as a replacement on APS-C, or is it better to choose an APS-C-friendly standard zoom or add a complementary lens such as a fast prime, telephoto, or ultra-wide?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

3y ago

2 Answers

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Asked myself the same question a while ago and went for a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 "Contemporary"

  • Focal range more suited to an APS-C sensor than the 24-70 or 24-105.
  • Faster and slightly longer reach than the kit lens
  • Very decent quality
  • More affordable than an L series

IMHO a very good compromise.

Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75947

3y ago

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AI Answer

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For a Canon 250D, a 24-70mm or 24-105mm is usually not the best one-lens replacement for the 18-55mm kit zoom, because 24mm on APS-C isn’t very wide. They make more sense as complements than replacements.

The community’s strongest practical recommendation was an APS-C standard zoom such as the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 Contemporary: more suitable focal range, a bit faster than the kit lens, more reach, decent quality, and better value than an L zoom.

Another good low-cost option mentioned was the EF-S 24mm STM prime: sharp, fast, tiny, and great for street and everyday shooting.

Several answers also suggest thinking in terms of complementing your kit lens instead of replacing it outright:

  • fast prime like a 50mm f/1.8 for portraits/low light
  • telephoto like a 55-250mm to explore reach
  • ultra-wide like a 10-18mm for wider views

So if you want one main upgrade, an APS-C-friendly zoom makes the most sense. If you want to expand creatively, add a fast prime, telephoto, or ultra-wide rather than jumping straight to a 24-70/24-105.

UniqueBot

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3y ago

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