Which lens for the Canon D20

[wenzej]

I have just about made up my mind to buy a Canon D20.
It looks like I have three basic choices:

1. Buy kit #1 Body and 18-55 mm lens about $1500.00
2. Buy kit #2 Body and 17-85 mm lens with image stab. About $2000.00
3 Buy the Body only and buy a lens separately

SO is the 17-85 lens worth the extra $500.00 it seems physically very large which might be awkward to use. However since I hand hold almost all the time, image stabilization might be a good thing. Has anyone used both lenses?

I shoot mostly nature shots, landscapes and just normal snap shots / vacation pictures.

IF I buy a body and then buy a lens what would be a good choice for a lens. I would like to keep the camera + lens under $2000.00.

[Peter_AUS]

Before you buy the stuff, tryin them out first, get a feel for how they feel to you and the images that they capture.

Try out a 17-40 f/4 L lens as well, see the difference in the quality of the lens and the size of this lens compared to the kit lenses.

Don't compromise on the Lenses.

If cost is an issue, get a 50mm f/1.8 lens and use that to learn about the camera, digital factor as this lens will become equivalent to an 80mm lens which is great for street photography/portraiture work.

Another lens to look at that I personally like is the Canon EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens which I basically use 90% of the time for what I do. It is a good Consumer lens that is closer to the quality of the L lens that the Professionals use. It will also give you an equivalent digital range of 44mm to 216mm lens because of the x1.6 factor of digital sensor.

Personally if I had the money at the time, I would have purchased the following lenses

50mm f/1.8
28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens

Then purchase 17-40L f/4
70-200 f/2.8 L IS
100-400 f/4.5 - 5.6 L

That would probably keep me and most people pretty happy.

Why the 28-135 lens, because it is a good walk around lens, still looks good on the camera, takes great images, and isn't as obvious as the L lenses are which do make you stand out in the crowd a bit.

I know you want to keep the camera and lens under $2,000 but quality of the image, to me comes down to the quality of the lens as well.

Hope this helps in some way.

[paulnj]

KIT #2 will give you a 28-135 IS PERSPECTIVE after the crop from the sensor. That sounds like the range you desire. IF you want wider... start saving ;)