Hi gang!

JTPassat has helped me into the DSLR world and I've done quite a bit of research....

I just picked up a Canon 400d (XTi) and skipped the kit lens.

I have a limited selection for lenses as I have $375 of Crutchfield Giftcards lying around and I wanted to use them on a lens......they don;t have the best selection though.......

This will be my first DSLR and my first purchase into a lens system.....
I'm looking for a good first walk around lens

These are what I'm looking at
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Ite...1785&c=8&tp=279

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Ite...35IU&c=8&tp=279

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Ite...018C&c=8&tp=279

 

Youre not kidding about having a crappy selection of lenses. Theyre also terribly overpriced as well.

Out of all the lenses youre interested in, I'd get the 28-135 as a walkaround. The 17-85 is nice, but not for $600!

But seriously dont buy your lens from crutchfield. Save yourself the $$ and either buy it second hand somewhere or new at BH for $100 less. You can find 28-135's on potn for less than $300 from people who bought 40D kits trying to recoup some cash.

Hell, if youre okay with second hand lenses and are looking for something in the $300 range, someone over on potn is selling a tammy 28-75 2.8 for $295 which is a fantastic lens.

 

This would be the lens I'd suggest as well.

Course I realize you said you have gift cards there, so then prices aren't *that* bad, but still kinda shitty. I'd go with the tamron if I were you.

 

Crutchfield is overpriced, good thing you have gift cards, the price on the Tamron is in line with B&H

The definition of a walk around lens is a wide zoom range so go for the Tamron and it has decent reviews. Will need lots of daylight to deal with the f6.3 when zoomed out. Used the 28-135 once on a 30D and found the 28 to not be wide enough for me YMMV.

Here's one 17-85 review and a 28-135 review

 

Yea...I am concerned about 28mm not being wide enough on a crop body too.

Yea...on the Canon lenses.....Crutchfield is $80-$100 high but the price difference on the Tamron between Crutch and B&H is only $20......

 

man that's not the best list of lenses to choose from but if you're limiting yourself to those three go with the 17-85 lense since it has the most useful focal range.

Ideally you should either get the 28-75 Tamron or the Canon 17-55 f2.8 but alas not available from Crutchfield.

Cubs, I'll bring a couple of lenses for you to play with this Sat!!

 

i would get the canon lens. you'll love the IS on either and the ef-s will communicate with your camera much better(you'll get better focusing). get the first one if you want to do landscapes or get the second one if you don't and need the longer zoom.

 

I'd seriously look at a 28 f/1.8, 50 f/1.4, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or Tamron 28-75 f/2.8.