So you got your 1st Canon DSLR camera and now you want the best lens you can get as a general walk-around lens. This is not a decision to take lightly. There are many who have lost countless hours of sleep over this one question.

There are many really first-class lenses to consider as walk around lenses. It's kind of like buying a compact point and shoot camera, though. What zoom range is right for you?

Making one general assumption, let's assume that you are seeking a zoom lens rather than a single focal length lens. Most, though not all, new owners opt for the Canon "kit lens" as their first lens. While choosing a kit lens may make sense to you now, you will likely not be happy with the lens down the road. The lens can come later, you may reckon.

My personal stance on this subject is different The way I feel is that you should spend your money on the best lens you can get, and if you can't afford the best, wait. Think about it, you are going to upgrade pretty quickly, right? So why not do a little more research up front and get a better lens right out of the starting gate?

There are several things to consider about the Canon EOS lens you are planning to buy.

Number one is focal length. In general, a focal length of about 18-24mm on the short end and 55-75mm on the long end will give you a very useful range. Keep in mind that these numbers are not critical. There are also some super quality lenses that have about 105mm at the long end.

Canon, Sigma, and Tamron have recently released some pretty good lenses in the super-zoom category. These have focal lengths of 18mm at the short end and 200-270mm on the long end. They are getting respectable reviews, however just keep in mind that the image quality will not be as good as those lenses with less zoom capability.

The next factor to consider is aperture. An aperture of f/2.8 is a beautiful thing. In fact, it is the aperture that will give you the most flexibility and usually the best quality. You can almost always save money by getting a lens with a variable aperture, such as f/3.5-5.6, but they will not give you the same performance in all situations, especially when lighting is a challenge.

The third factor is price. While price may be a huge concern, it really needs to come after the other two factors mentioned. Don't go "cheap" when buying your first lens. Don't make the same mistake that so many who have gone before you. If good image quality is something you take seriously, you will not be satisfied with a poorly constructed lens. It is very frustrating to try to take great pictures with poor quality lenses.

Now, you can save money by using Canon EOS lenses from third party manufacturers. Some Tamron and Sigma lenses are very good and less costly than a Canon lens with the same or similar specifications.

A word of caution. Camera forums can be very informative, and they are full of well-meaning photographers, but they can also be very confusing. This is because the folks in those forums are very passionate about their opinions. They can mislead you by bashing certain cameras and products,and, yes, even Canon DSLR lenses. This does not always happen, but it happens often enough to make your research quite complicated if you are basing it on those forum posts.

A better place to read about lenses is the user reviews at the Canon USA website or at FredMiranda-dot-com. You will even find lots of excellent input from satisfied (or dissatisfied) buyers at the Amazon or B & H Photo websites.