Originally Posted by
Fast Glass
I would get the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, it would be as good/little better then the 24-105mm f/4 IS optically. 24mm is not very wide at all, and weather sealling is not complete unless you get the 7D or a 1 series. For portriats get a prime or 70-200mm, I would tend toward the zoom for a more complete range and later onpick out your favorite prime when you have a litte more experience on what you like to shoot.
The17-40mm f/4 is really not that great on 1.6crop cameraoptically, the focal length range is not ideal, it's one stop slower (half as much light) than the 17-55mm, lacks IS. The 17-40mm shines on full-frame as a ultra-wide zoom, f/4on a full-frameis about the same as f/2.8 on a 1.6 crop camera. The larger sensor gathers about one stop more light than a 1.6 crop camera.
If weather sealling is important to you then I would get a 7D or a used1Ds II for about the same price. The 1Ds II can be had for about $1,600 at KEH.com.
John.
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