New 20D a few Qs

[merrrrjig]

I am very happy that I got the 20D. I got it with the 18-55mm lens and I just bought a 50mm 1.8. I like to shoot surfing well bodyboard and I will be needing a nice zoom lens for pretty cheap. Any recomendations? I will be shooting mostly at the wedge in orange county where the waves are shorebreak so Its not too far out. I also shoot mountain biking so the 18-55 & 50mm will do that job, I am also looking at flashes, Is the 220EX good? how long is the recycle time? I am also looking into getting a rain cover for the camera with the 18-55 and up to 300mm lens, any thing thats pretty cheap? Thank you for any help!

[stuartf287]

A good lens for that purpose would be the Sigma 50-500 EX F4-6.3 ("Bigma") which goes for about $900 new. I bought a used Bigma about a year ago for under $700 and I love it. If you search the forums you'll find lots of surfing photos taken with that lens. You'll have the reach if you need it and the wider end if the action moves in close to your vantage point. Good luck.

[robertwgross]

I am also looking at flashes, Is the 220EX good?

No.

Effectively, your three choices are Canon 420EX, 550EX, 580EX, or a couple of the Sigma equivalents.

---Bob Gross---

[ToddMorris]

Hi,

I've also got a 20D, and if you're looking for a cheap zoom lens to hold you over until you can get something better, I would recommend the canon 80-200mm. It's the second cheapest lens I own (after the 50mm 1.8 ), however it's capable of taking some suprisingly sharp images.

Here's one I took yesterday (200mm F8 1/400sec):
http://www.alohateam.com/temppics/seagull.jpg

Hope this helps,
Todd

p.s. Obviously, this lens might not be a long term solution. I personally plan to upgrade to either a 70-200 f4L or the Sigma 70-200 2.8 as soon as I get the cash together. But in the mean time, you can pick this lens up for under $150, which I think you'll quickly discover almost qualifies it as a "disposable".