Best camera kit I can get with $2000?

If you going to have fast 2.8 zoom in 17-50 range, you don't need 50 1.8.
It will be total waste of $100. Only those who ended up with Rebel kit lens might be interested to have at least one fast lens. With 2.8 and high ISO capabilities of 60D, practically, no reason for cheap 1.8 prime.
I'll recommend to skip as much plastic as possible including 55-250, the 70-200 F4 is well above this one for IQ and it works as very very good portrait and landscape lens as well.
You have do decide where is priority in portraits or macro. Then it would be 85 1.8 for portraits and Raynox macro lens to use same lens for macro. Or 100 2.8 for macro and portraits.
Get Canon flash, like 430 EX II which supports HSS, it makes huge difference for fast moving objects and to take portraits with wide aperture on bright day.

Skip on spare batteries for now. Canon makes good batteries which lasts for few days with thousands of pictures taken. New battery will hold the charge and capacity for about one year of daily use.

I would skip the 50mm f1.8 and use that money for a 430EX II

what currency are you talking about here...if you're talking 2,000 new zealand dollars you'll probably just barely get the 60D and the kit 18-55, 55-250mm lenses

If portraits and nature and landscapes are going to be most of your interested the 5Dc is really the way to go. Maybe with a 17-40 and 70-200 4 non is, throw in a 50 1.8 if you can afford it. As for not selling them around you, look for used here on selling forum, they show up all the time.

pxchoi wrote in post #13299583
I would skip the 50mm f1.8 and use that money for a 430EX II

Yeah, didn't think of that. Id get a 430 over the 50 1.8 now that I think about it.

Get a used 20d and 17 nifty fifties.

I deff wouldnt get the canon 17-55, look at the Tamron or Sigma 17-50 and save yourself a decent amount of money there.

jks24 wrote in post #13301591
I deff wouldnt get the canon 17-55, look at the Tamron or Sigma 17-50 and save yourself a decent amount of money there.

Since Lightrules hasn't come up yet, let me post what he has informed alot of people deciding on that 17-5X /2.8 range lenses....

Link

hmm maybe the 7D kit with 28-135mm great for walk around and to get your feet wet in the different range of 28mm to 135mm..

sourlemons wrote in post #13277966
so that drops my budget for new gear down to roughly $2000.

So, what do you guys think would be the best kit I could get?

I previously had in mind the
Canon 60d
Canon 17-55mm/Tamron 17-50mm
Canon 70-200mm f4 non-is
Canon 50mm 1.8 II
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro (If I had enough)
Canon 430EX II

So.. What do you think I could get most similarly to that^?

my vote:
60D with Tamron/Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 100mm 2.8 macro
Canon 55-250IS
Flash - 430ex or Yongnuo ETTL

60D + EF-S 15-85 + EF-S 55-250 + 430EXII ... should be near $2K

Canon 60D ($600 on CLP program)
EF-S 15-85mm ($650~)
Sigma 30mm 1.4 ($400)
Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS ($150)
Canon 430 EX ($200~)

watt100 wrote in post #13302533
my vote:
60D with Tamron/Sigma 17-50 2.8
Canon 100mm 2.8 macro
Canon 55-250IS
Flash - 430ex or Yongnuo ETTL

+1 Same here

sourlemons wrote in post #13277966
Hey guys! I had previously made up a list of what I would be purchasing for my camera but then the new iPhone came out (arrgh!) and I decided that I really really wanted it (haven't got it yet) and then I decided more stuff .. and so that drops my budget for new gear down to roughly $2000.

Canon 430EX II


Thanks in advance

Hmmm, a Iphone 4S , you should have wait for the 5 coming this spring, they always do this....

I got a new Canon 60D with a 28-200 and a Speelite 270exII for $1149+tax at Lozeau in Montreal.
I sold the lens for $400 (it's worth between 650-750 new)
And with that money I bought a second hand 28-105 for 950
So 1149 x tax =1321 minus 400 for the lens I sold=921+ the new lens $950=$1871 that I spent.
I still have the flash, wich is not bad compared the the 270ex

So you could do something similar, just wait for deal, they will be deals soon, i'm sure!!!