Lens to replace my kit lens?

I just need a sharper, quiter, faster, wider / further lens to replace my old 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens that came with the XT.

Anyone have any suggestions? My collection will be (after I purchase the 70-200 I will buy the kit lens replacement):
Canon 350D
Canon 70-200mm f/4L
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Lens to replace the kit lens
Canon Speedlight 430EX

Thanks for any help I can get...
Swift

Im not sure there is a lens that is wider and further than the kit lens, but I could be wrong. Closest that comes to mind at this moment is the 17-40L

you don't mention your budget. Assuming that is not an issue:

EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS

but if you don't want to spend 1K..

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Sigma 17-70
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

I would look into those.

Joel

Sorry, budget is barely $500.

Thanks for the replies so far!

Theres also the Sigma 18-50 2.8 macro and the Canon 17-85 IS.

Swift1 wrote in post #3228988
I just need a sharper, quiter, faster, wider / further lens to replace my old 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens that came with the XT.

Anyone have any suggestions? My collection will be (after I purchase the 70-200 I will buy the kit lens replacement):
Canon 350D
Canon 70-200mm f/4L
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Lens to replace the kit lens
Canon Speedlight 430EX

Thanks for any help I can get...
Swift

You've got a nice set up there, and for your budget, I'm not sure you would be better off with another lens. Give your kit a good workout in the daylight, keeping it at f8, and you can make some amazing pictures with it. Maybe you could learn to love it again!

Keep the kit lens and go wwwwiiiiiide?

17-40 would b emy suggestion too.
That; and the flash.
Ronald told me "Your pictures will be instantly better with a flash" and that's been mostly true with my 17-40 + 580 indoors. I love the combo

Sounds like 17-40L is slightly out of budget. I've heard good things about the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Good luck.

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for about $389.00 is an excellent replacement for the kit lens.

--Jack

Sigma 17-70mm, or perhaps Canon 17-40L if you can swing it financially.

Personally, I don't think you should let anyone tell you it's not worth upgrading to something - anything - to replace the kit lens. Even at the supposed f/8 "sweet spot," the kit images are substantially softer and less appealing than with the Sigma 17-70mm in my experience - and the Siggy is probably the cheapest wide-angle lens you can buy aside from the kit, so that's saying something. If you are a regular user of the ~18-55mm focal range, definitely upgrade to something worthwhile.

If you have a crop camera, I'd advise against the 17-40L. It is slower, shorter in range and not as sharp as some of the Sigma and Tamron lenses. If you plan to move to a full-frame camera someday, then you should consider the 17-40L. This lens is soft wide open, but sharpens quite nicely at f/5.6. I think you ought to consider the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 macro (the new one, which apparently has better optics than the first version), or the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5.

Tony-S wrote in post #3229781
I think you ought to consider the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 macro (the new one, which apparently has better optics than the first version), or the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5.

Definitely.

Another vote for the Tamron 17-50. It's a very popular kit lens replacement and is a proven performer which is within your budgetary limits.

sigma 17-70 its a great lens to replace the kit lens. It stays wide and ads a little reach. If speed is important, then go with the Sigma 18-50 2.8 macro,
but for your budget, I would recommend the sigma 17-70, you won't believe the quality of images this lens produces. I just got it a couple of days ago(to replace my kit lens too) and I'm loving every minute of it.