The link you game me on BH shows the 40D with
a EF 28-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
and i could rent the 100-400
Is there a rental place i should go to , or do you guys suggest somewhere online ?
and should i get a UV filter ?

An alternative to renting is buying a used one from various websites like photography-on-the.net and then sell it after your trip. Most likely to be cheaper than renting, especially for a longer trip.

B&H rents lenses, but you have to go in person. (34th and 9th, right?)

I linked to the page with the included lens because you'll need a lens other than the 100-400 for the non-surf photos.

rkkwan brings up a good point...if you buy a good used copy of that lens and then flip it after the trip, you might well break even or come out a little ahead. I didn't think of that because of your budget number.

UV filter is personal preference...some people use it to protect the front of the lens from scratching, while others really use it as a filter. I personally found that my shots started looking better without them. If anyone disagrees with me, I have the Hoya 58mm and 67mm starter kits that I'll get rid of below face value. I haven't used a filter in months.

Im going to look into it, thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.

You guys are way ahead of me w/r/t photography skills.

Good to see everyone going photo-crazy. Still haven't managed to get my recent Aeroporn onto the flickr site. I was too busy getting drunk in the French Quarter this weekend to spend much time on teh intertubes.

I'm researching my first foray into spotting for PHL tomorrow...right down the street from my girl's house is a spot where I can frame the river, final onto 27R/L, and if I'm lucky the Walt Whitman Bridge. I can also get adventurous and go across the river to Hog Island Road and have the arrivals right over my head. Hopefully there will be no panels falling off tomorrow.

You might also consider dropping by Pier 82 and snapping pics of the SS United States. Fastest ocean liner ever built (40 knots), and still holds the record for Transatlantic Sea Crossings.

Good call. I've seen her there but never followed up on it. I'm still not sure how the day is going to play out, because I don't know if my girl is coming back here tonight or going home from work. If she goes home tonight, I'll go out there after breakfast. That'll give me enough time to get to two or three different shooting spots.

When you ordered your camera
I started thinking , I need to upgrade also.
I now have the BH catalog on my desk :cool:

Ditto. :D

It's as addictive as flying, eh? Am looking forward to seeing some cool surf pics.

Indeed

Indeed, sir. I'm bringing the long lens, earplugs and munchies. I was thinking about getting closer to the airport itself after lunchtime so maybe I could see some of the heavies coming in to turn around for Europe. I've been around the area and seen an AF A330, and LH/BA 744's. I wish I had taken pics of the JFK approaches while I was playing at Bethpage...saw EK 77W, lots of A340's, and the Blue Angels buzzed the 4th hole.