What’s a good lightweight walk-around zoom with image stabilization for a Canon 40D?

Asked 7/29/2012

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I’m taking a major trip to the Galapagos and want a lighter zoom lens for my Canon 40D. I tried a Canon 70-200mm L lens, but it feels too heavy to carry as a walk-around option. I’d like something lighter that still delivers good image quality and has image stabilization. What zoom lenses should I consider for a 40D crop-sensor body?

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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Firstly, the 70-200 is not what I'd call a "walk around" lens It can be cumbersome and get heavy after a while especially if you have the f/2.8 version. As someone mentioned before, the f/4 version is a lot lighter.

For a regular all-rounder have you considered the following:-

EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM

The EF-S 17-55mm really is one heck of an upgrade from the standard kit lens, and being that your 40D has a crop sensor - it will accept the EF-S lenses. It has a constant f/2.8 aperture through the whole zoom range, really fast USM, and the image stabiliser you were after... I had this lens for over a year and was consistently impressed by the image quality. It also has the UD and low-dispersion glass elements of its bigger brothers in the L series, so the quality is high.

The EF 24-105mm is a chunky option but not overly heavy. It is a full L grade lens with all the build quality that you would expect from an L. It has a constant f/4 aperture through the zoom range, which is usually more than adequate for most work, especially daytime things. Although it has a smaller aperture than the 17-55 or 24-70 it still has the image stabiliser built in to give you a couple of stops extra leaway.

The EF 24-70mm does not have IS, but few users miss it. Another chunky peice of glass with a constant f/2.8 aperture ensures good shutter speed even in low light and good DoF. It can be quite heavy after a while, but it is a seriously good bit of L series glass. Canon have, this year, released a version II of it, though as I understand this has been subject to delays and is still in short supply; but what that means is that the old version of this lens (still fantastic) should be readily available and perhaps at a better price too (though it is still expensive!).

These are the lenses I would say would be good for a "walk around" lens. The 70-200 you mention would be a telephoto zoom great for if you can't get close to your subject, but you won't so easily be able to do landscape work with it (but it is possible -- I once did a landscape at 400mm!!). I hope those options help you out...

Originally by user7566. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user7566

14y ago

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For a Canon 40D, the 70-200mm isn’t really a typical walk-around lens, especially if you used the f/2.8 version, which is quite heavy. If you want something lighter with good image quality and stabilization, the strongest all-around option mentioned is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. It’s designed for APS-C bodies like the 40D, gives a very useful everyday zoom range, has constant f/2.8, fast USM autofocus, and image stabilization.

Other options suggested were the EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM and EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM. On a 40D, though, both start less wide than the 17-55mm, so they may be less convenient as true walk-around travel lenses. The 24-105mm does include IS, while the 24-70mm does not.

If you liked the 70-200mm range but not the weight, the f/4 version was also noted as being much lighter than the f/2.8 version.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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