I think that I am going through what a lot of people go through when they purchase a new digital SLR...having difficulty choosing a lens.
I am looking to spend up to about $600.00 and am interested in a versatile lens that will be good for family photos as well as for travel. I love to hike and often have opportunities to take great photos of mountains, waterfalls, etc..(am going to the Grand Canyon this year) and just want to get an all purpose lens. I am looking at the 17-40mm L lens as well as the 17-85mm IS and a couple of others. Any help?
The 17-40L might not be the ideal single-lens starter setup lens. It's a bit on the slow side. You might want to look at the 50mm f/1.8 II for low-light. It's around $70-80 and probably the best bang-for-the-buck lens ever made. Cheap, fast, sharp.
Maybe 17-40L and 50/1.8 for low-light?
Or, you could get the Sigma 18-50/2.8EX DC and the 50/1.8.
Then again, you could get the Sigma 18-50/2.8EX DC and the Sigma 30/1.4EX DC.
Both are DC lenses, which project a smaller image circle suitable for 1.6 crop sensors like your.. Wait.. I don't think you mentioned what your camera was. The 17-85IS is an EF-S lens, so I'm assuming you got yourself an APS-C sensor size camera.
17-40 isn't going to give you much range for hiking, mountains, Grand Canyon tpye shots. Something like the Canon 28-135 IS lens offers a bit more overall range, particularly on the long side. With your budget, you also could then afford a Canon 50/1.8 to add a low-light prime to your bag.
