D300 or D700 for airshow?

merv

merv

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Going to the Cotswold airshow at Kemble in June so any advice on which is better for in flight objects the D300 or D700 or both? Have 300/2.8VR1, 20TCIII converter and 70-200/2.8VR2 and 28-300VR amongst other shorter lenses. Any advice on what it is like for parking? Staying at Ursley only a few miles away. merv:thinking:
 
The D300 would give you more reach for your zoom due to its crop sensor, but would you really need it?:shrug: Id take both, be a shame to miss shots due to another body left at home.:thumbs:
 
I would say if it's a bit overcast use the better high ISO on D700 for high shutter speed, if it's pretty bright use the D300. AF on both are quick and you got a pretty fast lens.
 
Depends on what shots your looking for.

Personally I don't see a need for full frame for most well lit subjects, and as the crop sensor gives you better reach I'd run with that. (I shoot of a D90 and am happy with that most of the time)

The really issue as I see it is lens(es) that's what will make the biggest difference, I'd probably run with the 70-300vr as it's not too heavy and gives a good reach hand held.
 
Tricky one that - on a crop sensor, most flying displays require between 200 and 400mm depending on the size of the aircraft. 200 is really quite short, and I needed to crop quite a bit. The ideal lens is a zoom in the 100-400 range IMO which would make the 70-200 VR2 with the 2XTC a pretty good option on a D300. If the light is reasonable the D700 wont buy you much as the frame rate on the D300 is slightly higher and the AF performance is about the same.
 
I would go with your 300 f2.8 on your D300, and 70-200 on your D700, so you can quickly change from camera to camera depending on whats flying at the time.
 
Its Dursley not Ursely!
Loads of parking at Kemble, no worries there. They park you on the airfield itself in one of the many fields. There is only one main road into the airfield, so it does get pretty congested . There are many back routes, but if you dont know the area I wouldnt advise it.

Take both, and take a shorts lens. Some good ground stuff at Kemble and you'll get lots of low fly bys.
Look out for my Dad, he runs the Jetage museum stall with the little Biggles biplane. We might have some other aircraft there too, a Meteor, possibly the E28 too.
In fact I might even go myself, its always a good show. The party in the beer tent once the show is shut to the public is better!!
 
I was at Clacton Air show last year, it was a bit overcast

but I got some pretty good photos with my D90 and 70-300 lens

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There's some more on my flickr page

bottom line I agree with using the D300 as it has a crop sensor so theoretically will give you more reach

:)
 
Hi Tom - sorry its Uley and it's near Dursley - thats where I'm staying. Thanks for all the comments guys. I have a seat in the grandstand and I think this is new this year. Looks like I will have to take all the gear. merv:clap:
 
Just one other point - am I better with centre weighted or spot metering for planes? merv:thinking:
 
Thanks Scott - See you are from Honiton in devon - will be at Kingswear near Dartmouth for a week before the Cotlswold airshow. merv:clap:
 
merv said:
Just one other point - am I better with centre weighted or spot metering for planes? merv:thinking:
Click to expand...

If its a bit overcast, its better to get a good meter reading and set it manually so the meter is not confused by the sky. You'll find light scatter more or less keeps the exposure on objects constant.

I do the same for sunny days, though if I am facing into the sun its a bit annoying. I keep an eye on how each shot turns out and make some small adjustments, but again, incident light readings wont vary much if the object is not in shadow or silhouette.

You can try spot, but it varies too wildly as you move on and off target IMO.

If you want to use S mode, as long as the meter is centred on the focus point, you should be OK, though you may have to dial in a bit of permanent EV compensation depending whether you are facing into the sun or not.
 
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