Brands Hatch - Focal length ?

andyred

andyred

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Hi

I'm off to Brands soon and as I've never been I was after some advice of the ideal focal length lens to take, as not knowng how close I can get to the track.

Max focal length I've got at the moment is 300mm as I've not managed to get an extender yet

If anyone has any good spots to go to, that would be much appreciated

Thanks
 
You don't say whether you have a crop camera or FF, if crop then 300mm should be just about OK. I used a 150-500 at Silverstone on my 7D and it was fine. A lot will depend on where you can shoot from.
 
Oops...

Yes on a crop sensor and that's the unknown for me as to where I can shoot from.

Cheers
 
The only place where fences won't be an issue are on the island inside Druids, there's a few gaps in other places around the circuit if you can find one that's empty.
 
Only one side of druids is fenced - the entry side. The hairpin and the exit is still open.

Assuming your on the indy circuit there are a few more options than just druids - some through the fence (such as the top end of druids or looking through McLaren).

There is also the open area at clearways, the TV window/clearways. Looking down through Graham Hill bend from the south bank and looking into paddock hill. There are a couple of other areas too. While the fencing on druids represents a big loss, it's not the end of the world IMO. A small step ladder opens a couple more options too (I've never used one, but a few guys do)

On the GP circuit there are loads of options (Westfield, Hailwoods, sterlings, pilgims drop to name a few).

As for focal lengths anything between 100-400mm is ideal for pretty much anywhere, there are a couple of spots where you'd want longer and a few where you'd want wider. I generally uses a 70-200 and 100-400, occaisionally I'll go wider with 24-105.

hope this helps
 
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Yeah you can shoot on the exit of druids ok.
This was taken on the entry, there was a fence (of sorts) but you could shoot over it. Is this no longer possible? @40mm

Collard & Giovanardi by c20let, on Flickr

You can also shoot as they enter clearways, this is a popular spot so you'll be rubbing shoulders with others.

If they are using the GP loop get up in between hawthorn and westfield, you won't need anything like 300mm and the fence is very low. @ 105mm

Giovanardi by c20let, on Flickr

If you walk over the footbridge there is a small area on the entry to pilgrims drop you can shoot from too, @105mm

Pilgrims Drop by c20let, on Flickr

Exit of stirlings @ 285mm

Brands Hatch 2010 by c20let, on Flickr
 
Thanks everyone, some great tips. Will have a look at home and print off the circuit map and male reference points.

Thanks again :-)
 
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