Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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The finest walk-around lens shouldn't be too heavy or bulky, since they should be able to be strapped to your camera and used for a day of walking and
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We tried to include lenses for a variety of price points, so whether you're searching for a low-cost option or the highest quality, we should have something for you.
In a Hurry? Our Top Pick: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8
The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 is a high-quality and versatile zoom lens, making it our overall best walk around lens for Canon. The back and front elements feature a fluorine coating making it resistant to fingerprints and dust, allowing you to use it in trying weather conditions.
As part of the advanced L-series, this lens features a weather resistance sealing that makes it ideal for use in both summer and winter.The redesigned zoom lock mechanism keeps the zoom position at the extreme broad end secure during transport, reducing damage.
Whether you’re shooting in low -light conditions or strong lit conditions, you will love the versatility provided by this lens f/2.8 wide aperture.
Besides, this lens employs three aspherical elements and two ultra-low dispersion glass elements which significantly helps suppress color fringing, spherical and chromatic aberration for exceptional image quality and clarity throughout the zoom range.
It features a super spectra coating on its element that helps reduce glare and ghosting, enhancing contrast and color accuracy even when working in brightly-lit conditions. When it comes to applying selective focus techniques and shallow depth of field, this lens employs a nine-blade rounded aperture diaphragm which produces an appealing bokeh quality.
With a full-time focus override, this lens allows you to fine-tune your focus when capturing, giving you a better control over the focusing performance. When it comes to autofocusing, this lens features an ultrasonic ring of motor (USM) and a high speed CPU allowing you to achieve a quick, near-silent and accurate autofocus performance.
One feature that is still missing, compared to Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6, is the image stabilization technology which some professional photographers would consider a huge oversight considering that normal zooms are frequently employed in regular handheld
The Sigma Art 24mm HSM f/1.4 is an excellent prime lens that is distinguished by its sophisticated physical build, making it a durable walk-around lens. In its optical design, it features four special low dispersion elements that help suppress color fringing and chromatic aberrations for enhanced image clarity and color accuracy.
It also employs three spherical elements which help control astigmatism, field curvature, coma and distortion ensuring high image contrast and sharpness. Additionally, the Super Multi-layer coating on its elements helps to reduce the ghosting, surface reflections and flare for enhanced color neutrality and contrast.
With a maximum aperture of f/1.4, this lens is great when using full-frame sensors in low light situations such as nighttime
In its construction, it features a Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) material making it ideal for use in both summer and winter. Like the Canon 24-70mm USM f/2.8L EF II, the nine-blade circular aperture diaphragm produces an impressive bokeh quality and helps to blur the background of the subject when using the selective focus techniques.
When it comes to the focusing performance, you will love the fast, near-silent and accurate Hyper Sonic Motor system in this lens. When it comes to using this lens on a full frame camera, the 24mm length provides a versatile or wide-angle perspective making it suitable for architectural, nature, interior and landscape
As a member of the Art line Sigma’s Global Vision series, this lens achieves a high degree of optical performance, making it ideal for artistic and creative applications.
The Sigma 24mm f1.4 DG feels strong in the hand, and its weight complements a wide range of Canon cameras, including older film cameras. However, unlike the Canon 24-70mm USM f/2.8L ef s lens, the lens lacks weather resistance sealing, making it unsuitable for use in adverse weather conditions.
If you are looking for the most affordable lens for your Canon 6D Mark II, then the Canon 50mm STM f/1.8 EF is an outstanding Mark II lens for you.Typically, it is an exceptional prime lens with a compact and lightweight design, making it the best walk-around lens for canon.
Being the most lightweight on our list this lens is suitable for capturing handheld in an extended time without your wrist hurting. It is designed for full-frame Canon DSLRs and also boasts a useful 80mm length in aps-c camera.
With an f/1.8 maximum aperture, an image shot using this lens is more appealing than the one shot using f/ 4-5.6 of Canon 55-250mm ef s lens in low-lighting conditions, making it ideal for use in nighttime
The bokeh quality produced by the seven-blade circular aperture diaphragm is less appealing than that of Sigma Art 24mm HSM f/1.4 when using selective focus techniques. With the full-time manual override, this lens allows you to fine-tune your focus giving you better control over the autofocus performance.
The advanced STM stepping AF motor and the high speed CPU ensures that the autofocus performance is smooth, silent and accurate.
