Rebel Rebates - Package Recommendations?

[lews]

I have a Kodak DC290 point and shoot digital and plan to move up to the Rebel Digital. I'm trying to figure the best way to do this with the rebate program. Has anyone more knowledgeable figured good configurations. The difference in price between the body only and the kit from Digitalfotoclub is only $58 so you could just go with the kit and then get two lenses - if so, what would be a good choice (I guess fisheye/wide angle and some sort of super zoom).

[Shakespeare]

Hmmm, I'm surprised no one has made any suggestions, so I'll make one as a new Rebel owner (if only I'd waited for the rebates!) We're talking 2 lenses to fulfill the full rebate, right?

On a Budget:
If you're going to get a wide-angle, forget the 17-55 kit lens and just get a 17-40 f/4L, and a 70-200 f/4L.

If you want to spend more:
16-35 f/2.8L, 70-200 f/2.8L with 1.4 extender or100-400 f4.5-5.6L. If the latter, you'd want to fill in the 35-100 gap with something down the road.

I went the budget route, but have the kit lens and wish I'd put the money toward the 17-40.

[snibbetsj]

I'd go with a body-only, the 85mm f1.8 and the 70-200 f4 zoom.

Total B&H price is 800 + 340 + 580 = 1720 and the rebates would be 300 + 45 + 74 = 425. Total package cost would be 1295, not a bad deal at all (of course you have to wait to get the rebates back). Don't forget to get plenty of CF memory, you can't have enough.

Jeff

[cloakscott]

Here is a quick calculator to play with for the rebates, that I created (original idea from a guy called mmsean on FM forums):
http://cloakscott.webhop.org/canonrebatecalc.xls

[MrChad]

Hands down if Money isn't and object
24-70 and 70-200 IS, These lenses will still be jems down the road even when digital goes full frame.

Regardless get a 70-200 L lens, I can't wait for one of these.
Then maybe a 17-40L then you could always add a Sigma or Tamron normal zoom down the road to fill the gap.