Camera for wife, she wants a DSLR ($600 max)

[metalmania]

Beyond Canon brand flash, you might want to check the reviews on Metz. I use a Metz manul flash, no TTL but I don't mind that. Bought mine from B&H for $90 years ago. Amazon has this TTL for $224:
http://www.amazon.com/Metz-Mount-Dig.../dp/B000XXN7JA

 

[slashbinslashbash]

My sister has had good luck with cheap eBay flashes. I don't know the brand(s) but I know she has bought a couple. Make sure that it is Canon TTL compatible, then you're good to go. I would also advise that you pick one up which has a flexible/bendable head so that you can bounce the light off the ceiling.

eBay is also a good bet for cheap lens caps and hoods. A lot of people like the "center pinch" lens caps and feel that they are a good upgrade over the standard lens caps. You can buy them pretty cheap and they ship them over from China. Any 58mm cap will be good for your 18-55 and 55-250, while the 50mm f/1.8 will need a 52mm cap. Same for hoods. I recommend the rubber, fold-up hoods that screw into your filter threads. You never have to take them off the lens, just fold them back over the lens. Also you can adjust them on the fly if they are too deep and block part of the lens. Again, any 58mm screw-in lens hood will work. A 52mm is needed for the 50/1.8.

 

[Madwand1]

I suggest sticking with a Canon EX flash. Get an older model on eBay if you want a deal. Nobody's going to have better integration than Canon, and flash is one area where automation and integration matters.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Before I forget with the flash. Once an external flash is added (with it's own batteries), that means that I can do the rapid shooting with flash, correct? That is, there is now "busy" state in between pictures like I have to deal with now when using the flash. So, I can take a picture every 1-2 seconds right now with flash. And with an external flash I can do the 3 pictures per second? That busy state has already bothered me.

lsashinbashsbhasslashs,
Thanks for hte lens cap ideas. The center pinch would resolve my current issues. I'll be looking into them.

How much should I expect to spend on a reasonaly good flash? I don't really want anything large. But are there pitfalls with smaller flashes?

EDIT: OK, so the busy state thing will not be resolved by an external flash. Not that blinding people in photos is a good thing anyway.

 

[twistedlogic]

Once an external flash is added (with it's own batteries), that means that I can do the rapid shooting with flash, correct?

That depends.

If you are using the flash at its lowest power, say 1/128, the flash duration is much faster than a full power pop. Since the flash duration is shorter and the amount the capacitor has to recharge is much less, recycling times are much faster. Some flash units also have the ability to use an external battery pack, dramatically reducing recycles time.

One of the main advantages of using a hot-shoe mounted unit is the ability to bounce the flash instead of using direct on-board flash, which creates flat lighting and them ugly shadow behind the subject.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

That depends.

If you are using the flash at its lowest power, say 1/128, the flash duration is much faster than a full power pop. Since the flash duration is shorter and the amount the capacitor has to recharge is much less, recycling times are much faster. Some flash units also have the ability to use an external battery pack, dramatically reducing recycles time.

One of the main advantages of using a hot-shoe mounted unit is the ability to bounce the flash instead of using direct on-board flash, which creates flat lighting and them ugly shadow behind the subject.

Seeing how these things are $100+ I don't think I'll get one immediately. Maybe down the road. For now, the 50mm f/18 will have to do.