Thanks for your input everyone. I had also been considering the Sigma though for some reason did not mention it in my first post. At this point. the shorty 40 is not on my list. If it was an f2 instead of a 2.8 maybe, but I don't want redundancy of both focal length AND aperture(plus I have played with one of these lenses, and the AF seemed a bit on the slow side). I just don't think the small/cuteness factor of that lens outweighs its repetition in other attributes.

The more I hear everyone's input into this, the more I think the real battle for which of these I get is going to be between the Sigma 1.4 and the Canon f2 IS.

As always, the more info the better; so if anyone has anything to add, please chime in.

Dave.