Olympic Torch Equipment

milster

milster

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Well as it will be passing us tomorrow I've been thinking about what lens to use, never shot anything like this before and have no idea what to do :shrug:

My choices of lens on my d3100 are Nikon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 or 35mm 1.8. (also got my 18-55mm kit lens)

What would you use and/or are going to use?

I know this is all subjective but just trying to get some ideas :D

:thumbs:
 
Yep, i'm having similar thoughts... Likely 55-250, but wondering if kit18-55 would be better. Would prefer (iq wise) my 50 1.4, but assume fixed would be a bit of a liability as just don't have the experience to anticipate the shot properly (and with family in tow i wont be running around swapping lenses and trying to get the perfect positions!)
 
2 things to consider, how close do you plan on being as it passes ? And do you want a wide views of the event or an up close view of the event.
 
urdygurdy said:
2 things to consider, how close do you plan on being as it passes ? And do you want a wide views of the event or an up close view of the event.
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I think this is the main problem, I can't make up my mind :lol:

If only it wasn't the second day I'd have had the chance to see some other peoples shots first :D
 
Came past my house this afternoon. I used my fujifilm x10 and I think having the ability to go from wide angle to zoom was really handy because it does pass you by very quick so composition isn't always easy.

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I am looking more towards the wider lens. We're going down to my daughters school as it's going right past and they want as many of the kids there as possible so it's probably going to be really busy as well. Might get the wife on the compact as well for when I mess my shots up :lol:
 
I am strongly leaning towards a long end. It is much easier to shoot action with a long lens, and compose a clean shot. If there is a big landmark and you can get close, you should have some time swap that tele to UWA.
I am going for 200mm + 1DIII in Bristol, but will have 17-40 just in case.
 
The 'torch' passed the end of my road about an hour ago, but I couldn't be bothered to walk the 50 or so yards...

Especially as it was inside a van - my wife went for a look see, police motorcycles, followed by an 'Olympic' car, 'Olympic' van (presumably with torch inside :thinking:) and the coach with the runners. Suppose I should have gone with the camera to record this historic event, but TBH I find myself completely disinterested and feel there are far more important things on my mind these days.

Paul
 
paul williams said:
The 'torch' passed the end of my road about an hour ago, but I couldn't be bothered to walk the 50 or so yards...

Especially as it was inside a van - my wife went for a look see, police motorcycles, followed by an 'Olympic' car, 'Olympic' van (presumably with torch inside :thinking:) and the coach with the runners. Suppose I should have gone with the camera to record this historic event, but TBH I find myself completely disinterested and feel there are far more important things on my mind these days.

Paul
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If that was the procession then the actual torch follows a few minutes behind the procession with all the other cars and trucks :thumbs:
 
I'm gobsmacked (but this happens on fleebay) :cuckoo: - now over £30K but looking at everything except the title it is very clear that it is a photograph. There are some stupid people out there! :cuckoo:

There are several torches available from 99p to 150K altho' the one linked above has now been removed!
 
AESamuel said:
If that was the procession then the actual torch follows a few minutes behind the procession with all the other cars and trucks :thumbs:
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No, it was well published before hand that there would be no runners at this point, which was perhaps why only 20 or so people bothered to have a look. If we wanted to see a torch bearer we would either have had to go to the next village along the route - or back to where they put the torch in the van,:cuckoo: which a few from our road did.

Quote from local press;
"There were huge cheers at 8.45am as Mark Ormorod, who lost both legs and an arm in Afghanistan, took hold of the Olympic Torch to carry it out of Plymouth. Six minutes later the torch went into 'convoy mode', being carried in the van for a short trip to Brixton."


Paul
 
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paul williams said:
No, it was well published before hand that there would be no runners at this point, which was perhaps why only 20 or so people bothered to have a look. If we wanted to see a torch bearer we would either have had to go to the next village along the route - or back to where they put the torch in the van,:cuckoo: which a few from our road did.

Quote from local press;
"There were huge cheers at 8.45am as Mark Ormorod, who lost both legs and an arm in Afghanistan, took hold of the Olympic Torch to carry it out of Plymouth. Six minutes later the torch went into 'convoy mode', being carried in the van for a short trip to Brixton."


Paul
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Ah so it wasn't the actual procession then? Makes sense.
 
skiking said:
I'm gobsmacked (but this happens on fleebay) :cuckoo: - now over £30K but looking at everything except the title it is very clear that it is a photograph. There are some stupid people out there! :cuckoo:

There are several torches available from 99p to 150K altho' the one linked above has now been removed!
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now gone. I could see the bitter disapointment of all the parties involved :dummy:
 
As it was setting off outside the office, I pondered bringing the 300mm, but went with the 28-80mm, which was indeed the right choice for the moment. (I hadn't, I admit, actually intended to photograph it - I was simply heading into the office, and only remembered what was going on after I got onto the bus.. pleased I did, though. I've no love for the Olympics organisation, and not much interest in the event itself, but the pride of the torch-bearer was radiant. That made the shot, for me)


Olympic Torch 2012 by -Porsupah-, on Flickr
 
Shorter is better I found, with the media horse box that travels just in front of the torch bearer unless you are on the opposite side of the road to them then your view is blocked by it or the police running along side and your not allowed to enter that area (see the video above)
If you can get to a point where the next torch bearer is dropped off and waits for the flame to arrive then you can get a bit of time to shoot the waiting torch bearer, move down the road to get the flame arrive (running shot) and the transfer of the flame shot, then move allong a bit more and get your new torch bearer running with the flame. Just watch out for which hand the torch is held in as if its on your side they are likley to block their face with their arm.
 
I've posted this already in the X100 thread, but I found its 35mm (equivalent) length just about right.

p1038073011-4.jpg
 
Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you'll need a wide lens, there will be too many people and vehicles in the way for anything much longer that 100mm.

I took a 70-200 and all my shots of the torch are at 70mm, I wish I'd have use the 24-70 instead, unless you have 2 bodies there is no time to change lenses as it's passed by in just a few seconds, if your in the crowd it's here and gone in the blink of and eye .
 
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I used 18-70mm on a crop camera. Had my big zoom in my rucksack but given you can get right up close to the torch carriers and to be able to capture the crowds a small zoom was all that was required.

Can't believe I missed Kieth Lemon this morning - what a lemon! I left them all to it once it went into the industrial estate as I thought that was that. Was only when I was at home one of my neighbors saw me and asked if I'd got any shots of him - note to self....do a bit of research next time. Mind you, it was an achievement in itself getting up at stupid o'clock on a rainy Sunday morning :gag:
 
skiking said:
Mind you, it was an achievement in itself getting up at stupid o'clock on a rainy Sunday morning :gag:
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At least it didn't rain too much, and there was somewhere to buy a coffee on the industrial estate.

I had heard the torch was coming back out of Adidas, but didn't know Keith Lemon was going to be carrying it.
 
You think you got up stupidly early? I'm 45 runners ahead of you. Apologies for the watermark.
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I'm taking 10 cameras, two assistants, a small mountain of sound and grip gear, and about 200gb of flash memory.
 
Seems an awful lot of trouble to go to, to get a couple of muzzy screencaps!! :p
 
DemiLion said:
Seems an awful lot of trouble to go to, to get a couple of muzzy screencaps!! :p
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oi you! Bloody expensive dictaphone to remind me of what went on that I'm setting up too... ;)
 
That way I can even live stream it too!

*sells expensive cameras*


OP, sorry: take a wide and a telephoto. 18-55 and 55-200 or 24-70 and 70-200 or similar combination :)
 
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