F1 night time help.

[Ragwort]

First post.

I've had plenty of practice catching F1 before, though sadly from the wrong side of the fence, or high in the stands. Usually it's nice and bright.
However, I'm off to Abu Dhabi in November, where the race starts in daylight, and finishes in the dark.
Obviously the track is well lit for the cars. What sort of settings should I be looking at? Sony Alpha 300, 400mm 5.6, 70-210 1.4-5.6 Both "old type Minolta lenses"

 

[Impspeed]

Do you know where your seats are yet? I was based on support pits when I went last year, overlooking the Marina and hotel/chequered flag.

You'll probably be best off aiming for the 'wider' shots from up high. I found myself shooting with my 24-70 wide open at 2.8 on ISO 1600 and still struggling with 1/160s shutter speeds.

Here's a few from last year;

As it's a night race and the track is well lit this poses other problems with bloody lights getting in the way, as the last photo shows.

Just been offered two tickets to this years race too - I'd love to go again but I'm in Dubai a month before and now agreed to shoot Rally GB instead.

DB

 

[Ragwort]

Grandstand M. Where the cars go underneath the spectators if they fail to make the left hander at the end of the straight. Don't know if it's high seats or low down.
Also looking over the track down towards the rear of the grid. (Facing away from me)

 

[Ragwort]

Thanks for your answer Impspeed. Does any body else have any "guidelines"?
I'm off early Thursday morning and wouldn't mind some other ideas to try.

 

[desantnik]

Use something at least f2.8, whatever length that might be.

It might be lit, but not to the level of daylight and its quite surprising how what the human eye percieves as only slightly dimmer is actually like night and day to a camera.