Digital rebel questions

[rih]

[font color=\'#000000\']I bought a 10D and then a digital rebel as "back up".  I find myself using the rebel a lot in more casual settings.  Quality is essentially identical and it is smaller and easier to carry around.  I use a 17-40 zoom and a 70-200 zoom on both cameras.  have never used the kit lens.  I have bought lots of things from B and H and they have never (yet) let me down but others sometimes complain.  online works well and they ship promptly.  A single battery lasts for hundreds of shots even with some review time on the LCD.  Good luck and have fun with the Rebel.  Bob[/font]

[osserman]

[font color=\'#000000\']Hi all,
   After much back and forth, I have decided to get a Digital Rebel. The idea will be to just use the kit lens for a while, and then invest in some higher-end lens once I feel I can take advantage of them.
   I was hoping you could give me some advice on various related things:
   Is someone making a lens hood for the kit lens? What is recommended?
   How is the battery life? Will I regret not having a backup?
   How large are the camera's RAW and top-quality jpeg files?
   Is there a nice, light, small carrying case designed to fit just the camera and kit lens and some extra memory cards/batteries?
   Is there any reason not to buy online?
   Anything else I should know?
   Thanks,

Brian[/font]

[Bobtrips]

[font color=\'#000000\']Read the review on www.dpreview.com (Cameras - upper left, Canon, 300D).  The Timings and Sizes page will give you battery life (it's real good) and other relevant data such as file size.

Check prices on www.pricegrabber.com.  Pay attention to the Merchant's ratings.  And check for batteries there.  The 'generic' ones are cheap.  

Start saving for the 28-135 IS.  ;o)[/font]