help me pick a lens.

Hey evryone...
i just stepped up from my old boring powershot a60 to my first digi SLR.
i picked up the rebel xti (400d) and have been less than impressed with the kit lens.
i've also been fooling around with a cannon zoom ef 35-80 off of an older film rebel)

the 35-80 seems to be a little clearer/sharper than the kit lens but its still not what im looking for.

can someone suggest a good all around wide angle lens for me? (id even be willing to pick up a fish eye is the $$ is right)
things id perfer in the lens.

image stability....(not a must but my hands tend to become less than steady when i get hungry)
Sharpness....(a must)
and price (would like to spend 200-400)....(could swing 500 for the right lens)
af is not important to me as well as zoom. could do with or w/o

i was thinking mabey a 10-20 12-24 somthing in that size...but would like to see some shots from these lens first.

Thanks,Randy~

Check out Sigma 17-70

I'm not clear as to what you are looking for -- a wide angle zoom lens or an "all-around" zoom lens that starts at the wide agle. If the former, i can highly recommend the Tokina 12-24. I also own the Canon 17-85 IS. Even though this lens is sometimes maligned, I've found it to be quite serviceable. Both of these are in the 500 USD price range.

there's also the tamron 17-50 and the sigma 18-50 (both f 2.8)
great alternatives to the more expensive $1000 canon 17-55 f2.8 IS USM.

Tamron 17-50!!! Amazing! Super wide angle! Good price! I love mine. Impossible to find used though.

i ended up getting the Tamron 28-75
its super shap and has been fun so far....definatly my new walk around.

next two on the list are a cannon 50mm
& either the Tamron 11-18 or the sigma 10-20

pushrod wrote in post #2201639
i ended up getting the Tamron 28-75
its super shap and has been fun so far....definatly my new walk around.

next two on the list are a cannon 50mm
& either the Tamron 11-18 or the sigma 10-20

Take a look at the Tokina 12-24 as well, if you haven't already decided against it.