I'm getting ready to purchase a Xsi. After many, many years of using a point-and-shoot, I'm ready to step up to some higher quality, more flexible photography. (I used to do quite a bit of photography almost 20 years ago, but with work, family, etc, that had taken a back seat.) While I feel confident the Xsi is a good place to start for the camera body, I'm really torn on how to approach the lens strategy. And after reading countless message posts, lens reviews, books, etc, I don't think I'm any closer to deciding.
While I'm confident that I don't want the standard 18-55 kits lens that often packaged with the camera (I really don't like the "plastic" feel of the lens), I'm not sure if I should take an intermediate step (like the Canon 17-85) or go all the way to the top (like the Canon 24-105L). I'm looking for a good walkaround lens that will serve as a base on which to build.
In favor of the 17-85:
+ likely better build quality and image quality over the standard kit lens
+ gives me a lens to "learn" on and allow me to focus on skill and technique
+ given the price, would give me room to purchase an additional lens, perhaps a Canon 70-200/f4 (compared to the price of the L)
In favor of the 24-105L:
+ clearly higher quality all around compared to the 17-85
+ likely would have longer useful life since I could use on full frame in the future if I eventually go that route
- the downside on the L is that, given my budget, it would likely be my only lens purchase in the near term
So, any opinions on which direction I should go? I don't mind paying for a high quality lens like the L given that it will have a long, useful life. But on the other hand, if as a relatively newbie photographer I'm not going to be able to fully appreciate what the lens is capable of, am I better in the near term to focus on a couple of lenses like the 17-85?
Thanks in advance for the advice. And any other approaches would be welcome as well (for example, different lens combo's to consider).
Shawn
