Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Need Help?

I buy things from Canon reburbished all the time. They are usually in perfect working order. Any time they aren't... just send it back. No risk, really, unless the need for the camera was time-sensitive. So far I have not had a single problem after years of buying camera bodies and lenses from the reburb section on Canon's site.

Excellent choice of camera. Right now, it is decision time. Do you want to buy a camera to take snapshots and/or videos with just for fun? Or do you want to learn how to do photography. Because photography is not done in any kind of automatic mode or scene mode. There's a lot to learn. A LOT. But it's awesome.

If you want to really learn photography, I recommend skipping the 55-250mm lens. It's not that great of a lens, and you'll be hitting up against its limitations pretty fast once you get going. The 18-55mm lens is an okay lens to start out with. Again though, you'll be wanting to upgrade before too long.

My best recommendation is to buy the camera "body only." Then buy a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens with it. They're not very expensive at all. This is a lens you'll find yourself using again and again. You will likely never feel the need to upgrade it unless you start shooting portraits REALLY seriously, at which point you may consider getting the 50mm f/1.4. I use the 50mm f/1.4 and I find it on my camera about 50% of the time - far more than any other lens.

After a few weeks of using the 50mm, you'll be able to tell what kind of lens to get next. Do you find yourself backing up all the time trying to fit things into the frame? You want a wide-angle lens. Do you always wish you could get zoomed in further? Look at telephotos (a word to the wise: don't ever buy a Canon 75-300mm lens. It's a piece of garbage). Want to take close-ups? Get a set of extension rings or a dedicated macro lens. Etc.

Good luck, happy shooting!