Yeah, i've read over the OP again and you're right, i misread. I saw you mention the IS II kit lens in the third line, but that's what you could get new not what you had already, my bad.


and what do you mean by 'faster'? the 15-85 is actually slower (or the same) compared to the 18-55, up to 47mm. only faster is the 17-55 f/2.8. but again, 15-85 and 17-55 are both optically damn good, choose only between the zoom range vs low-light.


Don't bother with 17-40L on APS-C, the 24-70 f/2.8 is good but expensive, then you need a 10-22 or similar on the widest end to go with it.


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also, comparing the 600D to 60D, i'm stealing what i wrote to someone else on another forum:


60d has better AF (9 cross type vs 1 cross + 8 normal)


60d has top lcd, 600d uses the back screen for reference


60d has pentaprism (better quality), 600d has pentamirror (cheaper/lighter)


60d has a bigger viewfinder (try it out in a shop to see if/how annoying a smaller one is for you)


60d has the electronic level


60d has flash sync to 1/250s, +-3ev comp, 600d to 1/200s, +-2ev comp.


60d does 5.3 fps for 16/58 shots (raw/jpg), 600d does 3.7fps for 6/34 shots.


60d has fullsize raw/mraw/sraw (to save card space), 600d only has fullsize.


60d has weather sealing (at least, to some extent)


60d battery apparently lasts longer (1100 vs 400 shots)


60d is aluminium and polycarbonate (755g), 600d is steel + polycarb (570g)


and it doesn't say it on the canon website, but the 600d can do 1-3x digital zoom when filming (using 'clean' sensor crop), i think up to 10x (using 'dirty' old-school digital zoom).


plus a few small things, like 1/4000s vs 1/8000 shutter speed (which you'll probably never reach unless you buy an f/1.2 lens or point straight at the sun), interchangeable focussing screens, live-view face detection, more custom functions, data verification kit compatibility may or may not mean anything to you.


ergonomically, the 60d is a fair bit bigger, has a back wheel instead of buttons, and more quick-control buttons on the top near the lcd (the 600d has them doubled with the 4-way buttons on the back)


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so which of all that matters? 60D's better AF, weather sealing, more fps for more shots, all those lean towards more action/wildlife.


the lcd and the digital level i find particularly useful, but they're not worth the €300 difference on their own. the bigger viewfinder you'll have to decide yourself if it makes a difference. Battery lasting longer also helps for longer trips (or buy a spare, factor that cost in too)


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And the phrase you'll hear a lot around here is "what do you want to use it for?" if your answer is learning, being creative, filming, street photography, landscapes, travelling light, then all of those point to the 600d.


the only reason to go above that would be for sports/action, not jamming it in your bag at the first sight of rain (but then you need a better lens for full weather sealing), and just a more professional-looking and -handling camera. If you shoot RAW then you don't need any of the gimmiky in-camera effects either way, photoshop what you want later.


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ergonomics may also factor. personally, i've got a 7D which has the select wheel and joystick on the back, and dial by the shutter. 60d has the wheel and dial, 600d has 4-way back buttons and the dial.


I'm so used to using the joystick (for selecting af point) and wheel (+-ev in Av mode or shutter speed in M mode) and dial (aperture in Av or M mode), and i can just reach all the buttons by the top lcd with one finger by memory, that i can take almost any picture in any style without even removing my eye from the viewfinder (ok, i've had 10,000 shots of practice).


I tried my sister's 550D the other day, and i couldn't figure out a damn thing. but she's almost as fast as me because she's used to the way her camera is set up. So basically my view ergonomics-wise is that whatever you buy you'll get used to it after a while (just don't buy a better body and downgrade, then you'll notice the difference).


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i'd always recommend better glass for a lower body to almost anyone, i learnt that by pairing the 70-300nonL with a 7D (6 months later i bought the 70-300L), definitely get the 600D over the 550D if the difference is only 80squid. for 60D vs 600D, how much is 200 quid worth to you? you presumably already know how much you like taking photos from borrowing your dad's, if you think you really want to get into photography long term (even as a hobby, doesn't mean you ever have to sell a photo), then 200 quid is nothing. but if it means missing a rent/mortgage payment then 200 might mean a bit more to you and go the cheaper option...