Farnborough air show.

[nick.baker]

Hi all I am going to farnborough airshow this year and SHOULD have a canon 50d by the time it comes but will be renting lenses, what would be the best lenses in your opinion taking in account that aircraft static taking off landing and in the air. so im guessing a zoom lens? any help would be appreciated.

 

[hamster100]

As you will be renting then the Canon 100-400mm L plus you will also need something a bit wider for the static aircraft. how about 17-40L unless anyone else has any suggestions.

 

[nick.baker]

As you will be renting then the Canon 100-400mm L plus you will also need something a bit wider for the static aircraft. how about 17-40L unless anyone else has any suggestions.

Sounds good enough for me. I'm thinking of buying a sigma 18-250 or the canon 28-135 for static and taking off and landing what would you suggest?

 

[hamster100]

I don't have any experience of those lenses so can't really comment. I don't know if any other members could give you their experiences with them.

I use my 18-55 kit lens for the static and I have a Sigma 120-400mm for the flying shots.

If this is your first airshow, I would try and get some practice in first especially for the propeller aircraft shots where you will need a fairly slow shutter speed to get decent prop blur. It's a difficult to get right and takes practice.

 

[nick.baker]

I don't have any experience of those lenses so can't really comment. I don't know if any other members could give you their experiences with them.

I use my 18-55 kit lens for the static and I have a Sigma 120-400mm for the flying shots.

If this is your first airshow, I would try and get some practice in first especially for the propeller aircraft shots where you will need a fairly slow shutter speed to get decent prop blur. It's a difficult to get right and takes practice.

It'd be my second but I am thinking of going to my nearest airport (manston) and practicing as it was a bit touch and go last time

 

[hamster100]

That sounds like a good idea. I've been to many over the years and I'm still getting mixed results, but that could just be my lack skill!

Enjoy Farnborough, it's a long time since i went to that show but I'm sure it will be worth going.

 

[Bernie174]

The problem with Farnborough is that the display line is high as well as a bit further off than most airshows.
So 100-400L may not be long enough. But it would be fine for take off/landing shots. A bit of research and you can get some very impressive take off and landing shots, but you'd have to be mobile which on the public days isn 't practical due to the crowds.
The static is also a bit different from other airshows in that its more compact. But, I have used an 18-55 for it, and yes, it's OK. Whatever your skill level don't expect anything stunning from the static.

 

[nick.baker]

The problem with Farnborough is that the display line is high as well as a bit further off than most airshows.
So 100-400L may not be long enough. But it would be fine for take off/landing shots. A bit of research and you can get some very impressive take off and landing shots, but you'd have to be mobile which on the public days isn 't practical due to the crowds.
The static is also a bit different from other airshows in that its more compact. But, I have used an 18-55 for it, and yes, it's OK. Whatever your skill level don't expect anything stunning from the static.

when using my tamron 70-300 it was ok for air shots so hoping the 100-400L is ok

 

[Bernie174]

That depends on what you consider 'OK'.
As I said, the display line at Farnbrough is higher than most airshows, and a bit further back than many.
I used a 100-400 for the last couple of FBO's, and it wasn't adequate from my point of view. Fine for take offs, and landings if you pick the right spot, or go on the non public days but anything smaller than a Hercules isn't going to fill your frame during the main part of it's display.
This is about as good as it gets for the main part of a display, and this is cropped in alot!

But on the plus side, pick your spot right, and many people there don't, and with a 100-400 this is what you can get:

 

[MG TF 135]

/\ i'd trade relatives for shots like those!


I think that the 100-400 will be fine, i hope so as that's what i'll be armed with this year!

As already noted you will need to get a good position, having been before you will have some idea of where the action happens. I know of some people that do not actually enter the airshow and instead get their shots from public areas around the perimeter of the airfield, could be worth checking out on a 2nd day.

It also depends on what sort of shot you are looking to get. I got this one at 200mm, i wanted to get the dramatic climb angle and the wash from the engines, so 200 was long enough.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjkcanon/4850559020/] Eurofighter by MJK Canon, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[DanielShillcock]

I should be going on a trade day this year - Hopefully borrowing a friends 5DMKII - Although yet to ask

 

[nick.baker]

I should be going on a trade day this year - Hopefully borrowing a friends 5DMKII - Although yet to ask

I'm going to wait till the next one for that as haven't got the funds

 

[cosmicma]

last farnborough air show ( 2010 ) i used a 70 - 200 f4 L with the 1.4 converter and it was fine i would imagine the 100 - 400mm lens would be ideal for most shots but you'll definitely need something wider for the aircraft on the ground

this was taken at 280mm with quite heavy cropping ( about 40% )

and this one where they are taking off was taken at about 100mm

both taken with a 50d so keep in mind the crop factor at 300mm

 

[Ruffy]

The key with this airshow is NOT TO SHOOT FROM INSIDE, get yourself up on to the racecourse hill, it's at the end of the runway and most if not all will pass very low