Shuttle Launch Lens

[Grampaw]

Hi from Forum Newbie

I plan on being at Kennedy Space Centerfor the Launch of the shuttle on July 13. My local foto shop has agreed to let me borrow a new lens for the shoot. (They have a lot of my money already) Unfortunately, the only tickets I could get put me 10-12 miles from the Launch Pad. Is the 100-400 IS USM long enough, or should I ask for a longer lens ? All my media contacts have retired, so I couldn't get press creds.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I plan on shooting RAW.

Grampaw
:)

[buze]

Shoot early, shoot raw, shoot lots and post the damn shoots here :D
Oh, and no clapping for you, nah. NONE ! :D

[RichardtheSane]

Get the longest lens you can
Get a teleconvertor too.

12 miles is a long way away, here is a picture I took at 400mm of an industrial site that I would estimate is about the same height of the launch pad. This is cropped, about 1/3 of the edges and the site is 8-10 miles away.
btw, I think the cooling towers are launch pad height, not the tall smokestack.

http://www.richardlindley.co.uk/images/light0002.jpg

[lime]

Downtown Los Angeles from Signal Hill, roughly 15 miles difference.
The following is with a 10D
300mm
http://www.pbase.com/eflime/image/37458671.jpg

600mm
http://www.pbase.com/eflime/image/37458691.jpg

840mm (300mm+2x+1.4x)
http://www.pbase.com/eflime/image/37458694.jpg

[Grampaw]

Thanks guys, I think I'll ask for a 600mm zoom. With my luck, it'll probably rain.

Granpaw

[copter105]

The Shuttle will not launch in the rain.

[RichardtheSane]

Thanks guys, I think I'll ask for a 600mm zoom. With my luck, it'll probably rain.

Granpaw
I don't believe such a beast exists. That sort of lenght you are mainly in prime territory, unless you go for the sigma (something)-800mm zoom...

(we want to see pictures...)

[xuxu1]

You should have ordered the EF1200mm on time. :cool: Now it´s too late. You won´t get it soon enough for the shuttle shooting :p

ED

[RichardtheSane]

One of these plus a convertor?

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3277&navigator=3

[xuxu1]

Oh... I´m sorry i did mention the EF1200 but forgot to mention that it would be preferable to also attach at least 1x 1,4 TC and 1 x 2,0 TC.

That should do the job. :lol:

ED

[Grampaw]

It could be raining on me, and sunny and dry at the Launch Pad.
I have to take my pick of lense from what they have in stock, maybe with a 2x converter. If my Granddaughter was stationed at Patrick AFB instead of MacDill I could get a lot closer...

Grampaw

[blue_max]

Oh... I´m sorry i did mention the EF1200 but forgot to mention that it would be preferable to also attach at least 1x 1,4 TC and 1 x 2,0 TC.

That should do the job. :lol:

ED

The 2x might lose the auto focus which MIGHT be a deal breaker.

Graham

[Keiffer]

I thought most people sat on the side of SR 528 or in Cocoa(approx 2 miles I thought) Never went to a launch, I just look out my front door. Without a doubt nothing tops a night launch. Good luck with the shoot.

[Grampaw]

Keiffer,
According to the map, and my memory, (map is better) both 528 and Cocoa Beach are further away. I'll be on the complex 6 miles, not 10 from the Pad.

[xuxu1]

The 2x might lose the auto focus which MIGHT be a deal breaker.

Graham
So it is... :lol:
Rather only use the 1,4 and crop the image then. :)

ED

[Bruce Hamilton]

The Shuttle will not launch in the rain.

I wouldn't put it past NASA to launch in the rain... They aren't supposed to launch in freezing cold, but they did, and we all know what happened to Challenger... They also knew about the tile that fell off Discovery and damaged the shuttle during launch, and chose not to abort the mission while they could still land safely.