thanks!If your uncle knows his stuff and is willing to buy you a better lens, why not let him?
But with that said, how quickly will he buy you a lens? If he's buying you the lens right when you get your camera, then no big deal. But if it'll take time before he gets you a lens, then get the kit lens.
I can't see getting a camera body and then waiting a week or longer to get a lens from your uncle. That's just crazy, like buying a car but waiting a week before you get tires to drive it.
So, if your uncle will buy you a lens right away, then don't get the kit lens. If it'll take some time, just get the kit lens so you can use your camera until uncle comes through. Then, if you don't like the kit lens, sell it on eBay.The series II kit lens is a lot better than the earlier lens was. When purchased in the kit, it is almost too good of a bargain to pass up.
You will need a lens on your Canon when you give up and decide to sell it so you can buy a Nikon anyhow, so go ahead and get the kit lens.
(C'mon... I'm not serious, but you set me up for that comment!)Kit lenses are almost always pretty junky, no matter who the manufacturer is. They include the very cheapest lens they can. Get the body only and buy a separate good quality lens.
Personally, I like the Rebel XTi a lot. Over the years I've owned Pentax, Minolta, and Canon cameras and have been happy with them all. I've never owned a Nikon. I used to sell cameras and I could never get the feel for them. Lots of people like them, though, and I won't knock them. Nikon makes great cameras. So do other manufacturers, though. The whole Nikon vs. Canon debate is rather silly, IMHO. Use what works best for you.If you are on a tight budget get the kit lens now and save up for the better quality lens. I bought a Digital Rebel XT last year and am satisfied with the lens that came with it. I've been grown up for more years than I care to mention!! My first adult camera was a 35mm Minolta SRT-101, a manual everything SLR film camera! I've been through a few other cameras since then, including a stint with a point and shoot while my daughter was a fast moving toddler. Now I'm back to SLR and love digital.Often the price of a package with the kit lens is very little more than buying it without, in your case $80.
They are usually a good average general purpose lens, handy for a compact walk around lens.
At $80 for a Canon lens I would say is good value for money compared to normal retail prices.I would suggest getting a lens with it. but i am going to suggest a really great store where you can get an awesome deal for XTi kits I do realize that this is not what you were asking for but if you have the extra money i would suggest getting it because I doubt that you will find another deal like thistToday,I was in Pacific Mall,Canada and took a hundred photos of old,classical china..i was surprised at the quality of the xti as there was really low light conditions around 8-10am.The shops were not opened at all and the ambient light of some low wattage light bulbs lit the scene.The lcd showed good pictures and when i downld to my pc,i was shocked to see that it was sharp and bright.I was using only my f4-5.6,75-300mm tele lenses ,15 years old and at 1/60 sec...minimum camera shake ..wow..i can't believe it..
One more thing,don't bother with the xti grip that houses 6AA's.It is useless.Even at full charge,after every 20 snaps,it says power gone and replace battery.I had to take it out and rotate the batteries around to milk some extra power.Sometimes,the power level registers incorrectly like a yo-yo and it finally died at 100 snaps.No amount of coaxing will help.At C$370,it ain't worth it.Rather buy the battery packs from this money and charge them all and keep all of them ready.!!