3 lens choices which one would you choose?

1) 50 1.4 and 580ex
2) 10-22
3) 17-40
Please help me choose! this will be my first lens purchase therefore do not have a set shooting style.

I'm assuming that you're shooting with a 1.6x crop camera such as the 20D/30D or Rebel XT/XTi... so I would choose the EF 17-40 f/4. On these cameras, this lens would equate to 27-64mm, very useable walk-about focal length.

Edit: I forgot to ask what kind of photography are you interested in... the 50 f/1.4 with 580 would do very well as a portrait set-up. The 10-22 would make for really wide landscape shots... though the 17-40 is good for landscapes too.

Id say the 50mm and the 580EX. That would be a pretty nice portrait setup

50mm 1.4

If you are doing general type of shooting, some landscape, vacation shot, portraits, a 17-40 maybe the best. If you plan on doing mostly buildings, landscapes, cityscpaes, then the 10-22 maybe the best. If you plan on doing mainly portraits or like getting tight shots in dim lighting, then the 50mm maybe the best option.

If you really don't know what you want to shoot and want to learn and see, I'd recommend getting a Sigma 17-70 as it's a good versatile lens that is cheaper than all the lenses you have listed.

Good luck

missing an option

4). all of the above ;P

IMO the 17-40 is the most versatile lens here - and as the only L is head and shoulders above the rest in build quality. Optically the 10-22 is excellent - but as a UWA lens is perhaps limiting - I got to test this and the 17-40L in-store before committing, and decided I'd get more mileage from the 17-40 for pretty much the same money.

The 50 1.4 is pretty much just a portrait lens on a crop body - it certainly is NOT a walk about lens, unless you like to walk about doing portraits.....

Regarding a speedlite, they are excellent tools, and well worth having, but as the camera has on on-board flash for emergencies, priorities drop...and you don't need to spend the extra for a 580EX over the 430EX - the 430 is nearly half the price and does 90% of the work the 580 does. And in the future will slave to a 580 should you wish to get the top-of-the-line model in the future.

id go for the 17-40 as it will give you a bit more freedom developing your style.

Have you thought about 3rd party lenses? the sigma 17-70 and a nifty 50 would give you alot of creative freedom

If you poll was strictly lenses only, I'd go with the 17-40. But if you need a nice strobe and don't have one, it won't matter what lens you have 'cause you won't be taking pictures. I voted for the 50 1.4 & 580EX combo.

I am assuming you have a crop camera and the 18-55 kit lens and could hold off replacing it with the 17-40 until later. If you have body only the 17-40 would be a good choice.

On this basis I voted for the 10-22 because it can open up a whole new world for you.

Alternativly the 50/1.4 will give you a chance to learn techneque with a prime and understand selective focus. Personally I don't like flash and only use it for macro work at high magnifications.

im brand spanking new to the dslr world. i wanted to pick up a 30d soon. just thinking about which lenses. i hope to have all of them someday., but i can only afford 1 lens at the moment.
thank you for all the comments and votes!

I personally would get a 10-22 and a 580EX

My answer was 50 f/1.4 but would change to 17-40 if you are using a crop camera.

One of the problems on this forum in answering lens questions is the crop factor (if any), so any and all, please clarify!

I cant believe more people are not voting for the flash and 50. having a flash is a real need. I am saddened people!

I'm with Dante on this one. Get the flash, the lens is a bonus.