Require some tips for capturing Formula 1 cars

Dear all,

i would like to ask for some tips on how to capture nice formula one pictures.

i'm a new owner of a EOS500D and i'm a real amateur, i possess a 50mm and a 18-55mm normal lens, i would like to know what configurations would be good for photographing the formula one vehicles tomorrow.

i saw some really nice pictures on f1.com i would like to capture something like the sample that i have posted.

So i believe i have to use TV mode am i right, what config would be good for the shutter speed and what to use for ISO considering its a night race, but the tracks are fully lited heavily with flood lights.

thank you very much for reading my posts, i hope to get some feedback and comments.

thank you


darren

Darren,
The picture looks like it's done with motion blur and mask in PP.
Also, if it's not your own picture, you're not supposed to post it here but you can post a link.
For fast moving car shooting, on top of the camera settings, there are some different techniques you can use or should use depends on the angle to your subject, such as paning, pre-focus, etc.
May I suggest you to do a forum search at sports photography talk.

55mm is definitely not going to be long enough unless you're actually standing on the track!

Be careful of the Renault cars - they might crash into you on purpose.

As said above, tough to shoot with 55mm. You need as long as possible and a lot of practice. Try to get close to a slow speed corner - looks like turn 13, 14, 16 and 18 are the best bets.

nostatic wrote in post #8705533
Be careful of the Renault cars - they might crash into you on purpose.

hahahah

you're definitely gonna need a long zoom lens. your lenses are not going to be able to deliver shots like that unfortunately

As already said a longer lens is required and I would go and practice shooting some traffic first to practice your panning technique.

Long focal lengths and fast shutter speeds are your friends. Technique's more important than equipment: these images came from a basic Digital Rebel 300d.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

If you can get close to the track then you might be able to get away with 100mm or so, but this it is difficult to get this close as a spectator.

I've done Belgium and Silverstone, and most of my shots were taken in the 300-500mm range (mostly towards the longer end within that range too).

Crowds and fencing are a problem too, F1 events are busy.

I assume your doing Singapore, so you have the complication of a night race (albeit under lights) which means high ISO and keeping an eye on the white balance under the lights.

Settings: Highest iso that gets you a shutter speed of 1/320 or so to still maintain a bit of blur in the wheels. Tracking focus (I tend to use centre point AF only).

Good luck, take loads of shots. Plenty will be out of focus or the cars will be partially out of frame. From last onths Belgium race I took about 1300 pics across the four days, maybe 75% of those were of track action and probably only 30% or so of those were technically ok, and maybe only 50% of those were interesting enough to bother with.

I made two threads on here from belgium, here's the links:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=747466
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=754438

John.

As said above, unless you are track side, you are going to need a longer lens. I don't know Singapore, but last year at Silverstone, I found I needed 300mm - 400mm for my shots.

On a slightly different topic, I see Brawn GP have a new (additional) sponsor for the Singapore GP, I wonder if it has anything to do with the availability of a certain new model of camera?

hey guys, thank you all for the advises, the 55mm was really insufficient, my pictures were so small. crap and i was at at the 3rd row from the pitstop. damn. nevertheless i really appreciate it.

DC Fan, you were right " Also, the AI Servo tracking autofocus setting is the best for these situations"

the Al Servo really was the most effective for me. the pictures i too were too amateurish, don't think i'll be posting them anytime soon

thanks

Perhaps F1 isn't the place to start - as I believe you now understand.

Why not try and find some local motorsports events at which you can wander around and take photos of the cars and drivers off the track to start with?
Then if you really want to do some action photography you can think about getting a telephoto lens/long zoom; at local events you will be able to get much nearer the track to take photos.

if you'll be there all day use that IS lens to try to 'track' a car by moving your lens. the slightly longer exposure time will give you the background blur you want for showing speed

Rather than spend large wads of money on longer glass, think about renting.

I rented a 500mm f/4 IS L for the British MotoGP at Donnington earlier this year. Had it for three whole days and it cost £100. And thats one expensive lens.

Once you bite the bullet and start thinking about long lenses, you will need to also think about a monopod. I dread to think what my muscles would have felt like after a day of hand-holding the 500!