Is 300mm enough for Duxford Spits?

[DBenz]

A 300mm lens becomes effectively 480mm when on a 20D, just how much will a Spit fill the frame at Duxford (UK) with that when in front of me and also at my ten oclock ? I am considering the Canon 75-300 IS lens and wonder if I need to crop afterwards, and if so, by how much and what the result will look like. 8.2megapixels should allow some cropping !

The more dynamic shots will be as aircraft approach, or climb upwards and what might fill the frame crowd front soon gets smaller. Positioning oneself at or near the flightline end where the aircraft are more likely to swing in at you, land with flaps etc, lessens the need for a very powerful lens. Would 300 suffice at this location I wonder ? I dont wish to buy and then sell secondhand when I realise I have it wrong, but also cannot afford £1000 , perhaps £700 at most or thereabouts.

Prop aircraft need slower shutter speeds so an Image stabilised lens is vital.

Cheers
DBenz

[*Zwitter*]

I was using a 75-300mm at Duxfordat the VE day airshow.

The Problem with shooting at Duxford is just that everything displays so damn far from the crowd line.

I stood up the far end in front of the American Air Museum. This was the best shot I got all day:

http://antonyl.brinkster.net/paul/dx%20ve%20day%2007.05.05/tornado_gr4.jpg

This is a good location, as you are near the taxiway for some good close-ups

As far as things 'spitfire sized', this was the best I could do - and that's with a crop too:
http://antonyl.brinkster.net/paul/dx%20ve%20day%2007.05.05/hurri_corrected.jpg

This is a crop - can't remember what %, but to get anything even approaching full frame you'll be at the 300 end.

Shoot loads and best of luck!

:)

[DBenz]

Zwitter,
thats very useful to me, what camera was it and what shutter speed and iso for the hurri ?...and for the Tornado

[*Zwitter*]

Zwitter,
thats very useful to me, what camera was it and what shutter speed and iso for the hurri ?...and for the Tornado


The camera is a 20D + 75-300 EF lens - not a high end lens - but it'll have to do for now!

The Hurricane was shot at:
100 ISO
1/320 sec (to keep some prop motion)
f9

(but I had the indoor white balance setting selected from an indoor product shoot the week before!! DOH! - so basically it has had levels changed since

the tornado was shot (without the white balance error) at:

400 ISO
1/2500 sec
f8


one thing to remember (if you don't know) is to overexpose by a stop or so, to expose the subject properly and avoid silhouettes of aircraft. This blows the sky out a bit - but it's usually the aircraft you want.

Hope this helps :)

[DBenz]

Zwitter,
thanks, I shall perhaps try out the 75-300 IS v the 100-400 IS, but feel that the former will be somewhat soft, going bu these and shooting on a sharp 17-40 for other shots I shall keep seeing the difference ! Sigma 80-400 OS is the other option if weight is not an issue, its 100g less than the hefty bigma, but has stabilise so at least props can be shot at 400 end on 1/320 or 1/250. but that weight issue :(

DBenz

[*Zwitter*]

yep - the former is a bit soft. f8 seems the best aperture for sharpness with this lens.

I'll get a 100-400 when funds allow, I'd go with this one if you can -everyone raves about it!