24–85mm · f/3.5–4.5
The Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 N offers excellent sharpness, rich color, and contrast typical of Zeiss optics. Distortion is well-controlled even at wide angles. Build quality is solid but the dual-cam design can suck in dust (OpticalLimits). It requires expensive 82mm filters and AF is slower than Canon L lenses. The lens is versatile for walk-around use but best suited for those who value optical quality over speed and can accept its bulk and filter cost.