Fair enough --- This reminds me of a time my father used my camera for an event and didn't realize it didn't have a zoom...and yeeeaaa...---
That aside, however, I'll stick to my prime-lens suggestion, seeing as I started on the Canon AE-1 with a 50mm... I feel that adjusting your frame and subject around the world is something that is important learn from the beginning... but that's just me. I also feel it's important to start with learning to develop film; an art and understanding that's been all but lost in time.... :roll eyes:
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Perhaps he should consider what he feels he'll be shooting a lot of right off the bat --- indoor things? Sports events? Nature shots? Portraits?
If you feel you're going to be taking a lot of photos indoors, then a kit zoom might be very handy to fit everyone in the shot, but a prime like the 50 1.8 or 1.4 would be immensely useful for medium / closeups that aren't as plagued by blur or noise from the lower lighting one might expect, but at the cost you'll need to be able to physically move further back if you want to see more in a picture. Think you'll be taking outdoor scenery shots a lot? A kit lens will likely do you justice for most outdoor shots without worrying about hauling around a tripod. Portraits? I'd suggest a prime lens for the soft, dreamy feelings that give a lot of "professional" portraits their look... and as for sports, again, indoors you'll need a prime (otherwise expect difficulty stopping motion), and outdoors it won't be as big of a deal.
EDIT: And please try to remember! If you invest a moderate sum into a lens, you'll likely be able to resell it for the same amount! It'll be more difficult to get full price for a kit lens again than it is for a nicer lens!
