Goodwood Festival Of Speed 2010 Update post #26

Canon 70-200 2.8 or Canon 100-400

  • 70-200 2.8

    Votes: 29 74.4%

  • 100-400

    Votes: 10 25.6%
  • Total voters
    39
Peter-T

Peter-T

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So im off in july to goodwood festival of speed and I want to get some photos whilst im there. Im looking to hire a lens. Would i be better off hiring the Canon 70-20 f2.8 or would i do better with the extra reach of the Canon 100-400??
Ive never been to Goodwood before and im not booking grandstand seats so im unsure where abouts i'll be.

Any advice would be greatly appriciated!
 
I am also going this year..cant wait.
Went last year and had a ball.
I mainly shot at about 80mm as you can get quite close to the track. Had to do a fair bit of pp though to get rid of people's heads. (why do the tall people always have to be at the front? :) )
 
I rented a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 non-IS and found it to work quite well last year.
 
It all depends on proximity to the track, weather conditions (if its very overcast the shorter wider lens would be far more advantageous) etc... You have a crop body, and based off what i've seen from there, Id say the 70-200 would provide you with enough reach, and the wider lens would be more advantageous in certain circumstances.

70-200.
 
Skyline On Fire said:
It all depends on proximity to the track, weather conditions (if its very overcast the shorter wider lens would be far more advantageous) etc... You have a crop body, and based off what i've seen from there, Id say the 70-200 would provide you with enough reach, and the wider lens would be more advantageous in certain circumstances.

70-200.
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Spot on for Goodwood :thumbs: :)
 
Dave450 said:
Spot on for Goodwood :thumbs: :)
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agree completely, you can get quite close to the track at goodwood so don't think you'll need the longer reach.

Also suggest you try possitioning at the access road from the track back to the paddock at the end of the runs, as you can get great close up shots of the cars as they come back down the hill
 
I'd go for longer reach, I normally use the 300/2.8 and some crazy wideangle lenses
 
I would go for the 70-200mm, reason being some friends went last year and they were just using P&S cameras but got good results for being so close to the track, I would imagine you would speed little time going anywhere over 200mm on the 100-400
 
Anyone got any general tips for where to go/stand on a general admission (i.e. non-grandstand) entry ticket?
 
Have a walk about and if you like rally cars get the tractor ride up to the rally stage. Just pack the gear away first as the tractor ride is bumpier than the Elephant Man's face.

I came down from Glasgow for one day at it, so I got there early looked round the Audi stands and tents and got a few photos of the centre piece display before the crowds became massive. Buy a radio/programme they sell (it was £12 so a bit of a rip off) as it's really handy to know what is going on and who is driving etc.

I stood at a long straight just round from the start line (forget the name) and managed to get some shots although folks heads need cropping out and the hay bales play havoc with the images if it was bright with the light reflecting (it was scorching that day). At certain places the crowds are about 4 or 5 deep so get in early if there is something like an F1 car on the track etc.

Get there early, take a packed lunch and have a good walk round and if you find a nice spot set up.
 
Get there early. We usually arrive before 7am just to get away from the parking rush. Cook a brekkie on the grass [although our Tuscan's exhausts almost set fire to the grass one year... that's another story...]

You won't need 400mm much, but you'll regret not having 50mm more. So choose a 70-200 and a 50mm. You're closer than you think.

Oh, and take a walk around the car park during lunch. You'd be amazed what some people park outside...
 
Haven't been for a couple of years - but the Friday tended to be less busy and a perhaps better day for photo ops. Less 'clebs' about though.
 
You dont have a poll option for both lenses :)

I used both 70-200F2.8 and 100-400L at the FOS. Probably used the 100-400 more though for shots down the track.

As has been said before you are quite close at some points on the hill so a shorter lens essential as well....

Here are a couple of samples from the 2009 FOS (taken on the Friday) with the 100-400L

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C90B9442.jpg
 
Your main problem is finding a spot where you can put a bit of distance between you and the cars. The safety barrier is a taped fence a couple of metres back from a hay bale wall (several bales wide) which means directly in front of you you cannot see the wheels on the ground - they are hidden behind the hay.

