Bang for buck and the Canon Rebate

[hesaias]

Here is what I am looking into doing.

All prices are from B&H

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro 239.95
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM 419.95
EOS Digital Rebel XT w/Sandisk 1GB CF 869.95
Sub total 1529.85

Rebate

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro 30.00
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM 150.00
EOS Digital Rebel XT w/Sandisk 1GB CF 225.00
Sub Total 405.00

Grand total 1124.00

Im thinking this is about as good as I could do with a couple of good all-around lenses.

The only addition I will need to make down the road will be a Speedlite and the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 zoom I want for sports photography.

Any thoughts?

[Michael Fanelli]

Here is what I am looking into doing.

All prices are from B&H

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro 239.95
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM 419.95
EOS Digital Rebel XT w/Sandisk 1GB CF 869.95
Sub total 1529.85

Im thinking this is about as good as I could do with a couple of good all-around lenses.

The only addition I will need to make down the road will be a Speedlite and the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 zoom I want for sports photography.

Any thoughts?

Get a longer macro lens, most photographers prefer them. A good choice would be between 90mm and 120mm. The longer lens gives you more room to work. I have a Tamron 90mm macro that I really like. FWIW, remember that the "magnification factor" doesn't actually make the lens appear any longer, it just chops off the edges.

The 28-135 is a great lens. I have one and use it as my default choice.

Sandisk is very good, the majority of my CF cards are Sandisk. I'd avoid Lexar but anything else should be fine.

[Lionheart]

Here is what I am looking into doing.

All prices are from B&H

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro 239.95
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM 419.95
EOS Digital Rebel XT w/Sandisk 1GB CF 869.95
Sub total 1529.85

Rebate

EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro 30.00
28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM 150.00
EOS Digital Rebel XT w/Sandisk 1GB CF 225.00
Sub Total 405.00

Grand total 1124.00

Im thinking this is about as good as I could do with a couple of good all-around lenses.

The only addition I will need to make down the road will be a Speedlite and the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 zoom I want for sports photography.

Any thoughts?

I think it's a good start, but I agree with Michael on the 50mm compact macro. I rarely use the 50 macro for actual macro work (I use the EF 100mm f2.8 USM macro 99% of the time with the MR-14EX for macro work), but I do pack the 50 macro just in case I happen to have need of a small light true macro lens (the 100mm is twice the size of the 50, and takes up too much space in my travel pack). The 28-135 is a great lens for the price and will take you far, but sooner or later, you'll be craving a 24-70 f2,8 zoom from either Canon or Sigma. The IS on the 28-135 works great, but I gave mine away after awhile-just didn't have the edge sharpness and speed of the 24/28-70mm f2.8L zoom.
Perhaps a wide angle prime (say 17 to 20mm range) instead of the 50mm to counter the cropping effect of the 1.6x sensor on the XT would be a better addition to the set.
Just my two cents of course.

[mjs1973]

I think you have the start of a very nice kit here! Better double check your rebates tho. The tripple rebate for the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM is $45. I think you looked at the rebate for the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM. It's still a pretty good deal if you can take advantage of the rebates, I wish I could...

[JSPhoto]

Yup, looks ok, although since I know you like to shoot sports I think I'd have to say at least a 20D.
You'd be much happier I think.
JS