walk-around lens

i need a good walkaround lens.
i havent decided whether it will be for a 30d or a rebel xt, but i know the 50mm 1.4 will be part of the arsenal. i need one more. it doesnt have to be a zoom quit frankly if a prime would be cheaper i would go the cheaper route. i'd like to concentrate on potraits but will use outdoors as well. (flowers, buildings, animals, nothing specific)

one more thing. i dont know if this is possible but i like sharp. sharp sharp sharp. if possible

Actually, a 50 1.4 is a great walk-around lens. You could add (cause 50 is long on a crop body indoors) a Sigma 30 1.4 or Canon 35. For portraits you can use the 50 as well, but may want to add a Canon 85 1.8.

Some zooms...
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Sigma 70-200 2.8 or Canon 70-200 4L

Price? For about $1000 we can suggest one lens. For $500, another. For $300, still a third.

sub $500 for price would be perfect sub 300 even more perfect.

28-135mm IS USM is a great inexpensive walk around lens. Its decently sharp, its no L but its not bad.

tange1 wrote in post #2268105
28-135mm IS USM is a great inexpensive walk around lens. Its decently sharp, its no L but its not bad.

That is what I started out with. That would be great to combine with a 50.

tamron 28~75/2.8...best non-L portrait zoom IMO!
sigma 24~70/2.8...also a great option, and offers slightly wider angle.
sigma 17~70 if you're not sure (this is a variable aperture lens but you get broader range)

The 28-135 IS is a decent lens, but can be soft. I used it exclusively for about a year. Now I can't use it for what I do, not sharp enough. But in most situations, it's a good lens.

The Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is a great walkaround lens for about $340.00. Tamron has a $30.00 rebate going on right now, too. Use search to find a thread with sample pics.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=145586

GG:-

My 17-85 IS seems to have been glued to my 350 for almost 2 years, and it's never let me down. I change to meet specific needs: 70-300 IS for tele, EF-S 60 for macro, 10-22 for wide and 50 1.8 for speed. But it's always back to the 17-85 for walk-around. The shooting day seems to start and end with the faithful 17-85 solidly in place!

No problem with sharpness that can't be traced directly back to the dumb old fart behind the camera!

Don

ok thanks.
i will hit the stores soon and try them out.

thanks much

hte 17-85 seems like a great lens, but I dont its a little too slow for my taste. I would pick hte EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS lens.

I plan on making this my walk around lens, I have a Tamron 28-75 right now. and I feel like I am growing out of it. Im looking for a lens with little faster AF and I feel the IS will give me good creative control at night or low light. (When I dont have a tripod)

If money is an issue, the Tamron is a steller lens for the price. 2.8 with good range. They all get my pick.

17-85 - excellent range with IS
Tamron 28-75, great range with good optics and its fast f/2.8 (more DOF control and can bokah it up pretty well)

17-55 - All of the above.