Aviation Gear

[cloudhunter]

Hi,

Which would be the best for aviation photography?

APS-C for the longer reach
APS-H canons for the very fast fps
FF for the better quality but less reach?

 

[desantnik]

Whichever delivers the best image quality matched with quality glass of the right length.

The sensor size is more about budget than ultimate quality- cheaper body with more crop and shorter glass.

Or alternatively, things like the 7D with its high pixel count are getting people back to "digital zoom", which basically means the crop tool in photoshop!

 

[pete.rush]

Depends on your budget.

You could look at the 2nd hand market, the 1D MkIIn is still out there and going for reasonable money, still beats most of the customer offerings (canon 7D, 50D, 40D, Nikon D300, D90 for focus speed) to the finishing line.

But glass is usually the biggest hole. A canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 and say a 40D would set you up, but were in the £1500-2000 range. It's really the glass you attached to the camera that's makes significant difference and you can spend alot of money. Canon fall down at that stage for a fast long zoom after the 100-400mm. Next step is the primes. A 2nd hand 300mm f2.8 for £2500 - 3000, significantly more new.

A nikon D90 is an alternative, but the nikon 80-400mm (is £$%"), so an alternative lens would be needed. The sigma 100-300mm f4 would meet that requirement, or nikon 300mm f4, otherwise your into the mega $$ faster primes and the nikon 200-400mm f4 zoom.

I don't rate sigma's new budget zooms (120-400, 150-400 etc) and the sigma 120-300mm f2.8 isn't for aviation, more for motorsport.

Although your budget controls what you buy

 

[cloudhunter]

Hi Pete,

Your look like your into aviation by your avatar.

SO you shoot with a Canon 1dMkIIn then? Thats is 8mp iirc isnt it?

Do you think the AF is much better than say the Nikon D300?

Cheers

 

[pete.rush]

Hi Pete,

Your look like your into aviation by your avatar.

SO you shoot with a Canon 1dMkIIn then? Thats is 8mp iirc isnt it?

Do you think the AF is much better than say the Nikon D300?

Cheers

Yep, the 1D series is purpose built for sports photography. Ok pixel count on my MkII camera is 8 v 12..15...17 for current consumer models (D90, D300, 50D, 7D), but apart from the MkIII or Nikon D3 range, it still a major contender autofocus wise, especially with say a 300mm f2.8 fitted, I would still buy a 2nd hand 1D MKIIn over a Nikon D300 any day as I can still get A2 prints with my MkII. OK pixel density gives you more flexibility to crop in, but very happy with mine.