Its go time (zoom lens recommendations?)

[RODFinch]

I am putting a order in for the 7D next week
The only thing I am having a problem with is the lens.
In the future when I start making money off of the cam, I am going to invest in a set of primes but for now
I need a good zoom lens that will look sharp and give me the best image for the price, my budget for a lens is 500,
I can't justify buying $1500-2000 lens when I have 2 EX1 and a Panasonic AJ-HDX-900 DVC Pro HD.
Here is the only lens I have on my list right now, is it a GOOD or BAD choice?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=498661&is=REG
if you can't click (Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X 165 PRO DX Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Digital)
I have a ton of Nikon lens, and I will buy an adapter for them, but I would like to use the auto functions on this cam as well as the manual.

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

Other options you might consider:

Sigma 17-70, covers from wides to CUs, not constant, but decent aperture range 2.8~4.5

Tamron 17-50 (alpi69 recommended it to me), he said it's tack sharp, it's constant 2.8. It doesn't cover CUs that well though, unless you like to do CUs on 50mm.