What to upgrade EF-S 15-85 to?

[Kieranbennett]

My current range of lenses are a Canon 15-85 f3.5-5.6, Sigma 70-200 f2.8 OS, Canon 50 1.8 and a newly ordered Sigma 105 f2.8 macro. All are used on a Canon 7d body.

I'm mainly a sports tog, but have recently started to really enjoy low light urban and candid portrait photography and my usual walk about lens is really struggling.

I've got no immediate intenion to upgrade to full frame so I think most people in my sistuation would be looking at the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 which is supposedly one of the best crop lenses out there.

My issues with this lens is I'd lose a little at the short end but a lot on the long end and would leave a focal length gap between that and my 70-200.

My budget can't stretch to a 24-70 f2.8 which would be ideal as I could keep the 15-85 for wide angle where it has an aperture of f3.5

The 24-105 is within budget but not a huge amount quicker than the 15-85.

Is there anything else I've overlooked that may meet my criteria?

 

[tomkbucks]

im in the same place and need a good walk around lens thats a 2.8 , im going for the sigma 17-50 gets very good reviews and wont break the bank - new i think its £269 from amazon

 

[Kieranbennett]

I do like my sigma lens' but again the 50mm focal length would leave a big gap between that and my 70-200.

 

[Gaz J]

Sigma 17-70 f2.8-f4? Gets reasonable reviews.

Difference between 55 and 70 is a couple of paces. Ok bit awkward if your standing on the edge of a cliff but not really a huge gap.

 

[Moreorless]

My budget can't stretch to a 24-70 f2.8 which would be ideal as I could keep the 15-85 for wide angle where it has an aperture of f3.5

What about a third party FF 2.8 midrange zoom? the Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 seems to have a pretty good reputation using the sweet spot on ASPC sensors plus its fairly small and light compaired to say Sigma or Tokina's 2.8 mid range zooms.

 

[Phil V]

I don't understand why the gap between 55 and 70 is an issue?

Not having 70 without swapping lenses might be a pain, but we don't need to obsess about having 60mm if we have 55 and 70.

For some people having a wa a mid to wide a std lens a short tele and a long tele prime is a great set. But some zoom shooters feel lost when there's a few mm missing from their kit.

I regularly shoot with a 17-55 and 70-200 and I've never fallen into a panic because of the gap.