Space Shuttle Launch lens

I'll be heading down to see the last shuttle launch in June, and I was planning on renting the 500mm f/4L and a 2x TC. I'll probably be shooting from Titusville, which is about 13 miles away. From anyone that has shot a shuttle launch, would that lens be a good choice to rent, or should I look at the 600mm/800mm? I know 13 miles isn't too close, and I was wondering if the 500 and 2x TC would be long enough to get tight enough shots of it. I'm thinking it would be, but I'd like to be sure as I'll never have this chance again.

How exciting! I'm anxious to see what people suggest.

First thing that comes to my mind is whether or not you have a tripod sturdy enough to take still shots at that kind of focal length.

13 miles away sounds like a real challenge!

Make sure to post those images!

I will! Looks like I might have to settle for the 300mm f/4L though. I don't think I'll be able to afford the 500

Maybe spend some money on getting closer?

It's pretty easy to figure out if you just run the numbers.

A 500mm lens gives you a field of view of about 4.1 degrees horizontally (on a FF sensor), and with the 2x teleconverter, you get around 2.06 degrees (again, horizontally).

Given that the launch pad is very close to 350ft tall at its highest point, it'll be roughly 0.29 degrees tall from 13 miles away. For reference, the moon is about 0.5 degrees tall on average.

Even an 800mm lens with a 2x converter on it only gets you a 1.29 degree field of view on a full frame camera. The 800+2x gets you about 1.0 degree FOV on a 1.3x crop camera, and 0.81 degree FOV on a 1.6 crop.


I don't have any experience actually shooting the space shuttle, so the only advice I can give is based on these numbers. I'd say that if you want to get close up shots of the shuttle on/right above the launch pad, go for as long a lens as you can get. If you want shots of the shuttle more than a moment after launch, you'll need a much wider FOV because of how fast it'll be moving.

Sounds like this will be an amazing opportunity, can't wait to see the results.

Hope you have a 'blast'!

gasrocks wrote in post #12039837
Maybe spend some money on getting closer?

Yeah, we're still not ruling out getting tickets for the causeway, but it depends on how much they are. I hope we can. That's only 6 miles away or so.

If you can get close enough, fish eye

GuitarFreak wrote in post #12040453
Yeah, we're still not ruling out getting tickets for the causeway, but it depends on how much they are. I hope we can. That's only 6 miles away or so.

You've got a excellent tele already. I think it would be worth the money to get closer than it would be to spend it on renting equipment.

Or maybe even settle. Get closer and rent/borrow a teleconverter.

Get closer physically or don't worry about it too much. From Titusville, the longer you go, the more you're magnifying atmospheric distortion more than anything else. I've seen telescope setups that nearly fill the frame with the pad, but there's little to see because of all the shimmering. A good compromise is the 70-200, so you get some scenery and the launch plume. Whatever you do, fire the camera remotely and don't foul the experience by messing with it during the launch.

Re: Getting closer, if you're unsuccessful with the KSC website's Causeway lottery, don't forget about tour companies like Florida Dolphin Tours, Gator Tours, Grayline Tours, etc. They essentially resell Causeway passes from KSC.

The only problem with getting on the causeway is there would be 6 of us going. I checked prices for the tickets and they're around $60, so that would be $360 for all of us. I don't think that's going to happen.

GuitarFreak wrote in post #12041030
The only problem with getting on the causeway is there would be 6 of us going. I checked prices for the tickets and they're around $60, so that would be $360 for all of us. I don't think that's going to happen.

I feel like $60 is a small price to pay to get up close and potentially capture some stunning images. I can understand why your spouse, friend, and/or family may not view this as a good opportunity.

So... I would say... Ditch them.

As you may know, there are a bunch of Space Shuttle launch threads in the "transportation" forum.

https://photography-on-the.net …1006241&highlig​ht=sts-133
https://photography-on-the.net …=936098&highlig​ht=sts-133
https://photography-on-the.net …1005925&highlig​ht=sts-133
https://photography-on-the.net …1005463&highlig​ht=sts-133

I generally use a 40D + EF500F4 + 1.4x T/C -- but shooting from closer than Titusville.

I would say that $60 each is well worth watching the LAST SHUTTLE LAUNCH from a very close distance. Thats not even including that you will get some great photos. Wish I could go.

BirdBoy wrote in post #12041419
I would say that $60 each is well worth watching the LAST SHUTTLE LAUNCH from a very close distance. Thats not even including that you will get some great photos. Wish I could go.

Oh I know. I'll be doing all I can to convince them to get closer. Unfortunately, I'll have a hefty tuition bill for college come fall, and our governor has decided to cut education spending by about half, so we're kind of watching what's going on.

Also, it could all be for nothing if they postpone it, which NASA likes to do.