Finally ended up getting a replacement for the standard EFS 18-55mm lens that came with my camera, in the form of a Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5 DC Macro lens. The difference is immediately apparent, to me at any rate. Just the quality difference when you're holding them both in your hands was enough for me to know it was worth the $AU599 price tag. Additionally I also purchased a Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II lens for $149. The EF 50mm lens is cheap, and it feels it, but it does provide fairly sharp images in reasonably low light conditions. And it does give better results than the kit lens, so it was worth it.

In other news, the wonderful ~MrsPeregrinTook and I spent last Saturday travelling on a heritage steam train to Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers. I ended up filling both of my two gigabyte CF cards before we'd even made it to Toowoomba, and then my camera's battery died, but I took plenty of photos, and quite a few of them turned out absolutely brilliant. Check Stace's blog for her write up on the day, and see all the new uploads to my gallery for my "write" up of it...