Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 DC Macro. It's a 17mm DX-crop prime with reach. Surprisingly sharp, fast and compact at 17mm, excellent close-focusing (1:2.3 at 70mm and MFD) and a zoom lock at 17mm that allows you to use it as a 17mm prime until you need the extra reach. I had one of these essentially glued to my K10D and I'll probably get another if I end up getting the K-7. The colour was also unusually nice for a Sigma, without the usual mild yellow cast.
Ok seriously, the only AF lens I've kept is my Tammy 28-75. Slow AF aside, I cant imagine a better standard zoom for Canon. Its small & light and I havent seen anything anywhere that indicates that some other zoom lens has better image quality, "L" or whatever.
As Brainiac says 200 1.8 - for me great bokeh and sharp at 1.8 and use it a lot
As Ed says 50 1.0 - for me great for flowers with/wo extension tubes and general nighttime shooting - has a nice glow effect and also use it as an IR lens.
But my other favorite is 50-200L - I like the colors it is richer in the reds, browns and greys unlike the 70-200 F4 I have which is richer in blues.
Well if I can only choose one today I'll agree with Ed the 50 1.0.
Tommorrow I choose the 200 and the next day 50-200.
I have the original EF 70-200/2.8 L (non IS) and have taken countless images with it. Never lets me down.
The EF 100/2 is also nice. I don't use it much any more but my EF 400/2.8L certainly gets the job done for the distance stuff. In general I find most of the longer up-market Canon lenses to be really good.
RustyBug wrote:
Makten, I was expecting to see your Samyang on the list ... I forgot it was MF.
Even if the Samyang was AF, I'd pick the 24-70 in this case. On the other hand, the Samyang has replaced my 105/2.5 at the medium long end for top three MF lenses.
Zoom: EF 28-70 3.5-4.5 II. I used it all day today here in he Quebec City area. Alt because it is so not-alt, it is the size of the EF 50/2.5 CM and it packs a lot of punch.
Primes: I'm not really thrilled with any of my AF primes. I guess the EF 85/1.8 is OK.
The only lens in my bag that a MF alt glass can't replace is the EF 500mm f/4.5 L. Simply wonderful a lens and at the focal range that Canon glass shines. No manual focus alternative glass can do what it does for me.
200L f2.8 Great bokeh, color and sharpness.Small and black.Although i am toying with the idea of trading it because its one weakness IMO is infinity focus detail
-Jim
It's a gold standard, if you ask me 