Lens recommendation for Canon 60D - Urgent

[saketb]

Hello everyone...

Well, this would be the first DSLR in my life and I want to be perfectly sure what I am buying is good. So, I decided to buy a Canon 60D for myself and was looking for some options for everyday or a walk-around lens for the camera.

I am planning to buy in a week's time.

As far I have read online and visited a few stores, I came to know that the 60D is available with these kits in my city - Bangalore, India.

1. 60D Body only
2. 60D Kit (EF S18-55 IS)
3. 60D Kit II (EF S18-135 IS)
4. 60D Kit III (EF S18-200 IS)

Now, I need suggestions as to which kit (lens) would be best suited for everyday use, including portraits, people, street, landscape, etc.
I have read at many websites that the 18-135 & 18-200 have many cons (distortion, vignetting, CA) and the image quality is not that great.

Another lens I found out which has good reviews and goes along with the basic 18-55 kit, was the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens. What's your take on this?

I am a bit confused and would need the help of members here to convince me to a particular lens or 2 lenses to start with.

Thanks in advance.

[Shutterbug74]

I have a Canon 60D and found that the 15-85 is a fantastic walk around lens for the crop body. the 18-55 II is better than its older version but you have more focal range with the 15-85. It is more money but definitely worth it. to compliment this I have a 50mm1.4 and use to have the 55-250 which is a very good telephoto lens (better than the 18-200). I later upgraded to the 70-200 when I went FF.

When I travel, I take the 60D s/15-85 and have great results. Its a great camera to have. Reports are floating around of a 70D replacement to the 60D, so price wise they should start to drop slightly (but not dramatically). Lenses always have a better value for their worth than camera bodies. That being said, I won't be upgrading my 60D anytime soon.

[shoturtle]

If you need allot of zoom, tamron 18-270 VC PZ over the ef-s 18-200. The long zoom has some distortions but that is what you give up for the superzoom lens. I have used them, and the issues are not that bad unless you are a pixel peeper looking at everything at 100% crops.

From medium the 15-85 is better optically then the 18-135 but it is more money.

[TCav]

I would suggest that the Canon 15-85 IS USM that Shutterbug74 mentioned would handle what you want to do (plus a few things you didn't mention) better than any of the lenses you listed.

The 15-85 is not cheap, and since it's not part of any package deals, you wouldn't get any price break for buying them together, but if you want to get just one lens, it's the one to get.

[saketb]

Originally Posted by Shutterbug74

I have a Canon 60D and found that the 15-85 is a fantastic walk around lens for the crop body. the 18-55 II is better than its older version but you have more focal range with the 15-85. It is more money but definitely worth it. to compliment this I have a 50mm1.4 and use to have the 55-250 which is a very good telephoto lens (better than the 18-200). I later upgraded to the 70-200 when I went FF.

When I travel, I take the 60D s/15-85 and have great results. Its a great camera to have. Reports are floating around of a 70D replacement to the 60D, so price wise they should start to drop slightly (but not dramatically). Lenses always have a better value for their worth than camera bodies. That being said, I won't be upgrading my 60D anytime soon.

Originally Posted by shoturtle

If you need allot of zoom, tamron 18-270 VC PZ over the ef-s 18-200. The long zoom has some distortions but that is what you give up for the superzoom lens. I have used them, and the issues are not that bad unless you are a pixel peeper looking at everything at 100% crops.

From medium the 15-85 is better optically then the 18-135 but it is more money.

Originally Posted by TCav

I would suggest that the Canon 15-85 IS USM that Shutterbug74 mentioned would handle what you want to do (plus a few things you didn't mention) better than any of the lenses you listed.

The 15-85 is not cheap, and since it's not part of any package deals, you wouldn't get any price break for buying them together, but if you want to get just one lens, it's the one to get.

Thanks a lot for the quick reply to my queries.

The lens which you all have specified i.e., 15-85 is indeed a great lens. I have read many reviews and everywhere it has been a winner. This lens will definitely fulfill my needs and give me great quality shots, but there is a big price tag with it and that is keeping me out of it.

Now, I've been saving from a long time for a DSLR and as I'm on a budget so this lens is way beyond my reach. So I've to look at other options. I have inquired about the prices of the kits as well as few of the lenses, which I've mentioned below.

I request you all to guide me to the best available at this price point. My budget is US$1400, this includes body+lens. All prices mentioned are converted to US$.

Kits
----
1. 60D Body Only - 910
2. 60D Kit (EF S18-55 IS) - 973
3. 60D Kit II (EF S18-135 IS) - 1235
4. 60D Kit III (EF S18-200 IS) - 1490 (may extend a bit, if its worth)

Lenses
-------
1. EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II - 210
2. EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II - 295
3. EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM - 590
4. EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM - 981 (out of my reach)

As, there is a rumor for 70D as mentioned by Shutterbug74, which would be announced tomorrow, I shall wait for a couple of days and then take the plunge.

[wave01]

Hi try looking at a sigma 17070os. the 70d is due very soon may be april now

[TCav]

If the combination of the 60D and the 15-85 is outside your budget, I suggest you look for a less expensive body instead of a less expensive lens.

If you're really stuck on the 60D, then I think you should consider the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 OS that wave01 mentioned.

[SIMON40]

With regards the Canon lenses you mention- the 18-135 is probably the best of the three- offering longer reach than the 18-55 and optically superior to the 18-200.

TCav's suggestion of maybe a less expensive body isn't a bad idea- unless there's a specific feature that the 60D offers and you want... or as wave01 suggests, maybe look beyond Canon lenses,such as Sigma or Tamron... though of course,you do get a bit of a discount if you buy a lens/body combo...

[TCav]

Originally Posted by saketb

3. EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM - 590

The STM version of this lens isn't much different from the regular one, unless you'll be shooting videos. The STM version is quiter than the conventional version, so you won't capture the sound of the AF motor.

[shoturtle]

Well if the 70d is coming, the 60d will start seeing bigger discounts on the body.