Buying new lens - 17-40,17-55,24-105?

herocertified wrote:

So I'm looking to buy at least one new lens and have been reading B&H, Amazon, and this forum for reviews and suggestions but I'm a bit stuck.

What I have:

Body: Canon Rebel T3i

Lens:

• 18-55mm (kit)
• 55-250mm
• 40mm
• 10-22mm

Flash: Speedlite 430ex II

Rented:

• 100-400mm (nice lens; no everyday use for me, not even once every 6 months)
• 50mm (the 40mm lens were on sale so I went with those instead)

I am looking to replace the body a couple years down the road, not sure whether I'll be going full frame on staying with a crop.

Looking at (only Canon):

• 17-40mm
• 17-55mm
• 24-105mm
• 15-85mm (after reading some posts here)

Price Range: I'm looking to stay around $1000 (I believe the 24-105mm is pretty much the upper limit in my budget right now). At this point, I prefer to stay with Canon lens and am somewhat willing to pay extra to do so.

Based on what I've read so far, all 4 are popular lens with the 24-105mm appearing to be the most popular. I've also read comments that the 17-40mm is probably not best suited for a crop body and that the 15-85mm is probably more suited. I am loving the L series lens (so pricey!).

I've been using the 10-22mm as somewhat of a walkaround and I love it so far with the exception of losing the distance and the occasional distortion when I'm not careful with framing my shots.

Primary Use: My primary intent of the new lens that I buy is for a general purpose walk around lens to replace the 18-55mm. I have a tendency use my camera in low/poor light situations.

Timeline: I'm looking to buy something no later than the end of April.

I think reading so many reviews and comparisons has temporarily overwhelmed me. Before doing so much reading into this, I thought I knew what I wanted to get but now I'm stuck.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks

I had a 24-105L on a 7D and its now on a 5D III and find it to be a very useful and competent all-rounder (especially for travel or situations where chopping and changing lenses isn't ideal). Its also a 77mm thread so if you have filters for your 10-22 (if my recollection of that being a 77mm thread is correct) then you can use them on both.

As you noted, a 17-40 is probably wasted on a crop given you already have an UWA in your bag (albeit an EF-S one).  Chances are by the time you change up to FF it'll be on a Mk II by then anyway (its one of the older lenses in the L line-up), and you'll get decent money back for your 10-22 if you look after it.

And if you want to save a bit of money, there is always a healthy trade in 'white box' 24-105Ls either from dealers or people who've bought kits and moved the lens on.  You should easily be able to get one new/nearly new for a lot less than RRP.