350D Best Everyday/Walking Around Lens

Thanks so much to everyone for the great advice all over this forum. I tried searching this topic, but have yet to find a clear answer. Just bought the Rebel XT with kit lens, and have the $$ to buy one everyday/walking lens (updgrade from kit). My research has uncovered both the Sigma 24-70 2.8, and also the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.

Would love to hear input, feedback, suggestions. If you could only carry one piece of glass for the rest of your life......? Thanks!

If I had to use one lens for the rest of my life I wouldn't get an SLR. I'd be looing for something with a fixed lens that ranged from wide angle to long telephoto.

Of the two lenses, you mentioned, it all depends on what you usually shoot and what you want to do with your pictures. The 17-85 is a quite respectable piece of glass, but if you want to make very big enlargements the 24-70 may have a slight edge.

If you do most of your shooting in low light conditions, the 24-70 has the advantage of the larger aperture. The IS on the 17-85 will allow you to hand hold at slower shutter speeds, but that doesn't help if your subject is moving.

Other than that, the 17-85 is more versatile because it is both wider and longer than the 24-70. As long as you can live with the slower shutter speeds it offers a greater range of photos you can take.

Do you plan on moving up to a full frame camera anytime soon?

No - I hear the Sigma 18-200MM is a nice walkabout lens with decent quality and lightweight. That's why I have one in the mail. I plan on going FF no later then 5 years from now so I'm getting the cheap 18-200MM (non-FF) and buying all my other lens so that I can use with a FF body.

Yes - Then get one of the 24-70's they are a great overall lens and take great pictures, only down side is they don't go as wide and really fall short on the zoom end of the 18-200MM.

I only own two lens, the 50mm 1.4 and the Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5, If i was on a tight budget and could only have one, I would take the 28-105.. personally, the 70mm on the other lenses wouldn't be long enough for me and the 28-105 is pretty affordable at @ $230 from B&H.

Tough call: flip a coin.

the sigma may be a little short on the focal range id say but it definetly has been raved about on the forums. the 28-135mm takes decent pictures for its price and i havent found myself in a situation yet where 28mm+crop factor it wasnt wide enough for me, i chose this guy over the 17-85 for the longer reach, and the $150 less price tag (give or take) and plus its half a stop faster

if you say you have the cash, go for the 24-70L or the 24-105L IS (slower but longer reach, IS makes up for a little bit).

for a 1.6X crop factor I would allways go for 17-40 if your budget can reach there. A walk around lens should be around 17 and you could complete the range later without selling lenses you may prefer to upgrade later such as 17-85 etc.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …General-Purpose-Lens.aspx

The Canon 28-105 f/4-5.6 is good. I love mine , Its nice and light and doesnt take up alot of space. The image quality is also great. I think the lense still costs somewhere in the $100-$175 area.

only 1?
id say 17-85, I had one and it was great, i already miss the wide end
i only sold it to fund the 24-70 L, but now i miss my wide angle

Sigma 50-500mm if I was doing 4x4 wildlife, Canon 100-400 IS L if I was doing more walkaround/trecking wildlife, Canon 24-105mm if I was doing general travelling, 17-85mm IS if I was doing city break, Zeiss Sonnar 135mm (urban sniper) if I was doing candids, SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1.7 if I was just putting the camera in my pocket on walkabout, 17-40mm if I was doing wide angles. One size doesn't fit all unfortunately. My FZ20 pretty well does that but it's a P&S. Out of the two you mention it is really toss a coin as JoJo says ... but the key is whether you want wide angle more than speed and IQ

I'd go with the 17-85. When I travel and sight see, it's on the cam most of the time.

I have only had my kit a few weeks but have already fallen in love with my 17-85. The IS is fantastic for quick handheld candid shots even indoors. I use my 10-22 for wide angle and most landscapes.

Get the EF-S 17 - 85. 24 mm+ is not wide enough for a walkaround.

38mm is still fairly wide. It really just depends how wide you need. It's defintely a faster lens giving you more than a stop difference.