OK, after a month of hemming and hawing, I think I've finally made a decision. I think I want to get the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro and Canon's 50mm f/1.8. The Sigma's gotten pretty good reviews:
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_1770_2845/index.htm
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/349/cat/31
http://www.photodo.com/topic_65.html
and it just seems like a sensible choice as it's relatively inexpensive (about $350), covers a wide focal range sharply, has some macro capability, and has some lower light ability. Seems very versitile and considering my upcoming responsibilities in life around mid-May... I don't think too many expensive lenses are in my future. It seems to me this lens could do a lot of the interiors/groups/landscapes/nature photography I'm interested in, and the Canon 50mm would be great for portraits, and that's basically all I want to do. I have a crappy telephoto zoom lens I can use as long as I want, and considering it's not a priority that lens is fine for now.
Does anyone have experience with this lens? Any recomendations? In my long deliberations I've also been looking seriously at a few other lenses, mostly used from KEH so cheap, like $100-200:
Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5
Sigma 17-35 f/2.8-4
Tokina 20-35 f/3.5-4.5
Canon 20-35 f/3.5-4.5
Tamron 20-40 f/2.7-3.5
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 (new, more expensive)
and if I don't buy the Canon 50mm (at least soon):
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Any advice? Should I go for it and pull the trigger on the 17-70?
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_1770_2845/index.htm
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/349/cat/31
http://www.photodo.com/topic_65.html
and it just seems like a sensible choice as it's relatively inexpensive (about $350), covers a wide focal range sharply, has some macro capability, and has some lower light ability. Seems very versitile and considering my upcoming responsibilities in life around mid-May... I don't think too many expensive lenses are in my future. It seems to me this lens could do a lot of the interiors/groups/landscapes/nature photography I'm interested in, and the Canon 50mm would be great for portraits, and that's basically all I want to do. I have a crappy telephoto zoom lens I can use as long as I want, and considering it's not a priority that lens is fine for now.
Does anyone have experience with this lens? Any recomendations? In my long deliberations I've also been looking seriously at a few other lenses, mostly used from KEH so cheap, like $100-200:
Tokina 19-35 f/3.5-4.5
Sigma 17-35 f/2.8-4
Tokina 20-35 f/3.5-4.5
Canon 20-35 f/3.5-4.5
Tamron 20-40 f/2.7-3.5
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 (new, more expensive)
and if I don't buy the Canon 50mm (at least soon):
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Any advice? Should I go for it and pull the trigger on the 17-70?