Air show

[yakbut]

Hi all im of to my first air show this weekend, i will be using my 20D and 100-400 IS. Any advice tips or tricks ie camera or lens settings that will make things easier for me.

[RTMiller]

Shoot prop planes at no more than 1/125 shutter speed to aviod freezing the propeller.

[Longwatcher]

Make sure you set the IS to mode 2 on the lens and keep the shutter speed down when planes are doing low level passes, it looks better if there is motion in the background, but the plane is frozen. Otherwise it looks like a model on a string if everything is frozen in place.

Also let the autofocus do the work for you and just run the zoom, the push pull of the 100-400 is great at airshows. If scattered clouds that day give up on using manual and go for shutter or full priority modes. Scattered clouds will mess up exposure too fast to manually adjust unless you are exceptionally skilled.

Lastly if you are anything like me, try to keep an eye on remaining buffer, it is very easy to temporarily fill the buffer just before that great shot comes up. It may only be for a few seconds, but that is sometimes all it takes.

Just my experience,

[macke]

The 100-400 should do you nice. I had a 70-200 with an 1.4x and ended up wishing for just a little bit more range...

Something I've done is to switch AF to the '*' button on the back, keeping the shutter button for AE Lock. This allows me to keep the camera in AI Servo, focusing either with the action or One Shot by hitting the '*' button. Works for me, but might take a bit of practice getting used to.

Depending on light, clouds, etc, you might have to dial in some exposure correction. I just shot an airshow a few weeks back (http://www.maxkaar.com/gallery/list.php?exhibition=34) and ended up with -1/3 on most my shots.

Shoot choppers with about 1/60, prop planes at 1/90-1/125, for jets I usually set a decent f-stop that'll then maximize the shutter speed. Pan the planes as you shoot, this'll give you a nice blurred background with a sharp plane.

photo.net has a pretty nice article on airshow photography that should get you started as well. http://www.photo.net/learn/airshow/

--max

[GyRob]

try to ignor the sound if a jet puts reheat on near you and keep shooting, its a horific all encompasing sound but LOVELY sound :) it really can put you off but dont let it go for the shots.
Rob.

[tengr_68]

Macke, nice shots. I too am going to my first airshow. Is it important to have a polariser filter to keep the glare down?

[yakbut]

Thanks all particularly macke for the links they gave some great tips.

[macke]

A polarizer might help but only if you shoot in the same general direction. If you end up panning so the sun moves from your left to your right side you'll end up having to adjust the polarizer for this. I was thinking about putting an UV/Haze filter on the lens, but forgot it at home. Oh well, there's always next time...

Oh yeah, bring earplugs... ;)