I quite like my Sigma 20/1.8
Fastest lens to approach wide on a 1,6 crop body. Not extremely expensive.

Wide open: Click
Stopped down a bit (Yet still shallow DoF): Click.

I was in same situation some time ago. Needed a wide lens and could not decide which to buy. I needed a fast lens for concert photography (+ general shooting) and Sigma 20/1.8 is really the only lens out there that is both wide and fast. But after some testing with 17mm lens I decided that 20 is not by far as wide as I need! So I bought second-hand Canon 10-22/3.5-4.5. The other possibility was Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, but that was even slower than not-so-fast Canon. Sigma also suffers of quite awful halos and reflections when shooting directly to spotlights (like in a concert).

This Canon is not as slow as it might seem thinking just the F-numbers. The wider the lens the longer the exposure time can be for a steady shot. One can get a perfect shot with 10-22 using exposure times long as 1/20-1/30 when, say, 50mm lens strugles to produce sharp images on times 1/50-1/60. This is because wider view angle of 10-22; objects and their movement appear "smaller" with 10-22 than with some narrower lens.

Good but not too cheap solution for wide shots is 5D and some ~17mm lens... ;) Too bad 5D is still quite expensive. And if I bought 5D now I would have to sell my 10-22 and get some other (expensive!) lens to replace that...

The next lens I'm going to buy is Canon 100/2. I think it will be really nice lens for close-up shots both in concerts and in portrait photography. It's not too big either, so I think I'll be using it out in the streets shooting candid shots.

Sell the 28-105, and buy a Tamron SP 28-75/2.8.
Anything slower than 2.8 on the standard zoom range is torture, if you're facing any difficult lighting conditions. If you ask me. You probably should not.

I got me a Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8 L IS USM yesterday... its amazing!!

Yeah, don't go less than f2.8.

I have a Sigma 10-22 f3.5-4.5 which is awesome, and being so wide, is good down to about 1/25th with a still subject and good hand.
Pretty cheap from memory. Don't use mine much though :(

Rob

Played with a 17-55 2.8 IS last week.

Must.... resist.... urge ..... to commit ..... bank ..... robbery....

GNAHRGH!

Haha, I can see how you are itching to get it now that you have held it. Isn't it funny how touching something makes one want it more?

Well, the loaner of the lens is now the owner of it and a very good friend. I am sure I get to loan it next time we hook up. He's in Nashville, though.

I like the 30-35mm range for the small low light clubs I shoot. With a little care you can shoot 1/15 sec at 35mm and get good results.

35mm F1.4 ISO1600 1/15
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/livelifelivepics/IMG_0160copy.jpg

1/15 sec can make for some cool shutter dragging...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/livelifelivepics/Clock%20Strike%20Music/IMG_0626-Edit-1.jpg

Just picked up a Tokina 28-70 2.8 AT-X PRO SV.

Apparently not as good as the PRO but I'm sure will be good enough for me. Should have it next week as it's being shipped from Ireland.

On what camera? Full frame, 1.3 crop, 1.6 crop? Makes quite a difference...
edit: (Exif says Rebel, so 1.6 crop)

I'm undecided at the moment......20 1.8 or 35 1.4, Both eventually then a 200 1.8 from 'Gulp' eBay