Best Lens for Canon Digital Rebel XTi (Canon EOS 400D)?

I am a DSLR begineer, and I am in the market of Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I read some bad review of this camera's lens EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens. Since I am begineer, should I buy this camera with lens kit or hould I save the money and buy a better lens with the camera body? Which lens should I buy?

If you are a beginner, the lens kit should be fine. It is really very reasonable at $100. Sure, there are better lenses, but at much higher costs. See this review for another view:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/efs...

Note: I have had an EOS since the beginning of its film days in the 80s. I now have a digital back which uses all my old lenses. You might be able to pick up used lenses that are quite good as long as they have been taken care of. For the more esoteric lenses, rather than spend mega bucks on Canon lenses, I have purchased Tasco lenses with satisfactory results.

Since you are a beginner you wouldn't know the difference. The lens specified here is a perfectly good lens which will suit 99% of situations. Don't worry go for it.

I agree with both answers above me. Here is a recent question dealing with the same topic:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

As was said above- it's not a bad lens for $100. You'll find nothing better at that price.

Of course- there are better lenses available- depending on your needs. However- they are quite a bit more money. I like the image quality of the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC lens. It's 2 stops brighter at the long end, which makes a huge difference for lower light social shots for me. But- it's about a $450 lens.

If you shop on E-bay you will find other packages offered at very similar if not lower price then the canon lens package. Namely there are offerings for a Tamron or a Sigma lens packages (which may come with up to 3 different lenses). Even as a beginner myself I recommend playing around with different lenses, you hit that learning curve harder!

BTW: the Tamron 75-300mm F/4-5.6 LD AF Macro Lens package is extremely versatile and superior to the similiarly priced Canon equivelent. Also, if you are really concerned about a good all around lens that will cover all bases and still be (somewhat) affordable I'm told that the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Macro will take excellent close ups and landscapes alike. (e.g. buy the camera body + buy this separate = happiness)