Years ago, back in 2018, when my daughter was just shy of 4 years old, she wanted to take pictures, so I first tried one of those cheap camera shaped holder things that you put a cell phone in and used an old, decommissioned cell phone, but it was junk and never worked right. So I gave her my old EOS 40D with an EF 28-90 lens. Not surprisingly, she took a lot of pictures that were blurry and just of nothing to speak of, but every now and then, she'd get pictures that were pretty good for a 4 year old. Anyway, she's 11 now and has been even more interested in taking pictures and has been getting better, and she can only continue to learn from here. But the lens seems to be giving up the ghost. While at the zoo today, it started flaking out with lens communication errors, and after fiddling with it for a few minutes, I found that with it at 90mm, it would throw errors, and at 28mm it would throw errors, but if it was all the way retracted at about 50mm, it would usually work. So I need to find her a new lens.
So that being said, does anyone have any recommendation for a fairly inexpensive but decent lens that has a range similar to or better than the 28-90, ideally with IS, and in a perfect world, has the moving zoom and focus elements internal? I imagine there are lenses out there that meet that criteria, I'm just not sure where to start looking for them.
Cougar281 wrote:
So that being said, does anyone have any recommendation for a fairly inexpensive but decent lens that has a range similar to or better than the 28-90, ideally with IS, and in a perfect world, has the moving zoom and focus elements internal? I imagine there are lenses out there that meet that criteria, I'm just not sure where to start looking for them.
The only EF-S standard zoom I am aware of with internal focusing and zooming is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM ART. But this lens is a real handful and lacks stabilization.
Have you considered instead a one or two prime lens kit for her? When my kids picked up photography I insisted that they learn using a 5D and 50mm prime, and I think it greatly aided the development of their creativity. They made some pictures that rose above typical snapshots.
The APS-C equivalent for the 40D might be one of the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lenses (I don't actually think the Art lens was optically superior to the EX version, which may be available cheaper.)
A flexible two-lens kit could be something like either the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 pancake or the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS paired with the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM.
One potential gotcha is that the 40D does not support autofocus microadjust (MFA), and so any lens you buy should be tested carefully to ensure accurate and consistent focus performance. If things are slightly off it will be more noticeable in a faster prime lens than in a slow zoom.
If you still want a zoom, I'd advocate for something more serious like the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Again, make sure to test focus while you have a return window.
If you're intent to remain with the EOS 40-D, I would recommend the EF 15-85s, which was one of my favorite "s" lenses back in my APS-C DSLR days,
MPB has one for in excellent condition, for $219, with a 6-month warranty, & free shipping.
I've done business with them a number of times in the past, with no regrets!
I've tended to 'shy away' from the EF-S lenses because every one I've had in my hands just seemed super cheap. Plus the EF lenses can be used on my 35mm film body whereas the EF-S lenses can't. Similarly, if I ever go to a full frame DSLR... We may also try to dabble in film for her - a long time ago in high school, I took a photography class and learned to develop film, and actually did some developing with my niece a few years ago, so we may want to try that too, so Ideally, I'd like to stick to the EF lenses, as I'm ok with her traipsing around with my film body, but as much as I love her, she's not going unsupervised with my 24-105L or 70-300L lol.
I would like a zoom for her for general 'walking around', but having some primes on hand certainly isn't a bad idea at all. I do have an older EF 24mm f/2.8 and had a 50mm (one of the cheap plastic non-USM ones, but it actually took really good, sharp pictures) that got dropped and broke some time back. I was actually just looking for a replacement 50mm of some sort, but from what I gather, the f/1.2 version suffered chronic focus issues from the lens being bumped, motor failures, etc. So I'm not sure what the ideal one to get would be, but I'll take a look at the f/1.8 STM model. One lens that was ideal on paper but I hated due to never ending focus issues (focus was ALWAYS off, even after sending it back to Canon twice while under warranty) was the EF 28-135.
Sy Sez wrote:
If you're intent to remain with the EOS 40-D, I would recommend the EF 15-85s, which was one of my favorite "s" lenses back in my APS-C DSLR days,
MPB has one for in excellent condition, for $219, with a 6-month warranty, & free shipping.
I've done business with them a number of times in the past, with no regrets!
Actually, after her using my 70D that has been sitting in a drawer as my backup to my 90D today because we didn't plan ahead for our zoo visit (all of the batteries for the 40D were dead), I found a reasonably priced 60D for her. Since they share the same batteries, she can just use one of mine for her camera should a similar situation occur, and my backup camera can stay safe lol. But incidentally, since I didn't want to change settings on the 70D, I think her using the 'AF-ON' button and 'AI Servo' focusing helped her over the half press/full press of the shutter button for focus and shutter release.
15-85s Digital Image review"
"This is not a Canon L Series Lens (as of the date of this review, Canon has not released an EF-S L lens), but the 15-85 IS has many L lens qualities including three aspherical elements and one UD glass element."
Sy Sez wrote:
If you're intent to remain with the EOS 40-D, I would recommend the EF 15-85s, which was one of my favorite "s" lenses back in my APS-C DSLR days,
MPB has one for in excellent condition, for $219, with a 6-month warranty, & free shipping.
I've done business with them a number of times in the past, with no regrets!
Thanks again for the MPB site - they seem to have a LOT available, and not unreasonable prices. What are the thoughts on a 24-85 USM? They have a few available for reasonable prices.
