I have a 28-135 is lens already, which seems to be (in my whole one week experience) a very good lens. I also have a 70-300 Canon lens, but it's impossible to use w/o camera shake at the long end. I took some zoomed in photos, and they're a bit blurry w/o a tripod. I figured the IS would allow me to not have to use the tripod.

I also have a 28-80 USM - for what I'm not sure.

Mostly, I want to take on-the-fly shots of the kids playing softball, stuff on the boat, and some work-related things. None of those are very convenient for carrying a tripod.

I guess also, given that the camera is 8 MP, I could take shots at 135mm, then zoom in and crop on Photoshop, and still have something left that is high enough resolution to include in a work product or to print a photo out?

If that's the case, maybe I'll do that.

I was thinking a longer IS, a lens with a lower f rating, and maybe something like a 50mm macro, and I should have more goodies than I can carry or will need.

Maybe I need to just try it out for awhile before I spend any more on it.

Thanks.

ps - thanks for the websites - I'll take a look at them. No bargains on this stuff, that's for sure.