In may 2008 I bought my first DSLR camera. I went with Canon, because I had previously felt let down by Nikon (but that is another story). I did some research and chose the Canon EOS 450D which seemed like a fantastic place to start. The first thing I did was to buy UV filter to protect the lens and a circular polariser and a book called Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D for Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)).

After six months I had come to the conclusion that photography was going to continue to be one of my favourite hobbies and it was time to start shopping for a new lens, but which one should I buy first?

Looking at the types of photo I had taken in the first six months it was obvious that they were a mixture of family portraits, landscapes and a few action shots. So I needed a general purpose lens that would work better in lower lighting conditions and I also wanted something that had a bit better zoom. I also thought that one day I might I might upgrade to a full frame sensor (I haven't yet!) so I should get an EF lens rather than EF-S.

Once I understood what I was looking for, I started doing some research on the web, and it became apparent that most photographers really liked the Canon 24-70mm F/2.8 L USM - or the Keg as it is affectionately called. So that was it. A 24-70mm is equivalent to a 38-112mm on a 1.6 crop (APS-C sensor) which was just right. Also F/2.8 helps me take photos in lower light and also gives me a shallow depth of focus and great bokeh. Being an L series lens just means that the quality is a bit better than non L series, though how much I do not know.

Was it the right choice – yes, you bet. In my next article I will show some of the photos I’ve taken with it. In the mean time, have a look here and see what others achieve with this fantastic lens.

So if you are looking for that very important first lens then my recommendation is to get the Canon 24-70mm F/2.8 L USM