Advice on shooting an Airshow

Bend The Light

Bend The Light

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Craig
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I am going to RAF Waddington Airshow in July and I am thinking of renting a lens to use while I am there.
I have a Canon 1d MkIIn.

I have looked at one of the big Sigma lenses, and also at the 100-400mm Canon L.

What I would like is twofold:

1. What lens would I be best getting? For the planes in the sky we will be sat in an enclosure alongside the runway, so the lens won't be carries on the camera very much. On the second day we will be doing the ground displays, so may use a different lens for that anyway (I have a 28-80 Tamron, and a 50mm f1.8).

2. What settings might I use for shots of planes in flight? I know there are several settings for the use of various focus points, auto-expansion of the focus points used etc. Shoot AV, TV Manual? And then also compensation on or off? Any advice specific to the 1dMKIIn or indeed, general advice, would be appreciated. :)
 
There are entire books devoted to the subject you're asking about....So answering in a few paragaphs isn't going to be simple.

First point, lens. Big as you can get is the simple answer. I use a 300 F2.8 with 1.4 and 2 x extenders. even 600mm isn't big enough sometimes.

The 100-400 is ok, ish, a bit soft at the 400 end, so it's not ideal as thats where you're going to spend most of the time being. If you mean the whatever to 500mm Sigmas, they are heavy, soft at the top end and slow. However, I have seen some good pictures from them.

What settings? Up to you. I use AV, some people use TV. I will argue that AV is best, someone will be along within a couple of hours telling you I am talking rubbish and TV is the better option. There's good and bad with both options, but AV works well for me. Manual? Good luck with that, the problem is as an aircraft moves the setting needed changes. Thats fine, if you can change settings at 400mph.

Exp Comp. I don't use it, canons metering is very good on it's own. However, I've not been to an Airshow at Waddington, so it maybe that the sun's in the wrong place, in which case you'll need it.

Other settings I guess are obvious, continuous focus, high speed drive, ISO as low as possible. I almost never use anything except 100.

For jets, highest possible shutter speed. For choppers and props, slow as possible.

I found some practice with birds helps a lot. There's also a huge amount of airshow pictures on places like flickr, it's always worth looking at them.

Bernie
 
Bernie174 said:
There are entire books devoted to the subject you're asking about....So answering in a few paragaphs isn't going to be simple.

First point, lens. Big as you can get is the simple answer. I use a 300 F2.8 with 1.4 and 2 x extenders. even 600mm isn't big enough sometimes.

The 100-400 is ok, ish, a bit soft at the 400 end, so it's not ideal as thats where you're going to spend most of the time being. If you mean the whatever to 500mm Sigmas, they are heavy, soft at the top end and slow. However, I have seen some good pictures from them.

What settings? Up to you. I use AV, some people use TV. I will argue that AV is best, someone will be along within a couple of hours telling you I am talking rubbish and TV is the better option. There's good and bad with both options, but AV works well for me. Manual? Good luck with that, the problem is as an aircraft moves the setting needed changes. Thats fine, if you can change settings at 400mph.

Exp Comp. I don't use it, canons metering is very good on it's own. However, I've not been to an Airshow at Waddington, so it maybe that the sun's in the wrong place, in which case you'll need it.

Other settings I guess are obvious, continuous focus, high speed drive, ISO as low as possible. I almost never use anything except 100.

For jets, highest possible shutter speed. For choppers and props, slow as possible.

I found some practice with birds helps a lot. There's also a huge amount of airshow pictures on places like flickr, it's always worth looking at them.

Bernie
Click to expand...

Thank you. :)
 
I'm going to be heading to waddington also this year. Last time I went I was shooting with a 70-300 which required some cropping.

This year I will be armed with a sigma 170-500 which should help.

I shot mainly in shutter priority.
 
306dean said:
I'm going to be heading to waddington also this year. Last time I went I was shooting with a 70-300 which required some cropping.

This year I will be armed with a sigma 170-500 which should help.

I shot mainly in shutter priority.
Click to expand...

Thank you. :)

That 170-500 gotta be heavy? On a 1dMIIn?
 
Bernie174 said:
. If you mean the whatever to 500mm Sigmas, they are heavy, soft at the top end and slow. However, I have seen some good pictures from them.
Click to expand...

I too will be at the airshow this year again but if you are willing to take the shots with the Sigma then its a great lens, I use it all the time and it produces superb images.

Its only heavy to people that arent that strong in all fairness as 2-3Kg really isnt that heavy, I hold it all day long when shooting cars or bikes.. although it is heavy hanging off your neck so thats not a good idea! :lol:

But even though they are technically slow they can easily catch the shots, this is from the red arrows practicing and they are not moving slow I can tell you that.

so if you are willing to try them they can be very good indeed.

red3_zps2e56e2a7.jpg
 
I use a Sigma 150-500 on a 550D, 7D for this year and also shoot in shutter priority. Good value for money lens in my opinion, had some nice results from the combination.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
indeed, the above is my 60D 150-500mm combo, I swear by it and best value for money out there in my eyes, the above was taken on a dull day too
 
Thank you guys. Still undecided - either an "x - 500,mm" sigma, or the 100-400 canon L. I will decide soon, so that I can get one ordered (I'll be renting, can't afford to buy at this time). :)

Cheers
 
If you're going to rent, go for 300L IS F2.8.
It's the only way to go, and not a fortune either. Mated with a 1.4X or better a 2x you have a very good combo for airshows. This being a reasonable example:

7592198136_5c7de3c926_b.jpg


True it still wont be long enough sometimes, but it does the trick mostly! When I last looked at prices it was obviously more than the zooms you mention, but not a huge amount.
 
So, I have a large Sigma on order for this (best sort my monopod, eh?). But I have also been advised to get a WA for the static displays as getting shots from further way will be tough, I'll need to go close and wider.
Any advice on a decent WA (zoom?) to go with the 1DIIn (1.3x crop)?

Thanks
 
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