Dream Lens

[pbz]

Hi guys,

I'm new to DSLR / photography and I'm looking to get a XSi paired with a good lens. I will mostly use the camera for landscape / travel shots, night / low light is important since I like taking pictures at night / low light. So far I believe the best range for my usage would be a 17-18mm to 85-105mm. Single lens would be preferable since changing lenses while traveling could be risky business.

My ideal lens would be 17-85mm f/2.8 (could be variable) IS USM. The perfect lens, in my opinion, would be 17-105mm f/2.8 (could be variable) IS USM. I can't seem to find a lens (even L) with either of these ranges (and that aperture). Is it that hard to build something like this or is out there and I just can't find it?

Since I can't have my dream lens, would EF-S 17-85/4-5.6 IS USM Review be close enough? I'm concerned about the aperture, would 4-5.6 be enough for indoor sports (I may have to shoot that as well)? I'm also looking at the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, if it only had a wider range 

Thanks.

[Bob Atkins]

Your dream lens doesn't exist I'm afraid. The closest you can get is the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS USM.

There's also the EF 24-105/4L IS USM if you are prepared to pair it with the EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5 USM for the wide angle end of the range.

[pbz]

That's what I thought 

Why isn't there one like that? Not enough demand or too hard to build? Do you think Canon or a third party would make one in the near future?

Thanks again.

[Bob Atkins]

The wider the zoom range and the fater the aperture, the more difficult (expensive( it is to make a high performance lens and the larger and heavier it gets.

If a 24-105/4L IS USM is $1000, and a 24-70/2.8L is $1000,  a 24-135/2.8 USM might be twice as large, twice as heavy and cost closer to $2500. If you want fast, then you can get it with a 24-70/2.8L and a 70-200/2.8L and the teo togther will probably be optically better (and cheaper) than one lens that attempts to span all (or most) of that range.

It's really what Canon think photographers want most and how much they are prepared to pay for it. They're unlikely to expend a great deal of ftime and effort on making a lens that they don't think there's a very big market for.