Aviation Lenses

[CanonKidXTI]

I'd like to start shooting aircraft but I dont know what lenses to use. I shoot with Canon bodies.

[Jon]

You're going to have to be a little more specific. Air shows? Air-to-air? Plane spotting?

At an air show, during the flying displays at least, you're probably going to see the 100-400 IS L more than any other lens, with members of the 70-200 family next. On the ground, people will be using something fairly wide; I tend to use the 24-70 on the 5D and have the 70-200 on my 1D3 or 20D, but may (on a crowded day, or at a popular plane) need to swap on the 15-30 Sigma.

Plane spotting on the ground, it's going to depend on how close to the taxiways/runways you're able to get. When the aircraft are in flight you'll usually need something pretty long. Of course there are places where you can set up right at the approach end of the runway and practically use a fisheye for a full-frame shot, but those aren't all that common.

[CanonKidXTI]

plane spotting. like a big zoom lens? can you recomend any for my Canon?

[NicolasRubio]

Well, this is my main photography so I'll be able to give you some advise!

First, you don't need fast (2.8) lenses for AvPhotog. So, if you want to go L you'd be fine with 24-105mm f/4L IS + 70-200mm f/4L (IS if you want although not necessary). Also an EF-S 10-22mm for cockpit/cabin shots as you have an XTi. You should consider a 580EX Speedlite.

In case you don't want to spend that much you'd be fine with Sigma 10-20mm, 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS. And instead of a 580EX you can get a 430EX.

That should be enough unless you are far away from planes and need longer focal lengths, were a 100-400L would be IDEAL!

[CanonKidXTI]

why is IS not needed?

[NicolasRubio]

why is IS not needed?

It will certainly help you for static mid-lit shots... but it is DEFINITELY not an absolute need.

You have to set a balance: is IS for my 70-200 f/4L worth U$D370?

[CanonKidXTI]

Im willing to drop money for good equipment, its not a BIG concern. Do you have any photos of planes you took with these lenes?

[DealsGapCobra]

I am fairly new to DSLRs but can share the following from the last year.

I have used a 24-105, 70-200 4 and 100-400 to shoot aircraft. The 24-105 is great for static shots, works well as does the 70-200 for air-to-air. If you plan to shoot planes in flight, like at an air show, you pretty much need 200mm or longer. To me, the 100-400 is ideal for this but I haven't had much time to play with it or use it air-to-air. When IS might help is when trying to get good prop blur especially when shooting air-to-air and its bumpy.

[CanonKidXTI]

1st. What do you mean by static shots?
2nd. By air-air do you mean I'm in one plane taking a pic of another plane?

[NicolasRubio]

Im willing to drop money for good equipment, its not a BIG concern. Do you have any photos of planes you took with these lenes?

I don't have my DSLR yet, I'll be getting it in 10 days. But you can search for my pictures in www.airliners.net (search for 'Nicolas Rubio').

The IDEAL combo for aviation is:

FF:
-17-40mm f/4L
-24-105mm f/4L IS
-70-200mm f/4L IS
-100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
-430/580EX

Crop:
-10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
-24-105mm f/4L IS
-70-200mm f/4L IS
-100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
-430/580EX

[CanonKidXTI]

im new so bear with me here
what is FF and crop?

[NicolasRubio]

im new so bear with me here
what is FF and crop?

FF = Full Frame

EOS 1Ds and 5D cameras have a sensor which is the same size as a 35mm film (36x24mm) and therefore the Field of View of the lenses is the same as advertised. Rebels, XXXDs and XXDs, on the other hand, have sensors which are 1.6 times smaller and therefore they naturally crop the image, which means that the Field of View of the lens is 1.6 times the Focal Length. Got it?

[CanonKidXTI]

yeah thanks man

[PhotosGuy]

Some of these are with the 70-200 f/2.8 & a 2X TC = 140-400mm. TC = teleconverter.
Thunder(storms) Over Michigan (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=551910)

An EXIF viewer will give you the settings & focal length.
Exif Viewer (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=249102)

[FlyingPhotog]

Some more Aviation images shot with everything from an EF-S 10-22mm up to and including a recently added 300mm f/2.8L IS:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery

For ground to air shots, the 100-400 is hard to beat but if money is truly no object, you can't go wrong with one of Canon's SuperTelephoto prime lenses. I love my 300mm both with and without a 1.4x TC (teleconverter) but the 500mm f/4L IS would be my dream lens!

[CanonKidXTI]

yeah I read up on Canons 500mm f/4L and decided to order it, along with the 100-400

[Jon]

yeah I read up on Canons 500mm f/4L and decided to order it, along with the 100-400Better pick up a set of weights to get yourself ready to horse that baby around. It's not as bad as the 400 f/2.8, but it's heavy.

[CanonKidXTI]

hahaha yeah i saw a picture of the lens by a little girl and its a pretty good size

[Scuff]

Enjoy the 500.....

This was done with one mounted on a 1Ds2 this year at Dunsfold. Hand held all day, and yes I felt it the day after!

327900

[FlyingPhotog]

Enjoy the 500.....

This was done with one mounted on a 1Ds2 this year at Dunsfold. Hand held all day, and yes I felt it the day after!

327900

Bloody Brilliant shot, that...

Just curious but do the Red Arrows fly this maneuver actually toward the crowd line or were you down at the end of the flightline looking back toward show center?

(sorry for a light threadjack...)

[Scuff]

Bloody Brilliant shot, that...

Just curious but do the Red Arrows fly this maneuver actually toward the crowd line or were you down at the end of the flightline looking back toward show center?

(sorry for a light threadjack...)

Thanks for your comment.

They fly this towards the crowd. They are a long way off when they split, as the smoke trails expand and pattern the sky as a great overall effect. To catch the split you need to be directly in front of them and use a long lens to catch it. So a fair bit of planning is needed to catch that one moment - you only get one chance!! The moment I tripped the shutter, I knew that that was the shot I wanted:cool:

[FlyingPhotog]

Thanks for your comment.

They fly this towards the crowd. They are a long way off when they split, as the smoke trails expand and pattern the sky as a great overall effect. To catch the split you need to be directly in front of them and use a long lens to catch it. So a fair bit of planning is needed to catch that one moment - you only get one chance!! The moment I tripped the shutter, I knew that that was the shot I wanted:cool:

Interesting...

The FAA in the USofA no longer allows crossing maneuvers to be flown toward the crowd line. I guess the JAA didn't jump the way the FAA did after the Frecce Tricolore accident at Ramstein...

[Scuff]

Interesting...

The FAA in the USofA no longer allows crossing maneuvers to be flown toward the crowd line. I guess the JAA didn't jump the way the FAA did after the Frecce Tricolore accident at Ramstein...

I think that applies in the UK, but as I stated, they are a long way off when they split and turn away from the crowd line.

[luigis]

I use a 70-200 F4L and a Kenko 1.4 TC I think its a good combo por plane spotting.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3045549519_a3dba04a38.jpg

[andrewhuxman]

Better pick up a set of weights to get yourself ready to horse that baby around. It's not as bad as the 400 f/2.8, but it's heavy.

The Canon 500MM F 4 is a SWEET lens for shooting aircraft weighing in at 8.5 lbs. not bad at all. I use it all the time and handhold it 98% of the time. Here is an example of this lenses superiority (just my opinion):D

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t47/ahuxman58/IMG_0387.jpg