I planned to buy better lens since after took some shots with Canon EOS 400D Digital kit lens – EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II. Plan to get a portrait lens. Thinking of getting Canon EF 50mm f1.4 or EF-S Canon 17-55mm f2.8 USM IS. Plan to get Canon Speedlite 430EX Flash too. After wondering around at Pragin Mall, Penang looking for these parts price. I was shocked. Why? They are expensive!!!
Canon SpeedLite 430EX flash cost me around RM1080 (US market RM864 only), Canon EF 50mm f1.4 == RM1350 (US market RM1116) and EF-S Canon 17-55mm f2.8 USM IS is the most expensive in my list – RM3900 (US market RM3600). There are way too expensive. I need more than my 2 months salary to buy them. 
Still looking for better deal currently… Until then, I still need to stick to poor EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II lens. 
... Have you noticed
The kit lens’ not bad to work with during daylight.
It’s light and quite versatile.
Start with it until you’ve grown more in photography.
Then only you move on.
I guess the first you should get is the flash.
With flash, indoor photography will be much different. Not to mention, using flash outdoor is also workable and give you different results too!
I would recommend the newly announced 580 EX II. Should be out in stores now. And it’s costing the same as the old 580 EX.
Most important of all, don’t worry ’bout the lenses, flashes and equipments. Worry more ’bout the photos!
Enjoy photography!
Hi Origor,
Thanks for your advise. Will learn to photography more.
hehe..still on my cheapo HP M425. Well, you can always signed up with Amazon affiliate, and then get yaself a beauty and still get some 30% discount back ?
Really? I need to look on that lo. Seldom buy from Amazon. It is way too far from Malaysia.