What Lens to Hire for Airshow and Where from?

cambsno

cambsno

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Simon
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Want to get a good lens for Duxford this weekend - currently could go for a 300mm f4 (preferred choice), sigma 50-500 or possibly Nikon 80-400. Prefer the prime due to IQ but the zooms would be versatile but worry about sharpness on the 80-400.

I would have liked to use Lenses for Hire due to great feedback but they don't have any 300mm this weekend so who else to use?
 
cambsno said:
I would have liked to use Lenses for Hire due to great feedback but they don't have any 300mm this weekend so who else to use?
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Didnt read this bit

You will struggle to get anything at this short notice I usually book 3 months in advance.
 
With the British weather what it is, didn't want to book in advance and then be left with a 300mm stuck inside due to rain, rain and more rain!!
 
Well, I need to decide between the Sigma 50-500 and the Nikon 80-400 - I think the sigma is the best bet but if anyone has used either or both would like to know.
 
The sigma on the LFH website is suggestive that its the non OS version for hire.
Whilst ok in strong lighting conditions, if it dulls over slightly it starts to struggle for speed unless you open up your ISO.

I found with my non OS sigma for aircraft that f6.3 was soft but it performed better between f8-f11 but at the cost of noise due to high ISO to keep the shutter speed high.
 
Thanks Stuart, plan to shoot about f8-11 but who knows how light or dark it will be! Heard that the 80-400 is soft but has vr and hopefully at f8 it should be better.
 
The 80-400 has 'relatively' slow AF but how relevant that would be to shooting aircraft I'm not sure as I've never used it at airshows. Obviously the planes this weekend will be somewhat slower anyway so it may not matter.
 
Put off a bit by the slow AF, trying to decide (have 4 hrs to do so), whether to go for the Sigma or a 70-200 2.8 and 1.7tc, or even push the boat out and go for a 200-400!!
 
Go on Simon push the boat out and go 800mm!!!! :D

Personally I think the 70-200 plus TC will give you the most versatility.
 
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