£500 to spend on DSLR

[petrolhead]

A colleague of mine is getting into photography. All they have at the mo is a compact and they would like to buy an SLR. Obviously being a Canon man myself I suggested Canon.

As she is starting from scratch what should se buy?

She could get a 1000D Kit for just under £300 and then buy a bag, some cards and maybe an extra lens

or but a 450D/500D (Now only about £20 more than 450D) or Kit a bag and cards

The other option would be a quality 2nd hand kit but that would mean more work for me

 

[Chris Green]

From scratch, I have bought the following for £620.

Canon 40D - used
50mm 1.8 Lens - new
55-250IS - used
Tamrac System 3 Bag - new
Compact Flash Card - new

For £500, I would have probably bought the same lenses, but bought a used 450d instead.

 

[magicaxeman]

Go for the 500D, she wont regret it, especially at the prices you can pick up the kit with the 18-55 IS lens for

 

[arad85]

I think you'd be a bit limited if 50mm was your widest lens.

 

[eos1]

I'd also go for a 500d and 18-55mm IS, later on you could get a 50mm f1.8 and 55-250mm IS.