Need your advise on a DSLR

[Flatliner]

Hi all,

My daughter who is 15 has a real eye for photos and has been taking a lot of good pictures with my Canon A720. She has been recognized enough that a friend has asked her to take her Senior pictures, to encourage my daughterÃÔ photo skills (above water) I am purchasing a DSLR for myself that I will ÅÂllow her to use. I have been looking for a few weeks and this is what I ÅÕhink I want. Any feed back would be appreciated. What I have selected is at the very top end of my available budget and I would like to order it this weekend. I will consider the underwater housing and accessories when I do the second mortgage...

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS & Digital Rebel XSi with 2 LP-E5 Batteries (3600 mAh Total)

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7

Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter

Tiffen 67mm UV Protection Filter

Some type of bag (recommendations requested)

Also, I wondered if picking up the 50mm Canon f 1.8 lens would be useful enough by itself to have.

 

[jdcpa]

Your set up does not allow for much reach with those lenses.

I would probably drop the battery grip and go for the Canon 55-250 lens, if you can afford it.

Yes, keep the 50 1.8. For the money it takes great protraits. Faster glass than what you otherwise have.

 

[Mariozi]

If you think you (or your daughter) will go down the road to serious photography, look for something with 2 command dials.
Why not Nikon D90?

I would suggest the following
Nikon D90
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D or AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
Speedlight SB400 + Cable or SB600

This is what I would give to my son today, but he is only 2yo...

If you want to take this UW you can later add a 60mm and a WA lens, many choices here.