Tips to shoot airshow

[Amorous]

I'm planning to shoot an airshow this weekend. Any tip is appreciated. I have a 20D and Sigma 70-200, plus 1.4x and 2x TC's. Will it be long enough or do I really need super-tele lens?

[etaf]

i have used a 200mm on a normal film camera - so you should have plenty of mm there - you have 200 with a 2x = 400mm and then crop factor of 1.6 = 640mm - thats loads of mm

the only tips i would suggest are.
1) I when shooting into the sky you will get an inaccurate exposure reading from the camera, a technique used was a) meter off some grass or concrete in the same direction as you will be taking the shot b) meter off my hand or c) use spot metering and try to meter off the plane.

2) keep your shutter speed high to avoid camera shake - remember an old rule of thumb 1/effective focal length - so if you are using your 200mm end of the lens then that is 1/1.6 x 200 = 320 so use a shutter speed greater than 1/320.

3) the last air show i was at a guy near to me had a radio which picked up the transmissions between the pilots etc - i heard the command break and then the formation broke which made timing great... no idea what he was using though and by the time i made a move to speak to him he was gone.

4) take plenty of CF cards or use a portable storage to store pictures - i have 3 CF cards 1 1GB and 2 512MB and then I have one copying into an image tank - one loaded and one spare

5) do you have any wide angle lens - there may be a few planes on the ground and you may find 70mm too long - just read your sig so ignore

good luck - but also enjoy the show

[::John::]

Thanks for asking, Amorous

I am looking forward to an airshow in June and the reply ETAF has provided is great.

Thanks, ETAF

[tiktaalik]

Use fast shutter speeds (1/1000s) for jets to stop the motion but slow down the shutter speed for prop planes and helicopters in order to get prop blur. This is a constant battle with trying to keep the shutter speed high to avoid blur from handholding long telephotos, but try to go no faster than 1/250s or 1/200s for prop planes. Helicopters may need even slower shutter speeds.

Julie

[Orgnoi1]

You should do plenty fine with the equipment you have... the most used lens for aviation is the 100-400L and you will have even better aperatures with your 70-200 with the 1.4x... like was said above try to keep any propped planes at lower than a 1/250th and you will get nice motion... helos require a LOT lower speed to get a full circle motion... get there early and get good seating... if you can get there for a practice day then thats the key to getting most of the real good shots when no one is there getting in the way...

[::John::]

I hope Amorous is going to enjoy all this info - I know I am. Thanks, peeps.

Julie - I have seen your aircraft pics - excellent stuff!

[etaf]

a monopod may be ueful - i have one now, but never used for an airshow

[Orgnoi1]

Originally Posted by etaf

a monopod may be ueful - i have one now, but never used for an airshow

Be REAL careful if you choose to use a monopod... you are going to end up hitting a lot of people in front of you when the planes head skyward...LOL

[PhotosGuy]

Sports Shooting Tutorials and Advice
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=135417

AF Point selection for sports
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=112654

Air Show Photography
http://photo.net/learn/airshow/

Why do you guys use manual? AV makes more sense.
http://www.photography-on-the.net/fo...d.php?t=130176

[adamsti]

Originally Posted by etaf

a monopod may be ueful - i have one now, but never used for an airshow

Monopods are really only good for engine run up, or taxi shots where you want a lot of prop blur, like this. I think this is 1/60 or a little lower. Gets tough to hold it steady when you get this slow. As said above if you use it for fly overs you will nail somebody with it.

[Amorous]

Thank you all for very good tips. I'll keep it in mind when I shoot.

One more question. When I do aerial shots, do I lie down on the ground (of course facing up) or just wait until the plane gets at an angle? I'm worried about getting a neck pain. LOL

[Amorous]

Originally Posted by adamsti

Monopods are really only good for engine run up, or taxi shots where you want a lot of prop blur, like this. I think this is 1/60 or a little lower. Gets tough to hold it steady when you get this slow. As said above if you use it for fly overs you will nail somebody with it.

Wow. This is a fantastic shot. For this kind of shot, I think I'll use my 24-105 since it has the IS. It seems like you were right in front of the plane. Were you allowed to do that? Obviously you did.

[adamsti]

Originally Posted by Amorous

Wow. This is a fantastic shot. For this kind of shot, I think I'll use my 24-105 since it has the IS. It seems like you were right in front of the plane. Were you allowed to do that? Obviously you did.

I don't have the EIXF data handy, but this was with the 70-200, I think. It is at the fence, in the pits at Reno. You can zoom is pretty tight. They are probably 25-30yds away.

[etaf]

if you install opanda for IE or firefox whatever you use you can right click on the image and see the EXIF as its beem loaded with the image

www.opanda.com

great little add-in

taken on a 10D
at 1/60th
F20
ISO100
250mm so that must be the 35mm equiv if taken with your 200mm

[adamsti]

Originally Posted by etaf

if you install opanda for IE or firefox whatever you use you can right click on the image and see the EXIF as its beem loaded with the image

www.opanda.com

great little add-in

taken on a 10D
at 1/60th
F20
ISO100
250mm so that must be the 35mm equiv if taken with your 200mm

Thanks, I can't install that at work, Big Brother watching. If it was 250mm then I was using the 100-400L.