700mm for air show?

So i signed up for Canons CPS program and have a loaner 500mm F4 coming and a 1.4TC for the Miramar Air show next week. I'm going to put it on my 5D MK III. What do you guys think? Too much? Am i better off just going down to the base 500? I was planning on bringing my 5D mK II with a 100-400 for closer stuff. Just trying to get some opinions at this point.

Thanks!

chuckie365 wrote in post #17178248
So i signed up for Canons CPS program and have a loaner 500mm F4 coming and a 1.4TC for the Miramar Air show next week. I'm going to put it on my 5D MK III. What do you guys think? Too much? Am i better off just going down to the base 500? I was planning on bringing my 5D mK II with a 100-400 for closer stuff. Just trying to get some opinions at this point.

Thanks!

To take your question literally, there's no 700mm lens available for a Canon mount camera. Sigma sells a 500mm prime and some zooms that top out at 500mm, and Tamron offers an older 200mm-500mm lens, along with a newer 150-600mm. The longest off-the shelf lens from Canon is an 800mm unit which sells for around US $13,000.

The legendary Canon 1200mm lens is rarely seen and isn't a production model.

Uhh...i understand that...i have a 500 and 1.4 that equals 700mm. The question is...is 700mm too much for an air show.

I think it would be great for bringing in those head-on/near head-on moments, that are too far away to fill the frame with a 400, in closer. Give it a try. If 700 is to much simply remove the TC. Come to think of it, I have a buddy that shoots that combo (Version I.) with great results. He does work out with weights in the off season.

I shoot 500mm all the time at airshows.. with a 8.2mp camera (1D2) it just isn't enough... if I could own a 500 f/4 + 1.4tc I would, without a doubt.

However, 500mm + 22(?)mp might be enough? Also, what is the flying like in the US, here in the UK it's high up and far away...but the passes are about the only good thing unless it's a big aircraft.

OK..like people have said..i can always remove the TC if the extra distance is too much..thanks for your input guys!

I rent the Sigma 50-500 for airshows and put it on a crop body. Should be about the same as the 500 with 1.4 converter on a full frame - It's definately not too much. I find myself at the long end quite a bit as the planes spend more time away from you than they do up close.

Since you have a second body you can put the 100-400 on you should be able to switch quickly to that when the get closer.

Yeah that's what i'm thinking. Hoping to get some cool clouds on Friday and Saturday

I live near (sometimes under) the flight patterns of an Air Force Base. I take a lot of photos depending on what is happening. My go to lens is a 100-400, which is what I also take to airshows as my main lens. I also have a 600mm and it is much more difficult to find and hold in the frame any aircraft in flight overhead, either handheld or on a Wimberely. If I am off to the side of a runway end, it is easier to use.

With the extender, taking it to 700, for me would be a challenge (overhead). This was taken at 600mm, about 500 yards off the end of a runway:

I wouldn't take a prime lens to an airshow. I have taken airshow shot before and I couldn't imagine doing it with a prime lens. You need to be able to zoom in and out with a 70-200 or longer telephoto. Sometimes you'll have 5-7 Thunderbirds or Blue Angels flying in formation right over your head or doing some crazy maneuvers where a 500-700 MM lens would be to much. I shot mostly with a cheap 55-250 from Canon that produced great results. And in your case a full frame camera deserves a better lens but from my experience you will end up missing many great shot on a fixed prime lens.

Great shot Keith!

Thanks for the advice guys. I've decided i'm going to start with 700 and then if it's too much i'll pull off the TC and go back down to 500. I'll have the 100-400 on a different camera so its just a question of how much i want to swap back and forth.

I would say that the killer head on shots start at 700mm, I have found 800mm and F4 is a deadly combination. One thing not to overlook here: support. I recommend either a very heavy duty tripod with a good heavy fluid head and weighted heavily or this:

http://www.custombrack​ets.com …uri-arcurs-steadypod.html

I shoot with both options depending on mobility required. Both are very different to shoot and take some getting used to. If you are shooting props at 60-80th or slower at 700mm, I suggest at least a couple of trips to an airport for practice first.

Also, think about transporting the kit around too. Get a good cargo skeleton roller carrier to lug this around. You need to get on location fast to get the spot and without killing you back or arms, those need to be saved for the lens work later!

Finally, when at 700mm inevitably at some point aircraft get too close to be full frame. Keep shooting, focus on hitting the pilot, the exhaust, the wing leading edges, the vapour trails......


777guru.

Yes, there will many opportunities to use your 500 + 1.4 combo.

Perhaps not for the BAs, but several other performers...Red Bull Helicopter, WarDog, Oracle, etc. These are smaller aircraft that often fly high in the sky. 700mm will work well.

Here's two shots I made at 600mm and 700mm. Even at these focal lengths some cropping was required...

700mm (500 f4 II + 1.4xIII)

chuckie365 wrote in post #17184514
Yeah that's what i'm thinking. Hoping to get some cool clouds on Friday and Saturday

It is going to be hot!!!!