So you either need to find a kink in the track so you can shoot more head on (you'll spot these kinks, its where the togs are all stood) or get some elevation somehow... but in doing so the photo looks less dramatic (the higher the viewer is, the less dominating the car/bike looks - basic composition theory here).

The rally cars are the best thing to shoot there - or the static stuff if you get there REALLY early before the crowds arrive.
 
In the pits early on b4 the crowds arrive, top of the hill you can usually get a good spot if you hang around, rally stage always has a few good positions and the exit from the pits to the opening straight is normally good once the cars start rolling out to the track. Supercar paddock by the house too, again get there eraly

here's a few of mine from last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hairyduck/sets/72157621547266970/
 
For anyone looking for a couple of FOS tips. The "turn around area" down at the start is actually outside the ticketing area "A" on the map. So its a good opportunity for some free snaps.

The bit in the red tramlines is in full sun, the rest can be shaded. You can see a bit from the map how it kinks around.

Also Keep you programme in as good condition as you can and you'll get your money back on eBay afterwards if you want to sell it.

FOS.jpg
 
thanks for all your comments guys, i've gone with the 70-200 and as the x1.4 was only an extra tenner got that aswell (98-280 f4). i'll take my nifty too.

I'm getting there thursday so i'll make sure im in early friday morning
i'll get a good look on google maps before I go, good preparation lol
 
And don't forget the crop factor of 1.6 on your 500D.

I went a couple of years ago and it was great - enjoy yourself. :thumbs:
 
Sorry, one more question, as you look down on the circuit from google maps, which direction do they drive??

yeah, id forgoten about that
 
Peter-T said:
Sorry, one more question, as you look down on the circuit from google maps, which direction do they drive??

yeah, id forgoten about that
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Have a look at # 19 No1Joker post and the directions are shown.

If your stood in front of the house they run from your left to right and up the hill
 
i went in 2008 & i think it's the biggest waste of money....you could see squat & was way too overcrowded...i hated it to be honest
 
britco said:
i went in 2008 & i think it's the biggest waste of money....you could see squat & was way too overcrowded...i hated it to be honest
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Sharpen your elbows up. ;)
 
Well, I got my delivery this morning from LensPimp
As suggested by you guys a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L IS II USM and a 1.4x TC

And oh my god its HUGE, and bloody HEAVY.

It really is the answer to all my dreams, its super super fast focusing, silent as anything and so sharp the images are cutting my eyes!

I love it!
I really really love it!

But i really dont love the price for them :thumbsdown: shame i have to send it back monday
I cant wait to get down to Goodwood now, i leave tomorrow morning.

If any of you see a young lad with a 500d and a 70-200, it may well be me :)
 
I think you're going to get blown away :D I didn't really get the hype about it until I was first prompted to go when they had the display of Bonneville cars a few years ago. Been back every year since.

I've had success photographing the hillclimb action on the house side of the track just a bit before the pedestrian bridge....

Fos_068.jpg


...and also on the other side of the bridge on one of the free stands opposite the exit from the "F1" paddock. Gotta watch for the loudspeaker poles and heads of the people standing at the front there though...

Goodwoodfos_294.jpg


There's a break every half hour or so while the cars come back down from the top and the next group comes out. At this point its quite often possible to get a decent vantage point as people choose to move around spaces become available.

I find there is too much to be able to cram it all in in one day so unless you really want to go and see the rallying then give it a miss as it is a long trek up there and before you know it you've lost half your day and have seen almost nothing of the displays around the house. If you're going to be there all weekend or for two days ignore me and try and do it all. :thumbs: :bonk:
 
I'll be there tomorrow and Friday :)

I've hired an 85mm F1.2L II to have a play with over the two days, also taking along my 70-200 and 100-400L

Have been the past few years and quite simply its brilliant although you do really need more than one day to see everything!!
 
I'll arrive down there tomorrow, got tickets for Friday and Saturday
 
I've just been given a couple of free tickets for Sunday... Shame my daughter is using all my gear at the City of London Festival that day!
 
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