Ultra-NOOB.... what have I done?!

Great body.

Grip it. You will like the balance and feel way more afterwards with the glass you have now and any more glass you get in the future. Plus...you won't have to worry about how much juice you have left if you forget to charge your one battery one night.

Get this book:
http://www.amazon.com …7463003/booksto​renow57-20
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

Easy read. Great detailed information on shots. Explains concepts so a lay person can understand them; you don't have to be a pro. And your wife will really like the pics you take after you read this book.
It will stay in your library and won't end up in a garage sale.

If you think for even a moment...that you might upgrade to L glass some day...get yourself some step up rings now for screw in type filters and figure on 77mm filters size. Larger filters on smaller starter glass apertures work but the reverse does not.
Or think about a Cokin/Lee sliding filter system for more composition flexibility.
At any rate whether screw in or sliding filter system these three filters will do wonders for non-perfect situations:
1- Circular polarizer
2- Neutral Density
3- Neutral Density Gradient
And keep in mind that if you want to go wide for breathtaking landscapes...17 or 18mm is not wide on a crop body. 10, 12mm is wide. Once you look at a landscape taken with glass in that range it will blow you away...the difference in perspective.

I gotta go with Rang about the book. Peterson's book is one of the best foundation books on learning about exposure that has ever been written.

As to the flash and diffuser being in the cart when you ordered the memory card, how could you NOT notice an additional $500?

Being only recently remarried, I haven't had to deal with this issue in a long time. Now we are doing a lot of house remodelling projects, and all I hear when I say I want to go to the camera store is "Honey, we have tile to buy!" Oh well, she IS gorgeous, so I guess I should have expected some of this sort of thing. (if anyone is interested in seeing the photos from our wedding/vacation, click here) This is my new bride. Taken with my 30D and 24-105.

Regards

In my opinion, a great starter setup. Most important thing is to read the manual and practice. After some time you'll see what additional items you may need. No need to worry about equipment for quite some time.

Welcome! Good kit to start out with, and just a word of warning; DO NOT enter the 'Canon EF and EF-S lenses ' forum section here

coorz wrote in post #4055456
Welcome! Good kit to start out with, and just a word of warning; DO NOT enter the 'Canon EF and EF-S lenses ' forum section here

Oh,come one, it's not like we twist any arms in there.....it's more of a siren's song.....the sharp, slow seduction of the L's.

Mark

You got almost smack on my original Canon dSLR kit, Which was:
400D/XTi (Black Body)
17-85 (Same as yours)
70-300 (Same as yours)
Lens Hoods for both

I then went and got:
A decent tripod (Trust me, you think a cheapy will work, untill it breaks, by the time you have broken a few cheap tripods you could have bought a decent one!)
580EX II Flash Unit (430EX would have worked fine but i decided to lash out early and get one that will last a lot longer with what i need now and may need later)
50mm 1.8 Lens (VERY CHEAP and VERY GOOD - A great combination!!)

I have since bought a bit more however your kit will last a long time, Congrats on the purchases you wont regret it a bit!

However i suggest you LEAVE THIS FORUM NOW or by next week you will own a 70-200 2.8IS, Several Super Telephotos, Ultra Wide Angle Lenses, A Full Studio Lighting Set Up, Several 1Ds MkIII Bodies and alot more thing you never needed, Including alot of debt!

coorz wrote in post #4055456
Welcome! Good kit to start out with, and just a word of warning; DO NOT enter the 'Canon EF and EF-S lenses ' forum section here

I already figured it was an enter at your own risk zone!

If I can find another member here that lives in SE Georgia or Jacksonville FL, we'll figure out how to knock-off a liquor store to pay for some of the glass discussed in there!