All around lens for a Canon XT--Travel to New Zealand/South America

Have a 4 month trip to New Zealand, Patagonia (Chile/Argentina), Bolivia, as well as the Australian Open (Tennis)

Either way, I am low on funds and am planning to buy the "obsolete" Canon XT especially since this is my first dSLR, its compact size, and possible damage/theft while travelling.

I am planning on mostly getting some great nature shots (thus the wide angle needed) and maybe some cool pix of the tennis tournament.

I was planning on just one all-around lens so reading the posts I have decided on the:

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens

Any rec's, Tamron, Sigma.
thanks
Niraj

Sigma 18-200, or better yet the OS version, or Tamron 18-250, and although neither brand is perfect or the fastest money can buy they will deliver the best bang for your buck. Personally the 17-85 I owned was nothing to brag about, and it wasn't mine for very long.

If you can just have one lens for sight seeing that's a good choice. But if I was taking that trip, I'd beg, borrow, or steal a 10-22 and take that along too. Patagonia, Damn!! Don't forget your cir. polarizer.

I know, I know...one lens only...but...try to find a cheap 50mm lens for avail/low light/night shooting...

24-105 for me is one of the best travel lens...

hmmm 1 lens, a hard choice!

I'd probably have to choose my 10-22 but being more realistic and wanting a need for speed and a little more reach I'd pick up a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8.

Is it dumb of me to try to get by with only one lens? please be frank!

If I only could take one lens it would be my 35 f2 or a sigma 30 1.4 if I could get my hands on one. I have a 350d as well and these lenses will give you close to the 50mm "normal" lens standard from 35mm days.

Very versatile, as a general purpose and my 35 hardly leaves my camera even though I have a bunch of lenses.

I like having the ability to shoot indoors with available light (no flash) so having a fast lens is important to me.

The tammy 17-50 someone else mentioned would also be a great choice if you're going to be shooting a variety of things from landscape to street photography and so on. Just not great in low light, but at 2.8 its better than most zooms in its range.

nirajpatel13 wrote in post #4186137
I was planning on just one all-around lens

Sigma 18-200 OS. No debate really.

How about a Sigma 17-70. I love mine! Nice focal lengths for a walk around lens.

nirajpatel13 wrote in post #4186137
Have a 4 month trip to New Zealand, Patagonia (Chile/Argentina), Bolivia, as well as the Australian Open (Tennis)

Either way, I am low on funds and am planning to buy the "obsolete" Canon XT especially since this is my first dSLR, its compact size, and possible damage/theft while travelling.

I am planning on mostly getting some great nature shots (thus the wide angle needed) and maybe some cool pix of the tennis tournament.

I was planning on just one all-around lens so reading the posts I have decided on the:

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens

Any rec's, Tamron, Sigma.
thanks
Niraj

If you are going to be around that long. I would make sure that there are not issues with the camera or lenses (focusing). I would also have the camera clean and once you verified that lens and camera are good to go. Put the lense on and leave it there to avoid dust. Also download you pictures often to a website (raw or jpeg) to minimize OOPS...

Tamron 18-250. Built for the purpose! Love mine, darn good IQ, only it's a bit slow (not a problem for me really).

I am planning a 10 day trip to peru/amazon next year. A friend who went last year had taken the 24-105 + 100-400 for it and said he was happy with the weight capability compromise. I however would have taken the 10-22, 17-55 2.8 and *either* 70-200 4IS or 100-400 IS.

You should however rent a 10-22 and see how that works. Most threads on visits to South America talk about how much they miss using the wide end of things. While 17 is wide enough, it is not nearly as wide for some of the waterfalls or amazing panoramas you will see (on the other hand the 10-22 distorts quite a bit at 10-14 and you should either like it or be able to correct it) I should think.

If you *really* do want to take a single lens, the 18-200 should be the best though it usually will be slow in focusing (judging from the nikon 18-200 VR I played with). The 17-85 will cover most landscape and people photography.

If you are like most people, your memories will be of the places your eyes have seen and the people you have met. Capturing the sports action is secondary to great memories. To that end, try adding one more wider lens and still keep it small and light (why insist on single lens for a potentially once in a lifetime trip).

hth

-vamsi

10-22 for sure. Anything else is just a bonus. THat lens rocks!

+1 Sigma 18-200 OS.