Is there a difference between....

[Chickysmom]

the Canon Rebel XT in black and the one in silver?

and the 18-55 lens that some of the include, is that a good starter lens?

 

[ndelaware]

They are the same except for the color.

The 18-55 is a good enough lens to start with especially when you compare the price to other lenses that start at 18mm. It works best when you bump the aperature up a bit to around f/8. I have seen some incredible pictures taken with this lens.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I strongly recommend to forego the 18-55 (and buy the version without lens) and get a Sigma 18-125 instead. This way you'll get 7x optical zoom, and a better lens construction than the 18-55.

In Canada, the price difference between the one with kit lens vs the one without is only around US$40.

 

[ndelaware]

Kelly, the Sigma 18-125 runs about $280 while the Canon 18-55 adds $80 to the kit here in the States.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

That much for the lenses? The Sigma is currently at $280 too, but in Canadian dollars. (so about US$245)

Wow, what a difference. When I bought my 70-200 f/2.8L IS I had to buy it in the US due to the difference of US$600 in price -- that's after factoring (yes, that much higher in Canada).

 

[Anewman]

When I purchased one of my 20Ds, it was actually a lower price(like 10 bucks) at Buydig with the kit lens. So they paid me 10 bucks to take the kit lens.

I worked a trade with a local shop, traded for a new 50mm 1.8(also plastic).

Even at other times when the kit lens adds like $60 it is worth that, but I would pass on it once it gets close to $100. Stopped down it becomes acceptable but not great, kinda on par(opitics wise) to consumer tamron/sigma/canon 28-80mm type lenses. Build is even below that class of lens.