AIR SHOW!

[punkzappa]

hey there guy's, got a question for all of you. im going to an air show next month here in rockford il... now i just bought a 70-200mm f/4 L Lens. you guy's think this lens will be good enough for air show or do i need a longer focal lens?.... and what kind of filter do i need to use? ..... thank you all for your time:)

[QX56]

That should be good lens for the airshow .

[Tumeg]

I might want a longer focal length (100-400mm maybe) but I would just rent the lens.
The 70-200 will be nice, but you MIGHT want a longer focal length, I have never been to\shot an air show, so idk... Take my suggestions with a grain of salt!

[punkzappa]

That should be good lens for the airshow .
this is my first air show, so i really dont know if my lens would work. but i got a cheap 70-300 mm lens it's promaster : ( i'll bring it anyways buy youguy's got any idea what filter do i need? cuz it's really gonna be sunny that day (i hope so) thanks for the reply.

[punkzappa]

I might want a longer focal length (100-400mm maybe) but I would just rent the lens.
The 70-200 will be nice, but you MIGHT want a longer focal length, I have never been to\shot an air show, so idk... Take my suggestions with a grain of salt!
300mm lens would be alright right?

[gooble]

Not long enough, even on a crop sensor.

I shot an airshow with a 20D and 70-200 f/2.8 L IS with a 2x extender. That was long enough but I would not recommend using the 2x extender. It's to soft and increases CA. The 1.4x would be better would not be as long. 200 with a 1.4x would be the shortest I'd go.

[punkzappa]

Not long enough, even on a crop sensor.

I shot an airshow with a 20D and 70-200 f/2.8 L IS with a 2x extender. That was long enough but I would not recommend using the 2x extender. It's to soft and increases CA. The 1.4x would be better would not be as long. 200 with a 1.4x would be the shortest I'd go.
thanks gooble, any brand of extender would you recomend and how much? the 2x extender without the IS on my lens would be ok... im worried about my picture gonna be blurry.

[FlyingPhotog]

For an airshow in the US held at a mid-sized airport like Rockford, I'd say you're probably gonna want a bit more reach than 200mm. Even the effective FOV you get from a crop body is only out to 320mm.

Aircraft flying by will be over 1000' feet away when passing show center. I'd give some thought to renting a 100-400 or a 400 f/5.6 for the weekend.

400mm on a crop body will yield an effective FOV of 640mm .. Now that's some resolving power!

[punkzappa]

For an airshow in the US held at a mid-sized airport like Rockford, I'd say you're probably gonna want a bit more reach than 200mm. Even the effective FOV you get from a crop body is only out to 320mm.

Aircraft flying by will be over 1000' feet away when passing show center. I'd give some thought to renting a 100-400 or a 400 f/5.6 for the weekend.

400mm on a crop body will yield an effective FOV of 640mm .. Now that's some resolving power!
wow thank you for your insight : ) thats great!!! i might rent one or i'll buy a 2x extender...and you are right it's not a big airport. but still like what you said it's like 1000 feet away. thanks flyingphotog.

[FlyingPhotog]

wow thank you for your insight : ) thats great!!! i might rent one or i'll buy a 2x extender...and you are right it's not a big airport. but still like what you said it's like 1000 feet away. thanks flyingphotog.

FWIW, the in flight shots taken here...

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/avnation07

...were shot with a 100-400 on a 20D and still required at least a little cropping (approx by 1/3) to get "up close and personal."

However, this was shot on a 20D with a 70-200 f/2.8L IS and a 1.4x TC.
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/87914347.jpg

Difference being, I was standing right next to the runway at a "fly in" for this one...something you can't do at a more structured airshow.

[punkzappa]

FWIW, the in flight shots taken here...

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/avnation07

...were shot with a 100-400 on a 20D and still required at least a little cropping (approx by 1/3) to get "up close and personal."

However, this was shot on a 20D with a 70-200 f/2.8L IS and a 1.4x TC.
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/87914347.jpg

Difference being, I was standing right next to the runway at a "fly in" for this one...something you can't do at a more structured airshow.
man that's a great shot : ) is the 1.4x extender would work great on a non IS lens like mine (man i wish i bought the IS version) but i will take your advise. love your site by the way.

[FlyingPhotog]

Thanks muchly...

I've got some for sale too at the Zenfolio link...

[punkzappa]

Thanks muchly...

I've got some for sale too at the Zenfolio link...
ok thanks: )

[gooble]

wow thank you for your insight : ) thats great!!! i might rent one or i'll buy a 2x extender...and you are right it's not a big airport. but still like what you said it's like 1000 feet away. thanks flyingphotog.

I've rented the Canon 2x and I own the Canon 1.4x. I've used the 1.4x on a 70-200 f/4, 400 f/5.6 and 300 f/4 and it is superb. You'll hardly know it's there if at all.

I don't recommend the 2x extender, at least on the lenses I mentioned. It is best, as I've read on the Canon L prime telephotos, not on lesser lenses as it degrades quality too much for many peoples taste; YMMV.

I'd look into renting a 100-400 or 400 f/5.6 like someone mentioned as those will give you better pics than the 70-200 with 2x. The 10-400 will give you more versatility especially if there are static displays you want to shoot.

[gooble]

thanks gooble, any brand of extender would you recomend and how much? the 2x extender without the IS on my lens would be ok... im worried about my picture gonna be blurry.

I would shoot 1/800 - 1/1600 depending on conditions which can give you apertures of 5.6-8 and ISO's 200-400. Tht's where I'd try to stay. At those shutter speeds you should be ok for camera shake. Panning IS may be a help. I've used it and was glad it was there but I don't think it's necessary.

Remember IS only mitigates camera shake and cannot help subject motion. You'll have to track planes by panning and then shoot. The way you'll get sharp shots is to pan smoothly and to keep a high shutter speed.

[Pete W]

I wouild use a 1.4 x convertor with your 70-200 f4

I don't think the 70-200 alone will be good enough in most instances.

[timothyp219]

I use a Sigma APO 70-200 f/2.8 with a Sigma 1.4X EX Teleconverter. Anything over 1.4x it gets to soft.

[George E.]

I got a sigma 1.4x DG on ebay for $100 that I use with my canon 70-200 f/4. The lens is acutally SHARPER with the teleconverter :eek:

George

[Double Negative]

That lens should be just fine, depending on where you are in relation to the action. A lot of people like the 100-400mm lens for airshows also; giving you a bit more reach, especially at the long end.

[BrantG]

I'd either get a 1.4x extender or rent a 100-400. The 70-200 won't be enough by itself imo.

[RCDesign]

I was just at a show this weekend with my 70-200 2.8 with 1.4 extender I was wanting a little more. Yours will definitely work but as someone mentioned above, if you can get your hands on a 100-400 I think you would be very happy.

Can't wait to see some pics