What Should I do? F1 Photography!

[Noonaki]

Well I will be doing the F1 in Bahrain next week. I have recently done a major upgrade on my gear and would like to seek advice on which lenses go with which bodies better so as to really minimize or even eliminate changing lenses very often and rather carry the three bodies with the recommended lenses on them.

I have a Canon 50D and 5D Mark II and recently bought a 5D Mark III
My lenses are: 8-15 f/4L, 17-40 f/4L, 24-70 f/2.8L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and also lug in my backpack a 100 f/2.8 Macro and a 50 f/1.4. I have the 430 EX and 580 EXII Speedlites, a 1.4x extender.

What lens should I use with which body? Bearing in mind that I will be shooting the racing events from a grandstand that's a bit far away but at least no fences will show plus it has a great view of a big part of the racing track.

I will also be photographing people from time to time taking candid shots sometimes from far and sometimes from very close by. Would the fisheye add value by trying to take creative/interesting perspective shots?

[neil_r]

Shooting from the grandstand with three bodies and a range of lenses will be no fun for you and a complete pain in the ass for whoever paid good money to sit in the seats next to you.

Static in a grandstand is pants, get out and walk around.

[Noonaki]

Oh I am intending to walk around, the only thing I will be able to shoot from the grandstand is the race itself, other activities/people will be shot at different locations within the circuit. If only I could get to the photographers areas and be able to shoot the race from the track itself that would be a dream come true lol.

[MaCamZa]

Could be a race to remember! ;) ... (if it goes ahead). I think you should capture more of the atmosphere as well as the cars too.

Just for thought, as your located in Bahrain, whats your take on the current situation out there?

[Noonaki]

Could be a race to remember! ;) ... (if it goes ahead). I think you should capture more of the atmosphere as well as the cars too.

Just for thought, as your located in Bahrain, whats your take on the current situation out there?

Well yeah it should be a race to remember, after all, if it does take place, it will be the comeback after the unfair "pause" it had last year, it would be MY personal first time back since 2009. I missed the one in 2010 due to being based in camel-shaggers' Riyadh. Now that I am back home I can go, I should have been there in 2011 but didn't happen :(

Anyways aside from that, current situation is that there are insurgents who are trying to escalate things and make it look like a warzone where in fact it isn't! Media-wise they have good access to organizations here n there so can sell their demented cause.

I as a moderate am fed up from all this bull. All I want is for things to be normal and that people can come to Bahrain and enjoy their time and enjoy their F1 race!

[DC Fan]

Well I will be doing the F1 in Bahrain next week. I have recently done a major upgrade on my gear and would like to seek advice on which lenses go with which bodies better so as to really minimize or even eliminate changing lenses very often and rather carry the three bodies with the recommended lenses on them.

The longer the lens, the better.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/pics/usgp2007a061707a0542.jpg

Focal Length: 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.0006 s (1/1600)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB



http://www.kevinlillard.com/pics/imsf12007b0333.jpg

Focal Length: 300.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.0006 s (1/1600)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB



Unless you are fortunate enough to get very close to the action, it's likely that a 70-200mm lens will be too short for race action. Under most conditions, expect a 300mm-500mm lens to be a good starting point. Example:

http://www.kevinlillard.com/pics/imsf12007b0374.jpg

At a F1 event, a credentialed photographer at trackside, using a Canon 100-400mm lens at full 400mm extension. This photographer was as close to the action as possible, and still felt it necessary to use a long lens.

Shorter lenses will be less useful unless you can create an exceptional composition of the entire track.

[MaCamZa]

@DCFan, even though this may not apply to the OP as he now has a full-frame camera, but say body's like 550D/7D which are crop-sensored, surely maybe one doesn't need to opt for the 100-400mm lenses. 300mm most could be fine for crop-sensored cameras (depending on the circuit and where your shooting from), as the equivalent 'mm' on the full-frame like that the photographer has in your example above, is around 480mm effective-focal length on Canon's 7D / similar.

Generally your right in that longer the lens the better, but depending on the shots you want, I believe the OP should take a wide-angle for atmosphere shots and then a long lens (maybe try rent 70-300l? or fast primes) for the F1 cars. It could be difficult of your trying to get the 'cockpit' shot where you cover the frame with just the drivers helmet as then you would need a hell-of-a-long lens. So it depends on the shots that you want which should guide your own decision on the lenses you want to take.

Also with the 5D mark III, you can crop your photos quite a lot so maybe take that into consideration when taking your lenses.

[Bicknell55]

I typically use my longest lens (400) on my crop body (7D) to maximize the effective focal length. Given you're at a modern F1 circuit it's likely you'll be pretty far away from the track so you'll want as much zoom as you can get.

[gocolts]

This year I'm taking 1 lens to F1 races in Montreal and Austin- a new Sigma 120-300 2.8 OS, with a 1.4 and 2x TC. I've taken a 100-400mm on a 7D to Montreal before, and at times was using every bit of the 400mm...

