Airshow Panning Tips, Please ?

[CobraGT40]

Hey all
EAA AirVenture 2012 is next month and I finally ponied up and got a new camera. My DSC-H50 has done a decent job the past couple years but I've definitely outgrown it. I have just purchased a 600D and 70-300 stabilized lens.
I have tried panning with my old H50 and definitely wasn't so good at it...I didn't like the mechanized zoom. By the time you get it in the frame it's already too late...and you have to pause before zooming back out. Anyways, I know I should be setting a specific spot before taking the photos and keeping the same zoom setting, but there's just so much going on, I guess I don't want to miss anything lol

Could I get a few tips from those with panning experience ? I know practice is a huge factor...I'm actually going to go to the municipal airport today and try snapping a few.

Thanks !

Scott

[PhotosGuy]

First, I have to move this to "T. Talk".

Originally Posted by CobraGT40

...I'm actually going to go to the municipal airport today and try snapping a few.

Or you could try shooting some traffic to warm up.

This should help: First shoot with moving cars need advice.

Shooting airshows in Manual

[CobraGT40]

Thanks !
Sorry about posting in the wrong place...I'll try to keep on the ball !

Scott

[DC Fan]

The main "tip" is to keep the subject in frame, of course. That is easier with a DSLR or with any camera that has a reflex optical viewfinder. Cameras such as the DSC-H50 suffer from viewfinder lag, regardless of how well the LCD is designed. By comparison, it's much easier to track a moving subject through an optical viewfinder and using a lens that does not have the delay of an electronic lens.

The other "tip," which involves a technique favored by many members of this forum, is to use a shutter speed that blurs the propellers of prop planes and rotors of helicopters. That's a skill that many photographers find requires some practice, especiallyfor helicopters. Examples:



Focal Length: 439.0mm
Aperture: f/20.0
Exposure Time: 0.020 s (1/50)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB


Focal Length: 370.0mm
Aperture: f/16.0
Exposure Time: 0.010 s (1/100)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB


It takes practice for many to work out the prop-blur technique because a shutter speed to balance the prop blur and properly expose the passing aircraft is needed, something that's not easy for the long focal lengths used at air shows. A stabilized lens can help.

Originally Posted by CobraGT40

Hey all
EAA AirVenture 2012 is next month and I finally ponied up and got a new camera. My DSC-H50 has done a decent job the past couple years but I've definitely outgrown it. I have just purchased a 600D and 70-300 stabilized lens.
I have tried panning with my old H50 and definitely wasn't so good at it...I didn't like the mechanized zoom. By the time you get it in the frame it's already too late...and you have to pause before zooming back out. Anyways, I know I should be setting a specific spot before taking the photos and keeping the same zoom setting, but there's just so much going on, I guess I don't want to miss anything lol

Could I get a few tips from those with panning experience ? I know practice is a huge factor...I'm actually going to go to the municipal airport today and try snapping a few.

Thanks !

Scott

[CobraGT40]

Excellent ! Thanks ! You are absolutely right about the H-50 viewfinder lag...I always found it easier to use the eyepiece to keep the subjects in frame...and the autofocus was a pain in the neck, almost as bad as the mechanical zoom. I've been taking photos...well, notable photos, for the past 7 years or so at airshows and they have been getting progressivley better. Well, better to the point that I have outgrown my camera. I look forward to using this 600D this year...It makes it worlds easier to change shutter speeds. Almost all of my older photos look like they're frozen in time...slowing the shutter speed down will give my photos a little more "life".

Oh, and I just got $200.00 for my DSC H-50 today...should help offset the cost of my new Canon.

Thanks again !

Scott

Originally Posted by DC Fan

The main "tip" is to keep the subject in frame, of course. That is easier with a DSLR or with any camera that has a reflex optical viewfinder. Cameras such as the DSC-H50 suffer from viewfinder lag, regardless of how well the LCD is designed. By comparison, it's much easier to track a moving subject through an optical viewfinder and using a lens that does not have the delay of an electronic lens.

The other "tip," which involves a technique favored by many members of this forum, is to use a shutter speed that blurs the propellers of prop planes and rotors of helicopters. That's a skill that many photographers find requires some practice, especiallyfor helicopters. Examples:



Focal Length: 439.0mm
Aperture: f/20.0
Exposure Time: 0.020 s (1/50)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB


Focal Length: 370.0mm
Aperture: f/16.0
Exposure Time: 0.010 s (1/100)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB


It takes practice for many to work out the prop-blur technique because a shutter speed to balance the prop blur and properly expose the passing aircraft is needed, something that's not easy for the long focal lengths used at air shows. A stabilized lens can help.

[FlyingPhotog]

You'll find AirVenture images in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 galleries on my website:
http://crosswindimages.com/f844677569

EXIF is available by hovering your mouse over the upper right corner of each image.

Looking forward to AV2012 in just a few weeks!

[rammsteinmatt]

Originally Posted by CobraGT40

Could I get a few tips from those with panning experience ? I know practice is a huge factor...I'm actually going to go to the municipal airport today and try snapping a few.

If you look at my pictures here, they're decent... I feel comfortable going down to 1/200" at 400mm, 1.5x crop body, 7lb lens. Every day is another day to practice. I take 30k-50k photos a year, aviation only, 6 years now.

you'll need to take more than a few and still probably mitigate your expectations.

there's numerous threads on this subject, just search. Breathing is important too...