It employs a Super Spectra coating that allows you to shoot in harsh lighting conditions with minimal flare and surface reflections. However, it is not ideal for use where you require zooming in and out when shooting
The Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 is a premium wide angle lens that you can use with full frame cameras for a wide array of real estate
When it comes to video smoothness and stability, the camera shake effect is mostly an issue particularly when capturing handheld. Unlike the Canon 24-70mm USM f/2.8L EF II, this lens comes with an optical stabilization mechanism that reduces the camera shake effect when capturing handheld.
However, the image quality shot using this lens f/4-5.6 slower aperture can't match that shot using the Sigma Art 24mm HSM f/1.4 using a full frame sensor in poorly lit conditions.
Like the Canon 50mm STM f/1.8 EF, it employs an STM stepping AF motor that allows you to achieve fast and near-silent autofocus performance. Additionally, with a full-time manual focus override, this lens allows you to fine-tune your focus giving you better control over the focusing performance.
Although this telephoto zoom lens is specifically designed for aps-c cameras, you can pair it with full frame cameras and get an equivalent 88-400mm. The super spectra coating applied on this lens helps suppress flare and ghosting for enhanced color neutrality and contrast.
 With the use of one ultra low dispersion glass element, this lens significantly minimizes color fringing, spherical and chromatic aberrations for excellent image quality and clarity. However, the bokeh quality produced by the 7-blade circular aperture diaphragm cannot match that one produced by the 9-blades of the Sigma Art 24mm HSM f/1.4Â
The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 is a short-telephoto camera lens that performs exceptionally well when capturing portraits. The lens comes with a Super Spectrum coating that helps reduce surface reflections, flare and ghosting for enhanced image contrast even when working in backlit conditions.
With a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 and a minimum focusing distance of 6.7 inches, this macro lens is ideal for macro
Although it is heavier than the Canon 50mm STM f/1.8 E, the 0.68 pound weight is still lightweight enough to enable you to shoot for extended time without exhaustion.Like other Canon EF-S lenses, it comes with a configurable control ring allowing you to have a better control on the lens ISO speed, exposure compensation and shutter speed.
Like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, this sharp lens nine-blade aperture diaphragm produces a pleasing bokeh quality when applying selective focus techniques. The advanced STM stepping motor provides a quick, near-silent and precise autofocus performance.
If you are looking for an ultra zoom lens that can help you in real estate
This camera lens comes with a built-in petal-type lens hood making it one of the best canon lenses that helps to protect the front element and prevent flares when capturing with a full frame camera in harsh lighting conditions.
When it comes to its optical design, it employs two ED glass elements to minimize color fringing, spherical and chromatic aberration for a clear and sharper image. Additionally, it employs one hybrid spherical element that helps to control coma, field curvature and astigmatism for enhanced contrast and sharpness.
When working in low-light conditions, the image shot using this lens f/2.8 maximum aperture is more appealing than that shot using the f/4-6.3 aperture range of Canon RF 24–240mm f/4-6.3.
If using a full-frame canon DSLR camera, this lens offers a field of view of 115 degrees and 90 degrees with a crop sensor aps-c cameras.
Unlike the Canon 50mm STM f/1.8 EF, it lacks the ultrasonic ring AF motor making it suitable for use where you require a silent shooting experience. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.9 inches, this macro lens is ideal for shooting interior videos in tight spaces and close-up subjects.
Without an autofocus system, the tedious manual focus might inconvenience you especially when tracking a fast-moving subject.
Keeping in mind that this is an ultra wide wide-angle lens, you might have to deal with some vignetting and color degradation in the corners. However, the fixed focal length means that you have to switch positions when capturing moving subjects.
The Canon 11-22 mm f/4-5.6 is a wide- angle lens that you can use to capture landscape and real estate
It is the second most lightweight on our list, making it ideal for handheld extended shooting. Like the Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6, it employs a seven-blade rounded aperture diaphragm that produces a pleasing bokeh quality when using selective focus techniques.
The image quality shot using this lens f/4-5.6is less appealing than f/1.8 of Canon EF 50mm. When it comes to video stability, it features a dynamic stabilization functionality that helps reduce the camera shake effect even when shooting handheld.
In its optical design, it features two aspherical lens elements that help minimize astigmatism, coma and field curvature for enhanced image clarity and clarity. Additionally it employs two UD glass elements that help suppress color fringing, distortions and chromatic aberrations common in wide angle zoom lenses.
With a super spectra coating, this lens minimizes ghosting, flare and surface reflections when capturing in harshly lit conditions. Unlike the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8, the zoom employed in this lens allows you to zoom in far-away subjects without switching positions. With a maximum magnification ratio of 0:3, this lens is ideal for capturing tiny subjects.