Sy Sez wrote:
15-85s Digital Image review"
"This is not a Canon L Series Lens (as of the date of this review, Canon has not released an EF-S L lens), but the 15-85 IS has many L lens qualities including three aspherical elements and one UD glass element."
That EF-S 15-85 does appear to be of better build quality than the EF-S lenses I've handled, and a good all around 'walking lens', but unfortunately, it doesn't maintain compatibility with film or full frame DSLRs.
Apr 05, 2026 at 07:52 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Cougar281 wrote:
That EF-S 15-85 does appear to be of better build quality than the EF-S lenses I've handled, and a good all around 'walking lens', but unfortunately, it doesn't maintain compatibility with film or full frame DSLRs.
If you want FF capability including use on an EF film camera, then I would recommend an EF 17-40 f/4L, which isn't very expensive these days and works fairly well as an all around lens on an APS-C camera as well. You can get one at MPB for $229 in good conditon or $249 in excellent condition.
Cougar281 wrote:
Actually, after her using my 70D that has been sitting in a drawer as my backup to my 90D today because we didn't plan ahead for our zoo visit (all of the batteries for the 40D were dead), I found a reasonably priced 60D for her. Since they share the same batteries, she can just use one of mine for her camera should a similar situation occur, and my backup camera can stay safe lol. But incidentally, since I didn't want to change settings on the 70D, I think her using the 'AF-ON' button and 'AI Servo' focusing helped her over the half press/full press of the shutter button for focus and shutter release.
Funny you mention the 60d
I’m still keeping a sly eye out to fill the gap…
30D,40D, 50D,——,70D, 80D, I’ll skip the 90D as they are too much, plus my M6ii is supposedly a mirrorless 90D??
Cougar281 wrote:
Thanks again for the MPB site - they seem to have a LOT available, and not unreasonable prices. What are the thoughts on a 24-85 USM? They have a few available for reasonable prices.
Remember that 24mm on an APS-C body equates to a 38mm perspective, hardly wide angle.
As to a 60D, I owned a 20D, 40D, 60D, two 7D's & a 7D2, and if I were to choose a DSLR crop camera today, it would be the 7D2, or alternatively 90D, as there were notable advancements after the 60D. Just my opinion.. :
Apr 06, 2026 at 08:39 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Cougar281 wrote:
That EF-S 15-85 does appear to be of better build quality than the EF-S lenses I've handled, and a good all around 'walking lens', but unfortunately, it doesn't maintain compatibility with film or full frame DSLRs.
If you are interested in the 17-40 f/4L. You might consider this listing on the B & S board. I have not affiliation with the seller so can't vouch for them, but this looks like a good lens at at good price to me:
The EF 16-35 F4L is a suburb performer, and the one and only EF lens I kept when going mirrorless, although a rather short 56mm perspective on the long end on a crop body.
FWIW the 17-40mm f4L does not extend. However, I suspect a lot of the problems with zooms are less about to the extending barrel than due to a J shaped flex cable that eventually snaps with prolonged (or even regular) use. It's happened on my EF-s 17-85mm f4 IS (a great all around crop lens, though a little soft), my EF 24-70mm f2.8L and even on a friend's S100 point and shoot.
In our family my old Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II ended up filling this role. Mainly because it has little value and is somewhat sharp and larger aperture.
One more vote for the EF-S 15-85mm. 15mm on crop is the same as 24mm field of view on FF. I would say that unless you can reach this FoV, your camera kit is incomplete and you are not able to explore but a part of Reality.
It is The lens that Canon should make for the RF-S too. Without a 15-85(?)mm, the RF-S is incomplete.
I don't think there are any internal zooming 'standard' 24-70 style lenses in EF mount.
It also sounds like you're picky about image quality, otherwise I'd say just pick up whatever inexpensive used non-L zoom you can find at MPB, KEH, etc. If you relegate it to just her camera and drop the need to use it yourself, it just needs to generate an image she is happy with, without pixel peeping.
But to expand her learning options, yes, picking up a fast prime or two, would give her some different, more specialized tools to work with to expand her creativity options. 50/1.8 or even 85/1.8 would be decent portrait lens options and also useful for your own needs on film. On full frame, the old/original EF 35/2, 28/2.8 and 24/2.8 are also decent options but not that exciting on APS-C crop.
Cougar281 wrote:
Years ago, back in 2018, when my daughter was just shy of 4 years old, she wanted to take pictures, so I first tried one of those cheap camera shaped holder things that you put a cell phone in and used an old, decommissioned cell phone, but it was junk and never worked right. So I gave her my old EOS 40D with an EF 28-90 lens. Not surprisingly, she took a lot of pictures that were blurry and just of nothing to speak of, but every now and then, she'd get pictures that were pretty good for a 4 year old. Anyway, she's 11 now and has been even more interested in taking pictures and has been getting better, and she can only continue to learn from here. But the lens seems to be giving up the ghost. While at the zoo today, it started flaking out with lens communication errors, and after fiddling with it for a few minutes, I found that with it at 90mm, it would throw errors, and at 28mm it would throw errors, but if it was all the way retracted at about 50mm, it would usually work. So I need to find her a new lens.
So that being said, does anyone have any recommendation for a fairly inexpensive but decent lens that has a range similar to or better than the 28-90, ideally with IS, and in a perfect world, has the moving zoom and focus elements internal? I imagine there are lenses out there that meet that criteria, I'm just not sure where to start looking for them....Show more →
The 15-85 would be a good option with pretty good IQ. If IQ is not so critical there are some other wide-ranging zooms in the 18-xxx category with edges/corners that detreiorate.
