Lens or Camera first? Lens suggestions?

Question

I am looking to jump into the DSLR market.  I am upgrading from a SX10 IS point and shoot which I use fairly exclusively in manual settings.  I am looking to get into many different types of photography including: landscape, time lapse, star trail, action sports (both indoor and outdoor), and a general goto camera.
I do not work as a professional by any means, nor do I get out every weekend to shoot pictures.  However, in the coming years, I will be doing a lot of traveling (camping, touring other cities, backpacking, etc) so it will get used a lot more heavily.  I am looking to try and keep the whole purchase under 2k.
I have read many posts across the internet on the subject saying one side or the other.  I also have read rumors of new cameras coming out in early 2013.  I have family members that already have canon lenses that I could borrow, I just dont know which ones they exactly have.  Eventually I would be looking to make my own collection though.
Cameras that I have been considering are the 7d,60d, or the t4i.
I like the shooting speed of the 7d and can afford the cost, but will have to settle with the kit lens that comes with it for a while.
I like the 60D because I have heard a lot of good reviews on the image quality and the pictures I have seen of sky photography.  (I know this has a lot to do with the lens as well).
Then the t4i because of it realatively inexpensiveness and I could buy an extra lens or 2.
I would like to keep my sx10 but can trade it in for the loyalty program maybe?

Answer 1

Ewellman wrote:
I also have read rumors of new cameras coming out in early 2013.
There will always be rumors of new camera coming out, so I think you just have to bite the bullet and buy when its a good time for you. 
Ewellman wrote:
Cameras that I have been considering are the 7d,60d, or the t4i.
I like the shooting speed of the 7d and can afford the cost, but will have to settle with the kit lens that comes with it for a while.
I like the 60D because I have heard a lot of good reviews on the image quality and the pictures I have seen of sky photography.  (I know this has a lot to do with the lens as well).
Then the t4i because of it realatively inexpensiveness and I could buy an extra lens or 2.
I would like to keep my sx10 but can trade it in for the loyalty program maybe?
I think you have a pretty good evaluation of your options, and the benefits and tradeoffs of each model in terms of capability and opportunity cost.  Good catch also on knowing your family members and any lenses they have are an excellent resource to keep in mind.
My first question is to find out what they have.  If they have a wide assortment, I'd recommend that you can opt for a 'better' camera/body sooner.  Otherwise, I think its a great idea to start with a T4i.  In the whole scheme of things, its a very inexpensive body, and the money you save to put towards building up your own collection of great lenses will be worth it.
As a professional now, I started out with a T2i back when it was the newest T#i.  I used this as an opportunity to get used to the Canon user interface for the manual settings that I understood already (coming from a video background).  It sounds like you will have a similar situation.  Then, I worked on developing my creative eye, and using and understanding the capabilities of different 'cheaper' lenses (the kit 18-55mm and a 55-250mm telephoto, then soon after the 'nifty-fifty' -- you'll understand these references after your first few months with a DSLR). 
As I started hitting roadblocks due to lens capabilties/specs, I figured out what I couldn't do that I wanted, what lens could help me with that, and began investing in "good glass".  I borrowed a better camera/body a few times in the past two years, but it literally was not until last month when I finally upgraded from my T2i. 
Any decent body/camera will do when it comes help you with the to the most important part of photography: seeing good shots.  Better lenses give you more ways/options of "seeing". Arguably, a camera could too, but I think more accurately, it should be said that it just helps more consistantly capture what you see and are inspired by.
To use an analogy: its like learning how to drive.  You want something reliable and capable to start -- you learn the basic features of the equipment and also the rules of the road.  Then, you can get a "nicer" car and appreciate what makes it nice. (Lenses don't fit very well into this analogy... )