The Canon RF 24–240mm f/4-6.3 is a versatile telephoto zoom lens that is designed to work excellently with full- frame Canon cameras. It has a wide focal range and its capability surpasses that of a standard kit lens.
Like the Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, it employs a dynamic image stabilizer feature enhancing video stability even when capturing while moving. Additionally, it features an effective five-stop image stabilization functionality that reduces the image blur effect when using high ISO settings.
When it comes to focusing, this camera lens uses the Nano USM autofocus motor to achieve a fast, near-silent and accurate focusing performance that suits both video and
It also comes with a full-time manual focusing ring that allows you to fine-tune your focus, giving you a better control over the focusing performance.
Like the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8, the configurable control ring in this lens allows you to adjust your exposure compensation, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Its exceptionally good length allows you to zoom in distant subjects without having to switch positions.
Like the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8, it features a zoom lock mechanism that helps keep the zoom at the far end position when not in use or while traveling.
However, it is the heaviest on our list making it unsuitable for carrying in a camera bag. Typically, this weight might make your wrist hurt if used for an extended shooting time without a tripod.Â
The Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is a high-quality zoom lens with a flexible zoom range that makes it versatile and ideal for shooting expansive landscapes and real estate interior photos in tight spaces. Typically, this lens offers 74.2 degrees to 11.3 degrees angle of view, which makes it perform exceptionally well as a wide angle and a telephoto lens.
Although this lens is specifically designed for aps-c camera, it’s one of the most versatile Canon EF-S lenses, and you can pair it with a full frame sensor and get an equivalent length of 29-216mm.
Like the Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6, this lens comes equipped with an optical image stabilization system that helps to minimize the camera shake even when capturing without a tripod at longer focal lengths.
It comes with a dynamic image stabilization feature that helps to enhance the video quality by tracking moving subjects even when shooting while walking. It also includes rear and lens caps, and can support 67mm filter size.
This image stabilization technology is especially important in reducing the image blur when using high ISO settings. Even with these advanced features, this lens is exceptionally compact and lightweight, with the physical dimensions of 3.98 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches and weighing around 1 pound.
Unlike the Sigma 24mm f/1.4, the f/3.5-5.6 maximum aperture range might not perform well in low-light conditions. When it comes to the autofocus experience, this lens comes with a stepping motor which makes the autofocus experience smoother especially when shooting movies.
The optical design includes 16 elements organized in 12 groups which aids to suppress the spherical and chromatic distortions and aberrations that are common in wide angle lenses.
If you are looking for a Canon 7D Mark II lens, then the Canon 16-35mm f/4L might be the best choice. It features a sophisticated lens that features a constant aperture throughout its zoom range. Although this lens is designed for full frame cameras, you can pair it with aps-c cameras and get an equivalent length of 25.6-56mm.Â
As a member of the esteemed Canon L-series, this lens comes with the two ultra low dispersion elements which helps to get rid of chromatic aberration and color fringing throughout the zoom range.
The lens elements feature a super spectra coating which helps to reduce the ghosting and flare for enhanced contrast and image clarity when capturing in harshly lit situations. Additionally, this lens features three aspherical lens elements which helps to reduce the spherical aberration and distortions for enhanced image sharpness.
Considering that this is a wide angle lens, you might still need to deal with distortions and image vignetting around the corners.
Like the Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, this lens comes with a four-stop-effective image stabilization mechanism which helps to reduce the camera shake and vibration effect even when shooting at longer focal length or with high ISO settings.
It features the ultrasonic ring AF motor which helps achieve a responsive, fast, quiet and precise autofocus performance. However, if you want to have better focusing control performance especially in low-light conditions, you will love the full-time manual focus ring feature in this lens.
When it comes to the building quality, this lens comes with a protective fluorine coating and weather-sealed design, making it ideal for use in all weather and environmental conditions.
