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Arastad
10-28-2004, 23:53
I was just wondering if anyone can reccomend a good camera lens (size wise) for Air Shows. Currently I have a 50mm and a 28-80mm (Both Nikkon). I am assuming something with a little more zoom is preferred. I am jsut looking for something that will get some nice shots and not require it's own tripod :bigsmile:

Any input would be appreciated. The body is a Nikon N-80 (F-80 over the pond) if that helps.

Regards,
-Aras
Vicente_cgn
10-29-2004, 02:00
I was just wondering if anyone can reccomend a good camera lens (size wise) for Air Shows. Currently I have a 50mm and a 28-80mm (Both Nikkon). I am assuming something with a little more zoom is preferred. I am jsut looking for something that will get some nice shots and not require it's own tripod :bigsmile:

Any input would be appreciated. The body is a Nikon N-80 (F-80 over the pond) if that helps.

Regards,
-Aras

Hi there!

I would go to www.dpreview.com - there are lots of people that will help you. I'm only familiar with Canon-Equipment so I can't tell you what is good for Nikon. But I would say at least a good 200mm lens - perhaps with Image Stabilizer - would be ok for this.

Bye,
-Vic-
jhook
10-29-2004, 02:16
Hey Arastad,
I was just in Las Vegas. The big Areoconvention is goin on there. Are you trying to get some pic's of those aircraft by any chance? I saw the Thunderbirds practiced today. Great stuff! Now we got a resident Thunderbird crew around here somewhere. Maby he could share some direct info with us. :bounce:
Buckshot
10-29-2004, 04:20
In fact we are fortunate enough to have two thunderbirds team members on the forum here.
Arastad
10-29-2004, 08:52
Hehehehe - I wish I was in Vegas. I am actually in IL, so airshow season here is pretty much over until next year. Just thought I would get some suggestions now, so I can start saving for it (Translation - it's going to take a while to convince my wife that I need it) :wink2:

I have never seen the Thunderbirds at a show :sad: We did have the Blue Angels a couple of years ago. Need to get in touch with the museum here and see who's coming next year. (Our local air museum holds the airshow as a fund raiser)

-Aras
Haole
10-29-2004, 09:55
I was just wondering if anyone can reccomend a good camera lens (size wise) for Air Shows. Currently I have a 50mm and a 28-80mm (Both Nikkon). I am assuming something with a little more zoom is preferred. I am jsut looking for something that will get some nice shots and not require it's own tripod :bigsmile:

Any input would be appreciated. The body is a Nikon N-80 (F-80 over the pond) if that helps.

Regards,
-Aras
Send a PM to Stang. He does a lot of photography at airshows, etc and has some GREAT prints. He would be a good one to talk to!
kodak
10-29-2004, 10:17
I am working with Canon gear, though the mm apply to Nikon as well... ;)

The lenses I use are a 28-80, 70-200 and a 300 fixed. With the 1.4 and 2x extenders, I can thus cover the range up till 600mm (well, or more if I use both, the 1.4 and 2x with the 300, but that's not really good for the image quality then).

You can get great 2nd hand lenses on eBay! I'ld prefer to buy a very good lens that is used over a new lens that is optically not that good, whilst prices can be quite similar!

This shot here was taken with 300mm and the lens full open (unfortunately this beauty is not flying enymore - crashed last year in December (3 months after I took this pic), killing the pilot):
kodak
10-29-2004, 10:23
The same situation, this time in portrait format, again 300mm wide open:
kodak
10-29-2004, 10:25
Now I put the 2x tele extender on the 300mm and shot this frame with a resulting 600mm at the Air04 in Payerne this year (imagequality without the 2x is definetely better):
kodak
10-29-2004, 10:28
Same event, different lens, different aircraft! I had the 70-200mm lens with the 2x converter mounted (--> 140-400mm). At the time of this shot, it was set to 400mm I would guess:
kodak
10-29-2004, 10:31
The Mirage got so close, that even zooming back to 140mm which was then my shortest length with the 2x/70-200 combo, did not help. I had to crop the machine and couldn't even get it really sharp. I guess the pilot received quite some swear words from the tower after this departure on monday! :bounce:
Arastad
10-29-2004, 15:54
Thanks Kodak, like the pictures showing the differences between the various setups. Great shots - terible to hear about the pilot and plane though.

-Aras
Buckshot
10-29-2004, 16:11
Great shots Kodak!!


Now I know where you got your callsign, lol
krazyscotsman
10-31-2004, 14:09
I'm a canon guy myself. I would use something on the wide side for static aircraft such as Canon 17-40mm L or maybe 24-70mm L. For flying aircraft, well this is going to depend greatly but I would recommend the 100-400mm L. The 100-400mm is really great for getting close but not limited to just one fixed focal length. I know in terms of Canon gear the 100-400mm L is actually sharper than a 70-200mm L with a 2x tele. I don't know much about Nikon gear, but a nice wide angle and a nice 300+ is a great combo. If you are using digital slr remember you have a crop factor (Canon's 20D, it is 1.6x) due to a smaller sensor than film frame. Good luck... remember to keep that shutter speed UPPPP to stop flying jets. My experience has been shutters above 1/500 (preferrably 1/1000+).


OH as a fellow photo. nut, I can only echo what Kodak said. IF at all POSSIBLE, go with the best lenses you can find. Yes, they are more expensive (Canon L lenses in the Canon world). However, you will get better saturation, sharper images, wider aperatures through the zoom range which translates to higher shutter speeds, etc. I would recommend buying a top high end lens over a new consumer grade. Try http://www.keh.com also for some new and used equipment.

Krazyscotsman