Best lens for air shows

[antc]

Hi All,

I am planning to attend a few air shows this year and generally start getting more into aviation photography.

This has got me thinking about lens choice. In the long lens department I currently have a 100-400L (thinking of selling) and a 70-200 2.8 IS L with a 1.4x convertor (reason for selling my 100-400 is that I now mainly use this combination as I find it faster/sharper and so on)

I have a 40d and 5d classic (40d is what I use for action stuff like air shows)

I just want to make sure I am prepared and ready for the air shows, first up is Waddington at the end of the month. I have been looking through a lot of aviation pictures recently and it seems a lot of people are using either a 300 2.8 or 4 prime with convertors. Just wanted to ask peoples advice on thoughts on what they use or would recommend really?

Thanks in advance.

Ant

 

[Dougster]

Interesting.

I'm going for the 70-200 + x1.4 soon, but also worry I may not have enough length for aviation shots.

 

[kevshore]

The 100-400mm is used a lot at airshows. May be worth trying before you get rid.

Kev.

 

[modchild]

I had a Tamron 28-300 VC on a 550D for Waddington last year and it was just about long enough, although I was sat right at the front. I borrowed a 100-400 off a guy in the crowd (thanks again) and you can easily tell the difference in the 2 lenses from the photos. This year I'm a bit more prepared, with a 5D3 and 60D combo and a pair of Sigma's, the 120-400 OS and the 150-500 OS. TBH reach is definitely king when it comes to aviation and if you've got a 100-400 already I'd suggest you take that and see how you find it. It's a very capable lens and will give you great quality photos in all but the worst of light.

 

[seriousrikk]

For airshows the 100-400l is excellent.

A lot of action happens right over the runway so you don't always need to be at 400mm. I did Waddington last year with my 300 F4 only and missed a few shots because the flying was taking place too close. And I had already backed well away from the flight line!

This year I have a 300 F2.8 but I'm leaving it at home in favour of my 70-300mm L

 

[antc]

The 100-400mm is used a lot at airshows. May be worth trying before you get rid.

Kev.

I had a Tamron 28-300 VC on a 550D for Waddington last year and it was just about long enough, although I was sat right at the front. I borrowed a 100-400 off a guy in the crowd (thanks again) and you can easily tell the difference in the 2 lenses from the photos. This year I'm a bit more prepared, with a 5D3 and 60D combo and a pair of Sigma's, the 120-400 OS and the 150-500 OS. TBH reach is definitely king when it comes to aviation and if you've got a 100-400 already I'd suggest you take that and see how you find it. It's a very capable lens and will give you great quality photos in all but the worst of light.

For airshows the 100-400l is excellent.

A lot of action happens right over the runway so you don't always need to be at 400mm. I did Waddington last year with my 300 F4 only and missed a few shots because the flying was taking place too close. And I had already backed well away from the flight line!

This year I have a 300 F2.8 but I'm leaving it at home in favour of my 70-300mm L

Right 100-400 it is, will see how best I get on. Not really sure why, I just seem to have never 100% got on with this lens. I have seen so many great photographs captured by others using it but only have perhaps a handful myself.

In terms of shooting aircraft then......has anyone got any tips?

Pretty sure from memory last year I turned the IS off on the lens, centre spot focus and tried to keep the shutter speed as hight as possible unless the aircraft I was shooting had a prop and then of course i went for prop blur.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, of course if its bright is evaluative metering best? Although tbh, forcast is for rain! :thumbsdown:

 

[modchild]

The light at Waddington usually gets better in the afternoon when the sun (if there is any) goes behind the crowd line so the planes are lit well. With a lot of cloud about like there has been today you maybe better with spot metering and turning the exposure comp up a notch or two. I've been taking the practice photos from the back garden today and got these.

Taken at 1/1000, f7.1 and ISO320 and 2/3 ex comp @ 500mm

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Taken at 1/1000, f7.1 and ISO320 and 2/3 stop ex comp @ 500mm

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Taken at 1/1000, f7.1, ISO320 @ 500mm

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All are Jpegs SOOC and no PP apart from crop. TBH they're the only ones I've done anything with so far as I got around 400 shots altogether and not had time to kick the duff ones out yet. It looks like I've compressed too much when saving by the file size but they're not a finished article yet. I'm reasonably happy with these considering how much cloud has been flying about. All taken with my 5D3 and Sigma 150-500 OS and handheld.