Lens upgrade time, help please!

I have gotten to the point now where I am going to upgrade my lenses for my 30D.

Currently I have the Sigma 24mm-70mm f/2.8 and the Canon 50mm f/1.8.
Now I have no issues with the 50mm, it's the truely amazing, but the Sigma is soft wide open, and not that wide on my 30D.
I mainly do band/gig/event photography plus architectural and fine art. Up until now the 50mm has given me fantastic results and it's blown the minds of many people.

But I want a fast wide prime now, so I am looking at getting the 28mm f/1.8, any other recommendations? Not too replace my 50mm, but to move on. My 50mm and Sigma I'll be recirculating to my girlfriend, for whom I'm buying a 400D.

And now for the Sigma... I want to invest now in glass, not in body. So L-series lenses are high up on my list. Funny enough I have managed with my Sigma with the 30D crop factor fine, it's been wide enough. Having a wider lens would be awesome, plus I am looking for an overall sharper lens. So my consideration is towards the Canon 17mm-40mm f/4 L [COLOR=Black]any thoughts on it? So then I'll have my 28mm prime and my standard wide zoom lens. Which will prove valuable investments when I buy a 5D or 1D.
Because this is how I see it, I buy a 5D now... and I still have my not-so-sharp sigma on a full frame body... and I'm not going to fork out R32k for the 5D plus 24-105.... not yet.

So this is plan...
For me:
Canon EF 17-40mm F/4 L
Canon EF 28mm f/1/8
Vertical grip
Manfrotto tripod and head
Another 4gb Sandisk card
UV filters

For my better half:
Canon EOS 400D body only
Vertical grip
My Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
My 50mm f/1.8 (which I'll still use often)
Lowepro Slingshot bag


How does my order sound?
Any recommendations?
Any help would be appreciated, because this is quite a little order.

I have the 17-40 L and I LOVE it. GREAT lens for the price. BUT, if you're gonna be indoors most of the time, a speedlight (430, 580) is a necessity. SUPER SUPER sharp wide open and IQ is great on the 17-40 though.

If you're doing mostly band/gig photography you may find f/4 somewhat limiting unless you're doing it in daylight or excellently lit venues or are prepared to use flash. How many of your shots are f/4 or smaller?

Jim G wrote in post #3748622
If you're doing mostly band/gig photography you may find f/4 somewhat limiting unless you're doing it in daylight or excellently lit venues or are prepared to use flash. How many of your shots are f/4 or smaller?

Well the f/4 would be my main lens for my body, when I do landscapes and architecture. Or as you say well lit events also.

At gigs I tend to use only one lens. Up until now I have done everything with my 50mm but now I want the wider option.

Then later I'll get myself a 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

I love using only one prime at a gig. Plus I tend to focus more on smaller tightly packed gigs where I'm part of the crowd. The energy of the show is what I want people to feel in my shots. Like they were there.

I would suggest looking into a combination (or all of them if you can swing it financially)

Sigma 30/1.4
Any of the 1x-2x lenses (e.g. Canon 10-22, Sig 10-20, Tokina 12-24, etc)
Some sort of flash

Since you say you want fast primes and wide, and your Sigma isn't wide enough, you are sort of limited.

I would suggest one reasonably prices lens:
Sigma 20mm f1.8

I would then suggest for indoor band low light stuff:
Sigma 30mm f1.4

I would suggest to meet your "L" desires:
Canon 24mm f1.4L
Canon 14mm f2.8L

If 24mm is wide enough, either the Sigma 24mm f1.8 or possibly the Sigma 28mm f1.8 would be good options.

I would also consider picking up the Sigma 500 DG Super flash or a 580EX. When there just isn't enough light, you have to add your own

Hope these suggestions help. If it were me, based on your statements (wider, faster than Sigma 24-70) then I would be looking at the Sigma 20mm f1.8. It can be had new from Sigma4less.com for $370 - that's cheaper than Canon's 20mm f2.8 and faster.

Ok so here is an update of where I'm standing now...

I am going to go for the 24-105mm f4 L lens. Something about the 17-40mm bothered me and I couldn't place it, then it hit. The limited range makes it very tricky to use as a walkaround lens. 24mm on my cropped body is wide enough for me, plus when I go 5D or 1D then I have an amazing lens.

Now I'm just stuck on my next prime...

Canon 50mm f/1.4 (My girlfriend will be getting my f/1.8, but I'll still have some use of it... maybe)
Canon 35mm f/2
Canon 28mm f/1.8
Canon 28mm f/2.8
Sigma 20mm f/1.8
Sigma 28mm f/1.8
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (Not too keen on it with it being a DC lens)

So if I go for say the Sigma 20mm then I have a wider faster lens than my 24-105... But IQ is my concern at f/1.8, might I be better off going for the Canon 35mm f/2?

you made a grest choice. I just purchased the 24-105 and love it. I also own the 17-40 and love it, but the 24-105 is on my camera 95% of the time.