Quote Originally Posted by Photog82 View Post
Welcome to the forums. I have a couple of questions for you; you said that you like to backpack, hike, etc and want a lens that's good in low light conditions. What will you be taking photos of in low light conditions? IMO, when I hike, if I see a moose or any type of animal, low light to me is nearing dusk and no amount lens, even my 1.8 makes a big difference in the manner of usability- for me.

I would weigh in on how many low light settings you'll be shooting with and the reach that you want. If you're looking at the EF-S 17-55 2.8 you may want to consider the EF 24-70 2.8 as well since it has a longer reach (it isn't an EF-S lens so it will be be as wide on the 24 end but if that doesn't matter to you than that's fine).

The EF 70-300 non L lens is a great lens too but it's not made for low light conditions, but for me, that doesn't matter. It's just another consideration for you.
What I have in mind for low light is landscapes around dawn and dusk. These would likely be on a tripod though, so maybe the 2.8 isn't necessary. I wouldn't want a lens with 24mm as the wide range as I don't have an ultrawide lens yet so I need that 15 or 17 on the wide side for decent landscapes.