[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

I'm tossing up between the Canon 17-40L, and the 17-85 USM IS lens.

Both have their pros and cons..

17-40L:
Pros:
- "L" series optics
- Sharp
- Great build

Cons:
- Limited zoom range
- Cost ($1000+)


17-85 USM IS:
Pros:
- Image Stabilisation
- Good zoom range
- Cheaper ($750+)

Cons:
- Not as sharp as the 17-40L.


Any experiences, thoughts or comments on these two?

I'd like the best optics, but i'm worried about the limited zoom range. I'm also worried about the cost.

The 17-85 has everything else going for it, with 5x zoom range, "IS" and is a bit cheaper too.

It's to replace my 18-55mm stock lens that i've used since I bought the camera (10 months ago). I've already got the 70-300mm (also the stock lens). I'm also considering getting the 50mm f/1.8 as a portrait lens.

Appreciate your feedback.