Looking for my first lens upgrade!

My first thread, so lets be nice to the noob. My birthday is getting ready to roll around and all I want is a new lens. Problem is ... I have no clue where to start.

I've had my Rebel XSi for more than a year now, still working off of the kit lens and a 28-80mm my brother gave me. I don't really have one particular set of photography that I like to shoot. I love low light shots, nature, people, macro. The whole schpeel. I've done a little research on my own, mostly from this site, the lens they have featured now (the 18-200mm) looks really nice and is in my price range. But I would like some real people who have had these lenses in their hands and had time to test them out to give me an opinion.

I guess I am just looking for an upgrade for a normal "walking around" lens, something with a nice, sharp focus, but still has a little more zoom or wide angle option. I would love some opinions or knowledge from the fine folks here, so fire away! And of course some picture examples! Thanks!

E511 wrote in post #11295180
I guess I am just looking for an upgrade for a normal "walking around" lens, something with a nice, sharp focus, but still has a little more zoom or wide angle option.

How about Canon 15-85mm lens?

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #11295203
How about Canon 15-85mm lens?

Oh! That one is very promising! Thank you. *bookmarks*

Also, if anyone has good site where they list out the lenses available, (sort of like that site I posted) that would be great! That way I could do some research on my own and quit bugging you guys! :P

You could always check Canon's site for a full list of lenses:

http://usa.canon.com …ts/cameras/ef_l​ens_lineup

but then you might miss out on the others, like Tamrom 17-55, etc.

There's also the charts featured here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=257659

I have the 15-85 as well, and love it! It's a little too heavy for my XSI, but the image quality more than makes up for the slight off-balance.

tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is a great lens and can zoom fairly close for the almost macro shots

I love my 24-105L as my walk around lens

Great suggestions guys, thanks a bunch!

E511 wrote in post #11295180
I guess I am just looking for an upgrade for a normal "walking around" lens, something with a nice, sharp focus, but still has a little more zoom or wide angle option.

I'm assuming that your "kit lens" is the EF-S 18-55 IS.

There aren't many lenses that have a greater focal length range than the 18-55 that are as sharp, so it's not a simple question.

Maybe the 15-85 suggested above, or the older 17-85 could be options.

Reports of the 18-135 are not favourable, and just about any superzoom, the 18-200 included, will be softer.

If you can do without a wide-angle facility, you could consider the 24-105/4L IS too.

E511 wrote in post #11295247
Oh! That one is very promising! Thank you. *bookmarks*

Also, if anyone has good site where they list out the lenses available, (sort of like that site I posted) that would be great! That way I could do some research on my own and quit bugging you guys! :P

I like slrgear.com to read about various lenses.

get the 50 f1.8II or 50 f1.4
They will open your eys to a whole new world
bokehs and primes