[sizzzzlerz]

I chose early on to invest in Canon's L lenses even though I'm an amateur. Yes, they are considerably more expensive than consumer lenses but for the price, you get a more rugged, weatherproof body, sharper and faster glass, and a greater selection of both fixed and zoom lens. The down side is they are quite heavy making them more difficult to carry when shooting outdoors and they can require a stronger tripod to support the weight of the lens and camera. But, the images they can produce can be simply stunning at times and that, after all, is why we do photography.