1 lens 4 1 wife

My wife is deciding that maybe she would like to be joining me when I take off with my camera and lens for a day of shooting and exploring. So I'm holding on to my XTi for her and thinking about adding an all purpose lens that she can use. I know that at least for the for see able future she is just going to get frustrated if she has to carry a lot of equipment or has to change lens a lot. So I'm looking for a lens that she could get used to and get some great pictures with so that her interest and confidence might grow. I've seen some older 35-350 L lens go around the $800 range and it is very tempting.
Are there reasons I should or shouldn't do this?
Are there other options that might be considered? (Please keep in mind that I also want to be able to sneak in and take her lens with me when I'm off on my own )

kinda big don't you think? have you considered the 18-200IS

I thought the title said "1 lens, 4 wives"

The 35-350L is big and heavy. Doubt she would really 'grow into that one'. To be honest I wouldn't bother with superzooms. If all she wanted was all-purpose mega-zoom, get her a SX-10 IS or the new SX200 IS. You don't need a dSLR for that, and the P&S superzooms are much lighter. The last thing you want to do to a lady who wants to get into photography is to ply her with a huge, heavy camera/lens setup which won't likely offer much versatility and image quality over some P&S cameras.

I'd recommend something more like a Sigma 17-70, Tamron 17-50.. or even an 18-55 IS. Respectable image quality and relatively small and light.

i think the new tamron 18-270mmVC is supposed to be pretty good...if she could handle two lenses i think the budget duo of 18-55IS, and 55-250IS would be good..

Dang.... From the title of this post I thought you were trading a lens for a wife.
I came in to see what you had to offer. LOL

goforphoto wrote in post #7422200
Dang.... From the title of this post I thought you were trading a lens for a wife.
I came in to see what you had to offer. LOL

Lol, me too. I was thinking - sounds like a good trade!

Reminds me of the joke:

A guy pulls into a service station. An attendant runs out.

"Can I help you?"
"Yes, how about a pair of window wipers for my [Insert crap car here]?"
"Ok, sounds like a fair trade."

17-55 IS, 17-85, 28-135 IS, 24-105L

35-350, uh no, way to huge, would put her off
18-200, Yeah, don't see why not, not as nice IQ as the others, but decent for a superzoom
17-70, also if she can deal with not having a long lens, then for sure or the 17-50
24-015, great! If she can deal with not having 105-200....

DreDaze wrote in post #7422191
i think the new tamron 18-270mmVC is supposed to be pretty good...if she could handle two lenses i think the budget duo of 18-55IS, and 55-250IS would be good..

What he said.

mrkgoo wrote in post #7422218
Lol, me too. I was thinking - sounds like a good trade!

Reminds me of the joke:

A guy pulls into a service station. An attendant runs out.

"Can I help you?"
"Yes, how about a pair of window wipers for my [Insert crap car here]?"
"Ok, sounds like a fair trade."

There is a reason I made sure not to put this in the sale or trade section.
thanks for the suggestions but also remember that this another opportunity for me to get a lens that I might also use at times.

DreDaze wrote in post #7422191
i think the new tamron 18-270mmVC is supposed to be pretty good...if she could handle two lenses i think the budget duo of 18-55IS, and 55-250IS would be good..

+1 on this...