So, for all of the photo geeks in here, what are 2 lenses you'd never leave the house without?

I only carry two: I have EF-S 17-85, and EF 75-300. (Rumors abound of a 50mm/1.4 either for my birthday next week or under the tree.) rkkwan is well known to dislike the 17-85, but it gets the job done for me. The short answer is that the lens choice depends on the shoot. You have to ask yourself what you shoot most and more importantly, how you shoot it. If you're fairly well settled on the XSi and not terribly familiar with dSLRs, I would say to get the kit that Mr. Kwan mentioned earlier. It gets you out to 250mm, which isn't great but is also far from the worst you can do.

I'd kindly disagree. I had the 70-300 for a while. It's a decent lens, but if the 55-250 was out then, I'd take the 55-250 for half the price. While the build may be a little inferior, all the lens reviews show it has great optics, and the IS is even more effective than the 70-300.

[I've traded up to the 70-200/4IS since.]

Right, but the new 18-55IS is much better in optics, and of course, with IS. It's pretty amazing at the consumer level.

Fair enough. I'm inclined to go for the reach of a longer zoom just because of what I shoot.

Agreed. I was referring to the non-IS 18-55 kit lens, which I had little to no use for after one vacation with it.

If I'm traveling and/or not totally sure what I may come across, I will definitely take my Canon 17-55IS. But it doesn't mean I have to take the lens. I've also taken the 35/1.4L only as my walkaround, and leave the 17-55 at home.

But if I'm traveling to scenic places, I will definitely take a superwide. I used to have the Canon 10-22, now the Tokina 11-16.

Paper weight. I have a 35-80 kit lens from the original Rebel, which is even worse. :D

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. I took a few nice shots with my 18-55, but, and I know I'm signing up for a flame here, I saw my IQ go thru the roof with the 17-85.

I really should get involved on the Travel Photography forum.

And all of this talk about cameras has revived my lust for a a DSLR. Too bad it's just not in the budget right now.

We can all start a little mini-Box over there - sbm12's worst nightmare.

Adorama has the XSi with 18-55 kit lens and the 55-200 lens for 809.95. They also have the bag that I want. Oh so tempting...

The copy of 17-85 I had (which I bought used) may be a bit softer than norm; but the barrel distortion and relatively lack of contrast are typical, from what I've read and seen. Not a bad lens, and I got a lot of good pictures with it on my Sicily/Amalfi trip: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/f431981631. But I have to give most of the pics a pretty heavy dose of sharpening and contrast. Also I would use the 10-22 for those 17-22 shots. I'd take the 18-55IS at ~1/2 the price. :D

If 18-55IS was an option for me right now, I would probably do it. I wish I didn't have to adjust as many of my shots as I do, but that's completely a function (IMO) of not having the good glass.

Haha.

I think we need to have a Box Do at the CO Do in February.