If that's what he thinks he'll be fine with the f/2 lens. The trouble with trying to persuade someone they don't need that but something else is that if it goes wrong, they won't be happy and will blame you ever more!

Traditional film reportage photographers favoured 35mm or 50mm lenses, but to be fair that's all the choice they had. Given modern lenses and cameras they might prefer an 18-55mm zoom, much more versatile. The current equivalent traditional lenses for APS-C would be 21mm and 35mm, give or take. Film users were happy with f/3.5 lenses, so the 35mm f/2.4 would cost a fraction and be a good start to try things out.

What red links are you referring to? That statement is unfortunately too vague to be useful, so do please let me have a specific example.

It would be helpful to indicate which are the working cameras.

Discontinued is a great time to get a bargain.

Have you tried manual focusing, pre-focusing on a position on the track and releasing the shutter just before the car arrives there?

It's a matter of taste and style of course, but for full frame 35mm the classic portrait lens id the 85mm f/1.4, the APS-C equivalent being the 55mm f/1.4.

The 70-200mm that many yearn for is of course the 50-135mm in APS-C.

For someone just starting out the kit 18-55mm lens is probably a very good choice. It covers the traditional portrait length at the long end and is also reasonable wide angle. It also focuses close.

After practising for a while with the standard zoom it will become apparent what direction future lens purchases will need to take. Lots of lenses are good lenses, but they all have particular purposes.

Just buy a new bag. Any chemicals you use could potentially damage the lenses and/or camera, just in the same way that varnishes do when kit is stored in cupboards and drawers. There are chemicals in so many things, and they are volatile.

CRT monitors are matched in terms of quality by the IPS type screens. Other types of screen I find too harsh.

However, be aware that a CRT will, over time, defocus and lose its acuity. Be prepared to be astonished at how far they do degrade after a few years and how much more definition can be seen with a new good quality flat screen.

Our Siemens moniotrs were excellent, but blurred compared to the new Dells. You can't compare unless it's a direct replacement or you see them side by side.

We use Dell IPS monitors, priced at a similar level to stub's Asus.

IPS is the way to go, whichever make you choose.