a walk around lens for rebel xt

[mediyoga]

Hello everyone. I am enclosing a snap down sized to 800/600 with the new 17-85 IS USM canon lens I bought. Need advise on a " fairly " good walk around zoom to the range of 200mm ( 1.6 factor would make it higher of course) but not as expensive as the L series of canon.
thanks
Krishna Raman

[Balrog]

I've heard (and seen) good things from the Sigma 18-200, which would fill "walkaround" needs just about perfectly. It's about $400 on B&H.
On the other hand, since you already have a 17-85, if you don't mind swapping lenses a little you could get a 70-200 f/4L (about $560 on B&H), which is one of the (very) few L lenses that can actually make a case for being "economical" :D.
You could also look at the Sigma APO 70-300 for about $200ish..

[lucky8]

Which is better for "walk-around" lens : Sigma 18-200 or Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS?
Canon has mail-in rebates.
or should I just get the Sigma 18-125 to save some $$$?

[lucky8]

I heard Sigma zoom motor is pretty LOUD. Is that true?
Should I choose factory OEM Canon lens over third party lens makers like Sigma or Tamron for my XT?

[TheObiJuan]

consumer canon lenses will be just as load and slow to focus, unless they have USM.