The best deal out there right now is the Tamron 16-300mm Di-II VC PZD lens. It has Instant Rebates of $130 making it $499 from Camera Land. The Tamron 18-270mm Di-II VC PZD lens is $449 from them. You could give Joel or Mark a call up there and see if there are any specials I am not aware of on either of the two lenses. I use the 16-300mm on a regular basis and get some great results, especially in the f8 or f11 range on landscapes. It will also do about a 1:3 Macro range, so it is a great lens for their purpose.

Here are a few images with that lens

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Great photography is not about being in the right place at the right time, it is about putting yourself in the right place at the right time.