What wide angle lens Yellowstone

[huntnphool]

I have the 17-55 but I'm not 100% convinced that the optical quality significantly exceeds the regular old kit lenses.

You may have a bad lens, I have found mine to be quite a bit sharper than the 18-55mm kit lens.

I haven't made any bad images with the 17-55 other than those attributed to operator error--like focusing on my kids face, then they move and I take the shot and the face looks unsharp, or not properly stopping down the lens for a scenic landscape. Granted it sure is more versatile than a 3.5-5.6 variable aperture, and is sharper more wide open than the kit lens.

My point is that when stopping down the kit lens, it produces sufficiently sharp images for what the OP wants to do. Granted it wont have the versatility than the 17-55 will since the 17-55 has constant f/2.8 throughout its whole zoom range. So some shots, say low light, will be harder or maybe impossible with the kit lens that would be in reach of the 17-55 since its faster and has IS. And as I noted earlier its nice that the front lens element doesn't rotate for using graduated neutral density filters or circular polarizers.

Those three features (IS, f/2.8 aperture, and fixed front element) are great, but the OP could still take plenty of nice landscape shots at Yellowstone with the kit lens if proper settings, technique, and  a little more patience are employed. Having the 17-55 f/2.8 might make it easier to get the results you want because you might not need the tripod or to fiddle with a filter on the front of your lens as much, but don't think that your images are automatically going to suck if you can't afford $1,000 for the higher end glass. The artists technique, skill, and overall eye for detail matter far more than the tools he or she uses IMHO.

To get significantly 'sharper' images I think one would first want to step up to a full frame camera before splitting pixels. 

Point taken, however the OP did not have the kit lens or a full frame camera option in his original post.

[timberghost72]

I'd say from your choices the 17-55.  I love my lens and wish I had it when I went to Yellowstone. It takes great pictures. From my experience though for landscape photos you are not going to be stopping down to f/2.8 because you'll want to capture total DOF and also you will want to use a tripod especially with lower light. Therefore you can up your aperture for a longer shutter opening and still get good shots. Also from your other choices you will have a big gap between the lenses you are using. Think standard focal ranges of 30-55. If you rented a 10-22 then you will not have a lens between 22mm and 70mm which you may want. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Yellowstone is about big wide landscapes, hot springs, etc.  It lends itself perfectly to the 10-22.  Wonderful lens for landscapes and outdoors on a crop camera and perfect for 40D.

[Don Fischer]

I have a question. The OP has a 70-200mm and a 300mm. Why wouldn't he be better off getting something like the 15-85mm or the 17-85mm? If he did it seem's the over lap at 70mm to 85mm is a good thing? maybe it doesn't matter?

[Bean Counter]

IMHO I don't think it matters. Unless you're on a cliff and going for the shot of a lifetime, you can and should zoom with your feet. You don't need every millimeter covered. Optically I've read that the 17-85mm has much more barrel distortion than the 17-55.

[popeshawnpaul]

I have a question. The OP has a 70-200mm and a 300mm. Why wouldn't he be better off getting something like the 15-85mm or the 17-85mm? If he did it seem's the over lap at 70mm to 85mm is a good thing? maybe it doesn't matter?

I don't think 23-69mm is that important in yellowstone.  There is distortion in the 10-22, but nothing that lens calibrations can't fix with just a click.  It's sharp and can get all those cool hot springs in.  Waterfalls, etc.  17mm is wide enough to get it done but he's asking for the best fit and if you are doing landscapes and hot springs, the 10-22 gets it done the best in that range and for a crop camera.  Getting cool hot springs that run all the way to your feet and having a mountain in the background is great.  I've shot Yellowstone with a 10-22 and it works perfect.  If you are going to just shoot the family standing in front of Old Faithful, bring whatever.  That 300mm will come in useful for elk and watch out, they get nasty...