Deal or no deal???

I am on the look for a deal for a friend and would like some opinions. I have all pro gear so this stuff is a little foreign to me. Is this a good deal? What would you offer? It is from a an older guy locally who didn't use it much.

Includes:
Canon XTi
18-55 kit lens
75-300 f/4-5.6 III lens
Two batteries (not sure if they are canon or knockoff brand)
Bag (unknown details)
Tripod (unknown details)

$500

She gave me a budget of $600.

This is her first entrance into SLR. I have lent her my 10D with the 50 f1.4 for about 2 months and she loves it. The real use is to shoot their 1 year old son. I basically told her to keep it on the green square (auto) and have fun. Now she want one of her own. I am struggling with my perception of sticking her with what I perceive to be such crappy lenses. Are they really that bad? What would you do?

Do I get her a 40D and lend her my 50 1.4 till she can buy a lens?

Do I try to get some rebel and a 28-135 IS ?

Thanks for insights

Drew

I think the 40D option would be nice.

If she is using full auto mode, just tell her to get the package and learn more about photography with what she will have. The difference in lenses will be meaningless to her at this point.

There is a magnetic attraction between infants and lenses when they come out. For all you know she is like all the other soccer moms I saw at the beach a couple weeks ago. Take out their Rebels from the ziploc bag (good), take picture (full auto - hey it isn't a P&S, good), and use their beach towel to wipe off the salty air that has built up on the lens (cringe).

500 bucks ... that is not a deal considering you can get the 75-300 for $100 off ebay it leaves the kit at $400. and it goes around 250-350 on ebay
who cares about the knock off battery and cheapo tripod and stupid bag? unless it's gitzo and crumpler and genuine Canon

The XTi body alone is selling in the forums here for $350'ish. To not have to pay shipping and get it all in one spot, I'd just take the convenience of that instead of trying to piecemeal together the items to save a couple bucks.

Ended up at $400.

XTi with less than 300 actuations plus all accessories and manuals
18-55
75-300 4.0-5.6 III
Sunpak flash that sells for $76 from B&H
Sunpak polarizing filter
Canon uv filter
Canon bag
Card reader
1 gb Extreme III
4 gb Ultra II
Canon branded extra battery

I think I did right by my friend!

That's a steal!. Congratulation.

I agree, good deal.

That is a good deal. Now with the $100 she saved, she get get a 50 1.8 to play with, too.

that $100 really makes it a good deal :

I'd sell the 18-55 and 75-300 lenses and get an 18-55mm IS lens (much better than the non-IS version) and a 50mm f/1.8. She's probably used to your 50 f/1.4 and will need the extra shutter speed that the 50mm f/1.8 provides for capturing her year-old toddler.

The 35 f/2 is another option but it'll start getting much more expensive after she outgrows the 18-55 and 50 f/1.8.