[NathanJT]

NFS,

The kit lens is in all honesty more than acceptable for a begginer. You've got a steep learning curve ahead of you so worrying about the improvement in IQ that a better lens will offer is probably the least of your worries.

What you'll most probably find though is that you'll need another lens to compliment the 18-55mm range that it offers. Canon obviously do the 55-200mm IS now for exactly this reason, but there are similar lenses from 3rd party manufacturers that probably offer better "bang per buck".

Then again there are lenses that do it all (with the obvious limitations) such as the Sigma 18-200mm OS.

I'd probably recommend getting the kit lens (it's a negligable cost to be honest) and then spend some time working out what you want from owning the camera. That will probably lead you to the correct conclusion.