Telephoto lens or what?

Question: Telephoto lens or what!?

Okay so i surf!.!.!. ALOT and i would love to have some pictures of me and my friends surfing!.Only problem is when taking pictures from a point and shoot we look like ants out in the ocean, so i was wondering if any one knew of what telephoto lens would zoom to make take nice pictures of us!. the usual distance is about 35-50 yards some times less of shore!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

This won't help you decide which camera to get--but I made this chart to show what you can see with different lenses!. Keep in mind that these are 35 mm format (full frame), so the "normal" lens for this is 50 mm!.

http://farm4!.static!.flickr!.com/3012/2349!.!.!.

Click on the photo once it is loaded and it will enlarge a little more!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A 70-300 zoom on a DSLR would do it!.

But If you want a P&S with a super zoom range, I'd suggest the Canon S5is (even greater zoom range that 300) or one of the other so-called "Super Point & Shoots"!. Some of them are up to 18X now!.

Just be aware that when you're zooming out that far you really need to camera to be stable, and the shutter speed to be fast!.

Think "Image Stabilization," high ISO (400 or more), and manual focus for best results!.

On the shear basis of quality, sturdiness, features and price - you simply can't do better than the S5is!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You want to get a 200 to 300mm lens!.!.!. it would probably be best to get a zoom lens, something like a 70-300mm lens!.!.!. that way the photographer can zoom in and out based on how far you are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com