diff --git a/odl/oplib/convolution.py b/odl/oplib/convolution.py
index 4b697ada12a..42a2c91d3a1 100644
--- a/odl/oplib/convolution.py
+++ b/odl/oplib/convolution.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from __future__ import division
 import numpy as np
 
+from odl.discr import DiscreteLpElement
 from odl.operator import Operator
 from odl.space import tensor_space
 from odl.space.base_tensors import TensorSpace, Tensor
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@
     is_real_dtype, is_floating_dtype, dtype_str, writable_array)
 from odl.util.npy_compat import roll
 
-__all__ = ('DiscreteConvolution',)
+
+__all__ = ('DiscreteConvolution', 'convolve')
 
 
 class DiscreteConvolution(Operator):
@@ -55,8 +57,8 @@ def __init__(self, domain, kernel, range=None, axis=None, impl='fft',
               float data type is used in that case to store the kernel.
             - If the convolution kernel is complex, the ``domain`` **must**
               be a complex space. Real-to-complex convolutions are not
-              allowed and need to defined by composition with
-              `ComplexEmbedding`.
+              allowed and need to be defined by composition with
+              `ComplexEmbedding` instead.
 
             See Examples for further clarification.
 
@@ -732,6 +734,98 @@ def _prepare_for_fft(kernel, padded_shape, axes=None, variant='forward'):
     return roll(padded, shifts, axis=axes)
 
 
+def convolve(x, y, out=None, **kwargs):
+    """Return the convolution ``x * y``.
+
+    This is a convenience function for quickly computing a convolution
+    without having to explicitly create a `DiscreteConvolution` instance.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    x : array-like
+        Array or discrete function that is supposed to be convolved with
+        ``y``. Its type determines the return type.
+    y : array-like
+        The kernel with which ``x`` is convolved. It must have the same
+        number of dimensions as ``x``, and its shape can be at most equal
+        to ``x.shape``. In axes with size 1, broadcasting is applied.
+
+        **Important:**
+
+        - The kernel must **always** have the same number of dimensions
+          as ``x``, even for convolutions along axes.
+        - In axes where no convolution is performed, the shape of the
+          kernel must either be 1 (broadcasting along these axes), or
+          equal to the ``x.shape`` (stacked kernel, only supported
+          for `impl='fft'`).
+        - The ``'fft'`` implementation needs the kernel to have
+          floating-point ``dtype``, hence the smallest possible
+          float data type is used in that case to store the kernel.
+        - If the convolution kernel is complex, ``x`` will be cast to
+          complex dtype, and the returned object will be complex as well.
+
+        See Examples for further clarification.
+
+    out : `numpy.ndarray` or `Tensor`, optional
+        Object to which the result of the convolution should be written.
+        Its shape and data type must be compatible with the result of the
+        convolution, which can be determined by ::
+
+            res_dtype = np.result_type(x.dtype, y.dtype, np.float16)
+
+    axis : int or sequence of ints, optional
+        Coordinate axis or axes in which to take the convolution.
+        ``None`` means all input axes.
+    impl : {'fft', 'real'}
+        Implementation of the convolution as FFT-based or using
+        direct summation. The fastest available FFT backend is
+        chosen automatically. Real space convolution is based on
+        `scipy.signal.convolve`.
+        See Notes for further information on the backends.
+    padding : int or sequence of ints, optional
+        Zero-padding used before Fourier transform in the FFT backend.
+        Does not apply for ``impl='real'``. A sequence is applied per
+        axis, with padding values corresponding to ``axis`` entries
+        as provided.
+        Default: ``min(kernel.shape - 1, 64)``
+    padded_shape : sequence of ints, optional
+        Apply zero-padding with this target shape. Cannot be used
+        together with ``padding``.
+    """
+    y = np.asarray(y)
+    y_is_complex = issubclass(y.dtype.type, np.complexfloating)
+
+    if not isinstance(x, (DiscreteLpElement, Tensor)):
+        x = np.asarray(x)
+        x = tensor_space(x.shape, dtype=x.dtype).element(x)
+
+    dom_dtype = np.promote_types(x.dtype, y.dtype) if y_is_complex else x.dtype
+    if y_is_complex:
+        dom_dtype = np.promote_types(x.dtype, y.dtype)
+    else:
+        dom_dtype = x.dtype
+
+    domain = x.space.astype(dom_dtype)
+
+    conv = DiscreteConvolution(domain, y, **kwargs)
+    if out is None:
+        out = conv(x)
+    elif isinstance(out, np.ndarray):
+        res = conv.range.element(out)
+        if res.data is not out:
+            raise TypeError('`out` {!r} is not compatible with the range {!r}'
+                            'of the convolution'.format(out, conv.range))
+        conv(x, out=res)
+    else:
+        res = conv.range.element(out)
+        if out is not res and out is not getattr(res, 'tensor', None):
+            raise TypeError('`out` {!r} is not compatible with the range {!r}'
+                            'of the convolution'.format(out, conv.range))
+        conv(x, out=res)
+
+    return out
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     from odl.util import run_doctests
     run_doctests()