I only had the kit lens also (same one you have) and was sometimes disappointed with its quality...
I bought the 50mm 1.8 (cause only one I could afford) and now I don'T even bother with the kit lens..
The difference is incredible!!
It's much faster in the auto focus and it's much sharper!
You will love it!
You can crop a LOT and not lose much quality!

Listen to Onepage. But.. Buy the prime as well... Seriously worth it...

On that body it is long.

50 1.8 II is a good value lens. Also 70-200 f4 non is gozu, but another price. At that point you will need a wide one too.

Another option is to pick a lens like the 15-85 is, not super cheap, but you gain in flexibility.

If your kit lens in a 17-55, than run buying the 70-200 f4 and you will have a good combo.

I ordered mine about a week ago... waiting for it to come in... but the one with IS

Second best zoom ever (after new 70-200 IS II)!!!

GZ!

Thanks for the help guys.
For now, I think I'll be going with the 50mm.
I like the idea of a 70-200 because there are many times I wish I could zoom farther, but the cheapest I found one on B&H for was $500.
Just not sure if I'm ready to drop $500 on a lens yet since I'm still not anything spectacular when it comes to photography.

Also I read in one of the 50mm lens reviews that you have to be 1.5feet away from your subject, or more, for it to focus.
Is that true?
That seems a little far. I understand it isn't a macro but I feel like you can get closer with the 18-55mm and still focus.

This post was edited by Virtue on Nov 29 2010 09:17am

if you want good lenses, 500 bucks kinda is a minimum you´ll have to spend. the 50mm 1.8 is a good start into prime lenses tho. can´t do anything wrong for that price.

1.5 ft or 40 cm, that is right.
I was a little surprised also at first, but you learn to live with it.
This is why my next lens, when I can afford it, will be the 100 mm macro..
But the 50 mm is always on my camera and I never leave without it!

is 50mm the focal length you really want?

Yeah, remember that 50 mm on your camara is a 77 mm, far more useless focal lens. Considered a sigma 30 1.4?