One question before I get my 20D

I'm ordering from b&h tomorrow, I have $1370 total to spend.

I am getting the 18-55mm Kit lens. I know a couple of weeks down the road after I learn the basics of the camera I want to get the 50mm f/1.4 USM.

What I need to know is should I spend the extra money and get the 18-55mm USM, or get the regular 18-55mm and put the left over money towards the 50mm?

The camera will be used at indoor and outdoor shows/concerts.

The USM focussing system is far superior to the non-USM.

The only EF-S 18-55 listed on Canon's web site now is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM. That would make a non-USM version an older discontinued model.

Yeah, try to get the USM if you can.

How much extra is the USM model going to cost you? The 18-55 kit lens is an okay lens to start with. So is the Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM that is $230 new. It would be a good starter lens and would compliment the kit lens very well. If you just want to dive into it get the Tamron 28-75 f 2.8 lens for around $300 after rebate. That lens rocks for the cost. Honestly, you should get that one. The Tamron can't be beat for range, aperture and cost. You will need something wider and the kit lens will fill that need until you win the lottery.

Digital cameras are like computers, you will be upgrading in a few years, but lenses are almost forever. Get the best you can, because you will be hanging on to them for many cameras to come. I have also found that the better lenses and the Canon namebrand means a lot later when you want to sell it used. The lower end lenses and off brands lose their value fast, while pro quality lenses keep value pretty good.

The regular 18-55mm kit is $1,154 on b&h.
The 18-55mm USM kit is $1,254 on b&h, but if I buy the body and lens separately I can save about $20.

You're acutually getting the same thing i am, but what im going to be doing is that im just going to get the body off of B&H for around 1070+shipping..and then im going to be getting the 50mm 1.4 usm for around 300 after rebates off of newegg. I keep hearing all these bad things about the 18-55 and ive gotten to play with a rebel xt with a 18-55. Its a alright lens but i dont like it enough to spend the extra money for it myself. I'm going to be buying my stuff near the end of July.
Camera body:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …EG&addedTroughT​ype=search

50mm 1.4 USM:
http://www.newegg.com ….asp?Item=N82E1​6830998366

Best to do what Reluix is doing. Ditch the 18-55 and go straight with the 20D body and the 50mm. It's not so much that the 18-55 is a bad lens (for the price it performs very well) but that you will get a far better learning experience using a prime lens (50mm) rather than using a zoom lens (18-55). In addition to the photographic principles (ISO, shutter speed, aperture, under/overexposing etc) being forced to move around with a prime (rather than standing still and randomly zooming) will focus your learning on the scene, FOV, DOF, camera/subject distance. The result - being able to visualise images before shooting and nailing your composition.

Don't forget that on a 1.6 crop camera like the 20D the 50mm lens behaves like an 80mm on a 35mm film camera. This means that it's an excellent portrait lens for the 20D (I use it a lot on my 10D), but it might be of limited use if you want to shoot landscapes or groups. If you don't want to get a zoom a 30mm lens (I believe Sigma make a good one) might be more versatile.
Good luck with your new camera.

You can also buy a 20D body and a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Excellent starter lens, for many photographers it's their most used lens. You don't easily outgrow it.

P.

isn't 1370 bux for a 20d a bit overpriced considering one can get 30d for not much more? I'm seeing 20d bodies in ebay for 900US.

I have $1370 to spend. The kit will be $1154, and because I want it asap it'll be another $53 for overnight shipping, so $1207, not $1370 all together.

I would spend the extra 100 in the EF 50mm f1.8 mk II.

Actually, I bought my 20D... body only with that lens and then bought a used 18-55mm from here. I made a great deal!

Leo.

I don't think the micro-USM of the non-kit 18-55 warrants an extra $100 if you're planning your next lens acquisition already. It doesn't generally give you FTM or much faster AF than the regular motor does; without special effort on Canon's part, only the ring-USM does that.