you have same set up as me, the lens is ok for portraits and everyday snaps, in fact its good for that.. i know what you mean about lens prices, but it makes a world of difference on specialised work..
my next step is the 1D MKIII - i aint never seen a bad picture from that camera.. even i could make some good ones

this is with fuji finepix z2.. a real nice camera point and go, if your gunna by a snapshot camera - this is best value for money in my opinion... colours are spot on.

@beazt thx - ur landscape wallpapers are nice as well. Keep going with it!

@goddam - yeh those lens prices are indeed high. Anyway if one gonna take photohobby more serious - they r definitly worth it. While buying rember that zoom lenses are worse than constats (thou its definitly cheaper and well... less to carry - if u have a good zoom ). And for the portrait I guess the standart lens are not good enough (to high minimal shutter value = background may be not blurred enough or bokeh is ugly) and also focal lenght is not correct - as u will get face disortions. In analog cameras 55mm would be optimal choice for portrait, but for lsrs its 85mm (due to mutliplies) - check this one - has really good reviews and not bad price: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

@sto - is that c4-froggy?

wrote:

check this one - has really good reviews and not bad price: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

yep, it looks good for the money, certainly is well spoke off and the images from it do look good..
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_85_18u

sto: mmmm, like live :thumbleft:

there you can see something from my new photo series

one more