Canon EOS Rebel 300D

[Mike McCarty]

The kit lens will come in handy if you can't get sufficiently back from the subject (in the event of a full figure) or want to get a wider expanse of background. I would suggest both.

I agree with Marvin. In my experience, you have to be able to operate between about 60mm and around 200mm. The trouble is, this always seems to span two lenses.

And remember that the Nikon D70 has a multiplier of 1.5, so the lens that begins at 70 will actually be 105. So, just as Marvin suggests, if you are in a standard residential room, you will not be able to operate effectively.

Being able to zoom in to get detail is a real nice feature to have, but, the fact is you can always move in closer. If I could only have one lens I would get the one with the kit, then I would start saving my lunch money for the added power.

[Marvin Mattelson]

The advantage of zooming as opposed to moving closer is that you avoid changing perspective or adding distortion. Distortion is a function of being too close.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Marvin, back to the monitor thing.

Is your printer a really good printer? I have an epson 1170, which is good - but not as good as my PowerBook G4 monitor.

So I could just be getting - not as good prints - as your printer produces.

[Marvin Mattelson]

The R800 is a great printer, far better than any other I've owned. Read the reviews. The raves are pretty impressive.