Help a novice choose a lens

I'll start by saying I'm a complete novice. I purchased a T1i with 50mm/1.8 around seven months ago because of the impending birth of my first child. Since then, I've really started to like photography and it seems that any chance I get, I'm reading something relating to the topic.

I'm looking to purchase a lens. I'm looking for that "can do it all" lens that I won't have to take off the camera except for rare occasions. This will be my last purchase for a while and I'm looking at spending up to $1k.

I'm looking at the Canon 17-55mm, Canon 24-105mm and the Tamron 28-75mm.

Here are my thoughts and concerns:

1. I love the price of the Tamron 28-75mm and have heard only good things about it. For my novice needs (mostly taking pictures of my daughter), this would likely suffice. However, even with all the great reviews of the lens, I read how slow the AF is. Once my daughter is up and running around, I'm worried the AF won't be fast enough to capture action as well as the other two lenses.

2. The Canon 24-105mm although maybe not the best lens for my crop body, I still like this focal range the best. I sometimes feel that my nifty-fifty just doesn't have the range that I need on some shots. However, I'm worried that the f/4 of this lens may cause problems when shooting indoors, i.e., holiday get-togethers, birthdays, etc. But, I do have a Sigma 530 Super flash, so that may not be a huge factor.

3. The Canon 17-55mm is supposed to be THE lens for the crop body. My only worries are that the focal range will leave a little to be desired. I already feel like I don't have the range I'd like to have on some shots with my nifty-fifty, and this lens wouldn't give my much more range. If I take my daughter to the park or something, I'd like to be able to take pics without having to be right in her face to get a shot. I've also been reading that, although the lens is f/2.8 at all focal lengths, it's still not going to be some magical fix for indoor, low lit situations. Was just reading one review here where they thought this lens was going to be superb indoors with the 2.8 and it just wasn't without bumping up the ISO really high but then you'll likely have some grain/noise which may not be desirable.

My assessment is this:

I love the focal range of the 24-105 and think it would serve my needs for years to come. It also would fit on a FF body if I ever choose to go that route. f/4 isn't going to work well indoors, but I do have a flash and I do still have my nifty-fifty for those situations so I could get by, I think. I've almost narrowed it down to the 24-105 vs the 17-55 (unless someone can convince me otherwise that the Tamron would work well). And if the 17-55/2.8 isn't going to be spectacular in low light situations without a flash, then I might as well go with the 24-105 so I can take advantage of the focal range as either way I go will need a flash in low light. If someone could convince me that I'm not going to need a flash with the 17-55mm I'd likely go that route, but I don't think that's the case.

Sorry for the novel. I'm just trying to make the best decision here and looking at it from all angles. I don't do this professionally, so dropping $500-1k on a lens isn't something I take lightly. Please let me know if my assessment has any glaring holes or you have any additional insight to give me on the subject.

Thanks all.

Hi,
There is really no do it all lens, meaning one 18-200mm, something like that. You lose sharpness with these. To, me...because I always try to get more for less, for What you would pay for the Canon 17-55..etc, you could get a canon 18-55(is), which is very sharp for the price, and the 55-250mm(is)...and still have $600 to take a long weekend with your wife.
Another option is the Tamron 17-50, non-VC, very sharp and half the price of the canon.

I would really go out and buy the canon 18-55(is) to start, people are always selling them from there kits for around $100-120

I guess I'll be the one to throw a curveball

Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM

All you have to do is browse through that thread to see why. AND it's < $1000.

Tamron 17-50/2.8.

The 18-55 IS is a pretty decent, versatile lens for the price. I upgraded to the 17-55 f2.8 because I shoot a lot of concerts and need a faster lens. I don't regret it.

Most tricky situation would be if you have child running toward or from you.
Focusing distance would change quickly. I tested my Tammi on situation very similar to this with my Tli last weekend.

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deronsizemore wrote in post #11462490
... I love the focal range of the 24-105 and think it would serve my needs for years to come. It also would fit on a FF body if I ever choose to go that route. f/4 isn't going to work well indoors, but I do have a flash and I do still have my nifty-fifty for those situations so I could get by, I think. ...

This.

Got $1K to spend?

I would go like this.

- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4
- Canon 85mm f/1.8

That should fall somewhere around $1K...
-

Agree with the above that a one-lens solution is a fairy tale. Every lens has a tradeoff and I think you've come to realize this on some level. So take that same amount and craft a set that covers the situations you find shooting in most, and get a couple (or 3) that do what you want to do most. Sangjiny's list is a starting point.

sangjiny wrote in post #11463073
Got $1K to spend?

I would go like this.

- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4
- Canon 85mm f/1.8

That should fall somewhere around $1K...
-

+1

sangjiny wrote in post #11463073
Got $1K to spend?

I would go like this.

- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4
- Canon 85mm f/1.8

That should fall somewhere around $1K...
-

+1

Especially the 85mm 1.8. Excellent for indoor (low light) sports, portraits, outdoor candids, incredibly sharp, almost instant and silent focusing -- I'm using it for just about everything but wide angle (love the Tamron 17-35 for wide) and indoors in smaller rooms -- and Sangjiny's suggested Tamron and Sigma lenses more than cover that. His list is well thought-out for your situation, I think.

sangjiny wrote in post #11463073
Got $1K to spend?

I would go like this.

- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4
- Canon 85mm f/1.8

That should fall somewhere around $1K...
-

Great suggestions, great lenses.

I am going to Order the tamron 17-50 non vc and the sigma 30mm tonight

I'll suggest the two lens kit combo EF-S 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS for the T1i. They're affordable, fairly fast AF, and with a flash works great at capturing those "moments". These zooms give you a lot of range and you learn as you go.

As you figure out which FL works for you, you can add primes.

If he wants one lens I guess the 17-55 IS would be fine... it is lacking on the telephoto end, but you can always add a 70-200 later for outdoors stuff.