Sorry, but must disagree !
People reconmend the 24-105, because they actually use it as a walk around lens!!!!
It is a great walk around lens, if I was going out for a walk to randomly take photos, it was the lens of choice, although not the widest lens, it makes up for it with the reach and image quality.
I say that in the past tense, as the IS has failed, and while waiting to get it fixed, I am limited to 17-55 F2.8 .....really missing the reach the 105 gave me, 55 is not LONG enough for a "walk around" lens.
Cheers Dave