You can have good or all purpose, but not both. You would be better off to learn to clean your sensor yourself. It's not hard to do..

The whole point of a DSLR is to be able to change lenses and use the ideal lens for each purpose. If you wanted an all purpose sealed camera, you should have bought one..

Google "sensor cleaning" and get the materials. Then get a couple of good quality longer lenses (your kit lens will do the wide angle stuff) and change them when necessary. If you get dust in the camera, clean it. Use the potential you purchased with your 400D..

Nothing is enough for the man to whom nothing is enough...

A good allround lens, is the Tamron 18-250mm, which is highly versatile, offering a great zoom range and optically "ok" quality..

An optically way better choise, but also somewhat more expensive and not that wide spanning as the Tamron, is the Canon 24-105 f/4L. It's image quality is superb, you get IS and USM, and... well, image quality is just superb! It's a solid performer, but you also get to pay the price. The 24-105 range is very usefull - I myself use my Minolta 24-105 way most of the time..

Http://www.fotostart.dk << tutorials, guides etc...

Aletheia wrote:You can have good or all purpose, but not both. You would be betteroff to learn to clean your sensor yourself. It's not hard to do..

The whole point of a DSLR is to be able to change lenses and use theideal lens for each purpose. If you wanted an all purpose sealedcamera, you should have bought one..

Fully agree with you Aletheia, a DSLR should be used for that purpose, however this is a timing issue. I have only just bought the camera, and I am heading off in about 3 weeks, so have to prioritise what I can learn before then. Which I think is learning how to take pictures! But you may have a good point, it could be worth learning to clean the lenses - I didnt know it was an easy job as I have heard from a friend who has a 350D that he has had to take it to a technician a couple of times. That said, any suggestions for a good, newbie second lens?..

I hate suggesting specific lenses because I believe lens selection should be based on personal photographic need, not someone else's perceived needs..

One piece of advice would be to avoid the all in one solutions, and always buy the very best quality you can find in a specific focal length (or range for zooms). I am an old guy, and I have sold (at a loss) many lenses in order to finally buy the one I knew was the best for my uses from the beginning, but which I thought was too expensive at the time. My attempts to save money seldom worked..

Don't rush lens collection. Wait until you know what you need, then get the best. Spend more money once, not less money and then more. Be patient. Learn to use what you have to the best advantage until you find you just can't get certain kinds of shots. At that point you will know your own needs..

Having said that, if I had the kit lens you list, I would add a Canon 70-200 F4 IS and go on the trip..

Nothing is enough for the man to whom nothing is enough...

There are several lenses in the 18-200mm more or less category, and these would work fine for you..

I use a Sigma 24-135 for almost everything, and it works well. There's a Sigma 18-125 that would be good, remembering that wildlife photography often requires specialized equipment..

BAK..

I use and suggest the Canon 70-300 f-4-5.6 IS USM for a little more distance..

A good allround lens, is the Tamron 18-250mm, which is highlyversatile, offering a great zoom range and optically "ok" quality..

I've read good reviews of this lens (Tamron 18-250) and it seems to be a very versatile one-lens solution.Mike..

Yes, exactly - the Tammy is the best superzoom lens available, and on Canon, it focuses noticably faster than on the other cameras..

Http://www.fotostart.dk << tutorials, guides etc...

I've tried the Olympus TCON-17 (also B-300) with my 55mm f/1.8 canon and am pleased with the results. A 52-55mm step-up ring is required to screw the TCON to the front of the canon lens. AF works fine..

The TCON does not degrade sharpness or cause vignetting. There is no change in exposure - the lens remains f/1.8 even with the TCON in place. Flare is introduced but is easy to remove in PP. Here's a comparison of 100% center crops @f/1.8:.

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

(TCON on the right - I moved to keep sizes similar - no PP sharpening applied)Dave..

Thanks for all the tips guys, great info. It looks like I have some research to do, but at least I have a starting point. The shortlist is looking like:.

Canon 24-105 f/4LCanon 70-200 F4 ISCanon 70-300 f-4-5.6 IS USMTamron 18-250Sigma 18-125Olympus TCON-17.

One question does arise though triggered by Aletheia mostly - would I being a beginner to DSLR cameras/lenses as a whole, miss not having an additional lens on this 3 month trip? Am I rushing things do you think? All being said, I will look back on the pictures I take forever, so dont want to cut corners....

Im starting to think I should have bought the camera 6 months ago!..

My vote is for the 70-200 f/4. That's the one lens on that short list I would buy in a heartbeat and never look back! You won't regret it. Use your kit lens for the wide end and the 70-200 for telephoto. You'll be set!.

Marley wrote:.

Thanks for all the tips guys, great info. It looks like I have someresearch to do, but at least I have a starting point. The shortlistis looking like:.

Canon 24-105 f/4LCanon 70-200 F4 ISCanon 70-300 f-4-5.6 IS USMTamron 18-250Sigma 18-125Olympus TCON-17.

One question does arise though triggered by Aletheia mostly - would Ibeing a beginner to DSLR cameras/lenses as a whole, miss not havingan additional lens on this 3 month trip? Am I rushing things do youthink? All being said, I will look back on the pictures I takeforever, so dont want to cut corners....

Im starting to think I should have bought the camera 6 months ago!.

'I reject your reality and substitute my own' -Adam Savage..