Hi i am about to jump in and buy either the EF 17-40L or the EF-S 17-85 IS for my 300d, as it is an expensive purchase for me i could do with some feedback please, is it worth sacrificing the quality of the L lens for the image stabilisation and greater focal range of the 17-85??
i shoot mainly landscapes and architecture, usually without a tripod.

can anyone give their opinion as to which one to buy.

cheers
Russ