Walk around lens for car meets

[toldey]

Theres a car meet in Ct this sunday and i was wondering what a good walk around lens for this would be? i shot a BMW meet with a 50mm last year and it turned out well cause the cars were real far apart from eachother, i do not have any wide angle zooms. i have a 28-80, 24mm and a 50mm. Also a 70-200f4L but i know that wouldnt work. any suggestions for shooting meets? There will be atleast 400 cars there this year, i dont know if i would ilke to shoot in raw or high res jpegs, im shooting with a 20d. any tips?

[whoadude]

I just went to one last weekend. I used my 17-40L the whole time. Doesnt seem like you have a wide angle huh? In that case I think I'd use the 28-80.

[Ballen Photo]

I'll have to agree with whoadude about your 28-80 being the best choice of what you have available, I use my 28-105 for car shows, mostly at the wide end. Car shows can be nuts to shoot. People will walk right into the frame as you're pushing the button. They're looking at cars, not you. I find that you have to react quickly when you get a clear shot, because it generally wont last long. Using your 28-80, you can frame and compose fairly fast when you get your window of opportunity. ;)
The primes would be the ticket for those set up shots where you are in control of the immediate area, and have the room, insuring people dont just walk in front of your lens.
-Bruce

[rlhphotos]

Id say the 24mm and the 50mm that way you can get really nice clear shots and you have two good focal lengths to work with..

[toldey]

should i shoot raw or high res jpegs?, i only have two 512mb cards and i have a feeling im going to be filling them up pretty fast shooting raw. any suggestions for that?

[SHANGHAi]

You'll probably be better off shooting jpg... just make sure you get the settings right. Take sample shots, etc.

[rlhphotos]

With only 2 512 youll probably be best off with jpg.

[ajbalazic]

Your 28-80 should do you fine. Depending on the layout, you may not get shots with the entire car- but this gives you the opportunity to photograph the fine details- wheels, sexy curves in the bodywork, badges, engine, interior, grill, headlights & tail-lights. If you've shot RAW before, I don't know how you can even consider going back to jpg. Do whatever you feel comfortable with- but I think it's time to invest the money you've saved on film developing and buy a 1gig (or bigger) card ;)

[RadAL]

you can easily get shots of the whole car with 28

[InfamousDX]

A little wider couldn't hurt because the closer you can get to the car, the less chance there is of someone walking in front of you. I hate that. Last HIN I used my 24-70L and it was good enough but there were always times that people walked in front of me. I would have loved a 17-40L but I got mine too late.

[2005GLI]

do you have the kit lens? probably would be ideal lens, not hte greatest but nothing wrong either.

[PhotosGuy]

What they said! Indoors I'd want the 18mm kit lens or 17-40 & a tripod. Outdoors, the 28-70 f/2.8 does well, & I'd be sure to take your 24mm, too.

[InfamousDX]

Kit lens wide open though?? I wouldn't like that.

[PhotosGuy]

18mm kit lens or 17-40 & a tripod. f/8 at least!

[toldey]

hmm, ill def. bring the 28-70, 24mm and maybe the 50, depending on how spaced apart everything is, ill see if theres any use for the 50, thanks for the input!

[RadAL]

expect the unexpected.