Focal length capabilities

[jonathan_ed]

Good afternoon (just)

I could just do with picking someones brains out there. I am planning on going to Cosford airshow this June and the longest reach lens i have at the moment is a sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM. Am i going to get any decent results from this, or is going to be a case that i am going to have ot be doing pretty heavy cropping?
Ideally i'd prefer something like a 100-400 or even use an extender on my sigma, but i am totally skint and those options are out really, even the option of lens hire isn't really an option at the moment.

Anyone got any input?

PS, it'll be being used on a 40d, so obviously a crop sensor

 

[jonathan_ed]

Anyone at all? Could really do with an opinion...

 

[AndyB1976]

Hi

I'm probably least qualified to comment, however I seem to recall 400mm being a recommended minimum on here anyway.

Found this link, paragraph at the bottom may offer better independent advice

http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/airshowphotographybasics.htm


Andy

 

[khitomer]

I'd have used the 70-200 for the static displays and any aerial group displays (Red Arrows etc) For individual aircraft in flight there will be instances when it's a long enough lens, but an extender would help. Is your camera a full frame body? If not don't forget that your 200 will then be a 300.

 

[jonathan_ed]

Nope, not full frame. Its on a 40d, so obviously there is the crop factor slightly in my favour.

 

[jonathan_ed]

oh and thanks for the comments

 

[tijuana taxi]

Extender will slow the af down even more which is probably quite important for you, if a comparison with birds in flight is relevant I would think that 200mm is a bit too short

400mm is probably around the minimum, at least camera shake shouldn't be a problem given the high shutter speed you will be using.

Can't see any easy or cheap solution other than shoot what you can with the 70-200 and get cropping

 

[HoppyUK]

You haven't got much choice have you?

But 200mm on a cropper should be fine for a lot of things, bigger stuff, and wait till the smaller ones get closer. Don't try and crop your way out of it, except as a last resort.

 

[jonathan_ed]

Thats what i was thinking, the close fly pasts should be ok, just when they are further away i'd be struggling more than usual

 

[viewfromthenorth]

I used a 70 - 300mm on my full frame D700 at Cosford a couple of years ago, and thought it wasn't really long enough, so 200mm on a crop sensor will be the same. Cropping helps - I've not printed anything out big so I'm not too fussed.

BTW, not too much stuff on the ground (in terms of visiting aircraft) at Cosford, although there's obviously plenty in the museum hangars.