To go kit lens, or not kit lens?

[TomWilko]

After my recent thread on the 70-200 F/4 L USM, I have been looking over things and have decided to wait until after the coming holiday season is over before I shelve out for this little beast. Mainly because its biggest use will be for Motorsport, and as we all know that doesn't normally get going again until February/March time.

What is for certain is me getting a 350d, but what should I do for a general lens for the time being? I figured the order in which I get things is better for me, as I will have a whole new format of Photography to try and learn by getting a DSLR and I don't want to pound my brain to much with an overload of information and settings to play with!!

So my question is fairly simple, do I take the standard kit lens you get with the camera, or what other alternatives would people suggest I get? I can afford to pay a little bit extra out, because I am not forking out £400 straight away on the 70-200...but keeping the price below £150-£200 would be very good.

Bearing in mind I am buying L glass within a couple of months of getting the camera, so I need something quite different for the time being. I am predicting suggestions are going to be in the smaller focal lengths, of which I know very little about so suggestions would be much appreciated.

Things I am looking to shoot over the coming months would be landscape, general family photo's and possible some nature shots. Nothing that really requires long telephoto's immediately anyway.

Maybe the kit lens is all I will require, but I would be quite interested to know peoples experiences

[Stoo]

Canon 17-85 IS lens?

or something like a Tamron 28-75 sp af xr di f2.8 ?

[shiato storm]

get the tamron...

[TomWilko]

We are starting to drift way outside of my budget here guys.

I was hoping someone could have suggested a lens that was under £150 and would give me a better alternative to the kits lens.

[Stoo]

If you're looking under £150 then you're probably better off looking 2nd hand than new, as with that budget you're not going to get anything with better optics than the kit lens new..

[shiato storm]

^ I'm with him. the kit lens is a known dodgy option...it could be good or soft as butter. if you want optical quality then, as suggested, you'll hae to pay a bit more for it I'm afraid. thats just the way it goes.

[noah]

the tamron is only just out of budget, and has some great reviews.

£229 here

[TomWilko]

I never considered buying from Hong Kong and Ebay, do you consider these places as viable places to go? I.e from a warranty point of view etc.

[shiato storm]

hmm...tricky to answer that. its cheaper but the risk is if something goes wrong...personally I wouldn't but then lots of lenses have international warrentee. there's also the chance customs will get wind of it and you end up paying just as much as from a UK shop. can't advise you much more than that i'm afraid.

[noah]

I never considered buying from Hong Kong and Ebay, do you consider these places as viable places to go? I.e from a warranty point of view etc.

agreed it is a bit odd. most people i know havent been stung, but its always possible. i think many warranties are fine tho.

ive always used my local camera shop, partly for warranty, and partly to support them as they give me good advice and after working in a small shop i hate people taking hours of my time to then go and buy it mail order.

[Flibb]

Digitalrev sell some items on ebay where they will repay any customs charges, might be worth a look. They also have a UK based rep who sorts out any problems, have read several good reports on them from people. Thers also several UK based shops who sell on ebay, have used one based in Dudley was very fast and cheap.

[McMav]

One Stop digital is good aswell based in HK Used myself didnt pay customs charges but they refund them if you do.

One Stop Digital