I almost always shoot from the stands, but just take my hiking backpack with my single body & lens, so I'm not a pain to anyone.

Bottom line- the more reach the better.

[Noonaki]

I shot the race in 2009 from a grandstand which is a bit farther than the main grandstand but the good thing was that there was no fence to obstruct my view. I used my 70-200 2.8 with a 2X extender and it did wonders, check out my flickr page at the bottom of my signature.

That's why my thoughts were that this year I will keep the 70-200 on the 50D + the 1.4 extender (the 2x was a friend's but I have a 1.4 now) and make use of the 1.6 crop factor to get even closer.

Now since I have two full frames, what lenses would you recommend me using on the Mark III and on the mark II out of the following:

8-15mm fisheye
17-40 f/4
24-70 f/2.8
50mm f/1.4

[manna_661]

As long as you are reasonably fit you should be fine carrying around 3 bodies. I was carrying 2 bodies at the Malaysian GP few wks ago but also had a 300mm 2.8 weighing me down. I walked the entire track and got very dehydrated but just keep your water intake up and you should be fine.

Personally i would leave the 8-15 f/4L, 17-40 f/4L, 100 f/2.8 Macro and a 50 f/1.4 at home. And take 1 flash if you must but you prob wont use it.

I agree with you it is sooo annoying having fences in the way. During the Malay start about 10 accredited photographers came up and sat next to me up in the grandstands and i wonder why the hell are you guys up here when u have creds!! Felt likes asking if i could swap positions with them :).
Pre plan your shots before going and try to be creative and diverse.

Anyway here are my pics from Malay if you are interested.
http://modusimages.smugmug.com/Motorsport/2012/FORMULA-1-Malaysia-2012/22070723_rnwzQt#!i=1774013089&k=4DwCJ85

Goodluck next week. Look forward to seeing your photos.

Michael.

[Stuuk1]

I would love to one day go to an F1 race. Is it possible to get trackside at the races or if you have a ticket, is it seating only?

I've only ever been to small track events. My local track is Brand Hatch and you can pretty much go wherever you like around the track. Are F1 events similar or do you find yourself miles away from the track stuck behind wire fences? Tight security that check your tickets everywhere you go?

[Sharpstat]

I would love to one day go to an F1 race. Is it possible to get trackside at the races or if you have a ticket, is it seating only?

Not really possible without proper credentials! You can try standing at the fence and snapping a few shots until they ask you to move!

I've only ever been to small track events. My local track is Brand Hatch and you can pretty much go wherever you like around the track. Are F1 events similar or do you find yourself miles away from the track stuck behind wire fences? Tight security that check your tickets everywhere you go?

It is a given you will most likely experience the latter situation. Try introducing yourself to a few people at the local races at Brands Hatch. IOW, make friends as you never know if they have access to larger events thru friends or aquaintances they know.

[xchangx]

I recently shot an Indy race at Barbers and would recommend possibly renting a lens? I was track side with a 400 2.8 and a 1.4tc. This was my first time shooting a race and I'm used to shooting tight which is why I decided to use the 400.

I'm not sure how the races are setup where you are, but at Indy you can go into the pit area before the race. Granted there were a lot of people there, you can at least get some good shots of the car. At Barbers there was one turn where the track was literally 10 feet from the spectator's fence. look for something like that.

Here are pictures from the final race I took:
http://www.iconsportsmedia.com/sets/459998

[integlspwr]

I'm going to the Montreal GP next month and plan on taking my 40D and renting a 100-400. I'm sitting at grand stand 34. Is that a good enough reach of a lens or should i go for the TC also ?

[chrisdpham]

I'm planning on going to Austin F1 this year. This thread has brought a lot of insight as to what I should be prepared to bring.

Looks like I'm going to be investing in a lens or two before the trip! My 70-200IS II won't do it's justice and that's my largest lens at the moment.

[Jimil]

I'm planning on going to Austin F1 this year. This thread has brought a lot of insight as to what I should be prepared to bring.

Looks like I'm going to be investing in a lens or two before the trip! My 70-200IS II won't do it's justice and that's my largest lens at the moment.

You don't necessarily have to buy the lenses you need. There are more and more camera gear rental places popping up and if you can't pick up locally they will ship it to your house/hotel/etc. and then you ship it back when you are done. Super convenient and you aren't dropping a huge amount of cash for some long glass.

[JacobPhoto]

I'm planning on going to Austin F1 this year. This thread has brought a lot of insight as to what I should be prepared to bring.

Looks like I'm going to be investing in a lens or two before the trip! My 70-200IS II won't do it's justice and that's my largest lens at the moment.

Don't expect F1 Austin to be too scenic since it's still not 100% for sure that the track will be done in time for the race.

[Sharpstat]

Don't expect F1 Austin to be too scenic since it's still not 100% for sure that the track will be done in time for the race.


The COTA page says they are on schedule? They just did an aerial shot using Sutton photography. Are you referring to the surrounding area or the actual track itself? I'm confused, are you opining or did you hear that from a source?