Let's play a "choose your lens" game...

[splproductions]

I thought that title might get more views...

So here's the game. Pretend you shoot a crop-sensor, and you own a crappy kit lens, a 24-70L, and a 50mm prime. You never use the kit lens because it obviously sucks. You use the 50mm for specific "shoots" like portrait, etc. The 24-70L is your "photo shoot" lens but also your "everyday lens". Unfortunately, your wife is getting tired of the size and the weight. After all... this is still the "family camera". You also get a little nervous when you're at the zoo and you need someone to snap a pic of your family. Handing your L-lens to a stranger???

So you need to choose a lens that fits the following criteria:

1) Isn't a monster of a lens (size and weight) like the 24-70L.
2) Wide enough for family parties, shooting your kids inside the house, Aunt Ruth's BBQ, etc.
3) Doesn't have a variable aperture (because you absolutely hate using those).
4) Doesn't cost over $800 or so (not for budget reasons, but because you want to feel OK about handing it to a friend or stranger to snap a pic). This is the least important of the criteria... if a more expensive lens fits the above 3 criteria I'd be OK with spending more.

Primes are OK, maybe even preferred. Remember, you're shooting crop-sensor.

 

[Magellan]

Assuming you're a Canon user...I'd say 35mm f/2 or 28mm f/1.8 USM. The 35mm is cheap and has excellent image quality for the price. Better than the 28mm, but on a crop body you might want that extra width. Or if you're not opposed to third party lenses, you might try the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8.

 

[jake337]

What brand is your body and will it meter a manual focus lens?

If your answer is yes than maybe:

Nikkor 15mm or 18mm f3.5 ais
and
Nikkor 135mm f2.8 ais

Maybe a 135mm f2 ais if you stretch your budget out.

 

[KmH]

A 24-70 f2/8 is a 'monster of a lens'?

 

[pixmedic1 1]

tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or sigma 18-50 f/2.8 are decent choices. or something like a 11-14mm.
depends on how wide you need to go.

 

[splproductions]

A 24-70 f2/8 is a 'monster of a lens'?

I actually love the heft of it... makes me feel like I'm using a real lens. But when we're going to the zoo and I'm carrying a big diaper bag, another bag with lunches in it, etc, it starts to feel like too much lens for the occasion.

I'm using Canon...

Thanks for the replies so far... I was planning on just sticking with Canon but I'll look into the third-party options mentioned.

 

[4meandthem]

How about a powershot for the snapshot occasions. Same price as some lenses and it gives you options in what you want to carry around. We have both and use both.

 

[usayit]

Panasonic 14mm f/2.5

$170USD via an ebay seller brand new.
Absolute minuscule in size.
Fast enough
Sharp enough

 

[MLeeK]

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or Sigma equivalent. Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Great quality, low price, f/2.8. less size/weight

 

[sm4him]

How about a powershot for the snapshot occasions. Same price as some lenses and it gives you options in what you want to carry around. We have both and use both.

^This. Only, since budget doesn't seem to be a big issue, I'd amend it:
Buy the Powershot for the wife and those family occasions when you might be "handing off" the camera. THEN, with the rest of the money, buy YOURSELF *another* L lens for the DSLR. It's a Win-Win!

 

[kundalini]

After all... this is still the "family camera". You also get a little nervous when you're at the zoo and you need someone to snap a pic of your family. Handing your L-lens to a stranger???

At these times it seems as though you are looking for family memories, not family portraits. Get yourself a decent P&S instead of another lens.

 

[Markw]

Sigma 17-50mm F/2.8 OS. It's a GREAT lens. Or a P7100. Or a J1 and 10-30mm lens, all depending on how much you really want to use your DSLR for this, how fancy you want to be, etc.

Mark

 

[belial]

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or Sigma equivalent. Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Great quality, low price, f/2.8. less size/weight

+1 I'd go with the tamron f/2.8. Only costs $500 so it's not quite the end of the world if something happens. It's fairly wide fairly low weight and has a decent aperture. For a crop body a good workhorse

 

[JFC]

vote for tamron 17-50 f/2.8, it's plastic body made it less weight, and its wide enough for capture family shoot.

 

[TheKenTurner]

Canon 17-55

-Ken Turner