It features 9 blade aperture diaphragm which helps produce a soft background blur when employing the selective focus techniques and shallow depth of field. However, its smaller aperture makes its performance in low-light conditions no match for the Canon 50mm f/1.8.Â
Different lenses for Canon come with varying build qualities, field-of-view, zoom capability and low-light performance. Below are some of the features and properties you should consider when choosing a walk around lens.
| Lenses | Diaphragm Blades | Image Stabilization | Weight (Pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon USM f/2.8L EF II | 9 | No | 1.8 |
| Sigma Art HSM f/1.4 | 9 | No | 1.5 |
| Canon STM f/1.8 EF | 7 | No | 0.3 |
| Canon STM EF-S f/4-5.6 | 7 | Yes | 0.9 |
| Canon Macro RF f/1.8 IS STM | 9 | Yes | 0.7 |
| Rokinon 14M-C f/2.8 FE Ultra Wide | 10 | Yes | 1.2 |
| Canon f/4-5.6 EF-M | 7 | Yes | 0.5 |
| Canon f/4-6.3 RF USM | 7 | Yes | 1.7 |
The focal length will primarily determine the angle of view of your walk around lens. It dictates how small or large the frame is, measured in millimeters. A long focal length allows you to capture narrower shots that seem closely cropped.
On the other hand, a short focal length gives you a wider field-of-view, allowing you to capture wider photos. Keep in mind that the focal length also helps to dictate the depth of your photos and how the foreground and the background seems to be distinct.
For instance, longer lenses such as Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 have shallower depth of field, making them great for close-ups and portraits. On the other hand, lenses with shorter focal lengths such as Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 are great for landscape and architectural
The zoom capability of the lens is closely tied to its focal length. There are two categories of lenses, namely: zoom lenses and prime lenses. A prime lens features a fixed focal length and is usually more solid in its design.
On the other hand, zoom lenses such as the Canon f/4-5.6 11-22mm come with multiple focal lengths, making them more versatile than prime lenses. Typically, a zoom lens allows you to shoot both distant and nearby subjects without switching positions.
Aperture refers to the opening that controls the amount of light entering the lens. It is a member of the exposure triangle and helps to determine how fast the lens is. It is measured in f stops like f/2.8 or f/4.
Note that an f/4 aperture is smaller than an f/2.8 aperture due to the larger denominator in the equation. That means lenses with a larger aperture such as a sigma 24mm f/1.4 will allow more light to enter, making them the best option when shooting in low light situations.
Also, larger aperture allows you to use low ISO settings and faster shutter speeds. On the other hand, a lens with a range of apertures such as the Canon 24–240mm f/4-6.3 will give you flexibility on the ISO and shutter speed to use depending on the lighting conditions.
Although many modern lenses come with an autofocus mechanism, the autofocusing system performance varies across models and brands. For instance, the autofocus performance of a budget lens produces noise and loses track of the subject, making it unsuitable for shooting camera sensitive subjects.
On the other hand, high-end walk-around lenses such as Canon 24-70 mm f/2.8 feature ultrasonic motors that are accurate, fast and near silent. It is advisable to go for a walk around lens with an advanced autofocusing system as it can automatically lock the focus and track a moving subject.
You can also switch to manual focus if the autofocus performance of your lens does it meet your expectations. Typically, a manual focus can give you a better focusing control especially in low-light conditions.
In most cases, the lens size and weight will vary depending on the focal length and construction materials. For instance, zoom lenses will be heavier than prime lenses regardless of the construction materials. In most cases, a lens with a metal mount also tends to be heavier.
Considering that you'll need walk-around lenses you can carry around and shoot handheld without exhaustion or your wrists hurting, it's advisable to go for ones that are lightweight and compact such as the Canon 50mm f/1.8.
The image stabilization system is an advanced feature in most walk around lenses that helps to compensate and minimize the camera shake and vibration effect especially when shooting handheld or when using high ISO settings.
When it comes to walk-around lenses, you want a lens to shoot stable videos and sharp photos without a tripod. Although you get a stabilization function in the camera body, it is advisable to go for a lens with an advanced optical image stabilization system such as the Canon 55-250 mm f/4-5.6.
The sigma 24mm f/1.4 is an exceptional walk-around the lens for a Canon crop sensor camera, giving you an equivalent focal length of 38.4 mm when paired with an aps-c format sensor. The f/1.4 maximum-aperture makes this lens great for capturing in low-light interiors and when using faster shutter speeds.Â
Yes, 50mm focal length can make a great walk around lens due to its natural field of view. It is a versatile focal length that can be used to shoot landscapes, portraits, architectural and real estate photos. In most cases, lenses with a focal length of 50mm are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for carrying around.Â
The best Canon lens for long-distance photography is Canon 55-250 mm f/4-5.6, thanks to its flexible aperture and versatile zoom range. Typically, the flexibility of the aperture and the focal length allows you to adjust the settings for the best image quality depending on the subject distance and the lighting conditions.
Your Canon camera can shoot better exposed real estate images with any of the walk around lenses listed above. With the in-depth analysis mentioned, we feel you can still choose from the remaining possibilities and suit your needs.
