Originally Posted by Dwimmerlaik
hmm... maybe the kit lens will be OK at first given your subject matter and budget? you can ALWAYS upgrade after you outgrow or need more or less FOV.
BUT...
these are a few I HEARD were good CLOSE to that price range.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=129189&is=USA
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=206434&is=USA
this is ABOVE your budget but very highly rated..
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=149629&is=USA
AND I OWN AND LOVE THIS(though people say the color rendition isn't that of the $1000 more canon 24-70L.... GUESS WHAT.. I own PS and shoot digital)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=257911&is=REG
THE HOOD is somewhat loose fitting ON MINE, but that's not too much of a bother to me.